LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18427, 10 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The attendance of common jurors summoned for the Supreme Court next week has been dispensed with. The Manaia Witness reports that in some local gardens; the earlier varieties or apple trees are carrying a second crop. That second-hand dealers must Keep an exact account of all their transactions was made clear by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch. The name and address of any person from whom an article is 'bought must be taken. These precautions are necessary to assist the police in carrying out 'their duties. New Zealand students and professional men and women who go to the United Kingdom for study, or to gain further experience in their professions, often find it difficult to make acquaintances through whose agency they will be enabled to see something of the life of Great Britain. Arrangements have been made (says our London correspondent) to provide for such students or professional people being received as occasional guests in private homes. Those who desire to avail themselves of such facilities should register their names and addresses, and furnish brief particulars regarding themselves at the office of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, 415, Strand, London, W.C.2, as soon as possible. This invitation is addressed to all bona fide students, particularly to teachers, university andi musical students, youths studying in secondary schools, doctors undertaking post-graduate work, and naval and military men taking courses of training.

A Lahore message says that the Mt. Everest Expedition is leaving at the end of March. The Pa tea Harbour Board has decided to impose a harbour improvement rate of 6d per ton on all imports and exports. The rate is expected to yield alxiut £5OO a year. Three years ago, says a Sydney cable, sewer workers at Manly ceased work in consequence of the Arbitration Court varying the award. The Australian Workers’ Union has now declared the strike off. The strike is claimed as a record. The Union Steamship Company’s 70 00 ton motor ship Hauraki has undergone satisfactory trials on the Clyde. She showed a speed of nearly thirteen knots. It is expected that her oil consumption at full speed when fully loaded will not exceed sixteen tons daily. Dr. Peter Amigo, Catholic Bishop of Southwark, has issued a pastoral letter denouncing birth control as an abomination, making matrimony an habitual mortal sin. He indicted modern womanhood as extravagant, Hacking maidenly reserve and sweet womanly qualities. Alfred Hill, the licensee of the Hotel, at Woodville, was convicted by Magistrate Free yesterday on four charges of selling liquor to youths under age, and on one charge of selling after hours. He was'fined £5 on each charge, and his license was endorsed. “There are more swaggers on tne road now than there have been for years past,” declared a Mangatoki resident at Eltham, "Not a day •passes but one or two pass through Mangatoki. Many of them have fhomii from, the Manawatu district in .earch of Work, but there is very | little offering.*’ A Maori witness who came from Hokianga in order to give the deciding evidence in a divorce suit yesterday was evidently not wellversed in 'the ways of civilization. She had not been away from home before, and it was on this visit that she saw a train for the first time. She had to be personally escorted. John Weismuller, Chicago’s new wonder swimmer, covered 100 in an official test of a. few weeks ago in 51 seconds. Weismuller is a pupil of Norman Ross. He stands 6ft. high, barefoot scales over 12st. and is seventeen years uf age. Naturally they are wildly enthusiastic about him in America, and one reliable authority has asserted that he will soon reduce the world’s record to 50 seconds.

At the Supreme Court, at Christchurch yesterday, Edna Alma Hunt, aged 18, a domestic servant, was sentenced by Mr Justice Adams to 'three months’ imprisonment for arson and two charges of housebreaking and theft at Temuka. His Honour recommended the prisoner to be committed to an industrial school and immediately examined in order to ascertain the extent of her mental weakness. A Kttlp Roman girl who died nearly 2000 years ago had her toys buried with her. Her favourite dolls, with cosmetics of their (and her) complexions, were beside her, a little tea tabic and a miniature silver candlestick, brightcoloured building blocks, a gold fiiligree brooch and bracelet, and writing tablets, and stylus. In her hand was clasped a penny—-to pay her fare to Charon for her ferry across the Styx. Her tomb has been unearthed intact, says an exchange, and with all its contents in a good state of preservation. Messrs. Young and Collins have a more than usually attractive window just now. It is for the special benefit of the visiting rowing men. The firm are keen enthusiasts in this popular branch of sport and the window contains many historical records of sculling, combined with photographs of a number of prominent scullers in past years down to the champion of the present day. There Is also a display of colours worn by various rowing men, and the Brldson and Pearce challenge cups which are at the present time In possesion of Wanganui oarsmen.

