NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8456, 16 June 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The article entitled “ The Proposed ‘Basis of Unity,’ 5 ’ which appeared on page 8 of the “hiew Zealand Times,” is one of a series from the pen of Mr David McLaren. By an unfortunate error the author’s name did not appear, as it should hare done, over the article.

According to the Pohiatua “Herald,” a party of unemployed from Wellington left that town last week to engage in co-operative road works for the Public Works Department in the Pongaroa backblooks.

Very gradually the number of cremations at the municipal crematorium at Karori is growing. There was one cremation there on Saturday, and another is fixed for to-day. This will make a total of eleven for the year, which is reported to be a larger proportion than has previously been registered. Superstition dies hard. A Woodville settler made an agreement for the purchase of a piece of land the other day, and half an hour or so afterwards ho lost a valuable horse. Ho went straight to the agent and wanted to cancel the agreement on the ground that the loss of the horse was a sure sign that he had done wrong.

Thus the “Bnller Miner” :—“Some time ago when our reporter was having a look over a large sawmilling plant he noticed a man in. the distance trying to spur on a huge draught horse which was harnessed to a loaded trolley. He could not distinguish all that the man said to the horse, but he did happen to catch the words ‘Get up, yon big black liarl’ ”

“As I Have remarked over and over again, and as other judges have pointed out, there is always utter confusion arising out of land exchanges. It is a bastard form of land agreement, and no end of mischief arise from it, and more mischief will arise before we are very much older.”—Mr Justice Chapman during the hearing of a dispute at Wanganui. During the fortnight from May 16th to May 31st, 1913, there were exported from Wanganui 325 cwt of cheese, valued at £912; 1538 cwt of beef, valued at £1973 ; 7972 carcases of mutton, valued at £6110; 13,942 carcases of lamb, valued at £9823; 28,080 skins, of all kinds, valued at £2857 ; 8 tons of tallow, valued at £245 ; 208,6991 b of wool, valued at £7853. While visiting Geraldine last week, Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., was met by settlers from the Tripp Settlement, who asked him to use his best efforts to obtain for them a rebate of their rent, as they considered the rentals too high for them to farm their sections profitably. Mr Nosworthy promised to lay the matter before the Prime Minister, but could hold out no hope that their request would Jbe granted. He pointed out if the interests on the capital value were reduced it would mean that the Government would have to write off a large sum of money.

This paragraph from a Marlborough paper will not please proud Wellington mothers: —“Rather a pretty compliment was paid to Marlborough on the occasion of the visit of the schoolchildren to the big warship at Picton. A. Blenheim school committeeman, proud-of his charges, remarked to an interested sailorman : ‘These are the future men and women of New Zealand.’ “Yes,’ replied the son of the sea; ‘and they are the finest lot of youngsters put aboard the warship yet, and I have b.een with her round the coast. He also added that the ‘weediest lot were from Wellington.’ ” . The New Zealand Pharmacy Board has communicated with the Press Association expressing its strong opinion that the name of the particular poison employed by snicides should be withheld in published reports, and that instead of the specific poison used being named, a general term be employed, such as “disinfectant” or “coal tar product.” The resolution has particular reference to the large number of poisoning cases reported of late years, and it was stated that the suggestion had been tried in Victoria with distinctly appreciable results. It is probable that the board will draw the attention of the Health Department to the suggestion.

An impression has been current that the P. and O. Company intended to reduce its service of steamers from Auckland during the coming summer months. This has been due to the fact that, so far, only four vessels have been announced to leave the port in the sumer, as compared with six last season. On inquiries being made from the agents, Messrs Russell and Somers, on the matter, it was stated that the present arrangements were not final. It was quite likely that more vessels would be put on. The time-table might be subject to alterations, and it was too far ahead to say what the March or April steamers would be. The four sailing dates already mentioned were the only information they had. It did not follow that the time-table was complete. It was reported the other day that the Mayor of Gisborne had discovered a new method of “raising the wind” by inviting the public to deposit their savings with the council. Sir C. M. Gray, ex-Mayor of Christchurch, who is at present in Auckland, states that in 1900 he got a clause giving this power to boroughs embodied in the Municipal Corporations Act, and that acting on that authority the Christchurch City Council has practically wiped out its overdraft. The council accepts money on deposit, and considerable sums are deposited with the council at low interest while the money is awaiting permanent investment. By this means the council secures money at about half the rate of interest charged by banks on overdrafts, and as the money is available for the depositors practically at call, the system has worked excellently, to the mutual advantage of the council and the depositors.

For ways that are dark and tricks that are rain, the Masterton slygrogger is peculiar, so says the “Wairarapa Age,* 1 and continues; Sergeant Miller recently visited a house in which four dozen of creature comfort had been procured a day or two previously. He asked what had become of it. The owner of the house declared to having consumed nine bottles himself in one day, and to being assisted by a lady and gentleman friend to dispose of about another dozen on the following day. “But where is the balance?” asked the sergeant. The householder conducted him proudly to a room in which were stored nineteen bottles, packed in straw and carefully capsuled with tinsel. The Sergeant called for a cork-screw, which was immediately forthcoming. Bottle after bottle was opened, but each contained nothing more intoxicating than a quart of water. The man could not offer a reasonable explanation, and so he was hauled before the court and fined £5 for keeping liquor for sale.

