LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 7

LOCAL & GENERAL

In replying on the 3rd to a question by Mr R. W. Smith regarding the spread of noxious woods, the Hon. Mr Massey (Minister of Agriculture) said it was intended to obtain the advice of the Board of Agriculture in regard to the noxious weeds question generally, and until the board’s opinion was available no change would be made in the present policy, which had been unchanged for years past, and which was as follows: —The extent to which land-owners or occupiers of land are compelled to clear noxious weeds is left to the discretion of the inspector in charge of each district, subject to general control by the director of the division which deals with this part of the department’s operations, and subject also to the approval of the director being obtained before prosecutions for failing to clear weeds are undertaken.

A newly-built seven-roomed house, situated at Salisbury (North Taieri) was destroyed by fire at 2 a.m. on the 2nd. It was owned by Mr L, 0. Hazlett, and occupied by Mr T. E. Jefcoate. The building was insured in the South British office for £650, and the furniture in the Australian Alliance office for £550.

A Frees Association message from Christchurch states that at a meeting of creditors of J. A. Bale, carpenter and poultry farmer, the assets wer6 set down at £63, and the liabilities at £535 The 'bankrupt attributed hia losses to the poultry farm.

Mr R. C. Webb is at present • visiting England and the Continent (says our Greymouth correspondent) in connection with the proposed establishment of wood pulp and paper-making mills in New Zealand. Writing to a friend in Hokitika, he states that he expects to return early next year with the results of bulk tests now being made of different species of our timbers.

A record number of passengers are on board the Union Company’s liner Niagara, which left Vancouver at 3 p.m. on November 26 for Auckland -and Sydney, via way ports. The . vessel is bringing 180 first, 210 second, and 220 third-class passengers for all ports, or a total of 610, which is the largest number yet brought from the Canadian port since the Vancouver steamers have been calling at Auckland. The Niagara, which has become a favourite vessel in this trade, hold the previous record, when she brought down from Vancouver, in September, 475 passengers in all classes. She is also bringing European, American, and Canadian mails, and a record cargo for New Zealand, amounting to 1220 tons of general Canadian merchandise, 240 tons of which is for transhipment to southern ports. The Niagara is due at Auckland on Tuesday, December 16. A bill for £2220 4s lOd will bo presented by the Harbour Board (says a Wellington Press Association telegram) for dues said to be chargeable on the Vancouver mail steamers from the inauguration of the service in 1911. The decision to present the account follows the judgment of the Full Court in the appeal case Union Company v Wellington Harbour Board in regard to dues for the mail steamers.

Mr R. Whale, of New Plymouth, had a, motor car burnt under rather unusual circumstances on Tuesday night (says our "Wanganui correspondent!. When driving borne along South road he noticed that bis benzine supply was becoming defective, and, thinking that the benzine pipe was blocked, bo removed it for inspection. A quantity of the benzine escaped on to the road, and as ho was bonding over the pipe to turn off the tap his foot slipped and cemo in contact with a match, several having apparently boon dropped on the road by some one. There was instantly a blaze, and in a few moments the car was practically destroyed.

It is staled that there is a movement on foot amongst member! of the House to present each member of the crow of the Home steamer Athenic with a frozen lamb in recognition of the crew’s loyalty during the strike in Wollingtcn. The Athenic was the vessel by which many thousands of pounds’ worth of dairy produce were shipped, and was the first Home vessel to b© loaded by free labour. It is estimated that 200 lambs will be required. A canvass of prominent settlers was made at Pahiatua on Saturday, and several pounds were contributed for the purpose of rewarding the crew.

