NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11296, 23 August 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

At the Wellington, Chamber of Commerce yesterday, a letter from Mr P. J. Nathan on the subject of trading within the Empire, with an, offer to address the chamber on the subject, was referred to the chairman to decide if the nature of the correspondence was such that it should come before the Chamber. It was suggested that it was a business matter.

A coronation ceremony marking the conclusion of the recent queen carnival competitions at Te Kuiti, for the improvement of the school grounds, book place recently. The queen of queens was JRangihuda Betet, and her attendant queens were Elaine Hamill, Annie Nilson, Jocelyn Hamill, and Connie Avery. In the recent competitions the sum of £856 10s was raised and will ,be devoted to the cause mentioned.

One of the advantages of motor over railway transport was stressed by Mr J. A. Nash, M.F. for Palmerston North, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Fanners’ Dairy Union, of which he is chairman of directors. Be stated that the union had out out railway transit of suppliers’ cream, with distinct advantage to the butter produced. Motor lorries now picked it up at all points and conveyed it direct to the factory with a minimum of handling. In other days, when the oream was conveyed by train the frequent handlings had a deleterious effect, and this was greatly accentuated in hot weather.

In the days when OEtangitikei-Wan-ganui settlers drove to Wellington on Cobb’s coach, with Andrew Young as whip (says the Manawatu “Times”), and when Manawatu was known only as the forest home of the Ngatdraukawa, the route lay via Molesworth street, Wellington, along Lamhton quay, which was then lapped by (he waves of the harbour, to the old New Zealander hotel in Manners street. Along these rough streets were many old nip-roofed weather-board cottages built of tofeara. Many of them still remain to mark the primitive architecture, but are overshadowed by modem structures. It is really time they made room, like their original owners, for ‘another generation.

Mr T. E. Toneydiffe, of Gisborne, who is at present on a visit to the Old Country, makfea some interesting remarks respecting New Zealand meat in the course of a recent letter. He writes: “I was round at the Langham 'Hotel one morning and saw several carcases of New Zealand lamb being delivered and caught sight of Gisborne, so asked the van man to give me the enclosed tag. The Langham is a higholass hotel, and it is more than likely the humble lamb from Gisborne would be dished up as best English. No attempt seems to be made to thaw the meat before delivery. The carcase I have mentioned was frozen hard. I also saw a lot at Smithfield being delivered as hard as when in the freezing chamber.”

The sum of over £754 has been Bubscribed in Wairarapa to the Pearson Memorial Fund for the blind.

The roads in the Gisborne district which have been impassable for motorcar traffic during the winter months are stated to be drying. Chains on the wheels cannot, however, be dispensed with.

A Taranaki contractor who owns a team of bullocks has accepted a contract to cart wool during the summer at Tokomaru Bay. The owner of the team left Taranaki with his wife and family three months ago. He has accomplished the journey of approximately 700 miles with his wagon and team in easy stages.

At the adjourned meeting of creditors in connection with the affairs of John Alban Hoban. commission agent, Wellington, the Official Assignee was requested to inquire into the disposal of certain assets by a creditor, to endeavour to secure a missing ledger, and to dispose of the remaining assets on behalf of the creditors. The meeting was then adjourned sine die.

Yesterdav was the first meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce since the amalgamation with the Central Chamber of Commerce. There were about 25 members present, and some important work was prophesied when the new secretary has been appointed. Nominations only closed yesterday, when over 100 applications had been received.

Granite repairs are being made to the road on the hill leading down to Ktlbirnie from Constable street. The sides of the road had got into bad condition recently, the heavy traffic having brought a huge amount of mud to the surfaoe, making uphill work very heavy. The road round about the Kilbirnie terminus is still in a bad state and is full of potholes.

"Awful piffle about playing a mouth organ and other instruments and singing doggerel like ‘Little Brown Jug,’ ” was the comment of the chief inspector at a meeting of the Education Board at Wanganui, when an application was received from visiting musical instructors for permission to give free music lessons m the schools. It was decided to refuse permission.

It is understood, says the Wairoa "Star,” that considerable delay will be caused in connection with the erection of the big ferro-concrete _ bridge across the Mohaka river to link up with the new deviation road. The papa has been broken up in such a way that it will now be necessary for cylinders to be built. It is anticipated that this will delay the construction of the bridge for same months.

Again at a creditors’ meeting yesterday reference was made to the absence of necessary hooks to enable the position and dealings of the debtor to be ascertained. Although requested to bring all books and papers, debtor had left his bank pass-book at the bank, and the counterfoils of his oheque-book "somewhere at home.” Debtor 6aid he had only seen his passbook a very few times. He is to produce them to the Official Assignee.

“This is the height of impertinence,” said Mr T. Oorson, president of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, when a notification was received from an exmember of the chamber, to the effect that he proposed to apply shortly for a discharge from bankruptcy. Another member went further than the president, and described the notice a® a d—— cheek, while another suggested the relegation of the letter to the waste paper, basket. It was decided merely to receive the communication.

A letter from the Western Samoan Chamber of Commerce, received by the Wellington Chamber or Commerce yesterday, related to differences which had arisen between a trader and the Administrator of Samoa. The chairman had perused the letter, which he thought was partly political, and in any case dangerous for the Wellington Chamber to interfere, with. Members were requested to rend the letters and judge if it would be advisable to bring them before the chamber.

