NEWS OF THE BAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11735, 24 January 1924, Page 4

NEWS OF THE BAY

In the course of conversation a member of the Lottie Bennett orew referred to the illicit liquor trade in the United States, and ventured the opinion that it would never be stopped. A Press representative at Wanganui asked him regarding the ten-mile limit, and he replied, “You can make it 100 milee, and it would not make the slightest difference.” He then went on to state that those who made the laws were in reality the biggest law-breakers. When the late President Harding was making a speeoh on liquor regulations a short time before his death, stewards in the House of Representatives were drawing corks in order to supply liquor to thirety politicians.

A farmer, who lives on the coast a few miles from Tauranga, is at present on a visit to Wanganui. Ho explained to a “Herald” reporter the value of sharks for feeding poultry. In his spare time during the summer weather, he devoted his attention to catching sharks, which were plentiful. These he boiled in a tank, and fed them to the poultry, with excellent results. “We don’t do that on this coast,” replied the reporter. “We convert them into fillets, and the publio who don’t know the difference, buy them like hot cakes. At one time we used to fillet them with portions of the skin adhering, but a few of the public who ar© enthusiastic fishermen made an interesting discovery, and now wo elect to lose a little weight and discard the skins.” The Tauranga man laughed heartily, hut the reporter pointed out to him that there was very little difference in selling the lahark flesh direct, to sending it to market in concentrate ed asopinfre in the eggs.

Owing to the drought it has been decided to abandon the proposed stock drive in connection with the forthcoming central Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Show.

The Waikato murder trial will take place at the criminal session of the Auckland Supreme Court, which opens on February sth. John Christopher Higgins will appear on two charges of murder.

According to a member of the orew of the Lottie Bennett, which is at Wanganui, there arc plenty of sailing vessels out of comiiiission in America at the present time which the owners would he very pleased to part with.

An unusual incident occurred in Wairoa a few days ago. The little child of a local resident had been left on a rug in the garden when a stray cow wandered in. The eow stepped on the neck of the baby, inflicting injuries which necessitated the insertion of several stitches.

Reports from different parts of tho Waikato indicate that the recent rains, aided by the subsequent spell of congenial fine weather, have 6aved the situation, from the dairyman’s point of view, to a considerable extent, and the countryside has taken on the aspect of a second spring. The milk production, which it was feared would fall a good deal, lias been maintained, and in some cases has shown an increase. The prospects for the autumn are now considerably brighter.

The long spell of dry weather, with only a few showers of rain, is going hard with the dairymen along the coast (say 6an exchange). The supplies of oream being railed to Wanganui, which were well maintained during the last two seasons, have this year dropped off considerably, and the assistants in the local factories are not now called upon to work so hard in dealing with the contents of the incoming cans. Railwaymen are also finding the work of handling the empties less strenuous.

“There is a fascination about motoring on these northern roads. We expect to find the South Island dull by“ comparison,” staid an Australian visator at Auckland, speaking of an overland tour of 5000 miles in the North Island. “There is nothing in driving on good roads, no sporting element. But here you have all the joys of uncertainty, and there is the sense of achievement when you . arrive. We have even had the pleasure of spending ihe night in the car on your famous Ran'giririis. Aftea- all, what would a golf course be without bunkers?”

The income of the Auckland Electric Power Board for the nine months ended December 31st last was £153,050 8e 7d, an increase of no less than £35,835 15s lid over the income for the previous year. Working expenses were £71,199 5s 6d, an increase of £13,312 18s 7d over 1922. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman (Mr W. J. Holdsworth) said these figures showed that the business of the board was expanding at a very rapid rate, and that the fears entertained by the tramway department that they could not carry the load had been groundless.

A member of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society had an opportunity of inspecting some of the deer herds in the district. He states that the deer are in good condition, and a large number of young ones were noticed. In one locality there is evidence of illicit shooting, and this was substantiated by the fact that a dog with the party went into some scrub and brought out the head of a young beast that had been killed a few days. On going into the scrub the party found that the skin was missing, which was dear evidence that the beast had been shot.

