LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18348, 14 March 1923, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Marama arrived at Sydney from ' Auckland at 3.45 p.m. yesterday and the Ulimaroa from Wellington at 11.30 a.m., states a Press Association cablegram. i Specimens of kingfish, swordfish, and I- the mako shark are now being ob- ■' tained at Russell for inclusion in the fisheries exhibit to be sent to the British Empire Exhibition. The fish will be set in blocks of ice, and will doubtless prove a splendid advertisement for the Dominion deep-sea angling. The chief inspector of fisheries, Mr. L. F. Ayson, is giving the preparation of the fisheries exhibit his personal attention. Tomatoes have experienced a decided drop in price in the last few days, the fall within the last week being estimated at approximately 50 per cent. The decline is due to the overstocked condition of the market, following the arrival of large quantities sent by Lower Hutt growers to reap the advantage of the improved prices previously ruling. A party of about 80 men and women members of the Salvation Army left for Wellington last evening to attend the Salvation Army congress there. The congress will be conducted by Commissioner F. Booth Tucker, of the Army International Headquarters in London. Brigadier D. A. Gunn 'was in charge of the party. Whitebait were caught in great quantities from the Devonport Wharf yesterday. As a general rule, the fish are very scarce near the wharves, but yesterday they were; present in such numbers that scores of people secured a billyful with ease. A boy named John Loughnan fell off a tree at Woodhill, where he resides, on Monday evening, and fractured his left leg. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday morning. Thirty-one building permits, including 10 for dwellings, valued at £8658, were issued by the Mount Albert . Borough Council during the three weeks ended March 7, the total expenditure being estimated at £10.437. During the previous three weeks 29 permits, covering an outlay of £15,254, were issued. From April 1 last to date the permits totalled 438, including 185 for dwelling?, with an estimated expenditure of £177,649. The Remueia fire brigade received a call to a rubbish fire on the Nolan estate, Great South Road, at 8.15 p.m. yesterday. No damage was done. • The provincial executive of the Farmers' Union last evening briefly discussed the reply made by Mr. Massey to the Provincial president, Mr. R. D. Duxfield, and Mr. F. Colbeck, in regard to the control of the price of butter during the war. The executive carried a motion deploring the attack made by the Prime Minister upon Mr. Duxfield and Mr. Colbeck, and expressing its high appreciation of the personal qualities and official work of the president. While a race was in progress at a swimming sports meeting at Wanganui a little girl became exhausted and commenced to sink. Her plight was noticed by the headmaster, Mr. H. H. Richarclson, who plunged fully clothed into the bath and rescued her. The spectators gave the headmaster an ovation. A scheme of control for an accommodation house at Waimarino, reserved for the use of ministers and others attending conventions connected with Christian work, was placed before the Auckland Presbytery last evening. Mr. F. H. Spencer, of Remuera, wrote asking that a board of associates be appointed to develop the project already launched by him .at Waimarino. • Mr. Spencer said that this summer an additional building was erected ata cost of about £170. Members of Presbytery testified to the suitability of the National Park for the purpose, but considered the appointment of a boa?d would entail too. many difficulties.

The form of architecture adopted in a sketch plan of the Dominion pavilion at the Empire Exhibition does not meet with the approval of the Dominion Advisory Council. It was stated in a letter considered yesterday by the local committee that the design was in no way indicative of the Dominion. It should make the New Zealand court distinctive from all the other British courts. The High Commissioner has been asked if fJme will permit of the preparation of a frontal design by local architects which would be descriptive of the Dominion's national character. It was considered that a building distinctively Maori in its art design would be most suitable. A proposal favouring the holding of a carnival on a comprehensive scale in Hamilton was adopted • by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce on Monday. An ambitious scheme, providing for bowling, tennis, croquet, and band tournaments, rowing competitions, musical festivals, tradesmen's displays, canoe races, Maori dances, and fireworks, was outlined by Mr. Miles Schofield, who suggested that the carnival be held on one day next summer. He said it would take a year 1 to organise such an event. It was resolved to convene a public meeting to consider holding a carnival „ next summer, with a view to instituting an annual or triennial event. There are still persons in Chrietchurch who have the requisite " nerve" to take a car from a central parking place and " joy ride" for a few hours. On Thursday night a car belonging to Mr. A. C. Clark was taken from the Gloucester Street stand at about. 8 o'clock. Two hours later it was discovered in Conference Street, and its owner has ealciilated that in so short a space of time it was driven well over 50 miles. * " Having finished his legislative duties for the time being," says the Christclnircti Press, " the Hon. W. H. Mcjntyre, M.L.C, has resumed his ordinary vocation in 'the Millerton mine." " As long as I've got clothes on my back I'll always give my wife a drop ot brandy if I think she deserves it," declared a man in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court when charged with beinc on licensed premises after hours. "A husband any woman should be pleased to have, no doubt," said the magistrate, " but the law throws upon you the onus of showing what you were doing upon the hotel premises. You; will be fined £1 and costs 75." ' Within the last few weeks many Australians have called at the Dunedin Tourist Office with introductions from the Melbourne office, and most of them have taken advantage of their visit to tour the cold lakes district and walk over the Milford track. Several weeks ago a party of Americans who are doing the world also walked to Milford Sound. They were all pleased with the conditions. In other years people who travelled the 31 miles to the Sound were disappointed at not being able to explore the place thoroughly through the lack of a launch, but this season one was provided by the department, and proved an inestimable boon. Bookings at the Dunedin office for Easter are fairly heavy! not only for the Milford track, but for all tours. The last trek to Milford for the season will be made on April 16, after which the track will be closed till about November next. Ministerial recognition of the heroism of the Blackball miners in the recent fire was made at the Magistrate's Court at Greymouth on Tuesday, when the inspector of labour, Mr. G. F. Grieve, informed Mr. W. Meldrum, S.M., that he had been instructed by the Minister for Labour to withdraw the charges of illegal striking made against about 120 Blackball miners. " This case was heard some months ago when one man, whose case was taken as a, test, was fined," said Mr. Grieve. "An appeal was lodged, but when it came before the Court at Wellington last week it. was withdrawn. In the circumstances the department will now waive the right to claim the penalty from the men." v