LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Prices for beef at yesterday's fat stock sales at Westfield were equal to last week's rates, which were about 2s per 1001b lower than the record prices realised during August and the early part of the present month. Choice ox realised £3 8s per 1001b, ordinary and prime fetching from £2 10s to £3 6s, according to quality. Mutton was in good demand, and prices for prime sheep showed a slight advance on last week's rates. Wethers realised from £2 5s to £3 4s 6d, ewes £2 to £3 Is, and hoggets £1 4s to £2 6s 3d. A fair number of pigs were offered and sold at prices equal to the previous week's rates. Bacon pigs realised from £5 5s to £8 10s, and porkers from £3 15s to £6 15s. Normal conditions in respect to the gas supply were resumed yesterday, and there was no reduction in pressure last evening. The full supply of gas will be continued as long as possible, but the officials of the Gas Company state that it is impossible to state how long the supply can be maintained, as the stocks of coal coming to hand are sufficient only for current requirements, and provide no margin for the establishment of reserve stocks. The refusal of the ironworkers to work overtime is delaying the completion of repairs to the Northern Company's steamer Arapawa, which broke her rudder and rudder-post when she stranded on the Waitara Bar. It is not known when the repairs will be effected. About twenty students from the Training College visited the Police Court during the afternoon session yesterday, The object of the visit was to obtain practical experience in connection with their study of "civics."

An innate courtesy is one of the characteristics which has endeared Lord Jellicoo to all who have come into contact with him. More than one example of this trait in the distinguished visitor's character was given by him yesterday. There was, for instance, a little incident which occurred at Devonport. As the admiral was leaving the platform after having made his speech a young lady stood upon a chair in order to "snap" "him. Observing her action, the genial admiral remained still for the necessary few moments to enable her to take a successful photograph. He then went on his way, smilingly acknowledging the thanks of the lady with the camera. Again, at Takapuna, while Lord Jellicoe was talking to three of Auckland's V.C.'s, a baby held by a woman near him commenced to cry. The admiral took the infant into his arms, and nursed it for a few minutes until its cries ceased, his action greatly delighting the onlookers. As Lord Jellicoe entered his motor-car to leave the scene numerous little girls pressed forward intent upon shaking hands with him, those who were not near enough olowing kisses to him. The admiral detained his car for a few minutes in order to gratify the children, shaking hands with as many of them as he could reach.

The grave danger arising from the practice of joining or alighting from moving tramcars was again emphasised in the Police Court yesterday, when two people, a man and a woman, were prosecuted. It

was stated that this year 17 accidents, of which six had proved fatal, had been attributed to jumping on, off, or in front of, moving cars. "I see people taking the most frightful risks every dav," said Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., and the position is not improving. It seems to me that the only effective way to check it would be for the conductor to ttop his car, take the offender's name, put him off, and then have him prosecuted. Although it would de'ay the traffic, that seems to b» the only effective course to follow."

Increased wages are to be paid to Auckland tailoresses. This decision was arrived at by the Master Tailors' Union of

Employers at a meeting held yesterday,

Mr. R. J. Hill, president, in the chair The Workers' 'Union asked that the rates of pay for weekly hands be increased from £1 15s to £2 a week, and the log rate from 9d to lOd an hour. It was decided to grant the request, tho increases to commence on Monday next.

To-day is the commencement of the Jewish New Year, and is a holiday for Jews all over the world. The day is called Rosh-ha-Shonoh. Services were held in the Auckland Synagogue last evening, and others will take place today. A; feature of the service, which is one of the moat ancient in the Jewish Church, is the blowing of the Shofar, or Ram's Horn.

The commission appointed to inquire into and report on the best means of controlling the Waihoa River below the Ntrahina Bridge to mitigate or prevent the flooding of adjacent lands will open its sittings at Paeroa on Monday.

A great influx of Europeans into the islands within the scope of the Melan&sian Mission was forecasted by the Bishop of Melanesia, the Rev. J. M. Steward, at a meeting in Wellington on the eve of his departure. The bishop said he had been informed on good authority that two important naval bases were about to be established in the Solomon Islands. Melanesia was going to be a great place politically, and the Islands would be opened up to an extent never before realised.

The principal source of danger in driving through the Manawatu Gorge is the unexpected meeting of cars. A correspondent of a Palmerston North paper suggests that now the traffic is growing so rapidly, a public clock be p'aced at either end with a direction that alternate half-hours be reserved for cars entering from each direction. Twenty minutes is ample for the trip through the Gorge.

I " The Imperial Government is arrangJ ing to grant free passages to soldiers ; proceeding to assured employment in the I Dominion, and also to their dependants, and proposes to receive applications after December 31 next," said Mr. Massey in reply to a question in the House of Representatives. The New Zealand Government has indicated that, while anxious not to discourage the immigration to New Zealand of Imperial discharged soldiers, it cannot invite employers to offer assured employment to them untj,l our own soldiers have been placed. When that has been accomplished it is intended to advertise, inviting applications from employers willing to offer assured employment to Imperial men on arrival. The Imperial Government's proposal applies also to women who have served in anv recognised women's service corps, and with regard to these the New Zealand Government has replied that all women who are willing to undertake domestic service can find immediate employment in the Dominion."

" Telephone exchanges have been, promised in many districts in New Zealand," said Mr. C. J. Parr (Eden), in the House of Representatives, " but apparently they are not being put in. The Department tells us," he added, "that it has no wire, no insulators, no material whatever. Can the Postmaster-General say when he hopes to lift able to remedy the "shortage ?" The Hon J. ('•}. Coates said that there was a tremendous shortage of all telegraphic material. At present there was only sufficient to carry out maintenance work and a little new work. As soon as the necessary materia] came to hand, the telephone exchanges which had been authorised would be put in.

Otago members of Parliament intend urging the Government, when framing a new contract for the Vancouver mail service, to stipulate for a flat rate of freight from the principal ports of New Zealand to Vancouver. A Dunedin newspaper state*; that exporters contend that the southern parts of the Dominion are handicapped compared with Auckland, though the whole of the Dominion has a share in the payment of the subsidy. How the present system operates is illustrated luthe ch.uges made on a Diiiiedin consign. nient to \ ancouver. It cost £42 in freight to Auckland and £64 thence to Vancouver.