NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10849, 15 March 1921, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Hauraki Plains County carried unimproved value rating by 30-'1 for and 13 against, says a. Press Association telegram from Thames. -

At Trentham camp there is a museum of small arms, machine-guns, shells, and cartridges. It is an extremely interesting collection, and its existence is mainly due to the efforts of Major Henderson, the gunnery instructor .

It is stated that in the “camp” at Featherston there are a number of billiard-tables that- are going fast to ruin. Through the want of attention moths are destroying the cloth, and the sun is playing havoc with the polished woodwork.

The biggest bullock that- has been killed at the Taranaki Farmers’ Meat Company’s works was the one that took second prize in the class for fat bullocks at the Taranaki Agricultural Society’s show this week. The dressed weight was 13781 b.

The gas mains in some of the streets of Petone have been found to he too small, and the council has decided to replace them by larger pipes as opportunity permits. It has beqn pointed out that galavnised pipes have risen in pricerffrom £6 to £26 per ton.

It has been estimated that approximately two thousand persons journey from the city each Sunday by train and motor-tractipn to various points in the Hutt valley for the purpose of picking blackberries. The most favoured resorts are Whiteman’s valley, Wainui-o-mata, and Mangaxoa.

The markers at the Dominion Rifle Association meeting at Trentham were principally composed of Maoris from Wairarapa. The natives did the work entrusted to them efficiently, with- one or two slight exceptions, which were due in each case to a misunderstanding.

The Postal authorities are advised that the Canadian Highlander sailed from Sydney at 6 p.m. on the 10th inst for Wellington. She carries 280 bags of mails, including eight bags from the East, and one from Africa. The Waitern ata left Newcastle on the 11th inst. for AVellington. She carries 15 bags of mails.

'Particularly pleasing were members of the No. 17 Company’s Brass Band (Boys’ Institute) in their march through the city at the head of a parade of Senior Cadets on Saturday. The juveniles were greatly admired, and played many creditable selections* which reflects credit- on the bandmaster, Mr A. Iremonger..

There are hundreds of Army transport vehicles stored at Trentham camp, which would prove extremely useful to farmers. The vehicles axe parked In the open, and the opinion has been expressed that unless they are disposed of shortly their value will soon disappear.

At the last gathering of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, Christchurch, the Rev. J. J. North stated that Bishop Julius would meet ministers of all denominations privately to discuss the hopes and prospects of the union of the churches* as expressed by the bishops at the Lambeth Conference last year.

While shooting waß in progress at Trentham during the Dominion Rifle Association meeting a number of sheep were grazing on the ranges. When bullets commenced to fly over their heads the animals became alarmed, and ran from side to side of the ground, but no ‘.‘casualties’’ were reported.

At a meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Oqmmerce, held yesterday, Mr Stuart Wilson stated that he had been informed by Mr M. W. Welch, a former chairman of the Hutt County Cbuncil, that an offer had been made to keep the Hutt road in repair for a period of ten years for the sum of £21,000. The offer had, however, been turned down; the cost of Upkeep was £4OOO per annum; and the road - was still in a bad state of repanr.

One settler in the Masterton district (says the “Age”) called his hands together, informed them of his financial position, and gave them the option of accepting reduced -wages or having their numbers reduced. The men stated that they were bound by industrial awards, and much as they .would prefer to accept) a reduction, they were not .In a position to do .so. Thereupon the settler gave notice to a number of the hands that their services would no longer be required.

At a meeting in Wanganui, Mr Ewen Campbell made some remarks which help to explain the present position of the meat freezing companies. When his .company formerly paid £345 freight oil a consignment of tallow it had la6t month paid £2004 for the same quantity. Meat before tbe war could be got Home for a little over Id per lb, but to-day it cost 4 3-16 d. At one time it- was possible to have a lighter filled with meat in 11 hours by four men; now it takes six men three hours to db the same work.

