LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18249, 16 November 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Prices for beef at the Westfield fat stock sales yesterday were about equal to last week's rates. In some instances they were slightly easier on account of very large offerings in certain grades of cattle. Extia choice ox realised £1 15s per 1001b., other grades bringing from 8h to £1 4s, according to quality. Cow and heifer beef brought from los to £1 3s per 1001b. Mutton prices were slightly easier than at last week's sales. Wethers brought from £1 3s to £1 ,16s, ewes £1 to £i 12s 6d, prime hoggets £1 7s 6d to £1 9s 3d. There was a large offering of spring lambs, prices ranging from 17s to £1 lis. Prices for pigs were equal to those realised at last week's sales. Choppers and bacon pigs brought from £1 16s to £4.

The Governor-General has notified the Oratia War Memorial Committee that he will be present to unveil the war memorial on December 4. The memorial takes the form of a life-size stafue of Lord Kitchener, in full field-marshal's robes. '

The desirability of establishing a compulsory camp for military trainees who are continually failing to attend the ordinary drills, was mentioned by Mr. J". E. Wikon, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Several youths who had repeatedly failed to attend drills were fined, but Mr. Wilson said he thought the only way to make such people <fulfil their obligations was by seeing that they attended a camp. Three youths were charged with insubordination on a troop train going to Penrose. One lad was said to have thrown rotten oranges about the carriage, and in imposing a fine the magistrate said, " What you want is a birching. Don't you come here. again."

Reports that the Harbour Board intends to shift tho ferry landing-places at the city side of tho harbour—sending the Devonport and Stanley Bay boats to King's Wharf and the Northcote and Takapma boats to Prince's Wharf—were mentioned at the meeting held last evening in connection with the proposed Quay Street railway works. No speaker however, was aware of any official authority for the statements, which appeared to be based upon mere rumour. On the other hand tho Mayor of Northcote pointed out, as Suggesting the improbability of the idea, that the Harbour Board authorities had lately stated that tho present ferry landing arrangements would suffice for the next 20 years.

An amusing instance of the ignorance in America regarding New Zealand was related last evening by Mr. T. U. Wells at tho meeting of the Primary Schools' Committees' Association. In a Vancouver hotel Mr. Wells was asked by an American visitor tho way to the Seattle pior. Upon professing his ignorance, the visitor inquired where Mr. Wells belonged to. addiniy that he was from the groat State of Missouri. When Mr. Wells replied that ho was from New Zealand the American retorted : "You arc a lone way from home, that's down in South America, isn't it?" As there could not be a shadow of doubt that Mr. Massey would be returned for Franklin, the formation of a committee to support his candidature was considered superfluous at a recent meeting of the Takarani Welfare League. This decision was reached in rerdy to & letter received from tho Reform Committee at Papakura.

"In political and civil life, from the mother of Parliaments downward, in medicine, law, education, and commerce, woman has a place which is denied to her in our Church," said the moderator, the Rev. W. J. Comrie, in hip address at the opening of the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday. "la the Church the last stronghold of Conservatism," ho added, "and is there any valid reason why in our pulpits and our Church, courts women should not exercise the gifts with which God endowed them? ' 'Innovations'* some will say. . . But innovations are often innovations of the happiest kind. They are inscribed on the milestones along the pathway of human progress."

" This hi one of the bouquets," paid Mr. R. G. Clark at the meeting of the One Tree Hill Road Board last evening, when referring to a letter received from tho Auckland Automobile Association, congratulating the board on the excellent condition of the by-roads of the district Some members of the board appeared to regard the congratulation as scarcely merited, and thought the motorists could not have been using Ranfurly Road, or the letter would not have been sent.

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Robert Proffit, farmer, of Nukurou North, Opotiki. In a statement the bankrupt shows hi 3 assets as £107 2s 6d, in addition to property valued at £450. His liabilities to secured creditors are £514, and to unsecured creditors £411 7s 3d, a total of £925 7s 3d. This leaves a deficiency of £368 4s 9d. A petition has also been filed by Louis Lewis, auctioneer, of 6, Liverpool Street, Auckland.

The historic cabbage tree which for so many years has been a conspicuous feature in Mnnukau Road, has, apparently, received a new lease of life. A little while ago, when its removal was decided upon, the fear prevailed that that would mean the death sentence of tho old tree, But that, fortunately, seems to have been a premature foreboding, for the Newmarket Borough Council last evening received a report from the foreman of works stating that the tree had been removed to a position on the now footway, ani there was every reason for believing it would grow.

With regard to Mr. Wilford and the Liberals, that party was absolutely at sixes and sevens, said Mr. F. F. Hockly, M.P., in a speech at Rotorua this week. Mr. Wilford led 14 of them; some- were ploughing a lonely furrow; others owed allegiance to Sir Joseph Ward. If those men who knew Mr. Wilford so well had no confidence in him, how could the general public bo expected to have con fidenco in him. Mr. Wilford was an exceedingly pleasant man, but in the years he had had in the public life of the Dominion, had he got anywhere?

Woman's way is—best, it has been said An amusing incident is roported in connection with the meeting in the Stratford Town Hall, when the Prime Minister delivered his recent political address. The woman, who is a well-known resident oil Stratford, drove up to the hall in her car with her. party, but accommodation waß at a premium, and admission was refused her. " But you can't stop me!" she said. "' I came to hear Mr. Massey, and I'm going to get in! Even if I have to hanp on to the dear old man's coat-tnila! So there!" . Waiting her chance when the official party, headed by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. MteMillan, and the Mayoress, hove in sisrht, she quickly slipped in behind Mr. Massey, and literally went in by his coat tails! From a comfortable seat right in the forefront of the meeting, thin resourceful lady beamed upon Mr. Massey throughout the evening.

A sensational incidei.«fc occurred at the show grounds at Christchurch during the parade of prize stock.' While in front of the grandstand a trotting colt, fnll brother to Reta Peter, became fractious, and alarmed bv the sound of the bagpipes, and suddenly bolted ucross the ring, throwing the driver, Joseph Wilson,. out of the sulky. There was a general scatter to give the colt a clear run, and he was pulled up bv officials before causing any damage. Wilson, an elderly man, fell very heavily. Beyond shock and bruises ho did not Buffer injury.

" You see, Auckland has been having rather a good time," said Mr. F. Cooper, in the Arbitration Court in Wellington, when the provisions of the Auckland engineers' award were under discussion. •' They have been having some good wrecks np thtire, and they have become a bit reckless." " Oh, I see, and in Wellington thoy are wreckless in the other sense," replied Mr. Justice Frazer, ;