NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10896, 10 May 1921, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

There are at present 53 patients in the Masterton Hospital, including 15 infectious cases. Of the latter 12 are scarlet fever, and three diphtheria patients.

“Now, I have a sneaking regard for the dairy cow, and I want to see her get a square deal and a good feed,” said Dr. Cockayne at a meeting of farmers held at Martin borough. “She is keeping New Zealand afloat, and keeping me in my billet.”

On account of his collapsing on a seat in Cathedral Square, an elderly man named MaoDougall had to be removed in an ambulance. Restorative measures were applied, and the old man had recovered from his fainting fit by the time the ambulance arrived.

At the Wellington (N.S.W.) quarter sessions, Reginald Darling pleaded guilty to damaging a plateglass window at Warren, and was sentenced to six months’ hard labour in Goulburn Gael. Accused declined to accept the privileges of the first offenders’ provisions of the Crimes Act, on • the plea that he would be safer in gaol.

Employees of the Auckland City Council number 13 heads of departments and 1832 other employees. Tramways employs 817 me%s city engineer’s department, 651; electrical department, 117 ; waterworks, 50 ; abattoirs, 49; fish market, 43; parks and reserves, 15. Administrative 6taff and library staff total 90.

Whilst engaged in driving a cart laden with timber, L. Rowse, an employee of the Featherston County Council, met with a painful accident. He was holding the rains and walking alongside the horse, when he tripped and fell. The cart passed over him, breaking one arm' and causing other injuries. He was removed to the Greytown Hospital. The Maori medical man, R-atana, whose faith healing has attracted considerable attention, will visit the district of the Ngatiwhatua tfibe next month, starting on the Ist at Rewiti native settlement. On his return trip he will visit the Ngatiwhatua hapu at Orakei, and will be present at the unveiling of the late Rev. Hauraki Paul’s memorial stone, and the opening of the old church, which was rebuilt some time ago.

Four valuable pictures, purchased for the Mackelvie Gallery (Auckland) by Dr T. W. Leys during his tour abroad, arrived in Auckland by the Remuera on Friday, sand have been opened up at the Art Gallery. The pictures are the famous “Fallen Idol,’’ by the Hon. John Collier; “Lorna Doone,” by Edwin Long, R.A.; “A Boy and Ponies,” by A. J. Mannings, A.R.A.; and a seaside study by Laura Knight, R.W.S. At the request of the president of the Auckland Art Society, the Mackelvie Gallery trustees have given permission for these pictures to be publicly exhibited for the first time in Auckland at the Jubilee Exhibition of the society te he held this month.

Under the heading, “Auto and Land Values,” the “New York Times” recently published an article illustrating the enhancement of land values in rural districts through .the facilities for travel and transport provided by automobile development. “The landowners in the middle belt of the southern tier of the Southern States,” says the “Times,” “admit that the motor-car has been responsible for the enormous advance in the values of their land. What formerly sold for three dollars and five dollars an aero is now fetching 25 dollars (£5) an acre in the remote districts; and small farms adjacent to the villages, situated on the railroads, are selling for as much as 100 dollars (£2O) an acre.” A meeting of dairy farmers of Elast Tamaki decided, to seek dissolution from the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, with a view to establishing local control and ownership. The following resolution was carried unanimously: “We, the undersigned suppliers of the East Tamaki Cheese Factory, are dissatisfied with the New Zealand Co-operative Dajry Company, Ltd. We, therefore, respectfully request the directors to take suoh steps as may be necessary to transfer the factory, buildings, and plant to us or our nominee. Messrs Montgomery, K. Ross, and Watt are «ur representatives in this matter.” The resolution put in the form of a petition, signed »by the suppliers, and forwarded to Hamilton.

Hamilton Borough Council has re solved upon a policy of severe economy following upon a review of the financial position* by the town clerk, who expressed the opinion that the council was “right, up against it.” In reply to councillors, the town clerk said that the council was apparently up to its limit at the bank, but actually not up to it, as all cheques drawn last month were not yet sent out, and during the week there were rather more receipts than payments: He sug gested that the bank be asked to allow them to overdraw about a furthei £6OOO. When approaching the bank it could be stated. that the current estimates would provide for increased overdrafts and that the council would strike a larger rate.

