NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Some fanners are now “turning an honest penny” by making- a to people who go on their farms to gather blackberries. One shilling; per head is the charge that is made. A number of those who for years past have been in tho habit of gathering -blackberries without being charged for the privileg© received a great surprise when the shilling fee was levied.

Goods traffic on the railways in Canterbury of late is reported to he very heavy. The wheat harvest and th© output from the freezing works, combined with business at the ports, account for this. Large numbers of stock also, especially sheep and 1 lambs, are_ on the move either coming from outside Canterbury to bo sold in the yards as stores "or going on to tho freezing works as fats. The railway authorities report that every available, sheep truck in the province was booked up last week-end.

Writes the “Times” Auckland correspondent: “A pitiful sight did Philip Percivp.l Gardiner, a one-time favourite cf the vaudeville stage, make when he appeared in the dock, before Mr W. It. McKean, 9.M., charged with being idle and disorderly, without sufficient ■moans of support. He looked feeble and weary, having lost all his old-time dapperness. In applying for a week's remand to have Gardiner medically examined, the police stated that ho had been going round town with a woman and three children.' 1

The recent boot business slump was very sore on the boot trade in New Zealand, employers harassed with all kinds of perplexities, \yorkmen scratching on with half-time or a little better, many out altogether (states the Dunedin “Star”). By slow stages tho position has improved, at any rate so far as Dunedin ia concerned. Very few boots and shoes are being imported, orders for winter goods are being freely sent in to tho factories, and there are not many hands now unemployed. One manufacturer said that he had. plenty of work to keep his staff going for three or four months.

The rapidly-growing need for the extension of the Flinders street railway station in Melbourne, stated to be the busiest in tho world, ’ was mentioned by the Hon. J. G. Membrey, a member of the Melbourne Tramways Board, who is at present in the Dominion. It was estimated that more trains and more traffic passed through Flinders street than through any railway station in the world, said Mr Membrey, and_ although this was an interesting distinction, it had its decided disadvantages. The traffic had grown enormously in recent years, and was now so congested at certain points as to be a positive danger to public safety, Steps would certainly have to he taken in the hear future to relieve the congestion. Some people were of opinion that it would have been better to have built another station in the northern part of the city, and despite the enormous cost involved, this was still being advocated by a large section of the public.

A rather good story comes from Hokitika anent the recent race meeting there. It appears that a well-known North Island sprinter -who competed at the meeting there was thought to ho so good that th© owners and their friends had a substantial punt on him. Tho race was run, and to their great surprise the gelding ran like an absolute duffer pn the first day; and on the second day his party were so disgusted that he was allowed to start practically unbacked, and he duly won with the greatest ease. The owners then instituted inquiries, and they found out that, while tho horse was in the paddock previous to the first day’s races, some youngsters, thinking it a shame to see a horse in a place in which thero was no feed, in their goodness of heart supplied the animal with several sackfuls of thistles, and the horso performed as might have been expected on tho first occasion. What the owners said when they found out has not yet appeared in print-

The Wairarapa Poultry Farmers’ Association’s eggs are realising 2s 3d per dozen in Wellington.

A Press Association message from Auckland states that decision has been reserved in tho Vi aip a mines cash.

The Mrjnawatu Gorge! Board of Control has decided to erect a substantial handrail at the “Devil’6 Elbow” in the Manawatu. Gbrge. This spot is tlie most dangerous one in tho gorge.

Already 950,000 boxes of butter have been received at the grading stores m Auckland during the present season compared with a little more than 700,000 boxes for last season up till the end of March.

The Education Department is desirous of getting in arrears in orders for maintenance of children in State institutions. It is said that notices are being served upon those in arrears for the purpose q£ speeding up payments at the Magistrate's Court.

Mr J. A. Nash, M.P. (Major of Palmerston North), states that Mr McVilly. the general manager of railways, informed him that ho would press on matters connected with the Palmerston railway deviation as quickly as possible, so os bo help the council with its gasworks and electric light station sites.

The “Taranaki Nemo” says:—With a gross tonnage of 9540, the liner Leitrim, which was berthed at New Plymouth, is the biggest vessel to enter the port so fat. Hot length Is _ 492 feet over all. .She is the fifty-sixth liner to come to New Plymouth, and the eighth this year.

The Marten Dairy Company have hecx advisee that then- Matakana shipment of coloured cheese averaged £5 per ©wt. The directors have decided to continue the payment of Is per lb for butter-fat. Already exports for 1921-22 have exceeded last season by 250 crates.

There is more than a suspicion abroad amongst business men who are trying to run tlieir business on efficient and economical lines that the Railway Department is trying to influence local bodies in the southern portion of this island to rule motor traffic off the race of their portion of the earth. Thus it is happening that the restrictions placed upon big motor vehicles are becoming more and more drastic. —Feilding “Star.”

Great rents were tom in the mountains along the Karamea road by the recent heavy rains (says the Westport “News”). Lofty trees were carried holus bolus down the mountain side and stood up as straight as ever on the ground they have carried with them to a lower level. In another place the debris has fairly crunched up enormous black birch and other growths of the forest. One big fellow lies like a bridge over the road at a height that does not impede traffic.

