LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 19 August 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Auckland reports the signs of spring everywhere. Florists' shops overflow with violets and daffodils. Upwards of £200 was realised in the first week's trading done by the new State firewood depot, established at Thordon, Wellington. Except for a sum of '£200 for a few sections, the completion of tihe purohlase of Kensington Park was arranged yesterday, the sum of £2300 being handed over. ■The Hawena Memorial Peace Committee iis extending the period of canvass for a further week in order to allow of a. bigger return from canvassers. , iA meeting will be held to decide on the special form of the memorial. The borough engineer 'Was received instructions to prepare specifications iand call for tenders for approximately £4000 of sewerage extension at the southern end of the town, including Fourth Avenue, Kauika road, and the district generally. ' The following resolution of the library committee of the Borough Council hias been adopted by the council, and the work wall be proceeded with as soon as possible: —"That the council be recomimended to remove the reference library to the ladies' room upstairs, als.o to remove the museum exhibits into the present ladies' room and to convert the present museum room into a ladies' room." A Christchurch Press Association message says that at a special meeting of subscribers of the children's Convalescent Cottag c at New Brighton, an offer received from Mr H. Chol.nondelley of six acres of land at Governor's Bay, and £4000 to erect the cottag e home, was accepted. The home at New Brighton will be closed and the funds used for thessacm c purposes in the institution at Governor's Bay.

There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Kaipara braaich of the New Zealand Labour Party, held in the International Hall on Thursday evening , . LMr Gregory, the president, presided. The secretary read his annual report w'hidh showed the branch to be in a satisfactory position. The anember ship comprised men of all callings, which showed they were in. sympathy with Ilhe legitimate aims of the iLabour Party. A special tribute was accorded the Labour representatives on the local sdhool committee for tßieir attitude in bringing to light the serious state of affairs existing in eonnecti'on with the insanitary and overcrowded condition of the school. Other union matters were dealt with. If you get a Chill with sore throat and tightness of chest, tackle it at once with "NAZOL." It grips it quicker and more effectually than most remedies. »

ma increased cost of cement is oeing ielt by local bodies at the present time. The Karori (Wellington) borough engineer, in his report to the council stated _ that in 1914 cement cost 3s 4d per bag, and then commenced to rise, and reached the following- successive prices; da 7d, 3s 10d, 4s Id, 4s 7d, 5s 4d. It was now 3s 10d per bag, with no allowances for returned empty bags, which was equal to another penny. The increase was from £3 4s 6d per ton to £5 5s per ton. The present freight to Karori was 6ld per bag, or 10s per ton, making the cost of a ton of cement landed at Karori £5 15s, or about 6s 5d per bag.

"The main thing demanded of public men is absolute diouesity and integrity of purpose and ia keen desire for the national good (says thfi "Niorthern News"). \We do riot want men who seek simply tio serve their party, nor do we want men Who seek mainly for their own profit aaid advancement, but we want men who put first the, interest and glood of the community. We have Jiad such men in New Zealand in the pasty and. we have a few isuch in New Zealaaid today, but we must confess that only too many of our prominent public men seem rather to consider their own interests, -or the interests of the particular party to which they have attached themselves than Che giood of the community whom they are supX>osed to serve. What .most people, admire is consistency of purpose, and many anen prefer one who is consistent, even when they may tihinlt he is wrong, to one who is inconsistent, even, if occasionally they may deem him to be an the right. For whlat confidence can possibly be placed in men who trim their sail to suit every breath of public opinion, or who having embraced lone creed in. tine past will willingly chamge tJhat creed when they see that the change will brimg them votes or possible political preferment?"