LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17635, 7 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Building pernilfs to the value of £2444 were issued by the Gonville Town Board last month.

The Postal Department has been advised that mails which left New Zealand on 25th June arrived in London on 2nd inst.

The war bonus paid to members of the Civil Service during the last three years has ceased, the increases in salary granted under _ the new scale being regarded officially as including the bonus formerly paid.—• Press wire.

In connection with the restrictions |of railway travelling, Base Records ! advises that soldiers using the four weeks' free privilege tickets should secure from the railway permit officer a permit covering the full period of the ticket. Where the soldier travels from a flag station, the permit be issued by the guard. It is essential to secure the permit under the present conditions, but if the soldier has not taken out the privilege ticket he can wait until the resumption of the normal service, so the order for the privilege can be converted into a railway ticket within one month after the resumption of the normal service."

Hon. W. F. Massey stated at Auckland yesterday that New Zealand is paying a subsidy of £100,000 yearly to the British Navy, but in future this would go towards the upkeep of the Cruiser Canterbury. It was also arranged that we should have a a vessel for training purposes to replace the Amokura, probably a sloop-of-war between 2500 and 3000 tons. If Parliament decided, New Zealand could have a submarine or two as a gift. The Admiralty had practically decided to station several light cruisers in the neighbourhood of New Zealand as a sub-squadron to the China Fleet. Those vessels would no doubt make New Zealand their headquarters.

"The commercial community now seems to be regarded as a convenient chopping-block when the Government is short of money," said the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr M. M. McCallum, at the annual dinner of the Auckland Land Agents' Association. When the Minister of Finance, he said, was afraid to give the working man or the farmer an extra turn of the screw, "the good old merchants got it every time." The only thing Chat the merchant could do, he remarked, was to pass on the extra import. "It is not always possible to pass $1 on," Mr McCallum added with a smile, "but we generally try to do so" —- New Zealand Herald.

The Wanganui Ministers' Association yesterday passed the following resolution:—To the Right Hon.: W. F. Massey, P.C. Dear Sir, —The Wanganui Ministers' Association desires to bring under your notice the following resolution, and respectfully suggests that the same receive your earnest attention: "This meeting respectfully requests that the Premier, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C., take the necessary,, steps during this coming Parliament to enact that legislation be passed declaring An^ac Day io be a public holiday for all time, that on that day the Government annually request all religious bodies to hold special memorial services, and that all hotel bars be closed throughout the Dominion for the whole day." (Signed): David Campbell, Hon. Secretary.

The lighter "Morning Light" is at present occupying the Putiki slip.

We understand the "Ahurewa," Boardinghouse has changed hands, the incoming tenant being a Chinaman.

Mr F. Fletcher, headmaster of the Cheviot School, has been appointed editor of the 'School Journal."

Xo le?s than 51 petitions tor divorce, two move than the big list dealt with afc the last sittings in Wellington, are to come before Mr Justice Cooper at Auckland Eleven of these, however, are cases held over from the last sessions.

'•'The Somme was a nightmare," said Rev. E. T. Olds, during a war lecture in Hamilton last week. ?Our boys the New Zealand Division a name of which it might well be proud. Although they ate, slept, and lived for three weeks knee-deep in mud, they were always cheerful." From what he had seen he came back from the war with ii tremendous hope of the good in his fellow-men.

Last night the Gonville Town Board received an application from the Hockey Association in connection with the allocation of playing areas on the Gonville Recreation Ground. "The idea is to get; in before the footballers get all the concessions," remarked one of the members. The Board decided to consider all applications before allocatplaying areas.

The following new Customs regulation was gazetted last week in regard io duty on jewellery: "No drawback of Customs duty shall be allowed on jewellery, or iniitation jewellery, including articles of platinum, geld, silver, «<r u'loys of the same, precious stones, set or unset-, gilt articles, Or articles of rolled gold: also gold and silver plate and plated ware; except by special permission and approval of the Controller of Custo.iiS, and to the extent allowed by him."

The Auditor-General of Australia has returned from a visit to London in connection with loan matters. He states that so far as the Empire | money market is concerned he formed the opinjon that during the next decade, at least, Australia .would have to look to its own market for cheap money. The prevailing rate in London was SX M per cent., but, owing to the high income tax, this really means a return t of only-" 3% per cent. ' Detailing how the children had assisted to raise funds on behalf of the school, Mr W. Bean, headmaster of the Sydenham School, created much laughter at the ceremony in connection with the opening of the new school on Saturday by saying it was wonderful the number of bottles that could be collected in Sydenham. In one day the children had gathered 15064, which realised £24. "We ! don't want medicine battles," added IMr Bean, "we only get 6d a dozen | for them, but if you save up beer bottles, which fetch 4s a dozen, you will do well." —rChristchurch Press.

At a meeting held in Palrtierston North on Tuesday it was decided, oh the motion of Mr Freeth: "That a meeting bf chairmen of School Committees, the head and assistant masters of the high and primary schools, together with representatives, of the Chamber of Commerce, A. and P* Society and Borough Council, be held at^the Borough Council Chambers on Friday next at 7.30 p.m. to formulate resolutions to be summitted to a mass meeting, and to arrange for the issue' of a circular asking for the co-operatJon of parents and citizens in raising a protest against the neglect of the Palmerston schools."

