LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19456, 12 October 1926, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Through the fusing of a wire a fivoseater motor-car, owned by Messrs. Warren and Company, engineers, and driven by Mr. T. Muir, caught fire in Ligar Place early yesterday morning. With the aid of an extinguisher the City Fire Brigade confined the damage to the wiring and dashboard. ' A seaman on the Hororata celebrated his arrival in New Zealand yesterday morniug by christening himself in the chilly waters of the Waitemata. In some inexplicable fashion ho fell from the deck into the sea, but his header, judging from the splash, was certainly not of tho neat variety. An unaccomplished diver, his swimming also appeared to be somewhat at fault and Mr. R. Woods, harbourmaster's foreman, who was on the wharf at the time, dived to the rescue. After a little trouble ho managed to haul the swimmer on shore, dripping and shivering but otherwise none the worse for his immersion. For 15 years past the annual reunions of tho Old Colonists' Association have been brightened by a little presentation ceremony to which all look forward with interest. Thus is tho handing of a cheque for £5, under the terms of the will of the late Mr. James McLachlan, to the oldest surviving descendant of the passengers by tho ship Brilliant. This honour has fallen year by year to Mr. James Bain, who was born at Cornwallis Settlement in 1843, and is 'how in his 84th year. The presentation took place in the time-honoured way at yesterday's reunion, the recipient being accorded a hearty round of applause as ho stepped forward briskly to receive the cheque, and the hearty congratulations of the Mayor, by whom the presentation was made. The opinion that if good leaders were appointed to negotiate for either side the coal strike in England would be settled, was expressed yesterday by Mr. B. S. Rowntree, managing director of Rowntree and Company, York, England, who is a passenger by the Niagara to Sydney. Ho said he did not think Mr. Cook, tho miners' leader, had any bad intentions, but he was not the man to deal with the situation. The trouble was that ho talked wildly to the miners for two years and then when the trouble came and he tried to reason with them tney would not listen to him. An animated discussion on the question of tarring a certain footpath took place at the meeting of tho Onehunga Borough Council last evening. Mr. T. R. Gilbert, chairman of the Works Committee, said the committee was actuated not so much by the immediate urgency as by the fact that the ratepayers in the neighbourhood kept the grass perfect on the road in front of their residences, and he thought this should be officially recognised by the council. If any other ratepayer criticised the council's action in giving special attention to these paths, which I were already in fair order, he would at once answer that if thev did the same they could have" their frontages tarred also. "Their frontages are an absolute picture," he concluded. Mr. W. C. Coldicutt went further, and said the residents set such a standard that he xvould tar tho whole block, and on his motion it was decided to tar Tiwai Road, from Turama Road to Campbell Road, and also Campbell Road, from Tiwai Road to Rongo Road. A denial that the Reform Party had lapsed into a state of lethargy because of a long term in office, was made yesterday by Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, speaking at Kaukapakapa. The Minister said it was often contended by the Government's opponents that the party had been in power too long, but that was not so. No member of the House bad held a seat before 1908, and had sat in the House ever since. The Prime Minister had entered politics in 1911, the same year as the speaker. Mr. Anderson said he felt honoured that he was speaking in his chief's electorate as, ever since they had first entered Parliament, they had been close friends. He could assure his hearers that no man was more energetic in looking after the interests of his. own electorate and tho whole country than Mr. Coates. He was a young and capable man leading a young and virile party. "It was the general opinion while I was there that New Zealand had tho best exhibit at the Canadian Exhibition at Toronto," said Mr. Frank Clark, wool buyer, who returned by the Niagara yesterday after a tour abroad. He added that New Zealand's exhibit was excellent, and one of which the Dominion might well be proud. There were courts from all countries, including the United States. It, is not generally believed thai stewards on steamers object to carrying the. luggage of passengers, yet among their demands before tho Arbitration Court yesterday was one to the effect that luggage should be handled by employees only on the deck of a vessel, and that all heavy baggage should be hoisted into the hold. Captain R. C. Hammond, for the Northern Steamship Company, respondent in the dispute, strongly resisted the proposal. "We do not wish to see ladies, and old people struggling up a gangway with luggage," he said, " nor do we believe that the men in our employ wish such a tiling. It is not part of their ordinary duty, but they generally get remuneration for it, and we object to anything in the award to prevent them from helping passengers with luggage." Mr. J. Lowe, superintendent providore, in evidence, said the men rather sought tho work. The notj-'S of. a cuckoo were heard by Mr. Aubrey Chitty, at Hamilton last Friday, and at Raglan on Saturday. This is the first time the presence of the cuckoo has been reported in those districts this year. The first petition under the act of last session for a new transport service has been lodged by 242 residents of the Papanni district, telegraphs our Christchureh correspondent. The petitioners ask for the establishment cjf a. motor-omnibus service to and from the city. " The hard work your pioneers did in the early days could not have done them any harm," remarked the Hon. G. J. Anderson yesterday in a speech at Kaukapakapa, in referring to the development. of tho' district and tho longevity of the early settlers. "If a little of that pioneer spirit could bo absorbed by some of those gentlemen who have waited upon mo in the past few weeks in my capacity of Minister of Labour, they would not be in the towns looking for work. If they could take hold of some of that grit they would all be out in the country."