NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11302, 30 August 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The proceedings in the Legislatiee Council and House pf Representatives yesterday were considerably shortened owing to the death which occurred at his Wellington residence, Molesworth street, of the Hon. C.' A. C. Hardy, M.L.C The sad news was announced by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Mr Massey, and in both chambers feeling reference was made to the many splendid attributes of the deceased legislator, of the general esteem in wTiich he was held, and the genuine regret at his sudden demise. Mr Hardy had a seizure on Friday last at his residence, No. 0, Molesworth street, Wellington, but .seemed to rally somewhat. However, ho took a bad. turn about midday yesterday, and gradually sank, dying later m the afternoon. As a consequence business in both Houses was considerably curtailed. Details will he found under separate headings on page 5.

The Kuku dairy factory is receiving about 1100 gallons of day. The milk is being separated and the cream converted into butter at the Manakau factory.

The Masterton Employers’ Association refused an application by tlia Wairarapa Rugby Union to consent to the closing of business premises to-day for the football match against Auckland at Masterton.

At the meeting of the Wellington Land Board yesterday the ballot took place for sections 82, 83, and 84, block 5, Waiopehu S.D. The successful applicants were: —82, A. H. Smith; 83, D. J. McLean; 84, A. K. Bryant. Thirty applications were received.

There was a scarcity of fish- in the market on Monday, when prices went up to 6Jd. Yesterday supplies were better, with a quantity of butter-fish, when prices went to normal again. About 100 cases of fish from the refrigerator have been sold during the month.

“A captain has to oontrd his team and indiscriminate talking and. questioning of the referee’s decisions are not to he allowed. The captain cannot possibly see all the play, and it is only on special occasions that he has the right of appeal.”—Mr J. Prendeville at the Wellington Rugby Union last evening.

“I bought it for £2O; I spent £4O in repairing it—and then it would nos go. It had to be towed everywhere—in fact, it was not a car at all, and Was not worth registering, ’’ explained a defendant at the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North, when charged with failing to notify change of ownership of a car.

Dr Newman, M.P., presented to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon a petition by Honora Annear, of Broadway terrace, Wellington, praying for relief on account of the death of her husband. The petition stated that his illness and death were largely due to cold and hardship endured while acting as stevedore for the embarkation of troops during the war.

It is reported that it is intended to appeal against the sentence of suspension passed upon McArthur, of the Thistle Football Club, by the Wellington Football Association. At the Wellington referees’ meeting on Monday it was decided to frame a resolution of protest against the Wellington Football Association not accepting the statement of the referee at the inquiry.

The proposal to hold a camp at ths Ruakura Agricultural Farm for the senior hoys of district high schools haa been abandoned, owing to the Government declining to grant permission. Mr J. P. Kalaugher, supervisor of manual and technical education at Auckland, stated that the Department of Agriculture had been agreeable to the scheme, and that there was ample accommodation at Ruakura.

“The smell from horses, I suppose you will agree/’ asked Mr W. T. Young of a witness in the seamen’s dispute yesterday, “is about 200 per cent, less than that from bullocks or sheep on board ship?” The witness said he oould not say what the percentage of difference was. “Well, at any rate,” suggested Mr Young, “it is very much Worse in comparison.” “Oh, yes,” replied the wildness. “I know,” broke in the president of the court (Mr Justice Frazer), “that sheep are not exactly violets at sea.”

A bread war is in full swing in Stratford, says the Stratford “Post.” The public has already reaped -the benefit of lower prices, the 41b loaf now being on sale at the shops for Is, compared to Is 2d in the past. The advent of a new firm delivering at Is Id was followed by other firms sell ing for Is cash. A meeting of bakers was held in Stratford and was representative of Taranaki province, with the object of consolidating the trade interests, but according to reports there is likely to be more “cutting” of prices before the war is ended.

“What’s happened to the thousands of pounds collected, in the Wairarapa during the war?” asked Or. A. H. Colquhoun, at the Mauricewlle County Council. “It’s out .at interest at 4 per cent., and that is not right; it was collected for the soldiers.” Cr. Fo.nsibtrg protested that the Patriotic Association was using the funds for the best advantage; the money was available to the soldiers. “Yes, if they go down on their knees,” retorted Cr. Colquhoun. “1 was in the Masterton Town Hall when £21,000 wee suhserbed to the funds. That was on one night only. What’s become of it all?”

