LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17351, 24 December 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

There will be no publication of the Herald to-morrow (Christmas Day) or on Friday (Boxing Day). The •• Queen Street office will be open on Friday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the receipt of advertisements for Saturday's issue. The holiday arrangements to be observed in the chief post office during the Christmas and New Year season are as follows: —On Chr"mas Day and New Year's Day mails usually despatched on Thursdays will be closed on both days at 4 a.m. Late fee .letters for Southern mails may be posted at the railway station up to 6.55 p.m. on both days. On Boxing Day the office will be open in all its branches, except money order and savings bank, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mails will close at 8 a.m. Loose letters for Southern mails may be posted at the railway station up to 6.55 p.m. To-day and on December 31 a delivery of town letters, registered and ordinary, will be made over the counter from 7to 8 p.m. On Boxing Day one complete delivery will be mad© by postmen in the morning.

A number of flaxmills in the Waikato, which have been idle for several mouths, ■ will probably resume operations shortly. 'The president of the Northern Flaxmillers' Association, Mr. P. Henry, stated yesterday that the high freight rates have made flaxmilling really an unprofitable undertaking. In consequence, thousands of acres of flax have been left untouched, which in the ordinary course would have been 'milled.months ago. The demand made by the Tramway Employees' Federation for a conference on the subject of improved wages and conditions,- and the non-receipt of an answer from the employers, were discussed by the Auckland Tramway Employees' Union yesterday. Two meetings were held, one in the morning and the other in the evening, .but the officials declined to make any statement -in regard to any decisions formed. The shortage of benzine is affecting fishermen who use launches for transport to and from the various fishing groundsIt has become so acute that a deputation of members of the Northern Fishermen's Union waited on the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. G. Coates, and requested that the Government should assist the fishermen to obtain adequate supplies of benzine. Mr. Coates placed the matter before the Prime Minister, who has telegraphed to Mr. H. E. Barnsley. secretary of the union, that the matter is being referred to the Board of Trade for inquiry, with a view to seeing what can be done to afford relef.

"The best Christmas for many years," is the unanimous verdict of the local business houses upon the Christmas trade this year, telegraphs our Christchurch correspondent.. The shops in the city have been thronged throughout the past week, and present indications are that a record _ of business will be established before Christmas Day. In conversation with a reporter the manager of one of the largest business houses said that there was a strong demand for New Zealand-made goods, particularly in regard to toys and fancy goods. Naturally, he said, there were people who did not trouble to inquire where the goods they purchased came from, but he regarded the demand there was as distinctly encouraging for local industry. In spite of the high cost of a great many articles there was a larger demand for all manner of Christmas gifts, and there seemed to be plenty of money in the city.

Two letters from the Minister for Lands, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, were read at last night's meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association, stating that the land at Otamarakau and Hoskings estate in the Bay of Plenty district, being given solely to Maori soldiers, was not suitable for other soldiers. In deference, however, to the numerous protests received against the setting apart of these lands for Maoris, the Minister said he would delay action until he had visited the district. The first annual balance-sheet of the land and property bureau of the Auckland Returned Soldiers-' Association was submitted to a meeting of the executive last night. It showed that the amount standing to the credit of the bureau was £1795. The annual report stated that 1103 applications had been made on behalf of association members for purchase of land, houses, or to pay off mortgages.v In 1095 cases advances aggregating £333,428 had been recommended. The executive of the Rotirua Tourist League has approved a letter for presentation to the Minister for Railways, Mr. W. F. MasEey, urging a revival of the week-end excursions to Rotorua, and requesting that such excursions be run weekly throughout the winter as well as the shimmer.

Cargo work at vessels in port will cease at 5 p.m. to-day and be resumed at 8 a.m. on Saturday. This is the decision arrived at by a recent meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union. The arrangement is likely to affect the fruit cargo on the Island steamer Flora. According to a wireless message the vessel is due at 11 a.m. to-day. It will probably be 1 p.m. before she is ready to discharge her cargo. It is not known how much fruit she is bringing, but it is sure to be more than can be discharged by 5 p.m., consequently any fruit cargo not landed to-day will have to remain on the vessel until Saturday, unless some arrangement is arrived at by the parties concerned.

In view of the acute shortage of coal for the gasworks the Hamilton Borough Council recently deputed the Mayor and Mr. J. McKinnon to visit Auckland and endeavour to improve the position. At the meeting of the council last night the Mayor said they had been successful in purchasing some coal from the Government g,t £4 per ton. The'previous highest price paid was £2 19s 6d, and the average was about £2 15s. He said the Government, having the market in its own hands, was able to charge its own price. A resident of Mount Street, off Symonds Street, William Ferguson, was admitted to the Auckland Hospital last evening. He sustained injuries to the head as a result of a fall from a tramcar in Wellesley Street. The placing of the Talune in the Eastern Pacific passenger as well as cargo trade is expected to prove beneficial to passengers from Auckland. It is some years since there was a regular passenger service between Auckland and the Cook and Society Islands. Passengers have had to go to Wellington and catch the San Francisco mail steamer there to Ra.rotonga and Tahiti. This entailed loss of time and considerable expense. With the Talune passengers will now be able to travel from Auckland direct. Only five passengers left by the Talune last night on her first trip in the run.

A seaman, John Mavie Partly aged 65 years, whose home is at Swanson met with a painful accident at Whakatane on Monday. During loading operations on the steamer Tasman, a crate of cheese sevsKly crashed his foot. Upon arrival D Auckland last evening he was admitted to the Public Hospital. The members of the Takapuna Borough Council and a number of ex-councillors, were entertained at supper by the Mayor. Mr. W. Blomfield, at the conclusion of the meeting of the council last evening Various toasts were honoured. The Mayor reviewed the activities of the council during the year, and outlined the programme of future works. At a meeting of the Rotorua branch of the Repatriation Board last week the secretary, Mr. H. McPherson, reported that the business for last month was a follows:— Number of men on books at beginning of month, 5-; number placed 8; number unemployed at end of month' nil; applications for assistance approved' 7: pending, 4; referred to District Repatriation Office. 5; sustenance, 2- furninß'n PP 71 d ' 5 Pending, 5; referred to JJ.K.U., 6; transportation. 2; monevs ex£l2 18' S 5 principal, £87 10s 4d. in *««»t. hll 18s 4dj principal, £87 10s 4d.