NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10660, 5 August 1920, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Great. building activity is going on in Hamilton at present, and it is announced that over 200 residences are in course of erection.

A most contemptible theft has been reported at Gisborne. The Harbour Board has an ambulance wagon which is not under lock and key on account of the fact that it may be needed urgently at any moment. During tho last row days some mean thief has stolen tho blanket, bandages, and other equipment from the wagon.

The business with which the district Repatriation Board had to deal at its meeting this weok was not heaty. Three applications for subsidised wages and one declined j one request for fees was approved and another refused; two applications for training allowances were granted. In two instances deferred subsidised pay was granted to men who have completed educational training.

"This is not a political platform," said Dr. G. H. Seholefield during a lecture in Christchurch, "but I don't know whether I made it quite clear about indentured labour in Samoa. My own opinion coincides with that of very many others. It is a thing to be avoided, of course, if you can manage it, but I think that at the presont moment it is necessary to save tho natives from something worse, and that the new conditions of the labour will as far as possible eliminate tho immorality attending the whole system."

At a recent meeting of the Iron Trades Industrial Council the following resolution was carried:—"That this meeting, representing the eombinod iron and metal workers of Wellington, sbrongly condemns the action of Mr M. J. Rcardon in his attitude- hefore tho Arbitration Court when opposing tho registration of tho Council Employees' Union.. We „recosm°so' hia (Mr Reardon's) right to iiphold or oppose any union being registered, but wo deplore such bad tactics as thoso adopted by tho above gentleman, who thoroughly deserved tho rebuff Tie received from Mr Justice Stringer. We further urge all unions to join with us in protesting against all such ques-'-onAbla .methods."

A Dominion record price for a bullock, £2O-1, was paid at Addington salcyards (Chrisßchurch) yesterday. The animal weighed 3056 pounds.

For tho past season the of cheese at lhe Ureytowu Dairy factory was over 400 tons. This coming season a 25 per cent, increase is expected.

A large deputation of settlers from tho Ohutu and other blocks will interview tho Prime Minister at 10 a.m. today concerning their disabilities, and other matters in connection with their leases from Maori Laud Boards.

It k notified that a radio station has been opened at Makatea (a French possession in the Paumotu Archipelago). Messages may bo accepted for transmission, via Radio-Awanui, at two shillings per word.

The operations of the workmen on the new State Fire Insurance buildings on Lambton quay draw quite JargeJ audiences throughout each day to witness the lofty electrical crane swinging the cumbersome iron girders into place.

In view of the difficulty of obtaining accommodation the Timaru Presbytery has decided that .it would bo unwise to repeat the invitation ft» the General Assembly of ly2l to meet at Timaru, says a Press Association telegram.

Brigadier-General G. S-. Richardson, 0.8.. C.M.G.. C.8.E., General officer in Charge Administration, lias kindly oonsented to talk to the officers of tho Wellington Garrison Officers' Club on military matters rf interest in the lecture room. Garrison Hall, Wellington, next Friday.

Russell (60) was the warmest place in New Zealand "yesterday. Gisborne (58) was almost as pleasant, while Egmont, Auckland, and Wanganui were but a degree cooler. Wellington, Manukau Heads, Farewell Spit,- Cape Campbell, and Port Chalmers recorded 50. Akaroa lighthouse (42) was the coldest spot iu the Dominion.

A private company, with a capital of i£10,t)00 has been successfully formed locally to import and exploit British film productions. The new company will be under the managing directorship of Mr C. D'Arcy Allen, who has rocently returned fro"m England. The capital has been fully subscribed, and operations are to be commenced forthwith.

The subject of clergymen's stipends was referred to in Auckland by the Anglican Bishop of'Nelson, Dr. \V. C Sadlier, who said that at present no clergyman, in his diocese was receiving loss than £2OO a year. This year the minimum would bo raised to £250, and later it would probably be increased to £3OO. The clergy were also entitled to ta substantial pension on retirement.

In .a discussion on tho salaries of girl clerks, a member - of the Christchurch City Council 'said that an official of the union, which was asking 25s for the first vear for girls, was Tiimself paying his "typist 15s. "He offered her more," said Councillor Sullivan, "and the girl refused it." There was a hearty laugh at this retort, and Councillor Jameson remarked, "Cum grano salis."

A district court-martial will be held at. Ti'oiitham caanp to-morrow, August 6th, for the purpose of trying No. 63206 Pto J. A. North, late E Coy, 31st reinforcement. The president of the court will be Major P. B. Henderson, M.C., N.Z.S.C., and the members, Captain G. Walker, M.8.E., N.Z.S.C., and A. W. Brocks, M.8.E., M.C. (Worcestcr llegiment). Lieut, C. H. G. Davis, N.Z.S.C, has been appointed prosecutor.

The only "x ,assen " ers " on board tho Leitrim, which arrived at Auckland from Liverpool, wore fifteen head of prize cattle, consigned to Hawke's Bay, and one Shetland pony of raro blood. These animals were accommodated on deck in specially-constructed shelters, which did not prove equal to tho strain of an Atlantic crossing. Tho shelters were carried away, and the ship's creiv were treated to the suootacle of a valuable Polled Angus bull wandering about the deck with heaty seas washing overboard.

There were 6205 inquiries made during 1919, abates the report of tho Postal Department, for postal packets alleged to. have been posted and not delivered. In 3409 of the inquiries—more than one-half of the total number —tho investigation made by tho department resulted in the missing art'icles being traced or accounted for. Those may be summarised as follow: —Sender responsible for delay, 668; addressee responsible for delav, 050; post office responsible for delav, 407; no delay, or responsibility not "fixed, 1354.

Tho special conference to consider the demands of the Merchant Service Guild for new conditions covering small boat 6 trading out of Wellington was continued under tho chairmanship of Mr P. Hally, of the Board of Trade, who has been given power of decision. The representatives of the shipping companies are Captain Petersen, Messrs W. Rogers, F. W. Grainger, J. M. Deck, W. E. Fulton, and W. Pryor. The guild is represented by Captain Molndoe, Messrs G. T. Nation. A. G. Baggat, J. J. Smith, end A. Jackson.

At the last meeting of the Council of Education it waa asserted by some members that grave mistakes had been made' in the university examination papers. Inquiry has been made, and tho university authorities haye ascertained that there was _no misprint an tho Latin matrioulatdon paper. There had admittedly been confusion with another examination, which had nothing to do with the university. Another complaint was that two problems in arithmetic wcro incapable of solution. This, it is_ submitted, was not in accordance with fact, for the problems, admittedly difficult, were actually answered by some candidates.

A unique picture, and a striking illustration of the rapid strides made in photographic art, js on view in the window of Waterworth's, Ltd., 25G, IJambton quay. It is a group photograph of some- 700 officers and n.c.o.'s of the British forces undergoing tuition at the Aldershot physical training and bayonet fighting school during the 40th course in 1917. It is essentially an Imperial picture, for every British country from which came fighting units in the late war is represented. In addition to the English, Scottish, and Irish icpresentatives, there nro men from Ii din, Canada, Atistavlia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland', and even smaller areas. The photograph is an excellent one, is not an enlargement, but one of the original prints from tho film, and was taken by a specially-constructed revolving camera. Tt was presented to a I\ew Zealand officer, now in Wellington, at the conclusion of the course.