NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10846, 11 March 1921, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) has given notice to ask the Prime Minister if he intends to make provision for the continuance of the increased bonuses granted to old-age pensioners. Six prisoners who have pleaded guilty in the lower court to various criminal offences will be brought before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) -at the Supreme Court this morning for sentence. Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) gave notice in the House of Representatives- yesterday to ask the Prime Minister if it was the intention of the Government to continue tfie bonus to superannuated civil servants which expires this month. Mr J. A. Young (Waikato)- gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday to ask whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce legislation this session for the purpose of stamping out fire-blight-; and, if so, would such legislation include provision for compensating orchardista and others whose .property was destroyed by order of the inspectors of the Agricultural Department.

An order that John B. Fitzgerald shall, -by Saturday next, deliver u-p possession of premises, in Lambton Quay, which he has for some years occupied as a motor-garage and engineering workshop, was made yesterday by Sir Robert Stent, Chief Justice, in Chambers at the Supreme Court, on the motion of Frederick Spencer Easton (Mr C. H. Treadwell), a mortagee in the estate.

Two letters from Government departments were read at a recent meeting of the Matamata Town Board, incidentally, one after another. The wording was nearly the same, and, as usual, so nearly non-committal as to cause <a member to remark: ‘ ‘They must get them printed in thousands.” A laugh went round the table, but the letters were not commented upon further, except with the resigned statement, “We’ll have to wait.”

The chairman (Mr Barclay) of the Hutt County Council, at the last meeting said that as Councillor Welch Pad disposed of his land in the county it was doubtful if he could continue to hold office, especially as his name Sad been removed from the rate-roll. Other councillors held the same view, but it was finally agreed that Councillor Welch retain has seat till the Valuation Roll was amended.

A Press Association telegram from Wanganui states that Mr J. A. Doherty, of Wellington, one of the directors of the Wanganui Woollen Mills, Ltd., is at present in England on private business, but intends to spend a considerable amount of time investigating modern systems of wool manufacture, plant, etc. The directors intend to withhold the placing of orders for plant until the market steadies. It is not intended to make further calls in the meantime.

“The Church should set out to tune the pulpits and the local Parliaments by the brethren of God. We should take the liquor problem, the labour problem, and the dust problem, get hold of them and form a decision. We should ascertain if the Church shall be organised for peace or war, and then get the spirit of Christ into our systems and actfl. The Rev. H. J. Huf fadme (Christchurch) at the annual sermon of the Congregational Union of New Zealand last night.

At a representative and enthusiastic meeting of the Wellington small shopkeepers, held at Newtown on Tuesday evening, it was decided that those present form themselves into an assocla,., tion, to be termed the “Wellington Small Shopkeepers’ Association.” A committee was set up, with a view to enrolling members and furthering the interests of the association. The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday next, when regulations will be formulated.

“Have you room in your life to assist a sufferer, to help the weak or the aged; or are you so wrapped up in purple pride that you cannot seeP” asked the Rev. H. J. Huffadine in the annual sermon of the Congregational Union last evening. “Does a man realise that his body is what his soul works with.” The preacher went on to say that we became too wrapped up in ourselves to really enjoy life, and our spiritual self had little to do with the people we moved amongst. The majority of people were ‘just shadows flitting across the human pathway’ to ourselves.” A test of time-judging was given during the inquest on George William Bulford, the victim of the railway accident at the Nelson wharf. One of the three men concerned in the accident stated that they had been standing two or three minutes when they were struck by the train. Mr C. R. Fell, who was appearing for the railway department, pressed the- witness oa to the length of time they were standing and eventually submitted the witness to a test. Taking out his watch, Mr Fell asked the -VPitness to say when two minutes had elapsed. “Now,” said the witness, after an interval. “Twenty-three seconds,” replied Mr Fell. The coroner remarked that it was very difficult to judge time in sqma circumgfrapcgg. ;

A proclamation in regard to the taking of additional land at Carterton and Napier for the purposes of the Wellington-Napier railway, is published in yesterday’s “Gazette.”

The Order-in-Council of February sbh, 19X7, prohibiting the importation of electric apparatus known as the \ 10letta high frequency' generator, has been revoked by Order-in-Council gazetted yesterday.

Mr P. Fraser M.P., gave notice yesterday in the House of Representative® to ask the Minister for Railways what was the total amount paid in freight and other charges in respect of the s.s. Waihcra during the time that she was employed in bringing coal to New Zealand for the department.

The Hon. J. G. Coatee (Minister for Public Works) has decided to call another conference of delegates of local bodies concerned in the Electrical Power Board area, to be held in Feilding during the first week of next month. “I am particularly anxious that this matter should be amicably adjusted and trust that niy suggestion will meet with your wishes,” said Mr Coates in a letter to Mr J. Tin kb’ te r. chairman of the Kairanga. County Council.

Speaking in reminiscent vein at- a social evening tendered to the visiting Australian cricketers at Wanganui, jNlr L. Cohen said the birth of Wanganui cricket was at Mars Hill and the game gradually extended into Wanganui. In 1887 a Wanganui team of 22 players defeated a visiting Australian eleven, the histone occasion on which the Australians said if the Wanganui players could travel “and take their ground with them,” they would win a lot of matches.

Speaking of “miracles” in the course of the annual sermon to the Congregational Union of, New Zealand last nighh the Rev. H. J. Huffadine, of the Trinity Congregational Church, Christchurch, said he believed that miracles would become almost fashionable some day. “And why shouldn’t they?” asked the preacher, “if you have got faith enough in your own faith? I am not asking .you if you can do miracles, but there is no valid reason why I should not ask you to.”

