LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10284, 14 January 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Potato Plight in vory prevalent in llu; Wellington district. A number of crops in Karori have boon badly affected. while growers in the Hull :ind other districts will be big losers through the visitation. The terry steamer Wahine came into collision with the tug Lyttelton in Lyttelton Harbour on Thursday. Several of the tug’;: plates above the water-line were cut htrough, and the how of I he Wahine was slightly dented. Heavy rains caused the Wheuuaknri to rise rapidly on Thursday and , several spans of the northern end , of the railway bridge, that crosses it, . were washed away. Kailway iraUb: , on (he section will he disorganised j for several days. The bridge is an ( old wooden one. There are some farmers in the j Eltham district who are able to read ( with equanimity the market reports ( for butter and cheese Is,ays the ;; ‘•Argus’’). They paid .CIU per acre for their land. Tlmy have neigh- . hour;; immediately adtoining who ' paid up to ill. r )0 for evactly similar land, and who hare very different feelings when reading the market i reports {«

I The Kev. Frank T. Harris will 1 conduct the morning and evening services in the King Street Methodist Church to-morrow, and a prayer meeting will be held at 6 p.m. At the Denmark Street Church, the morning service will be conducted by Mr W. J. Gibbs. The Goraldine Horticultual Society's Summer Show will be held in the Volunteer Hall, Geraldine, on Thursday, January 19th. Entries are to be made at the secretary's office, Talbot Street, on Wednesday, I ISth. until 9 p.m.; entries by post I are to reach the office by that time and the committee have decided to adhere strictly to the rule thai late entries will not be roceived. Afternoon tea and supper will be pro- ) vided. Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the mutilation (by the excision of paragraphs) of newspapers in the public reading' room of the Temuka Mechanics' Institute still goes on. Yesterday one, of the dailies had not been on the reading table many minutes before several 1 inches bearing on an interesting subject had been hacked out of it. The who does this sort of thing—we were going to say forgets, but that would probably be wrong—pays no heed to the fact that the part of the paper purloined may be as interesting and important to other readers, as it is to hiself. There is another point. There is reading matter on both sides of the paper, and by cutting a piece out, to get what he wants he may destroy a valuable article printed on the other side. People ay ho. sue in. a newspaper iit a public reading room something thai they want, should either cony it or go to Ibi newsagents and buy a paper Avith it in. They overlook the important fact that they arc liable to a prosecution. ' "1 reckon the three hardesc-Avork-ed men in the Empire," said Bro. George Sheat, of Canterbury, at the Foresters' triennial dinner at Wellington recently, Avhen the GovernorGeneral AYas the guest of honour, : "are Lloyd George, Billie Hughes, and Bill Massey. I wouldn't have their jobs for all the tea in China and a thousand a year chucked in. I heard a couple of Avorking men discussing things, and you would have thought they could reconstruct the Empire in two acts. They thought his Excellency could do his part of the job at £2OOO a year, and if the Prime Minister couldn't do his for £IOOO they Avere prepared,, themselves to take it on for less. Now neither of these men had enough brains to run my hen-roosts, if I gave them the wheat for nothing. If I'd had a gramophone record of Avhat they said, Mr Massey Avould have paid me £IOOO for it. Never ,in the annals of New Zealand has a Cabinet had such a trying time as the present. Cabinet is having now. 1 We recognise that. That is Avhy I paid my land tax of £l4O Is Id without a groAVl!"—(Laughter and applause. ) Further evidence of hoAv little NeAV Zealand is known in many parts of the United States of America was ' given by Mr P. W. Peters in the ■ course of an address at Ihe Napier Thirty Thousand Club meeting recently, Avhen he said that during his receiit tour of the States, questions " in regard to this country were put to him as foiloAA-s: : —"Tell me Avhat part of Siberia New Zealand is in?" "What train did you arriA r e by?" "Is it anywhere near Natalv" "Are ( not the "Zealanders and the Zulus the same?" A Boston lady inform- ; ed him she had been arranging for i a holiday trip to New Zealand, but had been told that there Avas not enough food there for the islanders. • "We are one of the great unknown i parts of the Avorld," added Mr : Peters. Lord Lascelles, who is to marry Princess Mary next month, has a tall, rather spare I figure, with a ruddy colouring, and a pair of remarkably blue eyes (Avrites a London correspondent of the Press). He is of a quiet disposition. His iiiA'ariable imperturbability, as his Guardsmen found in some of the hottest corners of the Avar in France, covered a splendid intrepidity in the face of, danger, and the most untiring solicitude for the welfare of his troops. He was a strict disciplarian, but the battalion under his command Avas a remarkably happy family, for officers and men loved him not only for his rather dandified air, which withstood the most uncongenial conditions, but also for his plain speaking Avhen occasion demanded it. He got into serious hot water for the frankness ! Avith which he aired his views about J certain aspects of the operations on 1 the Somme in a letter to his mother which was opened by the Censor. "Fortunately the staff of clergy 1 lias been considerably increased, and much solid work- is being done in every part of the diocese, but we still need some more clergy for work in the country districts, as at present the supplv does not equal the demand," says W Averill. in a NewYear letter in the Church Gazette. He adds: "Perhaps the greatest need of the Church in New Zealand to-day is for voting, active, physically, mentally, and spiritually strong men. who will be Avilling to serve Avhere they are really needed." "AVithiu the last, week or so." states the "Public Service Journal." "several married temporary officers have had their employment terminated at the end of a few days' notice Some of them have been continually in the department's employ for Jive vears or longer; some of (hem have five little oner, dependent on their earnings, aud some more. All are lo make way for ojher men transferred "from another section of the service and whoso service is shorter titan their own. avliosc domestic- responsibilities are less, and whose suitability for the new elans of Avork is problematical. What a Christmas' box to receive aftf-r five or six years' sen ice! Three or fontdays hi which to find other employment in an overstocked labour market. Sti'-rlv live or six years' continuous serviee entitles an employee to something better Mian this. Surely .-> married man with several of a family has claims on departmental consideration superior to this." We think few will disagree with the Journal that the men were entitled to much better treatment, but it is one of the results of the retrenchment now going on in the Dominion. The slogan "Keep the cradles full" is not thoroughly popular with some people. People iii search of homes know something of this strange antipathv. The wife of a well-kuoun Auckland resident went to a suburb the other day to enquire about a ' house which was advertised to let. ' Alter explaining the reason Tor her call she was given some casual particulars about the dwelling, Avhich ' was emptv. "° f eourse, 1 have > children." slit* added. "Kids." re- < plied the other woman with evident ' disgust, accompanied by a stony stare. "I Avoiildn't Inive them about ; lli',, jliaee. rhanks." replied the ) caller with a smile, "! am too proud i of mv children to have them assoei- f ated with you in any Avay, although ; you were a sort of a child yourself , : at one time, no doubt." They parted. a

