LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18694, 28 April 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A large quantity of southern mail matter will be delivered at Auckland today, having come from Wellington by various routes. The Flora, which arrived from Wellington direct yesterday morning, had about 200 bags of newspapers,

parcels, etc. •'Another 150 bags of letters, etc., were brought via the West Coast by the Rarawa, which arrived at Onehunga yesterday morning.

The Avondale Jockey Club opened its Autumn meeting on Saturday, and though racegoers had to find their way to the course without railway facilities there -was a large attendance. Lady Jellicoe was present. In the early part of the day the weathor was quite pleasant, but rain subsequently set in and the concluding stage of the gathering had to bo taken under wintry conditions. The Hobsonville Hurdle Race was responsible for a sensational surprise. Karamu, a gelding owned by Mr. W. J. Hawkins, and one of the greatest outsiders, won the race, and the dividend paid is one of the largest recorded in the Dominion. The totalisator investments during the day amounted to £44,809 10s, which represents a decrease of £2623 10s on tho sum handled on the corresponding day last year.

The Arbitration Court will open its Auckland sitting at the Supreme Court this morning at 10 a.m. Mr. Justice Frazer and the other members of tho Court arrived from Wellington, via New Plymouth, yesterday. Applications for employment received at the Government Labour Office in Auckland during hist week numbered 127. Of the total, 88 were classified as fit for heavy work. All trades were represented, there being no outstanding evidence of extensive unemployment, except as regards labourers. During the week situations were found for six labourers, and one each of the following: Cook, farm hand, brush hand, garage assistant, and gardener. Visitors to Purewa cemetery on Anzac Day are loud in their complaints of the neglected appearance of this well-known God's acre. It is stated that a rank overgrowth of weeds hides many a graveplot, while the paths are very much neglected, grass and weeds vieing with each other for the mastery. One man stated that lit, had been regular in his visits for over two years, and the cemetery appeared to him more desolate-looking every time he visited it.

The party who remained to strike camp at the Ngaruawahia Christian Convention made a novel return trip to Auckland last Friday. Having loaded their bents aboard the river steamer, they hired the steamer's dinghy and proceeded down the Waikato River from Ngaruawahia at 4 p.m., arriving at Mercer at two o'clock next morning. The night was dark, foggy, and frosty, and the river, which passes (through swampy country a large part of the way, is not easy to navigate. On three occasions the dinghy grounded on mudbanks, and the occupants sought assistance from the shore twice. They will not readily repeat the adventure. The party worked out their return railway tickets by sleeping in a railway carriage, and motored to Auckland without further mishap. The Taxation Commission which has been appointed by the Government to inquire into the present system of land and income taxation in New Zealand, will commence its Auckland enquiries on May 8. The sittings will be held in St. Andrew's Hall. About £300 has been raised by the people in the Waimarino district towards the cost of a war memorial. At a public meeting a few days ago, disappointment was expressed that so small a sum should have been raised, and it was decided to extend the time for receiving subscriptions by three months. A previous decision to erect a memorial library at Raetihi was cancelled.

So acute is the water shortage in Ashbnrton East, which area is mainly dependent on tank supply, says the Ashburton Guardian, that more than one husband has found it expedient to send the wife and family away. To borrow was next door to impossible, as practically everyone in the neighbourhood is more or less "in the same boat." A good rain has been urgently needed for some time, but up till the end of last week it had not fallen.

'' I only had a few drinks, Your Worship, and I am in employment; I work at the waterworks," pleaded a defendant at the Magistrate's Court in Wellington last Saturday, jvhen lie was charged with insobriety. "If you had stuck at the waterworks you would not have got drunk," said Mr. C. R. Walker, S.M., drily, and even the defendant joined in the laugh that followed.

In a report to the Minister in charge of publicity, Hon. G. J. Anderson, Mr. H. T. B. Drew, Government Publicity Officer, who is at present developing channels of Dominion publicity in London, states that there exists in England just now an abnormal demand for literature and information generally in regard to New Zealand. Necessarily, with the concentration of all activities in the Dominion upon exhibition requirements, so far as the production of literature, photographs, and films is concerned, ordinary supplies have, for the time being, been somewhat limited, and Mr. Drew states it is taxing the resources of the High Commissioner's office at present to supply the demands that are being made. When he wrote from London, 30 sets of lantern slides were in circulation throughout the United Kingdom. These were used by approved lecturers, many of them New Zealanders, who were giving their services gratuitously, and some were on loan to headmasters of schools.

During ploughing operations in a paddock .near Cliristchurch two skeletons were found. One was very much broken up by the plough, but the other was unearthed in very fair condition. It was in a sitting position, with knees bent up toward the chin, the usual method of Maori burial. Other skeletons have from time to time been brought to light in the vicinity. Tradition tells of a great battle between Maori tribes having been fought in the neighbourhood, the native village of Manuka being destroyed by tiro invaders. On charges of false declarations for tho purpose of securing an old-age pension, an old Maori named Prlia Te Retin was recently before the Court at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, and was ordered to pay costs ss, and to come up for sentence when called upon. It was stated that he was worth £1000, instead of £6, with three horses, which he had declared to he the total of his possessions. His pension was cancelled some time ago. For the first time for some years the port of Timaru has been landing wheat instead of loading it. The steamer Kauri, was there 'last week, jvas discharging 28,000 bags of Australian grain from Geelong, for local mills. It is understood that there will be altogether 27 shipments coming to New Zealand, two of that number being expected at Timaru.