In regard to complaints of errors in transmission of telegrams by telephone, the Postal Department yesterday wrote to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce explaining that telephoning was only resorted to in order to ease the Christmas rush and obviate delays when inhere was a shortage of message boys, and measures were immediately taken to choose telephonists who were clear speakers. Members of the chamber expressed the opinion that the department was to be congratulated upon having done ita best during the holiday time, and that it was better to receive a short message by telephone, even if thlbre was an error, rather than suffer the delay while the telegram was delivered.

Following upon a conference between representatives of the Waihi district mineownens and delegates from the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Workers’ Union with a view to framing a new industrial agreement, it was decided to accept the offer cf the mining companies to give an increase of 6d per shift to all wage workers to the approval of Mr Hiram Hunter, the employees’ representative on the Arbitration Court. Should Mr Hunter not consider the amount sufficient to cover the present coot of living the union delegates will proceed to a further conference with the mine-owners. With regard to the proposal for a sick end accident fund, it was decided that a committee be appointed to consider the matters and report to members at a further general meeting.

The enterprising Japanese are ever ready to learn all they can about the business and manufacturing ways of the Western nations, and the men of the squadron due to leach Auckland on February 12th are no exception. The wish has been expressed by the Admiral, through the Auckland Consul, Mr A. B. Roberton, that the staff, and particularly the 388 cadets on the vessels, should be given facilities for visiting the various activities in this city. The members of the Rotary Club were asked by Mr Roberton to give the visitors opportunities to visit local industries. The acting-chairman (Mr Kenneth Mackenzie), while remarking that he had no doubt members would do their best for the visitors, jocularly observed that he remembered the injunction about displaying treasures before strangers.' A member promptly quoted the homely adage about entertaining angels unawares.

The “Otago Daily Times” has the following:—ln Saturday’s papers a minister in one of our city churches advertised as his subject for Sunday evening’s service, “Shaving with a Hired Razor.” At the morning service the minister explained that this title so shocked a good Presbyterian elder that he telephoned him that he objected to such subjects as not being in accordance with Presbyterian teachings. To this complaint the minister replied that it might not be in accordance with the teachings of Presbyterianism, but that it was in accordance with the teachings of Scripture, and that was what he was most concerned about. If his good friend, the elder would study his Bible and read a chapter in Isaiah ho would find mention made of shaving with the hired razor, and ample warrant for the title of the sermon. At the evening service the minister duly carried out his promise, and preached on the advertised subject to a large and appreciative congregation from Isaiah vij,.„ 20,

It is stated that a broadcasting firm has been giving tho tote figures over the wireless. Hadn’t they better mind their p’s and q’s, or better still their dots and dashes?

At the official opening of the YVaharoa Post Office, Mr Coad, Chief Postmaster, referring to the up-to-date office no.v doing duty, said: “And the building it has replaced is now doing duty as a wash-house and coal bin.”

The popularity of the “Times” e 3 peoially in race week, is demonstrated by the fact that in more than one suburb subscribers have found their copy missing from the doorstep, presumably “borrowed” by someone who wanted to see the results.

The annual report of the directors of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Ltd., has been issued to shareholders. It recommends t-he payment of a final dividend for the year ended October 31st, 1923, of 9d per share on fully paid-up ©hares, and 4£d per share on 10s shares.

“He saya a woman deserves a jolly food hiding every now and agan.” lie cave-man methods of a defendant in a maintenance case in the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch, didn’t appeal to his wife, and she gave as a reason why she objected to living with him his views of wives. The magistrate: “I suppose you object to that view.” And the reply of the lady was most emphatic.

The Postal Department has written to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce regarding the late delivery of parcels ex mail steamers, stating that the complaint was being investigated, but over Christmas 12 large mails were received in three weeks and some delay was unavoidable. The secretary, Mr Fairchild, is to reply that business men regard the accommodation as inadequate and ask for the position to be rectified.

Eltham Chamber of Commerce has written asking the Wellington Chamber to support the following resolution : That this chamber requests that the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act, relating to the late closing of shops allowing one night only per week, be amended to provide exemption for Christmas and New Year weeks, and that where Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on any other night than the usual late night it he permissible to observe two late nights in those weeks.—The letter was received at the meeting yesterday.