The “Westport News” reports:— “Mr W. H. Mclntyre, who has been to Wellington endeavouring to obtain £II,OOO for additions and alterations to the Westport Hospital, has returned. Interviewed on the matter, Mr Mclntyre said that, although he found it extremely difficult *to get money at present, yet he was satisfied with the results. He could not say anything further pending a confidential report, which he would submit to the Buffer Hospital Boardi.”

Regarding a telegram announcing the safety of Mr Samuel Turner and the tourist guides at Milford Sound, a Levin resident who has just, returned from a visit to Milford, states (says the “Chronicle”) that Mr Turner is a well-known climber, and was arranging the ascent of Mount Tu Toko, at Muford, when pur informant was there, lie had the assistance of two surveyors from the Lands and Survey Department, and Guide Milne, of Nelson, formerly of the Mount Cook staff. Mr Turner had very complete arrangemfents made for his task including base and advance camps on Tu Toko.

Completed returns for the recent senior schools examinations show that the Waihi District High School established a record for the Dominion (observes an exchange). Out of 17 pupils from the school who entered for the Public Service examinations, 15 were successful in passing, three of these being very high on the list. Of 10 candidates for tho matriculation examination, eight passed, including three who had attended the school for two years only. One pupil, Dorothy Goodwin, won a senior national scholarship. Twenty out of 24 pupils Trorn the intermediate division gained senior free places, and'all of 10 who entered for the teachers’ partial C and D certificates were successful in passing.

“There is indignation in Westport over the ordering of 150,000 tons of coal from Wales tor New Zealand (saye the Westport “News”). The coast suffered badly during the war, and immediately after it; but has been looking forward to a rapid recovery with more shipping available, but the Government seems to be more intent on importing coal at prohibitive prices from other parts of the world than developing its own coal resources and at the same time bringing additional population to the country. The farming community has suffered a severe set-back, and* it seems as if the powers that be will not be happv until they have also dealt a similar blow to the mining community.”

A man named Francis George Yeats, who was alleged to be a member of a “poker party” on the Wellington-New Plymouth express on December 10 th, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, before Mir Wyvern Wilson, S.M., with a breach of the railway regulations (says an exchange). The principal witnesses were the guard on the train and the ticket inspector, who stated that they saw four men, one of whom was defendant, playing cards for money. The police said that defendant was “the pigeon.” The witnesses claimed £6 expenses, but the magistrate, in inflicting a fine of £l, said all the expenses should not be put on to “the pigeon.” Charges against the other men concerned are pending.

Regarding the future of roads in country districts where the cost of const! uct ion and upkeep is out of proportion to the estimated revenue to be derived from adjacent lands (writes a correspondent), local bodies are paying more and more attention to toll-gates as a means of relieving the local rates for the present-day tendencies of the public for the conveniences of good roads. In discussing the tar-6ealed road loan recently, the Wobdville County Council recommended that the Government he asked to sanction the tollgate scheme in connection with the undertaking. Councillor McFaxlane reminded the meeting that toll-gates had been one of the inducements offered to the ratepayers in voting for the loan. He referred to the present financial stringency as a good argument in ots favour for raising revenue, and he was hopeful that the Minister would consent to tpll-gates in view of the circumstances that had arisen.

As showing how seriously tho refusal of the waterside!-® to' give a guarantee to work overtime when neoessqry is affecting shipping (remarked the “Wanganui Chronicle” of Tuesday), it may be mentioned that the four steamers regularly trading to Patea, have been laid np, and the crews paid off, three of the vessels being at Wellington and one at Patea. Speaking to a “Chronicle” reporter the manager of a company which exports largely, stated that the owner® of Home vessels would not send their steamers to New Zealand while the present uncertainty prevailed. He instanced the case of the s.s. Orari, which recently took three months to load in New Zealand. This vessel usually completed loading in a month. Demurrage and other charge!;, on large fit-earners such as these, ho stated, amounted to between £SOO and £6OO a day, and shipping companies could not be expected to stand these ohajrgOg.,

An interpretation of tho Customs Duties Act in regard to the duty upon various articles is contained in the latest “Gazette.”

The names of the successful candidates in the Plumbers* Board examination, held on November 26th and 27th, 1920, are published in the latest “Gazette,” issued yesterday.

The inquest on the body of the young man Wilfred Checseman, which was recovered at Evans Bay on Wednesday morning, will he held before the coroner, Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at 9.30 this morning.

Over a dozen applications were received for the Hutt County ranger, the fees wanted being as high as £t> per week. Mr Griffith (Upper Hutt) was finally appointed at £4 per week.

An inspiring sermon, constituting tho annual sermon of the Trinity Congregational Union of New Zealand, was delivered -by the Rev. H. J. Huffadine (Christchurch) at The Terrace Congregational Church last evening. The preacher took his sermon from chapter 1 of St. Mark, and dealt feelingly with “our present-day selves and our spiritual neglect.”

Crown lands to the extent of about 2200 acres have been set. apart under proclamation contained in the latest issue of the “Gazette” for selection, by discharged soldiers under tenures in the North Auckland land district. 3636 acres are set aside for general selection on the Mahorihori Block, Pakaumanu survey district, in the Auckland land district.

The total number of arrivals in New Zealand during February were 3468, as compared with 2038 in February, 1920. Of this number, 1053 were from the Australian Commonwealth and 871 from the United Kingdom. The departures totalled 1899, as against 2242 for February, 1920. The arrivals, therefore, exceeded the departures by 1569, In the corresponding month of 1920 there was an excess of departures over arrivals of 154. Tho number of Chinese immigrants was three males and four females. Forty-two males left the Dominion during the month.

It is notified for public information that the Masterton Borough Council has, by special order, declared elderberry (Sambueus niger) to be a noxious weed within the meaning of the Noxious Weeds Act, 1908, in the district under its jurisdiction.