It is not generally known that the New Zealand Mounted Rifles have the honour of being the only white people who can claim to haVe lived in the Jordan Valley throughout the summer. This, however, is the case, and, at the reunion social of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles at New Plymouth the chairman (Major J. B. Davis) referred humorously to o.n incident during their sojourn there. While enduring the heat-, snakes, dust, malaria, and other discomforts characteristic of the valley, he said that a copy of the “London Times” reached them, .and, opening it, they read of a question being asked in the House of Commons as to whether there were any white troops in the valley. The answer was: “No; only Indians and colonials 1”

In connection with Sunday’s ceremony a+ St. Gerard’®, Hawker street, the ’memorial to the late much-revered and lamented Sergeant Cromhie, which occupies a. prominent position in the church of St. Gerard, was erected about a year ago. It is a largo oil painting of the “Holy Family” with _ a tablet bearing the memorial inscription. The altar unveiled by His Grace Archbishop Redwood, on Sunday last, has been erected .by contributions received from various parts of the Dominion and from outside the Dominion, but especially from Catholics who frequent the church of St. Gerard’s. It is an expression of their veneration for the holy Mother of God, under the title of “The Mother of Perpetual Succour.”

Music from Melbourne was heard in Dannevirke the other night by a local wireless amateur.

A Foxton boy has made a complete wireless set which he has erected at his father’s premises.

It is stated on good authority that a Palmerston North financial syndicate has offered to lend the Power Board all the money required for its half-million loan at 5J per cent.

“The salvation of this country lies in the utilisation of pedigree herds, and the use generally of* a higher class stock in the dairying industry,” was an oheervation made by His Honour Mr Justice Chapman at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth.

A car which was proceeding to a football match at Masterton collided with Sir Walter Buchanan’s car and capsuled, the occupants, two men being thrown out on to the road and injured. Sir Walter Buchanan was not injured.

The Mayor of Dunedin has received n cheque for £SO from the Otago University Students’ Association towards the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund fdr the New- Zealand Blind. This amounts represents half the net proceeds of the capping carnival.

“Before very long Carterton is going to develop into a very important tentre,” sad the Mayor (Mr W. Howard Booth) at a meeting of the Carterton Racing Club, when it was mooted that the clubs should amalgamate and hold a big race meeting at Taratahi.

“It is no use making a series of observations to a witness under the form of asking him questions. You should make those observations to the court and ask the witness only for informa-tion.”—-His Honour Mr Justice Salmond to cross-examining counsel in the Supreme Court yesterday.

The final survey, or pegging out, of the route of the transmission line between Mangahao and Masterton is now being made 'by the Public Works Department’s officers. The work is completed on the route to Wellington, and a start has been made with the erection of the telephone line.

The borrowing of motor-cars is stated to be somewhat prevalent in the Wairarapa. Recently a taxi-driver who left his car for a short while at Carterton was compelled to walk back to Masterton. The missing vehicle was subsequently found abandoned on the roadside.

“I want to impress on counsel that they must ask questions and not make statements in cross-examination. Asking questions is the only right way; it is the only short way. And as soon as counsel begin making statements to a witness you will find that they • are anticipating the answers.” —His Honour Mr Justice Snlmond in the Supreme Court yesterday.

It is said that two amateur trappers, who had their first experience among the opossums at Paraparaumu, collected a cheque of £153 11s for the skins they secured during the recent season. As their total expenses were only £22, the month’s work was a most profitable one. The more experienced trappers cleared £IOO and over per man m the same time.

“I suppose her charms were considered to be marketable elsewhere,” was a comment made in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth by His Honour Mr Justice Chapman, when re ferring to the fact that in a breach of promise case in Auckland, which he said was a breach of contract, the jury had found for plaintiff, but had not awarded her any damages.

Referring to the effect of heavy traffic on the roads, Mr A. fi. Herbert stated at the Eketahuna’ Chamber of Commerce that in France there were some roads of granite blocks, that had 'been down for 100 years. Yet when the heavy war traffic got on to them it was a very short time before the blocks became displaced, and the road soon broke up altogether.