The salvage party working on the wrecked steamer Tyrone has sent ashore a large quantity of fittings and gear during the past few days, including spare bronze propeller blades, three massive patent anchors and heavy cable. It has boon stated that a natural enemy of the Californian thistle has made its appearance in Southland. The plant lias been attacked by a blight of some description which threatens its extinction. Mr Gazzard. of Makarewa. submitted an affected plant to a Southland News reporter on Saturday. The specimen showed that the leaf on both sides was covered with a sporadic growth which closely resembled red rust on the oat plant, and which developed into chocolate colour, I nder the microscope life was distinctly visible. The insect appears to absorb some substance from ths plant, which ultimately withers up. Mr Gazzard .has given diseased plants considerable attention, and says that one pleasing feature is that the trouble, whilst it will also attack docks, docs not prejudicially affect the surrounding vegetation. With her holds ful> and her decks piled high with cases of fruit, and with heavy limber, the steamer Canada Cape (from the Pacific Slope) attracted considerable

attention at Wellington on Friday (says the Post). The vessel running under the auspices of the Union Steam Ship Company, and brings a large general cargo for New Zealand and Australia. With the tariff reductions operating in the United States, greatly increased trade is expected, and it is likely that a regular cargo service will be inaugurated shortly. The following is a summary of the New Zealand cargo brought by the boat: Two thousand seven hundred and fifty boxhs apples (refrigerated), 1209 cases oranges, 4750 cases canned fruits, 15,150 packages dried fruits, 5600 cases salmon, 1051 sacks seed, 2041 boxes salt, 5502 bags salt, 407 cases salt, 700 barrels oil, 30 bales hops, 8 cases automobiles, 1500 cases distillate, and a quantity of timber.

A party of young men from Rangiora, who j went on a holiday excursion up the Midland railway line on November 27, arc reported to have been gu.lty ot conduct endangering the | safety of the ordinary train between Cass I and Halpin Creek (says the Lyttelton Times). ; They were walking along the lino beyond ■ the Cass, where they conceived the idea of placing an overturned construction waggon on the lino. They lifted it on to the metals ' from the place where it was lying alongside ' (he line. Just then the train from the Cass

was seen approaching, and they hurriedly pushed the wagon off the, rails in order to leave the line clear, and then ran away, j They wore in such a hurry, however, that they left the wagon too near ‘.he permanent 1 way, with the result that each of- the three j carriages of the train struck it. The first I carriage had the steps carried away, and the second and third were also slightly damaged j and had the paint scraped off. No one was | hurt, but the collision caused considerable j alarm amongst those on board the train. 1 Inquiries arc now being made as to the f identity of the culprits.

j The demands by a Wellington moneylender were reported to Mr Riddell, S.M., | by Mr T. M. Wilford in making an applica- ! tion for the reduction of bail in the case { of an accused person committed to the SupI rente. Court for trial. The accused’s relatives managed to find £9O in cash, but in order I to increase the sum available for bail they had applied to the financier for an advance jof £SO ojt their household furniture—a valuj able lot. The reply was that the man with j “ money to lend at current sates” was not prepared to advance the £SO. Ho would, however, bo happy to provide the sum of | £3O, with the furniture as security, provided ’ the applicants paid £5 in interest and £1 !7s 6d legal expenses. Counsel pointed out that the applicants had already paid the , ‘‘ financier” 10s 6d us his foe for inspecting the furniture, prior to his making the offer. . The relatives wore not willing to do busiI ness with him, and approached the Magis- • irate for a reduction in bail, which was granted.

It is understood that arrangements have been formulated for a tour of 50 South African farmers to the Mother Country next summer at the invitation of the Union-Castle Company. Sir Owen Phillips, the chairman of the company, explains that the object of the invitation is to afford an opportunity for the study of agricultural methods in the United Kingdom, and the hope is that such a tour may prove of benefit to the Union and Rhodesia. Ton farmers from each province, the Cape, Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Natal, and also from Rhodesia, will bo selected by the agricultural associations. Working fanners only will be eligible, and preference will bo given to those who have not visited England within recentyears. The party will leave South Africa about the first week in June, and will return at the end of August. (Jeneral Botha has consented to be the patron of the tour; Air J. A. Nescr, ALL.A., will be the president, and Dr N't illiam Alacdonald the secretary.