A Pahiatua resident had a box of Koniaii Fartory butter, 'made in October last, sent to a village in South Wales for distribution amongst several families. This was duly delivered in the middle of January, and the quality described as delicious and surpassing that of any then offering 1 for sale in the locality. The City of Cardiff is a large distributing centre for |p revisions to the South Welsh mining districts, and it is interesting to learn that advertisements of arrivals of New Zealand butter and cheese, brands being named, are occasionally to be seen in the Western Mail newspaper which has a wide circulation. His Honour. Mr Justice Chapman presided over a sittings of the Sureme Court yesterday afternoon. He granted a decree nisi, to behooved absolute in three months, in the •divorce case Potts v. Potts, of Raetihi. The evidence of the petitioning wife was taken at the last sitings of the court and the case was adjourned in order to secure the evidence of a Maori girl living in Hokianga. Ths young lady appeared yesterday and testfied to Potts’ unfaithfulness in 1918, at the time ’is youngest child was bom. It was very unusual, said His Honour, to give a decree on this class of evidence but he was satisfied as to its reliability. Mr Waldegrave, of Raetihi, appeared for Mrs. Potts.

The necessity for a rule for traffic meeting at crossroads was emphasised by Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., at Auckland, in giving judgment in an action arising out of a collision. “I am of opinion,” he said, “that at crossroads of equal importance, a driver should give way to a vehicle approaching from the Ipfb, and pass behind, aqd that when turning to his right into a side road he should observe the same rule. In the case of traffic entering a main road from a side road, a custom is growing of giving way to vehicles on the main roa|d, whether approaching from the right or from the left. An ideal rule would not admit an exception in favour of main road traffic, but the main road rule is one that seems to be recognised in England, and moreover, is one that has received judicial recognition in Scotland. It may be quite a useful rule where there is no question as to which of two roads is the main road. ’

The last issue of "Popular Science” to hand has an illustration showing the New Zealand wreath (encased in ice) which was placed on the Nelson Monument last Trafalgar Day. Addressing a notable Education Conference held in London last month, Professor John Adams (Professor of Education at London University), who speaks with considerable authority, advised teachers to be very careful in using psycho-analysis in school, but was enthusiastic in advising them to get to understand as much about psychology itself as possible. Some time ago the Eltham Argus made mention of a case in which a mortgagee had materially reduced the amount of his mortgage in or/ier to give the mortgagor, who bad purchased at a very high price, a chance to pull through. Two more such cases have come to the notice of the Argus. In one instance the mortgagee has reduced the amount of the mortgage by £l2OO. In another case the price at which the land was sold has been reduced from £lOO per acre to £65. For obvious reasons names and localities are not published, but this information is thenticIt might be thought that because of the great expanse of plains in and about it, Christchurch would be an ideal place lor a parachutist to descend on, but according to Mr A. E. Eastwood, who gave the exhibition of parachuting on Saturday, such is not the case (states the Press). “1 don’t know how to account for it,” he said to a Press reporter after his descent, “ but Christchurch must be one of the worst towns in the world lor such a purpose.” Whether it wa.‘. due to some extraordinary magnetic influence or not he did not know, but it was a fact that through the last 200 feet or so a man descended at an unusually rapid rate. A plea for optimism was put forward at the soldiers’ banquet at Ashburton by Mr. O. T. J, Alpers, “There is an enemy in our midst,” said the speaker. “It is the dull and damnable pessimist. 1 know that some of us are having a pretty hard struggle at present, but there is one place in Ashburton where the pessimist dare not show his face. We have the best cure for pessimism here with us now. We should remember "you boys and the cheerful cheekiness with which you grubbed together in the trenches and determined to grow poorer, gracefully, cheerfully, altogether. Then there will not be a great deal to fear.”

Among the remits for the next provincial conference of the Auckland Farmers’ Union is a protest against the increased tax on oil engines, especially in respect to engines used in dairying and shearing, on account of the low price of butter and wool. The remit urges that the time is inopportune to raise the tax on anything connected with production of the land. Another remit dealing with taxation asks the Government to pay interest on all mon*v overpaid in taxes. Instances are quoted where farmers had been overcharged and had overpaid their taxes and between the time of paying and the refund no interest had been allowed, while on the other hand a heavy rate of interest is charged to those who do not pay on due date. The Wellington Harbour Board’s experiment in providing a restaurant on the waterfront for waterside workers has proved such a success that its further development and possible adoption at other ports will be watched with interest. 'The breakfast, averaging about 30 customers is on from 7 a.m. till 8 a.m. The attendances at dinner average between 150 and 160, the meal being on from noon till 2 p.m. There are generally about the same number at tea, which is available from 5 p m. till 7 p.m. The restaurant is closed on all Sundays and holidays. Tea is served on Saturdays as well as breakfast and dinner, but as the majority of men knock off at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and then quit the waterfront, the attendances at tea are small on that evening. The charges are cheaper than at the city restaurats.