The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Minister for Internal Affairs) yesterday received a telegram from Mr F. Moorhouse, Conservator of Fish and. Game at Rotorua, who is at the Bluff, as follows: “Returned to Bluff late last night. Wapiti and moose are well established in the various (Wesjj Coast) Sounde.” Moose and wapiti were released in Dusky Sound in 1900, but nothing has been seen of them Bince 1909. Another lot was liberated in 1910. Much interest has been aroused bv the belief that they had died, and Mr Moorhouse and a small party recently made a special visit, to ascertain the position.

The annual conference of the North Canterbury District Manchester Unity of Oddfellows will open afc Christchurch to-morrow, when it is anticipated that all lodgea will be fully represented. Amongst other business to be dealt with is the consideration of a remit to urge the New Zealand branch at ros next B.M.C. to amend the general law, to provide that lodge officers shall hold office for one year . instead of six months 1 , as heretofore. A new departure will ho made at this conference by holding a social evening at the. conclusion of the business. A large -gathering is anticipated, invitations having been extended to all members of the Order, in the district.

It is reported that Mr E. Playle, of VVaingawa, has disposed of his property of 500 acres to Mr D. Blatchford, of Ponatahi.

Advice has been received that £3OOO -worth oF radium for the Dunedin Hospital is being shipped at New York. It was ordered by Dr Jack while lie was in England.

The world’s long-distance wireless record lias been broken by the United States Navy sending within three mm utes from Cavite, Philippine Islands, te Washington, approximately 10,000 miles.

The overseers of some districts of the City Council are calling for more efficiency from employees, and the sendees of a'number of workmen, who have not given satisfaction in this respect, have been dispensed with.

In February, 1970 books of fiction were taken out of the Petone public library by subscribers, and one book of reference, while 65 magazines were loaned. During the month, 14 new subscribers joined the library, and three members withdrew.

A farmer in the Te Aivamutu district, who has a long and practical experience, remarked the other day that lie could not recollect such a decline in the stock market as exists to-day. “Not, during the last twenty years,” he said, “can I recall a time when cattle and sheep had such a low value.”

Tauranga was the warmest spot in the Dominion yesterday, the thermometer reading being 73: At Russell it was a degree lower, and at Wanganui it was 71. Auckland, Napier, Cape Egmont, andi Cape Maria van Dieman ranged about 69, Wellington was four degrees lower, and the readings dropped until at Nuggets and Bluff the thermometer showed 57.

Replying to a question by the Reader of the Opposition yesterday, Mr Massey said that nothing definite had yet been agrped to by Cabinet in regard to doing something for home-service men who had volunteered to go to the front but had not been allowed to do so. Nor would there he any legislation on the matter this session. If it was found possible to da anything, the question would come forward at the ordinary business session later in the year.

Some sportsmen who usually go out after wild duck and other native game are under the impression that they will he able to shoot on Sunday, May Ist. This, however, is an error (says an exchange), as the Animals’ Protection Act expressly stipulates:—“lf the Ist day of May falls on a Sunday in any year then such season shall not begin till the day follftwing.” As te imparted game, mallard duck may be killed from May 2nd to July 31st, and Californian quail from June Ist to June Iklth.

A defendant appearing in the Ashburton -Magistrate's Court readily admitted a debt, but stated that he could not pay. He did not wish to leave the court with the _ idea that he desired to avoid payment', but he was getting £lO a month, and had a wife and six children to keep, and he quite seriously asked the Magistrate if he could tell him how he was to pay. “Well, X cannot tell you how to keep a wife and six children on £lO a month, and I don’t think anybody else can,” was the reply.

A horse's fond attachment to its girl driver has had a pathetic ending in the death of the animal at Bromley, Kent. During the war, and until a few weeks ago, so the story runs, the girl was employed by a baker to drive the horse, Betsy, daily in a bread van. Since she gave up her ■ work to an ex 7 soldier, the horse fretted and pined, and refused food. It rallied on the girl’s visit*. The veterinary surgeon who attended the animal says that its death was due to starvation and a broken heart.

