LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Auckland- retail coal dealers recently applied to the Board of Trade for permission to increase the price of coal by 3s 9d a ton. The board has referred the matter to the Auckland Prices Investiga. tion Tribunal for inquiry. In the meantime the tribunal considers that ruling retail prices should continue. The wholesale price of coal has been increased by 6d a ton at the mine.

A statement was recently made by the Prime Minister to the effect that there had been sales of the new soldiers' settlement loan bonds before the flotation of the loan. The chairman of the Auckland Stock Exchange, Mr. G. C. Creagh, said yesterday that Mr. Massey's statement was correct. There had been transactions of the kind mentioned, but the Auckland Exchange was discountenancing them. The closing date of the loan is December 16.

The application of the Auckland Bands Association for permission to holu a sacred concert in the Domain to-morrow • evening came before the Reserves Committee of the City Council on Thursday, and was granted. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated yesterday, however, that since the meeting of the committee it had ascertained that the application had been for a repetition of the musical portion of the military tattoo held on "Wednesday evening. It had been decided in'the circumstances, therefore, not to allow the use of the Domain for the purpose, and to cancel the permission, previously given. The platform and lighting apparatus used on Wednesday evening were now being cleared away.

The military barracks at King's College will be concluded this morning. Yesterday the boys took part in a tabloid athletic meeting at the Remuera polo ground, there being a large number of friends present. The meeting took the form of a series of athletic events on a standardised system. Eight teams of 22 boys each competed, a different standard being set for each of the eight events, points being allotted the competitors, A concert, organised by the boys, was held in the evening.

A fractured shoulder was sustained last evening by Mrs. Emma Barnes, aged 65, who accidentally fell down the back steps of her home in Wellington Street. She was admitted to the Auckland Hospital shortly after '9 p.m.

The statement that it is proposed to remove the table used in connection with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi "from the north of Auckland to the Parliament Buildings 'in Wellington was referred to by the Mayor of Auckland yesterday. "If such a table still exists," said Mr. Gunson, " it rightly belongs to the Auckland Province, as it is an article of historic value directly . associated with this province. . If its whereabouts can be ascertained an endeavour will be made to secure it for the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It is not a question of provincial rivalry, but one of the mb x st fitting resting place of a memento of one of the most important events in the history of the Auckland Province. It is true that the Treaty of Waitangi is a national docucent, but it is specially connected with the Auckland district, which has always been essentially the home of Maori associations?' /

A physical training competition in connection with the Gunson Cup, which .is .awarded annually to the senior cadet team in the Auckland Military District showing greatest efficiency in physical training, was held at Narrow Neck camp yesterday. Four teams entered from Auckland and two from Hamilton, which at present holds the cup. The judges were Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Duigan, chief staff officer, and Captain L. Potter. Only -the Auckland teams were judged yesterday; the two Hamilton teams will be inspected at their own ground. For this purpose the judges will shortly proceed to Hamilton, and the result of the competition should be made known at the end of next week.

The tramrails for the new branch line along Anzac Avenue, and for replacement purposes in the Epsom portion of Manukau Road, are on the steamer Cornwall, which sailed from England, for Auckland, this week. The shipment, which consists of about 400 tons, is expected to come to hand early in February.

A sitting of the Supreme Court in Chambers will be held on Monday morning by Mr. Justice Cooper. His Honor will make further fixtures of civil cases.

The annual presentation of prizes at King's College and the Auckland Grammar Schools will take place next week. The King's College prize-giving will 'be held in the Town Hall concert chamber on Tuesday evening. Prizes won by pupils at the Howe Street and Epsom Girls' Grammar Schools will be presented in the hall of the boys' school. Mount Eden, on Wednesday evening, while the presentation of prizes for the boys' school will take place in the same hall on the following evening. An address to the boys will be jsjiven by the Minister for Education, the ' Hon. C\ J. Parr.

There will be a great deal of activity at Narrow "Neck camp next week, when about 200 senior cadets from the Technical College, and 50 non-commissioned officers of the Grammar School cadet corps will enter military barracks there. The camp, attendance at which is voluntary, will be in command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Duigan. chief staff officer. The instruction will be of a varied character, physical training taking a prominent part.

Rain fell at Whakatane yesterday, and relieved the anxiety of settlers who were short of water. Many residents in the town had empty tanks, and water had been carted to their houses. Some had insufficient water to* wash clothes.

The Christmas season always brings with it strenuous work for the post and telegraph officials, and the co-operation of the public is necessary in order to facilitate the despatch of business. The postal authorities intimate that it will be an advantage to the public, and make the delivery of correspondence- before Christmas Day more assured, if catalogues and printed matter are posted not later than next Wednesday, and cards not later than Thursday.

The illegal shooting of wild pigeons was discussed at the last meeting of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, when members suggested that the recommendation to the .Department of Internal Affairs in regard to the classes of game permitted to be shot next season should include these birds.' "You , have-'no chance," said the. chairman (Mr! E. Wi C Wiffin). "The Government is entirely, opposed to it." Other members pointed' out that wild pigeons were becoming increasingly numerous." The chairman said he was in sympathy with the suggestion, for it was known that poaching was going on, and in view of such indiscriminate shooting he did not see why the sportsmen in the society should be debarred from shooting the birds. It was decided to defer the suggestion. " ' j