LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 269, 2 December 1913, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The total revenue collected from racing clubs in the Dominion for the twelve months ending October 30th, 1913, aggregated £92,279 9s 9d.

As is notified in our advertising columns to-day, the partnership j hitherto existing between Messrs Gillies, Gilfillan and Luxfordhas been dissolved, Mr J. H. Luxford taking over the Te Awamutu branch. A further notice appears that Mr E.A. Cox and Mr Luxford have entered into partnership, and will practise under the name of Cox and Luxford. The funeral of the late Mrs G. Ramsay, which took place on Friday afternoon, was attended by a large number of relatives and friends. A short service was held at the deceased's late residence, after which the cortege left for St. John's Cemetery, where the remains were interred. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. F. W. Clarke. Mortgages registered in New Zealand during the year 1912-13 amounted to £22,597,478, whilst the monetary value of the 18,766 mortgages paid off during the same period was £13,293,906. The rate of interest ranged from 0 to 20 per cent. The largest amount was advanced at 5 per cent, the next popular rate being 6 per cent. The total deposits in the banks of issue for the year ending December, 1912, exclusive of Government moneys, amounted to £41,906,900. > In addition to this is the value of deposits with building societies, which altogether, reaches an average of .£4O 6s 6d per head of the population, or, including Maoris £3B 10s id.

There were 113 registered building societies in New Zealand on March 31st, 1913. Of these 75 were terminable societies and 38 were permanent. During the year £2,614,849 was advanced on mortgage to members. Other investments totalled £63,825, and cash in hand at the time the financial year closed was £100,475. These figures indicate the value of building societies as a means of promoting the interests of members.

Under the heading of Friendly Societies the Year Book shows that on 31st December, 1912, there were 664 lodges, tents, etc., in New Zealand, with a membership of 73.243. The total value of the assets of these societies was £i,553,339, of which the sick and funeral benefit funds was £1,436,489. The receipts on account of the sick and funeral funds for the year amounted to £220,476 and the expenditure £134,959, which includes sick pay to members £72,250, and medical attendance and medicine £68,772. In 1903 the number of lodges was 465, with a membership of 45,255 and funds totalling £883,751. So that it is evident that the interests of these societies has increased during the past ten years. The Lyttelton election is enjoying a good deal of attention. It will be the last election in which a second ballot will be taken, if the successful candidate at the first ballot fails to secure an absolute majority of the votes polled. There are already four candidates in the field. Mr Malcombe J. Miller, chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and a gentleman who has thrice held the mayoralty of the borough, is the Government candidate. Mr J. B. Laurenson, a brother of the late member, is the selected Liberal candidate ; Dr Tiiacker is standing as an Independent and Mr Ratcliffe as an Indepencfc ent Liberal. The "Red Feds" are also said to be contemplating running a candidate, Mr Voyce, of the Waterside Workers' Union, being mentioned as the most likely selection. Mr Miller's chances of election would have been improved had there been no second ballot, but he is certain to poll well and may pull the election off on the first ballot. When Mr Massey announced in the House that the election would be conducted under the old law, with the second ballot, Mr G. W. Russell chuckled audibly and remarked, "Then you'll lose the seat."

There was a scene in the House on Thursday morning when Mr Payne, the member for Grey Lynn, who is one of the most persistent interjectors in the House, was " named " by Mr Speaker for disorderly conduct, and the Leader of the House was asked by Mr Lang to take action against the member for Grey Lynn. Mr Massey thereupon moved that Mr Pavne be suspended for the remainder of the sitting, but later withdrew the motion, Mr Payne having apologised to the chair and withdrawn the objectionable terms which were responsible for his removal from the House. The trouble arose over the Imprest Supply Bill and the free range of discussion allowed to members, the Labour quintette taking every possible advantage of the occasion to air the grievances of the strikers and their disgust with the Government for upholding the law and maintaining order in the community. A feature of the debate was the repudiation by Mr Webb of the doctrines ascribed to the United Federation of Labour, which he endeavoured to show was not responsible for the utterances of its officials made when the latter were officers of the old Federation of Labour. The Minister for Marine, however, replied with telling effect by quoting recent utterances made by the strikers and byFederationofficials, which conclusively prove that the Federationists are not prepared to respect any agreement that they may enter into with any body of employers.

A Queensland paper states that Mr J. V. B. Lesina has received an appointnt-enl in New Zealand as organiser lor the liquor trade. His salary is to be L7OO per year and travelling expenses.

After several weeks' encampment with the specials at Auckland, Mr J. H. Luxford has returned to Te Awamutu and resumed his practice. Mr Luxford was in command of the first troop to leave Te Awamutu for the canro.

At the Oddfellow's Hall tomorrow evening the Te Awamutu Terminating Building Society will offer by tender two sums of £l5O, for each of which the upset price is £25. It is anticipated that there will be a keen demand for this money, the secretary (Mr A. J. Bray) already having received several tenders.