Dr Thacker (Christchurch ' Bast) pointed out in tne House yesterday afternoon that men who owed money under maintenance orders were securing permits to leave the country, and thus evading payment. He suggested to the Minister for Internal Affairs that all such permits should first he submitted to the clerks of the Magistrate’s Courts who had the necessary records and the photographs of the persons in question, so that such evasion could be prevented. The Hon. Downie Stewart said he would have inquiries made, and see if a check could be put upon the practice.

A letter has been received by the Masterton Borough Council from a well-known Wairarapa chieftain, Taiawhia Te Tau, requesting permission to erect a peace memorial on a site to be approved in the Masterton Park. The ip eTnor * a, l would be erected by the Natives of the Wairarapa as a symbol of benefits accruing from the introduction of Christianity in 1839, and of the unity of both races. “It would certainly be a lasting indication of the good feeling existing between the two races,’’ remarked the Mayor. It was decided that the council as a whole should confer with the leading Natives and report at next meeting. ;

Much mirth has been caused at Wirkßworth. Derbyshire, by the appointment of a new curate, the Rev. H. Ham, by the vicar, the Rev. Mr Tongue. This coincidence recalls the happy partnership which existed at Free St. George’s, Edinburgh, when Dr Alexander Whyte had for his assistant the Rev. Hugh Black. One of the most amusing coincidences of the kind, however, occurred in the Bord Chief Justice’s Court some time ago. “Dear me,” said Mr Justice Ridley to a witness, “your name is Batimer and mine is Ridley. Our ancestors were burned together at Smifchfield.” “Pity you weren’t there,” came a voice from the prisoner’s dock.

At the opening of the new post office at Ormondvifle (Hawke’s Boy), Sir George Hunter referred; to the fact that no letters had been lost in the Ormondville office. Speaking later, Mr J. C. McOrea, chief postmaster at Napier, said while he admitted that mistakes were made by the department, he could tell them that the public also made mistakes. For instance, according to the returns last year, there were 4856 letters and 1875 letter cards posted without addresses—(laughter) —while 18.445 letters were wrongfully addressed; 61 letters bore libelous addresses and were intercepted; 87 letters were discovered to bear previously used stamps and 9436 registered letters were unclaimed.

At last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council Mr C. J. Guiness moved: —“That a special meeting of the council be called for not later than Monday, March 21st, to consider the proposals of the Petone Council re the supply of gas to the Hutt, and that a statement he prepared for submission to the council at such meeting showing a comparison between -the minimum selling price of gas to the Hutt based on the offer of the Petone Council and estimated cost of the installation of our own gasworks. The meeting also to be supplied with a comparison between the cost and selling price of gas with such coal at 50s and 25s respectively, or 54s and 30s respectively, to our own works.” This was carried.

The sum .of £147 was received by the Petone Borough Council durii" T February in annual license fees. Hcorv traffic licenses produced £l6, carriers £7, petroleum £9, motor registration £1 5sC and dog registration £53 15s.

In' February six cases of infectious diseases were reported Petone. There were two cases of dit htberia, two of infantile paralysis, an<x one of-encepha-litis lethargiea. The patients were removed to the hospital, and the case of encephalitis proved fatal.

The sum of £2227 is still outstanding in rates at Petone. At last night’s meeting of the council the town clerk stated that a large number of properties had changed hands, and difficulty was experienced by buyers and sellers in ascertaining who were responsible for the payment of rates.

The consumption of water at Petone was nearly 40,000 gallons greater in February than in January. The greatest hourly consumption occurred on Sunday, February 13th, at 10 o’clock in the morning, when 1 7 , reached 31,000 gallons per hour. The consumption at night during February averaged 10,000 per hour.