Recently someone—or a. gang of confederates—has .been having quite a remunerative time of it through beating the tote at race meetings by means of faked tickets (states the Danneviike News). It is common property that faked tickets were worked off on the machine at both the l<oxton and Ashhurst meetings, those responsible allegedly getting a dividend of several hundred pounds. The same nefarious scheme was put into practice at the Dannevirko races, and the fakes were not discovered until four of the forgeries had been cashed in on a dividend, which wag quite substantial. This was not the only event to which the fraud was confined, and just bow many forgeries were worked off will not be known until a thorough check has been made, but over a dozen have been so far discovered. The other day an advertisement appeared in Timaru asking for 500 frogs for the Dunedin Museum, the price quoted being 25/- per 100, the little amphibians to be sent through a Timaru agency (relates the “Herald”). Boys catch frogs for amusement’s sake, so when there is such a financial offering it is not surprising that a supply was soon forthcoming. The staff of the agency were kept steadily occupied receiving various packages containing recent inhabitants of ponds and pools. Fruit cases were the type of package principally favoured, and one of thqse was brought in too late for sending away that afternoon, and it had to be left in the office overnight a member of the staff,- who was unaware of the strange collection on the premises, arrived at business next morning, he received rather a shock when he opened the door to notice a small frog sitting on the doorstep blinking at him. Momentarily he wondered if he was “seeing things,” and his perblexity was increased when the frog hopped out of the doorway and disappeared. His state of mind was further disturbed when he went into the office and saw another little frog hopping around the floor while a comrade was perched in a corner. He was cogitating over various phases of “spots before the eyes” complaints, when suddenly raucous croakings came from the fruit case. An investigation revealed the reason for the extraordinary invasion, and the perturbed employee was immediately assured that his vision was unimpaired.

Over 1,000,000 square miles aotf 5.060,000 people are now under jifohibition in Canada. The 69ih anniversary of Presbyterianism in Wanganui, and incident- Kally of St. Paul’s Church, will be J 1 celebrated on Sunday next OF the £200,000 required by the Dunedin City Corporation. £-50,000 h;n» already been subscribed by local citizens. It is expected that the new State school at Palmerston North will open with a roll number of over 1000. The present number on the roll is 805“Trade is a little better than it has been of late,” said a prominent Gisborne draper to a local reporter, “I think.” he continued, “that people are getting more confidence: they are becoming more accustomed to their reduced spending power.” The Post reports that the Wellington Waterriders’ Band, which secured the championship at the recent band contest, is now organising a big carnival, which will be hold during Easter. The carnival will be on a rather ambitious and novel scale, and the detail* are now being arranged. last year the total turnover in connection with the Christchurch tramservice was £251.344, and the surplus amounted to £BB5. ]n 1909 the repairs to the permanent wav cost £Bll3, in 1920 £16.679, in 1921 £23,219. and in 1922 £26,777. The new loan expenditure will increase next year’s expenditure by £lB,OOO. The Napier telegraphist, J. T. Evans, who was dismissed from the Post and Telegraph service in connection with the leakage of the Springbok football cablegram sent by a correspondent to South African papers, has lodged an appeal against thq_ decision. Three other officials were dismissed without m I formal inquiry being held in accord- f ance with the regulations, hut after. I I this point had been drawn attention to I ■by the Board of Appeal, they were re- j instated and each fined £lO.

The following yarn Is going the « rounds of the Southern Press:—* “Exploring a little-used roadside in, the north a motor-cyclist suddenly met a very old-fashioned trap im which sat a very old-fashioned couple At the approach of the motor the trap stopped and the couple stepped down. The motor-' cyclist, all apologies, offered tea help with the horse. ‘That’s all right,’ said the old man ‘l’ll manage the horse, you lead the old lady past that there contraption.’ ” An interesting exhibit which was placed on view* at the meeting of th< Gardening Club consisted of a number of black and yellow plums grown on the same tree (says the Otago Daily Times). The chairman (Mr. F. S. Hollingsworth!, who stated that the tree was between 40 and 50 years old. added that the black plums were of the Black mond variety. He decribed the phenomenon as a “sport” tn tha tree, and said that while this kind of thing happened frequently among flowers, it was not a common occurrence in respect of fruit frees. That there are kind-hearted landlordfl who did not take advantage of soaring rents in boom times to raise the rentfl of their tenants was found out by the Auckland Hospital Board lat<dv. in a case they had to invest the Star. A father and urutlM^^ % /ith v family of nine, had lived in a house for many decades, and the rent had always remained the same, at 9s per week. The house, it is true was getting old. but it was roomy and suitable for the needs of the family. In contrast to this the Beard investigated cases where the rent was as high as 30s per week for one room.