Judging by figures quoted by the Australian Postmaster-General in his annual report, there are many absentminded or careless people in the community. To many it would seem inconceivable that in twelve months no fewer than 18,175 letters were posted in Australia unaddressed, and it is still more surprising to learn that of that number 557 contained money. In this remarkable way £5395 went unexpectedly te the exchequer, and doubtless 557 people wondered why their money never reached its destination. Last year money and valuables to the amount of' £132,162 were found in postal artioles sent to the dead letter office as undeliverable, and the letters and packages of all kinds which found their way to this branch of tho department numbered 3,743,915. '

An : amusing modernised version of “Morton’s Fork ” the term applied to the method adopted by Arohbishop Morton, in the reign of Henry, VII., for exacting benevolences for the church from the rich, was recently given by a Wellington schoolboy in answer to an examination question. “ “IMbrton’s fork,’ ” he wrote, “was a fork that had two prongs, which Henry. VII. used for getting money. One was he went to the different places and said, ‘I see you have got enough money to “by” motor-cars and live in high “stile,” so I think you can pay more taxes to me, as I keep you from all harm and fights.’ ” Equally quaint is the following- answer given by an oxaminee to another question: “Cardinal Wolsey was a very great friend of King Henry VIII., and to show how he loved him he tried to make him master of the whole of Europe. In the end he was ‘add’ up for treachery, and soon died of grief,”-

There are six criminal cases set down for consideration at the quarterly criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, which open to-day. The civil list contains only two divorce cases.

Through the bursting of a tyre a motor-car driven by Mr W. Tinney overturned near Oporua (Wairarapa). Mr Tinney had the point of one of his shoulders broken, and a passenger in the car received an injury to his head.

A motor-car owned by Mr J. Raetha.l was destroyed by fire near Te Teko. Mr Raethal was cranking the engine, when it back-fired, throwing him several yards. The car burst into flames, and the body of it was completely destroyed.

A man named Charlie Christensen was arrested at New Plymouth on a charge of having obtained £7 from William Clover, a Wellington tram conductor. The accused appeared before the court at New Plymouth yesterday, and was remanded to Wellington.

Reference to the remarkable progress made by Hamilton in recent years was made by the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, when welcoming new members of the council. Mr Fow said the way Hamilton had gone.ahead was equalled by no other town in New Zealand, and it now had a population of nearly 12,000.

An old Carterton settler, commenting on the statement recently made that there are no coal measures in the Wellington district, states that many years ago coal was discovered at Fernside, near Featherston, tested in Carterton, and found to be of good quality.

There is a slight increase last week in the number of men seeking employment through the Labour Office at Masterton. There were 35 unemployed on the books. This number comfirised 28 general labourers, four farm abourers, and three engineers. What work is offering is mostly for farm labourers.

An interesting return relative to traffic on the No. 1 line, which is the main road leading into Wanganui from the south, has been prepared by the Wanganui County Council. A tally for a month between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. shows that 585 motor-cyoles, 4347 motor-cars, 479 horse vehicles, 7627 sheep, and 807 cattle passed a given point.

A Press Association telegram from Napier states that the flagship Chatham arrived there early yesterday afternoon from Auckland and anchored m the roadstead. Later the Mayor and the chairman of the Harbour Board made a formal call on Captain Hotham. The cruiser will be open to the public during certain times while she remains there. Navy League excursions are being arranged. . The Chatham leaves on Friday for Tjmaru.

It was reported to the Auckland City Council in connection with the dispute with the tramway officers and men that the officers had been offered a rise of 5s per week and the men 4s per week. The Tramways Union is holding meetings to decide whether the offer of 4s per week, made, in response to an application for an increase of 3d per hour, shall be accepted or rejected. The Tramway Officers’ Union is submitting demands for increased wages and a new agreement.

His Honour Mr Justice Sim (ActingChief Justice) will preside at the quarterly criminal sittings of the Supremo Court at Dunedin, which commence to-day. The following cases will come before the court: —Charles John Stewart Doig (four charges of opening postal packets) and William Joseph O’Dwyer (four charges of false pretences) will come up for trial, and Tua Paoa Whitau (perjury), Robert John Eadv (indecent assault), and Richard David Waddingham and Thomas Robert Oliver (breaking, entering, and theft) for sentence. .

The thirty-first annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of -New Zealand opens at Auckland to-morrow, in the Concert Chamber' of the Town Hall. At the evening session the installation of M.W. Brother Thomas Ross as Grand Master will take place in the Town Hall. On Thursday, May 12th, the Grand Lodge resumes business in the Concert Chamber. An excursion on the harbour has been arranged for the afternoon for the brethren and their lady friends, and in the evening a concert, dance, and supper is to take place in the Town Hall.