A large consignment of frozen Una cod was taken to Sydney by the Wu* lochra on Friday evening, one nr™ alone sending 550 cases of fish. It is reported that the export is a growing one, and that there is a big demand in Australia for the fish at high prices.

One of the matters to be discussed at the special meeting of the City Council on Thursday night is the present position of the Technical School. A deputation from the School Board will wait on the council to urge the necessity of providing new buildings on » new site.

The long arm of the law again. In 1895, says an exchange, a warrant was issued in Invercargill for the arrest of a young man who was wanted in connection with an affiliation case. The defendant disappeared and no trace of him could ho found. Quito recently, however, information has been received that the “wanted” man had been for eighteen years living in a little village in the backblooks of Poverty Bay. After all these years ho has been brought to book, and will be called upon to answer the charge.

The question of Miramar amalgamate ing with Greater Wellington is at present under consideration. The Mayor of Miramar (Mr F. Townsnd) discussed the matter with the Mayor of Wellington (Sir J. P. Luke) recently, and the latter suggested that a statement giving Miramar’s obligations, liabilities, eto., should be drawn up for presentation to the City Council. Mr Luke thought that when the time was opportune it would be very desirable to go on with the negotiations as the interests of Miramar were identified with, the interests of Wellington. Thera were, however, severadl important factors to be considered before thin could be taken.

During the last financial year 2340 motor-cars and 2665 motor cycles were imported into New Zealand, the total value, including parts and materials, being- £777,278. Of the cars, 982 came from the United States of America, 697 from the United Kingdom, and 532 from Canada. The Mother Country got a better share of the motor cycle trade, 2523 cycles being of British make, and only 120 from the United States. Only one-fourth of the total value was subject to duty, and the duty paid amounted to £37,916. There is apparently still a good demand for the ordinary bicycle, as the year’s imports number 10,510 machines, of a total value, including parts and materials, of; £175,971.

A conference has been held by the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke), the chairman of the reserves committee (Councillor Frost), the city engineer (Mr W. H. Morton), and the superintendent of the reserves (Mr G. P. Glen) regarding the celebration of Arbor Day on July 16th. It was unanimously decided to hold one civic function on section 48 of the Town Belt, at the rear of Victoria College. The children of the Terrace school will be invited to attend, also children from other schools and the public generally The idea is to plant a few trees and look after them. Several other schools will carry out tree-plant-ing programmes on ground adjacent to the schools, and' trees will be supplied by the reserves department. The Mayor is convening a meeting of the chairmen of the various school committees and head teachers to decide on a general scheme for celebrating Arbor Day.

Another attempt is to be made by the Napier Chamber of Commerce to have the East Coast railway prosecuted from the Napier end. Eastings, Dknnevirke, Gisborne, and Wairoa peoplo are being asked to co-operate with Napier in sending a deputation to Bee the Prime Minister and the Minister *of Public Works on the matter. In moving that t.hia be done, at the last' meeting of the Napier Chamber, Mr O. Ellison said he thought the time had arrived to wake up the Minister again, and as the finances of the country were easier, to get something done for the East Coast railway. To do this he Believed they would have to go back to the same old procedure of the deputation, and he thought that the chamber should send another deputation down to Wellington to see Mr Massey and Mr Fraser as soon as it was deemed desirable.

The Mayor informed a reporter on Saturday that he had in view a general scheme for the improvement of the city which would necessitate an appeal to the ratepayers for a loan. This would not come within the present financial year, as he had pledged himself against such a procedure. He, however, thought a proposal should be formulated so that the council could go to the ratepayers early in the next financial year with a definite scheme. The loan would include amounts for tramway alterations such as the deviation to the new central railway station, the Constable street-Kilbirnie loop (which was urgently needed to cope with the increasing traffic to the districts lying beyond Mount Victoria), and additional accommodation at the Town Hall for the municipal officers and staff. There were a number of more or less urgent works to he considered. and when the money market eased and conditions were more favourable the citizens,_ in his opinion, would do well to sanction a loan.

“ The local money market shows very little sign of any tendency to ease, and the supply of funds available for investment of all kinds remains veryrestricted (sayg the “ Trade Review ” for June). The volume of our exports has been very well maintained so far, and the prices realised are generally very satisfactory. For the year to March 31st the total of exports constituted a record, the increase over the previous year being £3,640,000. For the two months since then there is a further increase of £39,000, and the funds from the realisation of these exports are coming in to assist the money market. On the other hand, our imports are still maintaining a very high level, which does not show any sign of reduction, and this means calls on the funds of the banks for financing them. The ever-increasing trade of the Dominion requires increased capital for all the various trades and enterprises, and constitutes a continual call on the general supply of funds.”

Commercial travellers will bo inter* ested to know that Messrs Munt, Cottrell and Co., Ltd., Forwarding Agents, have taken the top flat of Nathan’s Buildings, opposite G.P.O.J as sample rooms. Bight is a special feature of these rooms, and they are fitted with every possible convenience, telephone, lavatories, gas fires, and electric lighting. Call and inspect. •

In its disagreeable moods the weather is most injurious to the Complexion. Mrs Rolleston recommends “Masseine” as the Best Face Cream on the market. Price 3s 6d, posted in plain wrapper, 3s 9d, Conscientious advice and treatment given on all matters pertaining to the Complexion. Address, 256, Lambton quay. Telephone 1599. , •