Some things are better left unsaid, •as for an example: “You see therff are some things a man would do in' his own home that he wouldn’t do on the street.” said Mr Walter McCarthy at the meeting of the Napier Boxing Association. "Well, I hopo net,” said Mr Vigor Brown quickly, and a roar of laughter followed. Mr McCarthy, when he could make himself heard: “Well, put it the other way round.” More laughter followed. Mr McCarthy then explained that although a man might smoke a cigarette with a lady in his home, for evein have a “spot,” he wouldn't like to see her enter an hotel or| smoke a cigarette on the street. "And that’s how I feel about ladies goin< to boxing matches,” he said. A certain section of the business com* munity ir (4iristchurch is somewliat concerned about the disappearance of a fairly well-known business man, whs omitted to “square up” with his ous creditors before departing foil “fresh woods and pastures new (sayfl the Sun). The man in question left hifl homo some time ago “on a holiday.” since when nothing has l»een heard him. In addition to numerous creditors who arc anxious to ascertain Infl whereabouts the man in question left s wife nnd family who are now facing tlm problem of existing without any income. It is understood that a fairly large sum is involved as a result of his defertion, and it is stated that the police have a blue document which they are awaiting an opportunity to present to him. It is stated that a youth who wajf before the Magistrate’s Court a& PaJmerston North recently is w clever female impersonator. Whilst, awaiting sentence he often sang ia, a high falsetto voice, much to the amusement of the police. It is related that on one occasion he successfully impersonated a female domestic servant in a private house* hold for about a week. Ho hafl been convicted of stealing femalfl attire. Among the articles with which Ke was charged with unlawfully obtaining were a powder putt and a box of highly scented face, powder. Recently he spoke on the telephone in a convincing female voice, which, it is said, he can assume at will.

“There is a little love romance at< taching to this case,” said Constable Satherley, of Otaki. in the local CourU house the other day. when a man w:i4 prosecuted for damaging a bicycle. !(» appears that there is a young girl li that district, and the defendant. wb<J is elderly, and a young man are paying; their attentions to her. It seems that, on the day in question tlie young mai was visiting the girl, when defendant came along and saw his rival’s bicjrlei outside the house. He took the nun chine away and smashed and hid it.** The constable added that he went down and made inquiries about the' matter/ He talced defemlau't with doing thd damage. Defendant denied MB firsts but afterwards admitted di<j do it, and expressed regret for what he had done. “He can’t be allowed to da this sort of thing with impunity.” sain his Worship. Defendant was fined £9 and costs (14s 6d).

A Gazette issued yesterday states that banking hours on Saturday have been altered from 10 a.m. to 12 aoon, to 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. The alteration takes place from Saturday. Ln the light of the report of the New Plymouth borough’s accountant, submitted to the Council on Monday night, it is evident (says the Taranaki Herald) that the clerical ttaff of the town clerk’s office are fully alive to the importance of getting in the rates. They have put up a record which must be the envy of many rating authorities, and demonstrated that, it is possible to rolleci the whole of the rates as struck. No only is this convincing testimony of their zeal and perseverance, but its reflects the financial soundness of the ratepayers. The achievement of collecting the whole of the rates due last year is not exceptional, a similar feat having been performed the previous year. Of the rates due for the past three years every fraction has been collected, and this result is most gratifying to all concerned. It may fairly be assumed that the general manager has constantly kept a watchful eye over this collection, which has evidently borne fruit, but the staff generally well deserve the appreciation expressed by the council on the satisfactory result obtained. “When a person is selling milk he does not need to have it too rich and sc by testing he can tell whether he need adulterate the milk.” The above (says the Wairoa Bell) is an extract from one of the theory papers in the milk testing competition at the recent Northern Wairoa A. and P. Sho w. and the author of the howler !s a secondary school student. Whether he ever intends to go into the milk business or not, is not yet clear, but unless his conceptions alter somewhat let us hope he chooses some other vocation in life. The point we wish to emphasise is that the theory and practice of milk testing appears to be very imperfectly taught at our schools, if the above example is to be taken as any indication whatever and we must improve the opportunity to again commend the suggestion of J'/p Th os. Downs, manager of the Northern Wairoa Co-op. Dairy Company, that these annual milk testing competitions in connection with A. and P. Shows should be carried out at the local factories, where the boys and girls would become acquainted with both theory and practice under modern commercial conditions.