“An absurdity that has gone beyond the bounds of reason,” was the remark at the annual meeting of the Oarterton Racing Club, when a member pointed out that *.he taxation on a one-day race meeting, last season was approximately £IOOO. It was pointed out that by its excessive taxation the Government was going the right way to strangle the goose that laid the golden egg.

Although the weather has been somewhat cold during the last few days the grass in this district (says the “Eketahuna Express”) is greening up and showing distinct signs ot growing. Farmers state that growth is very noticeable in paddocks which are not stocked. Generally the opinion is that jhe winter just passed has been an exceptionally good one from a farming point of view.

The ranger reported to the Taieri County Council that while he was riding along a road his horse was shot under him by a pea rifle bullet. The seriousness of the matter was commented on by councillors, who pointed out that there was far too much carelessness on the part of those carrying firearms. It was urged that the practice of shooting from motor-oars and vehicles on public roads should be put down with a strong hand. As other instances of a like nature to the ran. ger’s unfortunate experience were mentioned, it was decided to interview the superintendent of police.

That it is possible for speed limits for motorists to be too high, is the opinion of Mr P. S. Nicholla, a resident of Christchurch, who has just returned from a six months’ holiday tour, most of his time having been spent in Honolulu —a city which is about as large as Christchurch. The Honolulu speed limits range from twelve miles an hour in the inner town to twenty-fiv© miles in the outer town; the limit in the country is thirty-five miles. With Oriental drivers there are sometimes three people killed in one day. Petrol costs one shilling a gallon as against two shillings and sixpence in New Zealand. Of ten thousand automobiles in Honolulu only one is of English make.

After many thrilling experiences in the Solomon Islands among savages and in territory never previously visited by a white in in .Mr E. 0. Armytage, F.E.S., and Mr Whitby, of the Melbourne Museum, have returned with a wonderful collection of entomological specimens. The collection, which will go into the Melbourne Museum, includes many rare butterflies of magnificent colour, also ® fine assortment of beetles. There is also a brown frog about a foot long that is said to be the largest frog in the world. To obtain the specimens, the party had to barter with the savages, and this proved a very delicate operation. They tried to photograph a cannibal tribe who were naked, but on seeing the camera they rushed into the sea. The party reached Bouganville in the mandated territory, and found the natives there very wild. Here they secured some rare native weapons of the stone ago.

Masterton has experienced a succession of frosts, and gardens which have put on a spring aspect have suffered accordingly. At Greytown the weather was approximately 10 degrees warmer.

“I don’t know what you call drunk,” said a witness to counsel at the Mag. istrate’s Court at Gisborne. “Neither do I,” said the Magistrate, “and 1 have been here for four yeans bearing different opinions on the matter.”

Whe,n submitting a pedigree Friesian cow at the Kaponga sale the auctioneer said: “Here is a proper dairy factory on four legs, and you don’t know it!” This timely remark had a good result, and the cow fetched over 100 guineas.

Ratana and several mejbers of his party are at present on a visit to Plymouth and are domiciled at the native hostelry. A large number oi Maoris from all parts of Taranaki have assembled and are being addressed by their great faith healer.

The first batch of trout fry to be received in the Otaki district this season has Seen forwarded, the consignment comprising 85,000 of the brown variety. This is the largest quantity ever received in the district. The fry will be distributed in the Ohau, Wai. kawa, and Otaki rivers.

“Misrepresentation in reference to land is not known in the South.” 6aid plaintiff in a civil action in the Supreme Court at Auckland. “This is the. only place I have experienced it.” Mr Justice Herdman remarked, “I think the habit is pretty common, and the only place where I think it is not known is Dunedin.” His Honour’s remark caused some amusement.

What he described as an attempt to bring about the disintegration of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, and to get him personally out of the way, was mentioned by Mr W. Goodfellow, managing director of the company, at the annual dinner to suppliera, held in Hamilton. He said the scheme had fortunately failed. Mr Goodfellow’s speech was greeted with enthusiasm and he was loudly cheered, a vote of confidence in him also being passed.