LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18325, 15 February 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

There were very heavy yardings of beef at the Westfield fat stock sales yesterday, and prices were slightly easier than last week's rates. Extra choice ox brought £1 5s per 1001b., choice prime from £1 2s to £1 4s, and other grades from 18s to £1 3s, according to quality. Cow and heifer beef brought from 14s to £1 Is. Mutton prices were also slightly easier. Wethers realised from £1 3s to £1 Ifis 6d; ewes from 18s to £1 12s; lambs from 14s to £1 13s 6d. A good yarding of pigs sold at about late ' quotations, choppers and baconers bringing from £1 to £3 17sSeveral members of the provincial executive of the Farmers' Union will visit several centres in the Bay of Plenty at the end of this month and deliver a series of addresses to the various branches. The subjects to be dealt with include political matters, taxation, agricultural banking, co-operative marketing, and union matters generally. The tour will open at Rotorua on February 26, and Opotiki, Whakatane. Tauranga, and Te Puke will be visited in turn, the concluding address having been fixed for the last-mentioned centre on March 2. A recent decision by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in regard to the by-law fixing sunset as the lighting-up time for.motors was discussed by the Auckland Automobile Association last evening. It was agreed that the matter should be referred to the New Zealand Automobile Union, and that the City Council should be communicated with, pointing out that the by-law was unreasonable. A statement of liabilities and assets has "been filed by Samuel William Taylor, cabinetmaker, of Auckland, recently ad- ( judicated a ' bankrupt. His debts are shown as £869 8s lid, all to unsecured creditors. The assets total £380, made up of stock-in-trade, £300, book debts, £70, and cash, £10. Thus there is a deficiency of £489 8s lid. Bankrupt attributes his failure to ill-health, stating that his factory was run at a loss during his illness. The progress of borough work in Takapuna with regard to the restrictions imposed by the Local Bodies Finance Act, 1921-1922, was considered by the council at a special meeting. It was decided that the full programme, as originally set out, could be carried out without the ordinary expenditure exceeding the revenue for the current year. The Chinese intelligence system is strange, and usually very efficient. Recently in the Christchurch Magistrate's Court, when a Chinese fruiterer was charged with not having closed his shop when-' required, Mr. Wyvem Wilson, S.M.. said he would like to know whether the defendant stocked cigarettes behind the wunter. The defendant said .that there were none. A Court officer was sent to investigate, all other persons being commanded to remain in Court. Later, when the officer returned he said that he had found cigarettes in 'the shop, and as he was searching, someone telephoned to say " Police coming."

" Excuse my expression about this man," said a witness of Italian extraction in broken English, in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North, when recalled at the request of a juryman, " but that man (the prisoner) is a liar. . . He knows well what I tell him at Taihape." The erection of baths at IJayswater has been decided upon by the Takapuna Borough Council. A deputation from the Takapuna Boating Club waited on the council with regard to the matter. The construction of the baths is subject to the engineer's advice and to the necessary legislation enabling the site to be vested in the borough council. : A Marlborough farmer writes to the Express:—"The following facts with regard to the kea will be of general interest, as there seems to be some doubt as to whether these birds attack sheep. While mustering on the Birch Block, Blairich, one of the musterers, Herbert Watson, came on a wether at' the point of death, with a kea perched on its back and tearing the kidney fat through a large wound in its loin. The bird's head and most of its body, including the wings, were soaked in blood, as was the back of the unfortunate wether." ■ •.'■ < „

A remarkable . instance of a Maori's capability in learning to drive a motorcar was furnished in Masterton last week, states an exchange. The Maori, a resident at the Ngahape soldiers' settlement, bought a car in Masterton on Friday, and after a few hours' tuition in the art' of driving he announced: "I think I go home now." , He was urged to wait till he had had more experience, as the road to Ngahape is recognised as one of the most difficult in the district. But the Maori was confident. In 78 years of pioneering he had driven all sorts of vehicles over tracks that were such in name, only and this pakeha contrivance had no terrors for him. So on the day following the purchase he started on his 29-mile journey, and after awhile he, was seen by the residents of Ngahape coasting down the hill, with the throttle full open, and with the bravado of an experienced driver he steadied the car with his loft hand, while he waved the other in response to the settlers' cheers.

A mishap occurred to the Mount. SomersAshburton train on Friday morning, resulting in the derailment of a waggon laden with grain, when..;the train was about four miles above Tinwald. The waggon, which was new the front of the train, ran some distance between the rails before the train could be pulled up. -The axle-boxes were badly, damaged. Ashburton was communicated with' by telephone, and an engine and a repair gang were despatched to the scene'of the'accident. Motor-cars were also sent out, and about six car loads of passengers were conveyed into Ashburton. " Through the continued rain causing blight, I have lost two acres of tomatoes, which would have produced 25 tons. The loss amounts to £400," said an agriculturist in the Manawatui district last week. It was stated at a meeting of the Wanganui River Trust that a settler at the houseboat (Ohura Falls) recently lost 251 out of 4000 sheep, which he was taking across a swollen stream. The formation of a track from. Pipiriki to Jerusalem, Wanganui River, has been commenced by the Public Works Department at the Pipiriki end. The track will be 12ft. wide, but it is doubtful whether sufficient funds are available to complete the work. f - "I cannot remember the date, but it was a few days before the Palmerston North races in 1918," said a witness in a case before Sir John Salmond' at Palmerston North. "I am afraid," replied His Honor, amid laughter, "that that does not carry me much further." An unusual prosecution was brought in the Wanganui Supreme Court yesterday, says a Press Association message. James Henry Paget was charged with " doing a mischief" by putting a motor-lorry, insured for £950, over a bank. ; The only evidence for the Crown was by an ex-em-ployee of Paget and, without retiring, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.