The six Aveeks' Christmas and New Year vacation given to the Territorials and Cadets has just expired, and training Avill be resumed on Monday next, 16th January. -J At Timaru on Thursday a young man named Waters Avas fined £5 for playing "dart pool," which the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, held- to he a game of chance. The paraphernalia used in playing the game Avere forfeited.

The Victorian gold yield for 1921 was 104,512 ounces of fine gold, a decrease of 45.250 ounces, as compared Avith the previous year. Advices received at Sydney state that Peter Simonoff, formerly Russian Consul in Sydney, Avhile on his Avay to Russia, married a NeAV Zealand girl in Rome, and is returning to Sydney.

The health authorities report that to date over 100 Q rats have been killed in the Chris tchurch metropolitan area aud Lyttelton.

Australia, NeAV Zealand and the other Dominions and Ireland have been invited to attend the Genoa Economic Conference. The election for the Southern Maori seat will take place on the 25th January, and it is expected that the result Avill be knoAvn by midnight the same day.

Sir Robert Stout observed to a NeAV Zealand Times, representative the. other day that the great thing that' Avas frightening many of the big land-oAA-ners at Home was the heavv post-Avar taxation they had to bear, chiefly through the income tax. "Many.of them .who AA-ere thought Avealthy years ago," he said, "now hardly had enough to live upon. One Irish landlord—l think it was the Earl of Meath, but I am not certain v-said that he had only £2OO or £3OO a year left to live on." "We are nothing more nor less than a pack of 'Dismal Willies,' " Avas the candid confession made by Mr J. A. Macpherson (Oamaru), when speaking at Wednesday's meeting of the executive of the Ncav Zealand Farmers' Union on a proposal that a social gathering should be beld during the. sitting of the next Dominion Conference. Mr Macpherson spoke in support of the proposal, and against the opinions of several delegates who considered that the annual conference should do nuth ing more than work hard all die time talking about remits. "We neA-er get into a spirit of amity and goodwill," remarked Mr Macpherson. "We are always down in the dumps Something in the AA-ay of a social gathering would clear the atmosphere very n'it--!t .--s .-i hootch man. Id like to be I ;rould not like to spend a whole evening 'in that Avay, but a couple of hours would be quite worth while. . . . Let us have a little frivolity, even if it is only like the bishops have sometimes." Mr Macphersou's appeal settled the matter, and' it was resolved that a social function should be arranged for this year's conference.