The raffle for the twin dolls at the Cave Carnival was won by Mrs Newton, 62, Bowen street (No- 2384). It was drawn in the Mayor’s room in the presence of Mr YV. A. Gray, K.C., a sergeant of police, and a fair number of other people. Tlnv dolls have been a great attraction and netted over £IOO in ticket sales.

Speaking in the Legislative Council yesterday, the Hon. Sir William HallJones expressed the opinion that it was a pity there were strikes in New Zealand. He took the case of the farmer as an illustration. The farmer, he said, makes hay while the sun shines, and it was unfortunate that those who had the opportunity of earning a good wage and putting something by for their families wasted theii time, and waited till the harvest period was over.

The one-time prevalent) offence of despoiling public slot machines of their coppers has not been much in evidence of late meftiths, but a case of the kind cropped up in Auckland on Saturday, when one of the slot telephones near the chief post office was robbed of its oash. Discovery of the matter was made early in 'the evening, and it is estimated that the thief obtained something like 10s, which is about the average daily receipts of the machines in that quarter.

Would the Minister for Internal Affairs reintroduce this tession the clause defeated last session, to make it possible for non-contiguous suburbs to amalgamate with near-by cities, asked Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart replied that the matter is under consideration at present. He agreed as to the necessity for legislation oq the matter, but the difficulty was to know what to do with the often very narrow strips in between. The point was being considered, and if a solution could be found, legislation would he brought down, but he could not promise it this session.

It is reported _ that toys have never been more luxurious than in Paris this year. It appears that there is no limit to the exigencies of the offspring oT the newly rich. A firm near the Madeleine, which caters for largely wealthy families living near the Bois, displays a variety of “etrennes” that only people with large fortunes could buy. Complicated toys, which went by electricity, and which must require a special “plug” to the wall; tanks that climbed obstacles, copied very exactly from the originals; dolls of every magnitude, some about three feet in height, with extravagant clothing and accessories, are among the extravagances mentioned.

Mr T. M. WilfoTdi (Leader of the Opposition) called the attention of the Postmaster-General to the fact that the temporary employees in the P.ost and Telegraph workshops were not allowed the St. Patrick’s Day holiday on full pay, while the permanent officers were. Why this unfair treatment? he asked. The Hon. J. G. Coates replied tha-b it had been found that the temporary employees were better paid and treated than the permanent men, and the Uniformity Committee recommended that the temporary men should not receive pay for certain holidays on which the permanent officers were entitled to pay. If there was any differentiation between the treatment of the men in his department and in others, he would have the matter looked into.

Music at test cricket matches is urged by enthusiasts. An excellent idea—andante measures while the scoring is slow, allegretto while-it is being merrily knocked up in sixes (comments the “Sydney Mail”). Soothing music when the batsmen get flurried. Every man making a century to be played off the ground with “See the conquering hero comes!” It could be pushed further. A chorus could in tame he engaged to lead the barrackers in suitable songs, with words selected from the barrackers’ own unique vocabulary. Consider the impetus given for a new and novel form of composition. Here lies —who knows? —an opening for the foundation of a distinctively Australian school of music. When the visiting team is beaten, the day would, of course, Conclude with something in the way of a hymn of triumph. When visitors win, the hand would be dismissed before stumps are drawn.

At last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, the engineer reported that for the month of December last 2,198,000 c.f. (1,833,000 0.f.) of gas were purchased from Petone. Of the above amount, 1,799,500 C-f. (1,405,300 c.f.) were sold for domestic purposes; 162,200 c.f. (119,400 o.f. for power purposes and 68,900 c.f. (64,500 0.f.) for street-lighting purposes, The unaccounted-for gas amounted to 7.61 per cent. (13.3 per cent.). During the month of January, 2,225,000 c.f. (1,952,000 c.f.) of gas were purchased from Petone and 1,696,900 c.f. (1,357,900 c.f.) were used for domestic purposes; 190,500 c.f. (129,700 c.f.) for power purposes and 68,900 c.f. (64,500 0.f.) for streetlighting. The percentage of unac-counted-for gas was 12.07 (20.48). The figures in parentheses are the figures for the same month of last year.

