LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18929, 29 January 1925, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Applications by mortgagors for extensions under the Mortgages Final Extension Act close on Saturday. So far 57 such applications have been filed at the Auckland Supreme Court, of which 16 were received yesterday. Applications will be considered in Chambers by a Judge of the Supremo Court, the obligation being on the mortgagor to show cause why the protection of the moratorium should be extended. There was an improvement in the weather conditions in Auckland yesterday. The day was fine, with a light breeze from the north-east. The sky at times was dull, and threatening, and showers fell in the evening. Judging by the barometer the conditions «r:; more promising. The glass, after being very low from Monday, rose steadily from Tuesday evening, and fast night the reading was 29.90 in,, with indications of steadying. Beef was penned in large numbers at the Westfield fat stock market yesterday and prices were easier, especially for cow beef. Extra choice ox beef brought up to 34s per 1001b., a decrease of Is on the previous week's figure. Calves, penned in average numbers, sold at recent quotations. Runners realised from £3 10s to £4 4s. Sheep were also penned m average numbers, but values were easier. Heavy prime wethers made £1 17s to £1 18s 6d, as against £2 Is 6d to £2 4s 3d. Heavy prime lambs realised £1 13s 3d to £1 17s, an average increase of about 3s each. Pigs came forward in average numbers and prices showed a reduction. Choppers made up to £3 10s. The stuffiness of the Newmarket Post Office was adversely commented upon at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening. One councillor likened it to the Black Hole of Calcutta. It was decided to write to the Post and Telegraph Department requesting it to expedite the alterations promised. " Twelve pennies were the only booty of some person who recently gained entrance to the Auckland Meat Company's shop at the Remuera tram terminus by breaking open a door at the rear of the premises. There was no other money in the till. Nothing else was disturbed. The prompt action of a tramway motorman brought to an end an unpleasant experience for a man who was leading a horse with the rope twisted around his right wrist at Grey Lynn terminus on Tuesday evening. The horse became frightened and dragged the man for about 50yds. along the road. The motorman speeded up his car and orj reaching the runaway horse ho jumped off and caught it. The man in charge of the horse received bruises and abrasions, but was otherwise unhurt. A number of youths who added to the din in Queen Street on New Year s Eve with toy detonators were brought before Mr. J. W. Poynton. S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Six offenders were each fined £2 for the use of " throwdowns," and another youth who exploded a cracker in Quay Street was fined £l.

A conference of representatives of the rotary .clubs of New Zealand will be opened in Wellington on March 6. The conference will continue until March 9, and each day will bo fully occupied, a complete programme having been drawn up by the officials of the Wellington Club. The opening morning will be devoted to conference business, and at 12.45 p.m. there will be a luncheon, at which the speakers will be the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and the Mayor of Wellington. Saturday morning and Monday will be devoted to conference business, and on Sunday evening there will be a special Rotarian service in St. Peter's Church. Arrangements have also been made for numerous sports fixtures.

The scarcity of mutton birds in JToveaux Strait at this time of the year is causing the mutton-birders to fear that a bad season will follow. Feed is plentiful along the coast, and the absence of the birds is a mystery. A catch of blue cod in the middle of Foveaux Strait recently were full of whitebait, and sardines are also plentiful at sea, but there are no birds to drive them ashore.

On the face of it your position is redi.culous," said Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., at the Stratford Court on Monday, when a judgment debtor admitted that he was facing a liability of between £3OO and £4OO and trying to keep a wife and four children on wages of 13s a day. "Your position is so impossible that I can only advise you to file in bankruptcy," continued the magistrate. The magistrate pointed out that the Bankruptcy Court existed for honest, although unfortunate men, to make a clear start in life, as well as for other purposes. The debtor replied that he would like to be adjudged bankrupt l>v one of his creditors, for he could not find sufficient money to pay filing fees. The case was adjourned for a month to enable the debtor to confer with the assignee.

A large number of the members of the Ngati Kahuhumu met at Hastings last. Saturday to discuss the recent reported utterances of Ratana in regard to an alleged Maori covenant and the relations between the Maoris and the Japanese. The meeting was presided over ,by the Rev. F. A. Bennett. Some remarks condemnatory of Ratana's actions were made by Mr. Bennett, and were endorsed by other natives, including Mr. P. H. Tomoana, chairman of the local Maori Council. Next Saturday another meeting will be held to discuss the matter more fully. It is hoped to make this meeting tally representative of the East Coast Maoris.

A frank confession of profound ignorance of musical matters was made by 'Sir Francis Bell when addressing the conference of the New Zealand Society of Music Teachers which opened in Wellington yesterday. Sir Francis said that he doubted if any members of the present Government had , the qualifications which would entitle them to speak at the conference table with any degree of authority. The man who was really fitted to do that, he added, was the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Wilford, who was qualified to express really valuable opinions on the subject of music.

"The people of Southland have not done a tenth of what they should do in the planting of trees throughout the province," said Sir Robert Stout, in a speech last week. " Scotland made a great recovery from poverty and famine in the 18th century," he continued, "and one of their methods of regaining prosperity was the planting of trees, which in time supplied tlieni with shelter for their stock, with timber for their homes, and with fuel. I think that the planting of trees should be carried out on a large scale in Southland."