"Farmers cannot understand Avhy an inspector of machinery has to come out and inspect a motor tractor with the same engine in it as he has in his motor car," said Mr A. Hamilton (Wallace) during the second reading debate on the Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill. "All that the inspector does is to look at the machine, go away, and send in a bill for 17s 6d. That is irritating to farmers. It is not the amount of money they have to spend that they complain of. but the irritating effect of an inspector coming on to the farm and inspecting something that is being well looked after. The farmer is right in jealously guarding the rights of his own farm and trying to avoid having inspectors' visits every second day." MiHamilton also oxpresserl the opinion that candidates for examinations under the Inspection of Machinery Act should Ijc put through a practical lest.

A lad named John McKillop Kerr, of Mount Stoker, Middlcmarch, has received Avord that tho Prisons Board J had remitted the remaining portion !of probation passed upon him. A year ago he was convicted, lined, and placed on probation for two years for falsely stating that he had sent money to an Auckland business linn by post office order The firm denied receipt of the money, but some months afterwards : .the boy's -mother, discovered among some papers!' the linn's receipt. Representations were made through a Dunediu legal 'firm and acknowledgment Avas then made that tho money had been received atthe proper time, though not in the form of a post office order, but by bank notes. As the lad's honesty Avas thus placed beyond ([uestion and be bears an excellent character othcrAvise, it was felt by bin friends that this penalty was too severe for Avhat Avas evidently only a fault of memory as" to the form in which the money had been sent. The fault'is the more easily understood because, the boy rode 14 miles daily into school, aud frequently did similar money transactions for his parents. Representations were made by a friend to the Prisons Board, through the Chief Probation Officer, with the result that tho lad has been released from the-remaining portion of the proba-' lion period. Surely this is a case Avhere the conviction should be deleted from the Court records, the fine remitted, and some recompense made to the lad. ~

The many New Zealanders Avho have soldier relatives laid to rest in the British Military Cemetery at Old Cairo vvill bo much gratified to learn that the graves there are lovingly cared for by faithful friends of the Now Zealand boys. The last mail from Egypt, brought to the parents of ;: Dunediu lad who is buried there a letter from the wife of Major Rabaghati. a lady avlio during the war did much for the comfort of our boys, first by organising tea rooms, and later by her V.A.D. hospital service. The letter contained .several photographs of the cemetery, a newspaper account of flu- solemn service of remembrance that was held (here last. Armistice Day, and flowers from one of the beautiful. .Avreafhs that decorated the graves on that occasion The central "stone of remembrance" was surmounted Avith the flags of the Allies, a banner inscribed: "Their name liveth for evermore," and a wealth of floral emblems. II is interesting to learn that the same ( parents received from the officer-in-charge of hast; records last month a photograph of the official headstone over their hoy's grave. The peculiarity about receiving this notic- now is that they theinsovc:.; had tin- official headstone replaced by a more permanent and suitable one fully three vi-ars ago.- O.K. Times.

At Cairo twenty-seven rioters received sentences of imprisonment ranging from six to nine months. Others were ordered lo receive twenty-five strokes eaeh. A London cable message records a strange accident, to (lie Midland express. The explosion in the firebox hurl'-d Hie driver and the '.innr.m from the foot-plate and the train ;ravell< d on 1 r>n yards and thee stopped. '!'!'• guard wont to investigate the unexpected stoppage and found Ihe engine oinpt\. Then the driver was found dead on theline aud the fireman seriously injured.

...The fortnightly stock sale will be held at Temuka on Tuesday next. Entries are advertised in another column. Arrangements have been made for the warship Melbourne to visit NewZealand.

Mr A. H. Fenn will hold a sale of poultry, pigs, produce, furniture, and sundries at the Rialto, Temuka, today. Entries are advertised in another column.

The Rev. Canon Coates will officiate at the churches in the Parish of Temuka and Winchester to-mor-row. Details of the services are advertised in another column. The address from a large chart win do continued in the Good Templars' Hall, Temuka, to-morrow evening.

."It is considered by those who have first-hand knowledge of the fruit trade," said a well-known Auckland auctioneer, "that within the next twelve months sufficient lemons will be produced in Auckland to supply the whole of the lemon requirements of New Zealand."