Says the “Wairarapa Age” editorially : —The closing down of the Waingawa freezing works this week will come as a severe blow to the workers, and also to the business community of Masterton. The wages bill has been over £2OOO per week. Over half the fat stock in ihe district will be left on the hands of farmers. The impossibility' of realising on wool makes the situation exceedingly grave. It is fortunate that in some parte of the Wairarapa the dairy industry has been carried on with a subsantial profit. The prices for early lambs have also been abnormally high. These two factors will go 6orne distance towards averting a calamity. The shipping hold-up at the various ports has already resulted in a serious dislocation of trade, and the shortage of coal is said to be responsible for the 1 * closing down of the freezing works. Workers, tradespeople and farmers have, therefore, a substantial grievance against those who have precipitated the deadlock.

During the month of February the maximum pressure in the Petone watei mains was and the minimum 301 b. The average wockteasonsumpti.on of water was 2,912,000 galions.

Sinc-e April Ist last permits for the erection of buildings, valued at £22IS3. have been issued by the Petone Borough Coumnl. The fees collected amounted to £il 2s fid.

Moving the Address-in-Reply in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr K. S. Williams (Bay of Plenty) urged, amid npplau.-e. the desirability of preserving the whole of the bush on both sides of the road between Opotiki and Motu. I ; was, he held, some of tlie most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, hush, not only in New Zealand, but in the world: and if it was cleared the land, partly Government laud and partly native land, would he of no use ior agricultural purposes. Fire ought to he kept out of this bush, and we should do our utmost te preserve this great scenic asset for future generations. (Hear, hear.)

The Queensland Minister for Agriculture,. Mr Gillies, stated recently that after full consideration the Government had decided to giv© protection to native bears and opossums for the remainder of the year, and until April 30th. 1922, at least. H© was quite aware the decision would evoke considerable objection, but he pointed out that official information showed that during 1919-20 the slaughter exceeded 5,250,000 opossums and 1,000,000 bears. The. latter were protected in 1920. These figures were astounding, as they by no means represented the numbers killed, but only those, actually traced through the markets. It was evident, if the native animals were to be preserved from extinction, time would have to be allowed for breeding, and the present time was opportune, as the skin market was very low.

Mr P- Fraser (Wellington Central) asks the Minister for Labour—(l) Whether his attentions has been called to clauses 17b and 17c of the Fair Rents (Amendment) Act, 1920. of New South Wales, which reads, “lfa. Any person who refuses to let a dwelling to any respectable and responsible applicant who has a child or children shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds: Provided that in any prosecution under this section shall be sufficient defence to show that such refusal was not due to the fact that the applicant had a child or children. 17c. Any person who (1) Instructs an agent not to let, or (2) states his intention, whether by advertisement or otherwise, not to let a dwellinghouse to any person who has a child or children shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds” ? (2) Whether he will introduce similar legislation during the present session?

Urging the need for the continuance of the £4O cost-of-living bonus to superannuated public servants, which expires on March 31st, Mr T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) cited the hard case of a Mr Gann, 76 years of age, a man with seven children, who had lost two sons in the war, and had another disabled, while a fourth had returned unwounded. Mr Massey replied that the case appeared to be one of hardship, but he hardly thought it would be possible te do anything this session. Some £IOO,OOO had. been provided for the purpose as recently as October last, and it must be admitted that there had been a considerable fall in prices. Mr J. McCombs (LytteltonfT “The Government Statistician does not say so!” Mr Massay :: ‘ ‘Everybody but the Statistician and perhaps the hon. member thinks so.” Mr McCombs: “We know!” Mr Massey said that it had not yet been settled whetner anything could be done during the present session. Before he left for England—ii the House would let him go—he would look into the whole matter and let the House know.