Exception is being taken by farmers to an increase of id a lb in the Trice of phospliorised pollard, supplied by tlie Department of Agriculture for poisoning rabbits (says the Auckland “Herald”). Tlie matter was discussed by the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers’ union this week, when several members asserted that the increase was unwarranted, as the . ice of pollut'd had not been, increased." It was decided to write to the Department of Agriculture protesting against the increase.

Sydney has not yet reached the standard of daring set by American seaside resorts in regard to the out of female Surfing costumes (says an exchange). Two young women, wearing costumes of vivid colour, were the butt of rude remarks by a section of the Coogee habitues the other day, and finally they were escorted from the beach by a howling mob. It was stated that the .costumes were of the latest American cut, and were too “modern” with an inclination towards transparency and very low cut fronts.

Mr J. W, ■McCulloch- manager of the Central Development Farm, told a “Manawatu Times” representative that he hod been approached by the agricultural instructor of the Palmerston North High School (Mr Stevenson) with a request that a class of senior lads from the bovs’ School be permitted to take part in the forthcoming farm school. Mr McCulloch stated that he regretted that he could not see his way blear to permit the boys of the High School to join with the seniors, all of whom would be practical farmers. He hoped, however", to be able ■to arrange for a special school for the boys a later period.

t) What is a perfect lady? The question has received many and varied definitions, but one of the best definitions was elicited by an American. A woman witness, asked a question as to what had been tlie conduct of a plaiiitiff in a divorce case towards her husband, replied: “She treated him like a perfect tody, to be sure.” Tlie judge, who admits that he dislikes the distinction between “women” and “ladies,” thereupon asked from the perfectly self-possessed witness a definition of a perfect lady, and she gave it without 'hesitation: “A perfect lady is a lady who stays at home, keeps her homo clean, andi minds her awn business.” That satisfied the judge.

The . “Taranaki Daily News” reports that a serious assault on a man named George Speck was committed! at Midliurst one night recently. The police state that Speck, who is a middleaged .man, was attacked by a man with a piece- of wood, and had his head and face severely battered, and was then stabbed with a pitonfork. Subsequently a man named Edward O’Connor, who lives at the foot of the mountain, was arrested on a charge of assaulting Spook. O’Connor was brought before the Magistrate’s Court at Stratford, and 1 was remanded till March 22nd, bail being allowed in self of £2OO, or two sureties of £IOO eacfh, or one of £4OO. Speck’s condition i 9 not at present considered dangerous.

Centenary thanksgiving services were held at the Methodist churches yesterday, when special addresses were delivered by tho Rev. A. McCallum, president of the Australasian Methodist Church. At the Wellington South church in the morning the Rev. Mr McG’alum spoke on “God’s Faithfulness During the Past Century,” and in tlie afternoon, at Thorndon, his subject was “The Outlook for the Next Hundred Years.” At the evening service at Taranaki street church Sir MoCallum spoke upon. “The Unchanging Methods of Christ.” There will be an “at homo” meeting at Taranaki street church this evening, followed by a public tea, and in the evening Mr MoCallum will give an address on “Methodism Under Many Skies.”

City Private Detective Agency, Office, 8, King’s Chambers, Wellington, New Zealand. All classes of work executed thoroughly and colnfidentially. If you require evidenoe or information collected on any matter whatever, employ professional and reliable men. Mason and Dickson, with many years of valuable New Zealand police and detective experience to their credit. P.O. Box' 605, Wellington. ’Phone 3698. Advt-

A pjgcon race was held by Waipukurau enthusiasts tbe othor day and sevcIra birds returned home bleeding profusely, anaprentl yliaying been shot at while flying.

The inquest upon Samuel 'Wallace Groves, who died suddenly the other day, was concluded yesterday, when Dr. C. Henry testified that death was due to syncope caused by senile degeneration of the" heart. The coroner found accordingly.

William Charles Lear appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., on Saturday charged with deserting from the steamer Wangaratta on March 15th. Snub-Inspector McNamara stated that he had left the boat on that date, and that the vessel had been delayed several hours at a cost of £SO. The magistrate sent the man to gaol for 14 days.

A hoy named William Moxton, residing with liis parents at 127, Constable street, was knocked down by a motor on the Constable street hill at about- 5.30 on Saturday' afternoon. He was admitted to the public hospital badly cut about the head, shoulder and legs, but is now progressing favourably'.' He is 12 years of age; his injuries are not serious.

Found staggering about on the footpath outside the Thistle Inn Hotel, Michael O’Donovan, who' appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., on Saturday for unduly celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, was fined 5s for drunkenness. For assaulting the arresting constable ha tvae fined £5, and for using obscene language was fined £3. O’Donovan appeared in court with badly-battered visage and with bloodstains on his shirt. He had knocked the constable’s helmet off, but had hit the ground with a thud shortly afterwards. “If the constable hadn’t mastered him we should have had a small riot,” remarked SubInspcctor McNamara. “You are very lucky I don’t send you up for 14 days,” sai dthe magistrate. ‘‘The police have quite enough to put up with without this kind of thing.”