A few days ago it was reported (says the Dominion) that a quantity of the Willochra’s shipment of American apples had gone bad on the wharf. This, however, laid nothing whatever to do with the strike. Certain buyers in Wellington, Auckland and the south conceived an idea that, they could import apples as genera! cargo end placed orders for a largo amount without arranging for cold store accommodation. Those were the apples which went bad. It is said that the loss sustained imrt have been between £2OOO and £3OCO. Lie experiment proved definitely that there ;s a grave risk hi importing apples from America as general cargo. The long voyage through the tropics must bo detrimental to the fruit. The difference in the freight is Is 2jd per case. Shipped as ordinary cargo a 401 b case of apples costs 2s 7J,d in freight, and shipped in cold store the rate is 3s lOd per case.

According to a witness at the Cost of Living Inquiry at Sydney, the “bonus” system is extensively operated by Sydney house agents. Witness herself had many times been asked for sums of money when going into a now house, and some agents made a regular practice of demanding from £3 to £5 before they would even discuss business. Her present landlord had demanded —and obtained —35s from her when she took possession. Now ho was advertising another house in her neighbourhood, to bo lot at a weekly rental of 15s, on payment of a £3 bonus. Mr Connington (for the Trades and Labour Council) referred to what he termed the rapacity of some landlords, and his remark brought a rejoinder from Mr Justice Iloydon, who said “They are only human.”

“ It is a scandalous and dangerous practice that the police should bo allowed to cross-examine suspected persons with a view to getting statements from them,” said Mr J. R. Reed, K.C., in the Supreme Court at Auckland on Monday. *' This power of

cross-examination, which is denied to judges and magistrates, should certainly not be allowed to a constable, who may be prejudiced against the suspected person in his desire to obtain a conviction.” Counsel went on to state that probably several innocent men had been convicted on what purported to be their own written and signed confessions, these confessions having been obtained by methods approaching the American third degree. Counsel instanced a case in which a man was conclusively proved to be innocent, although he had written and signed a document admitting his guilt. In this case, added counsel, which was tried, curiously enough, before the same judge and the same counsel as the present one, the chief witness for the Crown was subsequently sentenced to 10 years’ hard labour for pet jury. His Honor Mr Justice Edwards said that he agreed with Mr Reed that there was considerable danger in the desire of constables and detectives to obtain incriminating statements.

An important decision was arrived at by the Auckland Builders’ Association at a meeting held last week namely, to adopt the universal system of a 44-hour working week. Heretofore, under various awards, the working week was of different lengths for the respective trades. For instance, bricklayers had a 47-hour week, while some other trades were down to 44 hours. As the builders’ labourers have now had their hours fixed at 44 per week, it meant that if bricklayers worked 47 hours, overtime had to bo paid to the labourer to the extent of three hours per week. At the meeting of the Builders’ Association it was decided that a unform hour was desirable in that trade, and the minimum of 44 hours was agreed upon. In future all branches of the building trade will observe the 44-hour week. This embraces carpenters, joiners, plasterers, bricklayers, labourers, painters, and pa per ha rigors. Quito apart from the fact that he oftentimes goes through life in constant dread of an enemy's spear, the Papuan should indeed be happy (says the Melbourne Ago). According to the Rev. Copeland King, the native people of the Commonwealth’s most northern territory are ideal Socialists. Their form of local government is quite communistic. Despotic, hereditary chieftain-, ship gives place to a purely democratic method, whereby the man most fitted in their various spheres of life is elected chief of that sphere. Wore Senator Millcn a Papuan lie would doubtless bo fighting chief. Mr Graham would in all probability be plantation, chief, and in that capacity would decide for a whole village what land was to bo cleared for the year, and whether the season was more adapted to an extensive sowing of yams or of taro roots. They have their water 'chief, who, like Mr Elwood Meade, supervises their irrigation, for the Papuan knows the full value of water. And so on, in their many walks of life, they have their elected ministers. Their prime minister is Vet to bo d'seovorod. and in all probability the first Papuan who suggested an opposition would be hanged to the nearest cocoanut palm. Notwithstanding this seemingly eleplorablo state of affairs, our brown friends get on passing well. As an illustration of their communism, Mr King state's that should a man, or even a minister, ho token ill rr have occasion to leave his borne and visit a distant village, it mutters not how long ho is abed or away, his garden—(for tin Papuans are primarily agriculturists)—will, as a matter of course, be assiduously tended by his neighbours.