The magnificent set of lantern slides, descriptive of the bush and mountain scenery of the West Coast of the Sbuth Island, belonging to the noted mountain climber and explorer, Dr Tercholmaim, of Hokitika, was shown at Trentham Y.M.C.A. last evening, together with 3000 feet of film taken on the West Coast. The slides and film were explained by the hon. chief guide of the Tararuas Tramping dub, also an expert Alpine climber. The pictures covered the wonderful trip from Otira Gorge to the Franz Josef Glacier. Prior to the exhibition, a half-hour’s community sing took place, “Happy” Silver leading in his best Wellington form. -

Very strict effect was given by the Chinese Government to the law forbiddingtopium smoking, stated Mr Ma Hsaio Ohm, a member of the National Assembly of China, who is visiting Auckland. Severe punishment followed detection of the offence, up to one and two years’ imprisonment, and the police had the right to search. These severe measures nad produced a great diminution in the practice of the vice, to the great physical and moral benefit of millions of Chinese. Moreover, no opium smoker was entitled to a vote under the Chinese Constitution, even although he possessed the other necessary qualifications. Mr Ma added that opium was sold freely under a British Government monopoly at Hongkong, the great entrepot opposite Canton.

Counterfeit half-qrowns and florinß are stated to be still in circulation in Auckland, and people have been advised to carefully scrutinise coins of the denomination mentioned that mav be tendered to them. The spurious coins, which aTe excellent imitations of the genuine ones, were first noticed in Auckland about four months ago. Apparently they are from the same plant as those that were described in the “Herald” early in July. The halfcrowns are dated 1921, and' the florins 1919. The city police authorities state that few complaints have been received by them regarding the counterfeits, but they are aware the coins are in circulation. Some coins that were brought to them for inspection were found to he genuine, but owing to being slightly cracked they would not give the true ring when tested.

The serious faces of the members of the Arbitration Court expanded into a broad smile yesterday at the reply of a witness to a question from the employees’ agent. Emboldened by the court’s example, the spectators burst into laughter. Mr W. T. Young was cross-examining the engineer of a small coastal vessel upon engine-room conditions. “I suppose it is necessary in small steamers carrying only one enfineer,” asked Mr Young, “to engage remen who have a fair knowledge of engines?” “Yes,” the wicnees .-©plied, “the fireman has only to touch a button, and I am there.” "la it electric?” asked the union’s representative. “No, dramatiol” was the sharp response. His Honour immediately ordered .the afternoon tea adjournment. It was not clear whether the witness used tho wrong word through ignorance, but the twinkle in his eye suggested that he solicited the sympathy of the court for his own dramatda exit from his bunk.

A number of undefended divorce suits will be heard to-morrow in the Supreme C-ourt. by His Honour Mr Justice Salmond.

Last week a further decrease wan shown in the unemployment figures at Gisborne. There were only 35 men seeking employment according to the Labour Department’s books, compared with 45 the previous week.

“I want candidates to understand that they will get a. square deal, to use a racing term—though I am not a racing man—they will get a fair run for their money.”—Mr. A. W. Junker, the musical judge of the competitions last evening.

The following contributions have been (received at the New Zealand “Times” office towards the “Save the Children” Fund:—Mr W. E. Esson (St. John’s Hall, Wanganui), £10; Mr E. S. Jones (Petone), ss : Father, Son and Daughter (Paraparaumu), £1; a Friend (Wellington), 6s.

“If the great patriarch Job had been called upon to act as a judge of competitions he would have wrecked his character for patience.”—His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.) last evening at the opening of the Wellington Competitions Society’s fifth annual festival.

“Let me (remind you of what a learned judge has said, namely, ‘To cross-examine does not mean to examine crossly,’ ” remarked His Honour Mr Justice Frazer to Mr W. T. Young, representing the Seamen’s Union, at the sitting of the Arbitration Court yesterday.

“Mr Jenner is a gentleman who doesn’t like the limelight. He is a fine organiser, and it is nice to know that gentlemen from other parte come here and remark upon the excellent way in which our competitions are run,” —Mr F. G. Cray, president of the Wellington Competitions Society, last evening.

“He has a jab to which he can go,” said counsel, when referring to the defendant in a police case which was recently dealt with by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court. “Oh, I know he has a job,” returned 1 His Worship, “hut the question is, for how long?” It was subsequently decided that the duration of defendant’s “job” should be six months.

A tribute to the work of Mr Harold Whittle, for some years now official accompanist to the Wellington Competitions Society, was paid by the president of the society (Mr F. O. Cray) at the official opening of this year’s contests, last evening. “There is no better accompanist in Australasia, and he is a regular father or big brother to the competitors,” remarked Mr Cray of Mr Whittle.

The fact that members of the public will not be permitted to enter or leave the hall during the progress of an item was announced by Mr F. G. Gray, president of the Wellington Competitions Society, last evening. The committee had come to the conclusion that this was necessary and he was sure that the 'publio would appreciate this out of fairness to the competitors.

In pursuance of a scheme to centralise such sports as howling, tennis, and croquet, the Ngaruawahia Regatta Association has decided to sell its property at the Regatta Ploint, where the Waipa and Waikato rivers junction, to the Borough Council for the purpose of conversion into a sport area and park. It is proposed that there shall be two bowling greens, four croquet lawns, and six tennis courts, constructed by the council, the suggested expenditure being about £SOOO.