LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17631, 18 November 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Prices for beef at the Westfield fat stock sales yesterday were, in most grades, equal to those' of the previous week. In some cases there was a slight increase. Extra choice ox realised £2 18s per 1001b.. other grades ranging from £1 10s to £2 17s per 1001b. There was a strong demand for mutton, and prices showed an improvement as compared with recent sales. Heavy prime woolled wethers fetched from £2 2s to £2 5s 9d, heavy shorn wethers £1 16s 6d to £2 Is 9d; heavy prime woolled ewes £1 16s to £2 0s 6d, heavy shorn ewes £1 17s to £1 19s 3d. Prices for spring lambs showed a decrease of from 5s to 8s a head as a result of entries. The best heavy lambs realised from £1 10s 6d to £1 16s 6d. Pigs were also lower in price owing to an increased supply. Baconers and choppers realised from £5 10s to £8 12s 6d.

The condition of Margaret Allen, who suffered severe injuries through falling from a train last Saturday evening, was reported last evening to be slightly lower than previously. The woman was found on the railway l|ne near the Parnell tunnel on Sunday morning, having apparently lain unattended beside the line for ten hours.

The exemption of school materials from customs duties was recommended recently to the Education Department by the Auckland Education Board, which suggested that if any revision of the customs tariff was made during next session of Parliament this matter should be favourably considered. The board yesterday received from the department a letter stating that it was doubtful if the Government would grant this concession as it would spply to all school requisites for all schools in the Dominion and the Customs Department would strenuously oppose such loss of revenue.

The previous thorny subject of the propriety of holding picture entertainments on Christmas Day evoked no discussion by the Devonport Borough Council when it came before that body last evening. The council unanimously granted a permit.

The question of whether the lighter keepers employed by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company should be parties to the foremen and timekeepers' award was discussed yesterday by representatives of the company and the union before Mr. PHally, to whom the point was referred for decision in accordance with the agreement arrived at when the case was heard in June. After hearing the evidence Mr. Hally said he would give his decision immediately upon his return to Wellington.

The equipment of the New Zealand Fertiliser Company's works at Te Papapa is now practically completed, and grinding operations will be commenced on Monday. The bricks for lining the acid chambers are coming to hand from Australia, accordto contract, and it is anticipated the works will be turning out a good supply of super-phosphate in January. The date for the official opening of the works has not been fixed, but the ceremony will take place early in the New Year. The Prime Minister has accepted an invitation to attend the opening ceremony.

The small corrugated iron shed which was reported missing on Monday from the Wham Bridge, between Avondale and New Lynn, was returned yesterday to the site on which it had been originally erected. It is stated that the shed had been taken in mistake and removed to Green Bay, where it was located by the police.

Complaints in regard to prices charged for furniture, a woman's underskirt, and a man's suit were received by the Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal yesterday. It was decided to have further inquiry made into these matters. A complaint was also received regarding advertising charges, a comparative table being submitted showing the' cost of advertising the same/thing in various papers in the North Island. Consideration of the matter was adjourned.

A compulsory classification course for officers and . non-commissioned officers of the Territorial and reserve forces is now in progress at Narrow Neck. There is an attendance of about 60. Lieut.-Colonel J. E. Duigan, chief staff officer, is in command, with Major J. A. Wallingford as chief instructor.

The constitution of a separate school district at aux ball was urged in a petition received by the Education Board yesterday. Mr. H. S. W. King said he had been assured there would be no opposition from the Devonport School Committee. The board appointed a committee to decide upon the boundaries of the districts. The board also approved the inspector's recommendation that a school building to accommodate' about 30 children should be erected at Katherine Bay, Great Barrier Island, and that half-time arrangements should be continued for the present.

An application for financial assistance to purchase a small farm was received by the North Auckland Land Board yesterday from a soldier's widow, who had herself seen two and a-half years' service with the New Zealand Forces as a nurse. She resides in the Whangarei district. Her application received the favourable consideration of the board.

An important development in connection with the fruit and produce industry is the formation in Auckland of a new' auctioneering company. This company, which has been formed at the request of a large number of influential fruitgrowers in the province, will be managed by an existing firm of auctioneers, and will have on its directorate three representatives of the growers.

The prospect of* the area of land at Narrow Neck, formerly used as a camp and now utilised a3 the military hospital, being converted into a public park, as was originally intended when it was dedicated as a reserve, was referred to at the Devonport Borough Council meeting last evening. The Mayor, Mr. H. S. W. King, reported that when in Wellington last week he reminded the Prime Minister of b ; h promise of assistance in" the matter. Mr. Massey gave an assurance that he would take the necessary steps to have the area vested in the borough for the purpose of a public park.

The fostering among schools of a spirit of emulation in regard to various activities of a practical character is recommended in a resolution passed recently bv the Council of Education. A circular "letter received by the Education Board yesterday advocated encouraging this spirit in regard to school gardening, planting of native trees and ouches, collection and scientific arrangement of rocks, minerals, and local plants, promotion of tidiness and tasteful arrangement in the schoolhouse and grounds, and the founding and promotion of school clubs. It was decided to send a copy of the circular to head teachers and school committees.

Some time during Tuesday night a large plate-glass wjndow in Mr. J. Pascoe's jewellery shop, in Victoria Street, Hamilton, was broken, and plated goods, valued at about £18, removed. A diamond had evidently been used to cut the glass, and another pane was disfigured, but' not broken. Several other shop windows were cut with some sharp instrument, but not broken. This is the second time that Mr Pascoe's windows have been broken and goods stolen.

All military patients in hospital are to be granted 14 days' leave at Christmas should the medical advisers decide that they are fit to travel. Railway warrants will be issued to the men in order that they may proceed to their own homes or those of friends.

The prospectus for tie first instalment of the Wellington City loan of £1,708,916 recently sanctioned by the ratepayers.' has Q l d ' 16 is proposed to 'raise ~250,1XX) by means of debentures, free of exchange on both interest and principal in New Zealand and Australia. The rate of interest will be per cent., and the wan will have a currency of twenty year* The Wellington City Council is alreadv in the market for a loan of £123,000 to repay a loan maturing in the first week of De cember.