In reply to questions in the House, the Prime Minister said he saw no reason why the work of the session should not be completed in' three weeks, or fifteen working* days. He gave a list of the measures yet to be dealt with, one of which is the Goraldine County Rivers Bilh ■ At the Magistrate's Court, Christehurch,' Charles Campbell Dawkins, 25, a native of Australia, pleaded guilty to ten charges of breaking and entering and theft. The total value of the articles stolen amounted to £269 2s 3d. At his request he was committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence. The Magistrate ordered the identified property to be returned to the owners. '

A farmer, speaking at a recent meeting of producers held at New Plymouth, said that he had consigned Home some 700 wethers that had cost .him in the neighbourhood of £1 a head. He would be lucky, however, if he received 5s in return. Another delegate remarked that a 61b tin of meat was realising at Home something like 6d at present, whereas the tin alone cost companies Is Id.

The turbine casing to replace the damaged casing of the fifth generator at the Lake Coleridge powerhouse; was to have been shipped at London on Wednesday by the s.s. Port Bowen, for Lytteiton. It should be in Lytteiton about the end of February, and within a week or two the fifth unit should be again in commission. The total current generated will then be 9000 kilowatts, as against GOOO kilowatts at present.

I The Premier of South Australia fHon. H. N. Barwell), replying to criticism of his advocacy of a coloured settlement in the Northern Territory, says he is certain that nothing can make him alter his opinion that it is impossible to develop the territory without coloured labour. "We must justify our possession of this enormous tract," he said, "and can only do so by the reasonable development of its resources. We are doing nothing to that end. , The White Australia policy is a magnificent ideal, but if it prevents the development of the territory its continuance is not justified." There is undoubtedly a good deal of unemployment existing throughout the Dominion at the present time. One cannot read the newspapers without getting .proof of this and instances are given of men who have tramped hundreds of miles without getting work.. Such an instance came under our notice a few days ago. the man having, he said, walked from; Dunedin, carrying his swag. A resident whose business takes hiin about the country a good deal, says he has never seen so many men looking for work as there are at present —and they are of a good class. One that when at Methven, ho had igone to a house to ask for a shak'edown, and was directed to a plantation. When he got there he found fifty men in the same position as himself. All were looking for harvest or other work. In a few weeks time all these men mtiy be employed, but harvest work cannot last for ;evcr. and when winter comes, what will they do? Hands are being retrenched by the Government and business for the sake of retrenchment, and this is making matters' worse. In view of the present, unsatisfactory " position the Dominion's immigration scheme might very well be suspended for a time. Miss Tuppy Sutherland will commence a class in Teniuka in fancy and National dancing, and intending pupils are asked to write to i!)(i North Street, Timani SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Methodist Church, Temuka—Tomorrow's services. -,-■•-."■ S ; . Douglas—Ripe tomatoes. Hood Templars' Hall, Temuka— Continuation of addresses. W. H. McMillan—Volume 11... of N.Z. Government's Popular History of tin; War, now on sale. Presbyterian Church, Geraldinc— To-morrow's services. Geraldine Horticultural Society— Hummer Show. Parish of Temuka—Services on Sunday next. A. H. Fnnn—Auction sale at Temuka to-day, S.C. Picture Company Programmes for this and Monday evenings.

A. Xewlan Hancock—Nyal's rouii-. S.Q. Stock Aiictionficrs' Assu.J'infries for Tomuka Halo.

A great mining strike is in progross in South Africa. Tho mineowners arc retaining natives numbering 200.000 for a. week, after which they will be repatriated at the rate of noo'o weekly. The strike is costing the owners £200,000 weekly. Colonel George Harvey. American Ambassador to Great Britain, was severely injured in a motor collision, at Cannes, and was unconscious for an hour. It is unlikely that he will attend the conference for some days--

The London "Daily Mail" states, that u Hamburg firm is circulating. offers to tranship and erect in England (and to provide the ground if necessary) five-roomed houses, with furniture complete, for £."50. The measurement of the building are ir> feel bv 10 feet, with a height of 20 feet .

A Her!; tidying up the safe in the Post Office at Aquila, Italy, found a bundle of papers more than 20 years old, one uf which was a postal note for a considerable sum of money. .\'o one could throw light on tint matter except ;hi old man who had been m •bo service for more than a i|uan«:i'of a century. lie recalled Imu- a fellow-clerk had been charged \\\t\i stealing a postal order, and, although nothing definite was proved agaiusr

him. be was dismissed from Hie setvice. Investigation by the Ministry showed that the suspected clerk, now a man of advauc.ed years living in Palermo, was innocent of the charge. He has now been awarded by the Government £1750. the total amount, of salary he would have, received if lie had not boon discharged. At the first ingns of influenza uiko "NA2OJ."—a simple. Hafe. speedy, and euro Hpeciflc. Penetrating an<2 gorm-killing. 1b 6d. 4