Is this country doing all it caa and should for the schools and the children who attend them t is one of the questions to-day that agitate all 1 who look for progress and safety. Or. Friday evening at the Technical College the educational problem will be discussed and .>uch topics as dental and medical treatment, the size of classes, and better buildings fully debated. Other matters to be considered are playgrounds, more and better teachers, extension of the school age. All parents and -guardians are cordially invited to be present. Questions will be welcomed. The chief speakers will be Mr. Veitch M.P., Mr. L. F. de Berry, and representatives of the school committees.

No improvement whatever has as yet taken place in regard to the great shortage of woollen goods in Auckland, states the Herald. A few packages have lately come to hand from overseas, but, as. one local warehouseman expressed it, these are but "a drop in the ocean" of the present great need. There has been nothing to alter the position during the last month. The \ few consignments of goods which came to hand were immediately divided between so many waiting customers that there was practically no benefit to anyone. Dealers who ha<i ordered 500 pairs to 700 pairs •& frlankets were receiving perhaps naif a dozen. The same thing also applied to practically every other line of woolleih goods.

The large number or applications for university education has given the Otago Repatriation Board a good deal of concern. Most of the students arc medical or divinity. As the dhinity students in pre-war times were in the habit of earning enough by casual preaching and work in the vacation to pay their expenses, assistance for six months is expected to give them an opportunity to get on a pre-war footing. As regards medical students, the University is greatly overcrowded, and it is stated there will be a difficulty on the part of many students to gain sufficient instruction to pass their examinations. It is the intention of the Board to obtain a report from the Dean of the Faculty on each case at the end of the present term, and carefully scrutinise each ease, with a view to ascertaining whether further assistance is advisable.

Prices will rule high in Great Britain for ti.*»bcr and timber products. It is estimated that well over 1,000,000 new homes will be required, and tho traje papers Die full of the records of high prices being paid for standing au'l bawn timber. Plywoods and veneers are largely coining into use as against the more wasteful method of sawing timbei into boards; and this has resulted in much higher prices being realised. A cable recently received in New Zealand quotes alder three ply at 4os per 100 feet. Before the war this line was to be bought in Dunedin at 13s 6d. while similar lines now on the market vre selling at 27« 6d. A striking instance of the increased value of timber when made into veneers is reported. An English walnut tree, grown in Nuneliam Park, was sold for £200. The- !o^ eventually found its way to America, pfter changing hands several times. Tts American purchasers cut it up into 60 000 feet of veneers,which were sold for £1-500.

Parents of children in private boarding schools have been notified by the principals that the railwa/s will not carry children home at holiday time;.—Press wire.

It is stated by the Oamaru Mail that overtures .have been made for the purchase of the Oainaru Woollen Factory by Messrs Macky, Logan and Caldwell. The proposition, which involves part payment in cash and the remainder in shares in the Auckland Company^ has been considered by the Woollen Factory's directors/ and will presently be placed before shareholders.

Residents of Mangatoki district will regret very much to learn that Mr F. H. Watts, who for a number of years has been secretary of the Mangatoki Dairy Company, has forwarded his resignation to the directors, who have accepted it with regret. Mr Watts-suffered severe injuries in a motor accident last April, and has found that, though improving, he is still suffering from shock, and would not be able to continue the work.

I)r P. Marshall, principal of the Wangantii Collegiate School; received ad. vice yesterday from'the General Manager of Hallways, that school boarders cannot travel on the railways while the present restrictions last. This will mean that*-when the school breaks up for the holidays arrangements will have to be made to convoy the hoys jxv v their nomes by motor, and when the schoo. resumes that method of transit will ■probably apain have to be resorted to. Dr Marshall is eommun-'cating with the parents of hoarders vat the school adrising them of the position.

Some excitement was caused in the vicinity of the Post Office .yesterday »i----ternoon. when a heifer, which had lx>come detached from the mob, held the pathway at the. " Kash",; corner. Pursued by dogs and assisted by othor means the beast made its way down the footpath,; each shopkeeper en route expecting a visit to his premises of anything, but a pleasant or profitable nature. However, • the beast was' not on purchase bent^. and. proceeding along the full length" of the oath to Messrs Mason,.Strutlrers and.Co.'s corner, rejoined its companions .there, much to the roWef of everybody. . The twin brothers!. S. Denton and W. H. Denton, were not in the Northampton* eleveir.whiqh met Lancashire ia the opening cricket match of the season at Northampton, but Mr A. D. Denton, their younger brother, played: While1 serving With the Royal West Kent Regiment, in which he held a commission, he was wounded so badly in July, 1917. that one of his legs had; to be amputed. He has been batting in great form, and except that he has difficulty, in running, his artificial - leg has not affected his cricket. Lancashire will probably be asked' to allow him to have a runner. He will field in the slips.