“I don’t mind making a speech,” said a man from the body of the Auckland Magistrate’s Court on Monday, when Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., had invited anyone present to express his views on the question of whether the hotels should bo reopened. “ Are you out on strike?” asked Mr Kettle “ Xo, I am on a holiday,” replied the man, amidst laughter, lie said that he was a carpenter, and had eorno in from the country, but the fact that he could not get a glass of beer had spoiled his holiday. He expressed the ppimon that oven if the hotels were closed for the next three months, there would certainly bo a conflict on the first day they were opened. “ Are the few men on strike to dominate the universe?”

lie concluded. “Take no notice of the man who doesn’t use liquor. His opinion isn’t worth hearing.”

The crayfish industry is now at its height off the coast of New South Wales. Mr David G. Stead, the Government' fisheries expert, says:—“This is a highly profitable industry, capable of great expansion if the modern methods practised by a few of the fishermen were followed by many others. The crayfish always find a ready sale. As showing the possibilities of this industry, it may be mentioned that during the last two or three years enterprising fishermen have exported crayfish in n frozen state to Cairo and Asiatic Turkey, and even to Germany, where they have brought as much as 8d per lb. The same people also inaugurated a trade with those port's in mullet roes, which are first soaked in brine, then dried, and finally immersed in paraffine, so as to give them an impervious coating. These rocs are sold in that state to wealthy Mussulmans, who munch them as we would eat cakes. The retail price is not less than 5s per 11). This trade has resulted in mullet roc becoming more valuable than the fish itself.

Water planing on a plank towed by a speedy motor boat is an exciting water sport that is described, with illustration, in the I’opular Mechanics’ Magazine. It is hardly to bo recommend to Women and children, but for a good swimmer it is almost as thrilling as flying. All that is necessary for the sport is a fast motor boat and a strong plank, 6ft long and 2ft wide.

with a tow rope attached to the front end and two reins for the rider to use in maintaining his balance. The rider, necessarily hi a bathing suit, stands on the rear end of the plank and jockeys the reins to keep his balance and guide his craft. St ( ding- still, the plank is hardly sufficient to support a man, but at eight miles an hour it begins to ride lightly on the water just like a hydroplane. As the speed increases to 25 miles or 35 miles the front end of the plank rises high above the water and the craft skims the surface on its “Imel.” Skilful balancing will take it aronfid sharp turns without capsizing, and by a slight shifting of the weight it can be made to climb sideways on the waves of the motor boat’s wake.

The housing conditions of the people of Australia are being inquired into by Mr Kmbbs, the Commonwealth Statistician, and most valuable evidence has already been given by him before the Select Committee that is dealing with the subject. Mr Knibbs finds that houses of four, five, and six rooms constitute two-thirds of the dwellings in the Commonwealth, and that a similar proportion of the people in each State occupy houses of these sizes. The question of rent has also engaged tht statistician’s attention, and ho has ascertained that the rental, according to the number of inmates, decreases as the reckoning passes from one to three rooms. After that it begins to rise again, and the law of change is so regular that for communities of all sizes in the Commonwealth it is expressible by mathematical formula.

Sections 13 and 19, Part IT, of the New Zealand Official Year Book, have been issued by Mr Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician. These, sections deal with accumulations in the hanks of issue, public finances, revenue and expenditure of the General Government, taxation, and the public debt. The development of banking in New Zealand is lucidly set out in tabulated form, and the graph accompanying the letterpress clearly illustrates the position. In the year 1857 the dejosits amounted to £343,316; in 1912 they had grown to £25,622,083. In 1870 (the first year given) the total advances amounted to £4,547,217; in 1912. £24,267,173. In 1857 the total assets of the banks amounted to £419,860; in 1912, £31,196,400. In 1357 the total liabilities were £432,494; in 1912, £27,503,343.

Some time during Wednesday night or early on Thursday morning the plate-glass window of MV Day’s picture shop m George street was wantonly broken by some individual who' hurled a block of iron through it. Nothing can be found which will give any clue'to the identity of the perpetrator. The only possible reason for the deed is that Mr Day’s brother is a member of the-.. Union Company’s permanent staff, and lias been working on tbc wharf during the present trouble.