A feature of the specials' camp at Auckland was the Board of Inquiry (Dr Reekie, Major Tattersall, and Adjutant Strange). This board was set up for the purpose of hearing evidence of claim for horses injured and other property lost by the specials, and to then report to the Police Department on any claims made. The acreage of land under sown grasses is far greater in New Zealand than in the whole of the Australian Commonwealth, although the Dominion contains only about one-thirtieth of the total area of Australia. The total area sown in New Zealand for the 1910-1911 season was 14,214,741 acres, as against 2,714091 acres in Australia. There were in addition, 23,972,236 acres of unimproved land in this Dominion, including that in tussock or native grass, belonging to the occupied holdings and available for stock and sheep farmers. A relic of the iCelly gang was unearthed recently at Glenrowan, where the ruffians were eventually run to earth. It consists of a barrel and lock of an oldfashioned gun, once owned by the notorious quartet. It is a gamekeeper's gun, right barrel rifle and left shot, and was the favourite weapon of young Dan when he was out hunting for the birds and animals of the bush or human beings. The remains of the shooting iron were found beneath a heap of earth and wood ashes somewhat behind where originally stood the Glenrowan Hotel kept by Mr Jones. In discussing the possibilities of a Te Awamutu Show'the value of the district's exhibits is often referred to as justifying the movement. A new departure in the way of local prize winners is shown in the report of the Egmont show last week, Miss Linton (Mangapiko) gaining" honours for the Xmas Plum Pudding. Needless to say,, the materials used by Miss Linton were procured locally—at the Corner Store —and it is apparent that those who advocate a Te Awamutu Show because of the many prize winners in the live stock sections have, by the results of the Egmont Show, good grounds to advance further arguments/ Good wages are being earned by the members of the new Arbitration Union on the waterfront at Wellington as the following will show : —For a week's work some of the men have been paid as much as £6 18s 9d. In some instances as much as £1 4s 6d has been earned in a day, and 15s to 18s have been common. The average paid to Arbitrationists for the week ending November 15th was about £3 7s 6d per man. Thirteen men drew from £6 and up to £6 16s 9d for the week's work. Eleven men received from £5 to £5 14s. Eight men received from £4 to £4 13s 6d. Twelve men received from £3 to £3 18s 4d.

Pinned on the wall of the office of the Manawatu Flaxmill Workers' Union in Palmerston North is a long sheet of paper, on the top of which is written in big capital letters the word " scabs." Underneath is appended thirtythree names of young men from Palmerston and the neighbouring district, who have given their services to the country at Wellington as special constables. This is the sort of conduct that earns the contempt of decent people, and the workers who are responsible for it are merely their own enemies. The young men who have gone to Wellington as special constables are a credit to themselves and their country, and they can afford, to ignore the silly action referred to (says the Manawatu Standard).

We are advised that the Waller George " Smart Set " entertainers, who are at present touring the Dominion, will pay a visi? to Te Awamutu early next month, when they will present an unlimited repertoire of original and unique character sketches, humorous novelties, concerted numbers, trios, duets, coon songs, and choruses. The company comprises eight artists of world-wide reputation, and it is stated they are the original of all costume comedy companies, are registered under the copyright law of England, and being the only company of its kind legally entitled to the name of the " Smart Set." Speaking of their appearance in Melbourne the "Age" says: "The programme included items which were given in so refined a manner that the "Smart Set" created a most favourable impression." Further particulars will be advertised later.

Formation works in Alexandra Street have been commenced by the contractors, Messrs Andrew Son, and already several teams are at work. It has now been decided that the Irish concert, in aid of the croquet club pavilion funds, shall take place on Wednesday, 17th December, and we are requested to state that all tickets issued for the original date will hold good for the elate now fixed upon. The Camp Gazette —the first issue of which made its appearance on November24th —is a daily publication recording the doings of the specials in and out of camp. It is a breezy little publication, and, according to issues to hand, everything within the camp is entirely satisfactory. ..An e .change states that James Maloney, who has been a resident of Te Aroha for the past eleven years, left there yesterday for Te Awamutu, where he will take over the business lately canned on by Mr Tyer, fruiterer. As secretary of the Piako Rugby Union Mr Maloney was most popular, evincing a good spirit amongst those with whom he came in contact. He was also connected with the Theatre Royal picture business for aperiod of over six months. Mr Maloney-leaves behind him a large circle of friends, who wish him every success in his new sphere of labour.

The cantata, " Britannia and j Her Daughters," takes place next week, there being two performances at Te Awamutu — on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be a very large number of performers, and now that the time for the public performances is drawing near the company is rehearsing regularly, and there is every indication that the cantata will be an unqualified success. Having regard to the worthiness of Mie object to which the fueds will be devoted —tha. establishment of a district technical school—it is safe to assume that there will be a very large attendance and"Miat the cantata will be a success financially and musically.