NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10964, 28 July 1921, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Michael Dalton, an old "Wairarapa identity, who has travelled the roads from one erid of the district to the other for many yqard past, was sentenced at Martinborough to twelve months’ imprisonment, charged with being an idle and disorderly person.

A flaxmill owner of the Devin distret- states that he ha's had a large member of applications for work during the past few weeks. He says that there are a considerable number of men on the road tramping (Yam one place to another on the look-out for work, the position being just the reverse of what it was a year or two ago, when the miller had to be contend Kith what labour lie could get.

The gas receipts of the Carterton Borough Council for the first quarter in the year were £1273 10s Bd, compared with £llO7 13s 9d for the corresponding period last year, while the expenditure was £B9l 17s 9d. compared with £971 10s 2d. The gas receipts for June were £205 I2s 2d, against £237 3s 8d for the same month last year. The decrease was due to special discounts owing to an imperfect service.

The town clerk at Dannevirke and the chairman of the gas committee have visited Wellington chiefly to inquire of Government and private lending institutions as to the possibility o,r “raising tile wind” at, i.he present time. “The money market is bare,” declared Councillor Mac Gibbon. They also had an interview with tho liquidator of the Gas Company, who expressed himself as anxious as far as possible to avoid legal proceedings for the recovery from the council of the purchase price of the works.

“In' this case I wish to refer to the defendant’s military service,” remarked counsel in a case at the Upper Hutt Court yesterday. “If a substantial fine is inflicted it will probably mean that he will lose his contract with the council for supplying milk, as ho has a hard row to hoe and may not be able to meet his obligations. This man'has been to the front, and returned with a shattered hand which handicaps him very severely I know that the military story has been used very fiequently .” “Yes, it has, and very nearly worked to death,” interrupted Mr F. K. Hunt, s:m.

Explaining (lie, co-operative land hanks of Denmark and Germany in the course of his address to the members of the Farmers’ Union at Palmerston, Mr W. J. Poison said that these institutions were able to advance up to 50 and 60 pel cent, on safe land values, and by so doing helped closer settlement by assisting the tenant ns well as the landlord. One hank could lend from £SOOO to £50,000, had actually advanced a total of 50 millions sterling, and could lend it at 4 per cent., and could still make a profit. A similar system in New Zealand would be just as successful.

Colonel "W. Cunningham, at tho War nganui Defence R-ifle Club’s social, mentioned that the Second Wellington Regiment had now been Issued with the short-barrel, new pattern rifle, and he hoped the lads would be able to give a good account of themselves in'marksmanship at Christmas. He would like to see the same enthusiasm displayed in shooting as that of the old Volunteer forces. He ventured to state that a cold shiver would go down the backs of some of the Territorials if asked to turn out at 5 n.m., like the old Volunteers, to do their bhooting. However, he hoped some day to see the same interest in the sport come back a&ain.

There are at present 54 patients at tho Masterton hospital. 'Hie Greytown Working Men’s Club has now a membership of 509. A number of mild hut infections cases of chicken pox have been reported in Masterton of late. A Palmerston North resident, for maliciously disturbin';; a religious meeting by blowing a noisy instrument, was fined £l, with costs, after being severely admonished. The annual meeting of the Advisory Board of the War Relief Association will be held about tho midlie of August. Lieutenant W. S. Brown, formerly of Masterton, is at present an inmate of tho Military Hospital at Trentham, undergoing treatment. Carterton Borough Council has a debit balance of £2249 7s sd, which has been increased by £782 13s 4d, account*! passed for payment at last meeting. There has been a most gratifying response by tfie ratepayers of Palmerston North to the notices issued on July Ist. The rates already received, which amount to a considerable sum, exceed all expectations. The Wellington Harbour Board decided last night to comply with the request of the Wellington City Council that the shelter sheds and conveniences at Karaka Bay and Sea to tin be handed over’ by the board to the council, without conditions other than that the cost of lighting the same be borne by the council instead of the board. A few days ago a pony belonging to Mr G. Speedy, of Flag Creek, Tinui, walked across the swing bridge of Mr Ladng’s, The Peaks, Tinui, which is about 40ft long and about 30ft high. After the pony got across its mate, an upstanding grey gelding, attempted the same thing, but when about the centre of the bridge it fell through into the .river. He was not hurt, and scrambled out none the worse for his sudden, drop.

Details in connection with the proposed Slain Arterial Highways Bill to be introduced next session were given yesterday by the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates). The question of arterial roads has been before the public for some considerable time, and the Government's proposals (outlined on page 6 of this morning's “Times”) will doubtless be read with interest.

“If ever there was a place for a toll-gate it is the Manawatu gorge,” rsaid Mr J. A. Nash, M.P V when pre-" eiding at the last meeting of the Gorge Road Board** of Control. He stated that the public would not complain if a toll-gate were erected—rather they would welcome a gate if they realised that a better and safer road would result. Mr Nash thought tho Government would pass the necessary legislation next session and that a toll-gate would be established immediately.

Hast week £IOO worth of jewellery was stolen from a second-hand shop at Hamilton, the burglary being witnessed from an opposite shop. The police ascertained that a man answering the description of the wanteyd person had been seen near the racecourse before and after the burglary, and a systematic search of the course and the near vicinity was instituted. On Monday of this week, Constable Classen discovered that the turf in one place was suspiciously raised, and on lifting a loose sod he found the stolen jewellery wrapped in an old shirt. The articles were intact with the exception of one watch, which was missing.