On the 4th the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce forwarded to the Right Hon. Sir Joshua Williams the following congratulatory resolution ou his appointment to the Privy Council:—“That this chamber, on behalf of the commercial community of Otago, desires to convey to Sir Joshua Williams their sincere congratulations on the high honour conferred in his appointment to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council) and, while deeply regretting his loss to the dominion, their earnest prayer is that his future life may be attended by every possible happiness.”

The Portobello Road Board decided on the 4th to erect a new bridge to replace the present structure at Anderson Bay, and a poll will be taken shortly to decide whether the ratepayers will sanction a loan of £SOO to pay the board’s share of the cost, which is estimated at £IOOO. The other Contributing bodies will be called upon to pay a pro rata share of the expenditure to the extent of £SOO.

• Ladies were reported to be such indifferent bowlers that the Warrington (England) Council lias decided to limit their presence on the public bowling greens to two hours once a week (says the Sunday Chronicle). Alderman Bennett and Cr Broadhurst championed the cause of the ladies. If they gave bowling for men, said Mr Broadhurst, they must give bowling to women. It was a necessity in these days when women expected their rights lie moved that the proposal to exclude the ladies bo not adopted. Alderman Bennett supported Mr Broadhurst on the ground that bowling was' the only recreation open to working-class women. Cr Dickinson said when the ladies were on the greens there wore more accidents through their bowling right into the centre of the other sides. The presence of the ladies on the greens had been responsible for more bad language than he ever knew used on the bowling greens in the borough, lie saw two ladies on olio occasion bowling continuously round the sides of the green, knocking the bowls played by the men out of play. The council decided that the ladies should bo allowed to bowl only two hours a week.

A few days ago (says the Timaru Herald), Mr J. \V. Miller, of Jtangitaia Island, brought a mob of ewes and lambs and eight rains into his yard ready to draft for shearing on the moi row, when he noticed that one of the English Leicester rams looked peculiar about the eyes. Ot catching the ram in the race lie found that its face was swollen, and it was nearly blind. After looking at its eyes ho noticed the wool on the ram’s back moving m a peculiar way, and on parting the wool with the hand rras surprised to sec the tail of some small animal under the wool. On looking further he found a half-grown stoat deeply imbedded under the fleece; ajtd some force bad to be

used to extricate the animal. When tho ram was shorn next day it was found that the stoat had commenced to eat the wool off the ram’s back. It must have been there for some days. Whether the stoat was tho cause of it or -cot it is impossible to say, but since being shorn the ram went totally blind, its face all came out >n sores, and its ears became quite stiff, with the result that the animal had to be destroyed. The proposed new tourist track between Lake Harris Saddle and Lake Howdcn, head of Greenstone Valley, via Lake Mackenzie, for which a vote appears on the Estimates, will bo gone on with at an early date (says the Wakatip Mail). Tho linking up of the Routeburn and Greenstone Valleys by this track will provide a delightful four-days’ round trip from Queenstown. The traveller will be able to take the steamer from Queenstown on a Friday, and traverse the Routeburn and 'Greenstone Valleys on that and the following days and return to Queenstown on Monday, on which day ihe steamer regularly calls at Ellin Hay. On several occasions what lias been termed “ the human dislike to fresh air” lias been referred to at the Cost of Living Inquiry at tho Industrial Court at Sydney. A land agent, in giving evidence, declared that he had seen ventilators plastered over, and fireplaces covered up. “ Fresh air would kill some people,” he said, to the amusement of the court. Another witness held the same view. He was a municipal officer, with a large practical experience, and he said it was not uncommon to see all the doors and windows of a dwelling closed tight to the outside air. He did not know why, but such was the case. “Fresh air will not hurt anybody,” he added disgustedly Mr Rolin (for the Employers’ Federation) considered tho workers wore great offenders against hygiene in this respect. To Mr Connington (for the Trades and Labour Council), who disagreed with him, ho remarked with an air of finality: “You cannot' show me an open window or door m• a working-class suburb.” '