Speculation'in Waikato land is! proving very profitable for some persons. The Auckland Star reports that a dairy farmer,'from a northern district, purchased a farm in , the Waikato at £40 an acre, sold it for £68, and now, after holding sixteen farms in^ a little over two years, is worth over £40,000. In one case a man who bought at £6 10s an acre five years ago has refused to sell at I £35 an acre. Here is another instance: A property Ayhich fifteen years ago sold at £3 3s an acre is now worth £63, a price which the ■owner recently refused. One fine Waikato dairy farm was recently sold with possession in August, and while the new owner was waiting for possession he turned it over at a pro: fit of £7000. . Dried mis: has-been responsible for some of the phenomenal increase of Waikato dairying land.

The total nujriber of. bales of liemp graded at the ports of the Dominion during July "was 2574, &s compared with 9742 for the corresponding period of last year—a decrease of 7163 bales. For the twelve months ended 31st Xiily, the number of bales graded was 106,475, as compared* with 171,085 for the previous twelve months—-& decrease of 64.610 bales. The total number of bales of tow graded^Vas 411, as compared with 211,81 ftff the corresponding month last year—a decrease of 1700 . Forv the twelve months ended 31st July,/, the number of bales graded was 15,665, as compared with 35,151 for the previous twelve months, a decrease of 19,486 bales. No stripper slips were graded last month. For the month of July, 1918 there were 142 bales of No. 2 grade. For the twelve, months ended 31st July, the number of bales graded was 313, as compared with 2000 for the previous twelve months —a decrease of 1687 bales.

The seamen's strike in Australia is cutting off supplies of various commodities, such as soaps, tobacco, tea, macaroni, vermicelli, a number of patent medicines, etc. Stocks of most of these lines are, however, still held by. wholesale merchants. As regards Eastern goods, especially | tea, importers consider that this is a case where the Government might step ill and induce the Imperial authorities to look into the position where vessels call at Colombo and then proceed to Australia, and. there ; discharge cargoes of tea for New Zealand. These vessels at present then come on to New Zealand in ballast, and a very unbusinesslike position arises, as the tea unloaded in Sydney has to ,wait until an intercolonial steamer is available to bring it across, a most unwarrantable ' delay occurring. Many instances can be quoted (says a Dunedin exchange) where lines of tea for New Zealand are lying in Sydney, despite the fact that the vessels which brought them on from Colombo have since arrived in New Zealand.

It would jdo tins country a lot,of good if a "skinflint" Ministry held the reins for a time (comments the ; Taranaki Herald.) ■ They would .of course, be intensely unpopular, but they would confer substantial benefits upon the people. .

A further reduction has b<fen made in the number ot" cars on the trains leaving Thorndon at 8.4 a.m. | and 2 p.m., the n\orn|ng train now\ having only five cars. This represents a 50 per cent, reduction since the regulations carae into force. i From Marton the train now comprises two cars, whereas it was double that number before thgjlatest regulations came into force, Bid a similar reduction has been n^pe on the Woodville line. There are indications of still further reductions. —N.Z. Times. X Over 100 employees have been discharged from Rotorua hotels and boardinghouses through the falling off of business owing to the railwayrestrictions. - A large number ot these left Rotorua on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The incoming train on Wednesday night last was two and a quarter hours' late, and carried only about half a dozen passengers. The train restrictions are also making themselves felt in Helensville, where one big private hotel at the Springs has temporarily closed up, the whole staff being dismissed.

A volume might be collected of innocent but barbarous perversions of the English language. The latest comes from the projectors of a new Siamese newspaper, who haye f distributed the following notice:—The news of English we tell the latest. Write in perfectly style and , most earliest. Do a murder git commit, we hear of it and tell it. Do a. mighty «hief die, we publish itj and in borders* of somber. Staff' has each one been college, and write like Kipling and Dickens. Wejcircle every town and extortionate not for advertisements. Buy it. Buy it. Tell each of you its greatness for good. Ready on Friday. Nuaiber one. » ■>- ■

"It is d-ue to the heroism and dangers and suffering endured byf you returned-men? that we have beeli saved from a fate almost worse-- than death," said Mr L. M. Isitt, MiP.,.at the thanksgiving service at Christ-N^-church, when speaking particularly / to returned men. "I wish to express our gratitude and our deep sense of thankfulness to you for what; you have done for the Umpire. But I also want you to look on the pother side of the question and consider your responsibilities to yourself, to the past, to your comrades who; will never return, and to New Zealand, her people, and her future. You returned soldiers have established a permanent hold in our regard and affections such as coul<| not be estabiished in any other way than by what you have done for us. The question now is, what are yl>u going to do in the future? To an enormous extent the returned soidiers hold the future of the country" \in their hands, and they can mould it to a high and wonderful achievement v or mould it along lines whichi; can only bring sorrow and despair to our land. The returned soldier is the hero of the boy of the present, and all eyes are upon' you. He must either establish a false, or true conception of manhood in the country. He will set a standard for the youth of the country^ to follow, and not only will they adopt his mannerisms, but they will also adopt his morals. Some men thiftk a life of drunkenness and freedom from restraint is one of the prerogatiyes of past heroism. If the returned soldiers set a low standard, there will be thousands willing to applaud, and they will accomplish not only tfreir own ruin, but the ruin of thousands of others who ar,e following their example."