The position with regard to house hold coal is reassuring (-writes an Auckland correspondent), and there la every indication at the present rate of production from the Waikato mines that requirements will be -met. A city coal merchant stated that distributors were able to supply consumers with quarter-ton lota. Householders should not think that they could be supplied with larger quantities at a time, ha said. The distribution of stocks „wa6 being carefully controlled, hut so long as the output from the mines. continued at a normal rate there was no likelihood of a coal famine in the city..

When a civil case against a Maori was called at the Tauranga Court, counsel for the plaintiff said he understood the wrong man had been served. The Maori had called upon him, and he told him there was no need to come to court as, owing to the absence of the plaintiff, he was not sure of the identity of the man who owed the money. He believed there was another Maori of the same name in the district. However, the Maori who had been served with the summons appeared, and claimed to have lost four days over the matter. He wanted to know how he was to fare as regards his expenses. The magistrate decided to allow him travelling fares from Matata to Tauranga and expenses for two days.

A scheme for framing a Dominion award or having a National Conciliation Council was advocated by several assessors at a' Conciliation Council sitting at Christchurch. Mr A. W. Croskery, an employees’ representative, said that the employers’ representative in Dunedin was agreeable to eucb a conference, which would give the employees the opportunity qf meeting the employers in a body. Mr F. Cooper, agent for the employers, said that he also would like to see industrial disputes settled on a Dominion basis. It would give an opportunity for all sections to air their views. Mr J. McCombs, M.P., remarked that' a new agreement in one centre was generally adopted in other centres also, when awards came to be made there. The difficulty was that such an award was made in one centre without the others being consulted. A Dominion award would he a uniform award, and everybody would be* consulted. It was intimated that a movement was at present afoot to have such a Dominion conference arranged between the retail .shop assistants’ unions and the employers,.

Over seventy graduates—the largest number for many years—will wear hood and gown at the forthcoming presentation during capping week.

Burglars during the week-end broke into a butcher’s shop at Port Ahuriri and removed a small safe containing over £IOO. The police have no clue. —Press Association.

It is reported that the Wairarapa Lake, on being opened last week, fell about 16 inches in the first 48 hours, •letting an enormous quantity of water away.

A “New Zealand Times” reporter was yesterday informed that the Price Investigation Tribunals are 6tfll in existence, and are receiving and dealing as usual with complaints as to alleged unreasonably high prices of some articles.

The borough engineer’s report presented to the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening showed that over nine million gallons of water were pumped through the reservoir in 216 pumping hours during April, averaging 700 gallons per minute.

‘We cannot fail to record our deep satisfaction at the splendid efforts that .have been put forward by the Press (throughout the year) in the cause of education; we tender to them pur warmest thanks.” —Annual report of School Committees’ Association.

A Labour deputation, headed by Mr P. Fraser, M.P., is to wait upon the Acting-Prime Minister this afternoon with reference to the housing question. It is, a “Times” representative was giyen to understand yesterday, feared that the expressed intention of the Government to curtail building operations in order to find money to provide work for the unemployed may interfere with the erection of workers’ dwellings.

A new agreement regarding wages and hours is being sought by the Wellington Gasworks Employees’ Union. Already a conference between representatives of the employers and men has taken place before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. Newton), and an agreement reached. The terms have yet to be ratified by the parties before the agreement can take effect, and an announcement on this point will probably be made within the course of the next few days.

The Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister for Public Health and Education) informed a. “Times” representative yesterday that during his trip to the South Island he visited, with Dr Wylie (Director-General of Hospitals), the Medical School and the Dental School at Dunedin to inquire into the conditions there and the requests for considerable expenditure in connection with the schools. “I have" reached certain conclusions,*’ stated the Minister, “with regard to the Medical School and the Dental School and the claims of the Otago University for large expenditure on new buildings, and these conclusions will be submitted to Cabinet this week in the form of a report.”

“One of the outstanding events of the year (states the annual report of the School Committees’ Association) was the visit of the Prince of Wales and the children’s demonstration in connection therewith. The peace demonstration of the previous year was a beautiful sight, hut the assembly of thousands of children to welcome the Prince was even more beautiful and one that we think, will never be forgotten. Such an assembly made one feel very proud to. he connected with our association, anid should do much towards giving encouragement to school committees to plug along with their efforts in the cause of she children. Could anyone seeing those thousands of children, say - that our efforts are in vain? Could anyone Bay that those children are not worth our best efforts ? We say to members of all committees, fight .on and fight hard; your efforts are not thrown away.”