LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Marama y sailed ; from Sydney for Wellington at 1 p.m. yesterday, states a Press Association cablegram.

The large number of passengers who arrived by the Makora yesterday resulted in last evening's Main Trunk express being ; somewhat larger , than is usual for Fridays, no fewer than 350 people travelling by it. The train consisted of four first and four second-class carriages and three sleepers, which, . with the usual ladies' car and postal and luggage vans, made a total of 14 cars. * The New Zealand Victoria League Conference in Wellington last week forwarded by cablegram a message of loyalty to the fifing and Queen. Mr. W. J. Napier, who presided at the conference, yesterday received from the Governor-General a telegram stating that he was requested to convey an expression of Their Majesties' appreciation of the message. The weather at Auckland yesterday was very changeable. Tho wind blew strongly from the north and the sky was very dull and threatening. The weather became showery toward 5 p.m. and the wind changed to the north-west, dying away to a light breeze. An hour later the weather cleared and remained fine up to a late hour. The barometer, which registered 30.20 in. on Wednesday night, had fallen to 29.65 in. by 5 p.m. ..yesterday and remained practically steady at the latter reading at hiidnight.

A good supply of fish has been maintained in Auckland this week, the weather having aided the trawlers to obtain good catches. Schnapper has comprised the bulk of the hauls, and most of the trawling has been carried out in the Gulf. • - •

"The boom in real estate in New:. Zealand at the very peak was ridiculously quiet when ' compared with what is taking place in Southern California," said Mr. Wyndham P. Hopkins, of Auckland, who returned by the R.M.S. Makura yesterday after an absence of nearly two years in Great Britain, the Continent and North America. When in Los Angeles Mr. Hopkins was amazed at the great activity in the land selling business, fleets of char-a-bancs being engaged daily running the people 50 miles out of the city absolutely free on the off-chance of-mak-ing a sale. The demand for all classes of labour throughout America was equally amazing, and he had been assured by contractors that in New York and Chicago plasterers were being paid as much as £27 a week. *

The desire of many English school teachers to obtain positions in the Dominions and colonies was mentioned yesterday by Mr. vW. McCoy, Director of

Education for South Australia, who is a through passenger far Australia by the R.M.S. Makura after attending the Imperial Education Conference in London Air. McCoy engaged 70 teachers for service under his Government, and he speaks of them as being of the best type and well certificated. There seemed to him to be a large surplus of teachers in England and in calling applications for the positions open in his Str'e he received applications froirt over 300 persons, including women. However, he was authorised to take only single men.

The question of. establishing trade relations with the East, particulary with Java and Singapore, is closely bound up with the provision of adequate and direct steamer service. This point , was raised at the reception to the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, tendered by the Auckland Industrial Association yesterday, when it was suggested that the Government should take steps to see what arrangements could be made for regular communication. It was further proposed that the Government should make a substantial contribution to

ward the cost of sending a commission of business men to Java with a comprehensive exhibit of Dominion products for display. at the various fairs to be held in Java next year. The M'Yister promised to investigate the possibility ol! Government assistance in both projects.

"I think before we purchase any more motor-trucks we should make every inquiry to see if we cannot get one of an English make to suit our purpose," remarked Mr. W. Carr Rollett, at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council on Thursday evening, when a proposal came before that body to purchase a truck of American make. The speaker said he had heard users of trucks say that an English truck was worth three of any American truck. Other members of the council agreed that preference should be given to a truck of British make. Mi*. F. A. de la Mare said that even if it cost a little more money, a truck of English make should be purchased, not only on account of its greater durability, but also because America had not 'played the game" with reparations. The matter was referred back to a committee with a recommendation to favour the purchase of an English truck.

The wholesale and retail prices of butter were advanced by one penny per pound in Wellington yesterday. .

The fear that action may be taken by the City Council to drain St. John's Lake told interfere with the water supply for Onehunga and Otahuhu was expressed in a letter received by the Otahuhu Borough Council from the Onehunga Council. The latter body requested the Otahuhu Council to * co-operative in ' any action considered desirable to prevent the. lake being '■ drained. It was decided to accede to the request.' As a result of representations by a number of residents it was also decided to consider the matter of installing a chlorinating plant for the water supply.

The Board of Health is to discuss at its next meeting, on December 5, certain proposals which have been -made for dealing with sexual degenerates. "It has already been announced that the Government is appointing a committee to report on the question of segregation, or surgically treat, ing those who commit sexual crimes, especially against children.

A rather unfavourable opinion of gome of the freezing, companies of the Dominion was expressed by on shareholder at the annual meeting of the Wellington Meat Export Company. The chairman, in excusing the company's own unfavourable trading returns, said that many other ireeziug companies were in a very much worse off position. Yes," replied the shareholder, " but some of those meat companies never had any chance from the start, and every thinking person knew it. They existed simply for the ; glorification of the directors, and with the first breath of bad times they are going out." r

At a meeting in Wellington to protest against the proposed City Council by-law prohibiting pillion-riding, incidental reference was made to the proposal to prohibit motors proceeding at the rate of more than four miles an hour in certain of the city streets. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. Ashcroit .Edwards, said that it seemed that they were rapidly . getting back to the old days when a man with a red flag had to walk in front of every motor. ..But the further the council went m that direction the better, because tin more quickly and more certainly it would disgust the public , and compel the abolition of all- absurd restrictions against motorists and motor-cyclists.

During the hot weather of the past few days in Christchurch hoses were plied on garden', everywhere, with the result that an abnormal demand was - made on the city water supply. On Monday the reservoir was reduced to a dangerously low level. It is intended to keep a watch on the amount of water that is being drawn through the mains, and if the volume is found to be excessive the summary method of cutting off the supply , will be adopted. On Tuesday the demand vas not quite so heavy as on Monday, arid no action was necessary. The City Council has intimated that ; proceedings will be taken against fHVMM fonug wasting water.