LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18431, 15 March 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The cost of the six one-man cars recently obtained for the Invercargill tramways was £3702 each. The oldest disease known, stated Major Edgar, M.R.C.V.S., in a lecture at Hurstmonceaux, Sussex, is blackleg in cattle, which exists all over the world. , Sufficient support has been forthcoming for the holding of an instructional school for farmers at the Weraroa Central Development Earm, and classes are to commence next month. Such are the exigencies of Cabinet rank, that we have to forego the social side of life practically altogether; and it is a matter for regret to me that old and valued friendships have had to take second place to the cares of office.—Hon. D. H. Guthrie at Rangiwahia. Pigs broke into a riflemen’s -gamp at the Papawai range some days ago. The occupants were in Greytown at the time, and when they arrived home they found that all their foodstuffs had disappeared, even to a ham that was suspended from the ridge-pole. Dunedin flour mills are now grinding at full power. Wheat is coming to hand abundantly, Canterbury growers being prepared to supply in quantity, whilst the first of the Otago wheat is also available. Millers say that the samples so far received from the Taieri, from Hawera, and from other parts of Central Otago are opening up really well. A large number of applications have been received for the position of engineer to the Manawatu-Oraua Electric Power Board. These were dealt with by the Board in committee on Monday. The number was reduced to three, and from these a selection will be made after the applicants have interviewed the Board. The appointment of a secretary to the Board has been held over in the meantime.

Prospects in the sawmilling industry are none too bright in Southland just now (says the “Oamaru Mail”). The depression that has come upon most of this country’s industries is being felt by the sawmiller and his men. Through lack of orders, it is stated, many mills are finding it difficult to carry on. The big mill at Mussel Beach, in the Western District has closed down, 27 single men having been put off thereby. The small mill is still working. A mill at Limehills has also cut out, compelling 40 or 50 men to seek fresh engagements. “I have noticed in New Zealand,” said the Hon. W. H. Edgar, M.L.C., of Victoria, in an interview at Auckland, “a feeling of what I may call fearfulness in regard to the financial situation, which I cannot think is warranted when I look at your green pastures, your fine crops, and the general fertility of the country.” After some remarks about the multiplicity of Parliaments in Australia, during which he mentioned that people in Australia hardly knew where they were financially, he said that as far as he could judge, it required only a strong, courageous policy and a hopeful outlook to win through. Whatatutu can lay claim to being the most progressive township in the picture line probably in the world, for last week “The Adventures of Tarzan,” the exciting serial dealing with life in the jungle, was shown to the accompaniment of roars from lions (states a country contemporary). The realism added greatly to the effect, but caused confusion in the minds of some patrons, who were not aware of the arrival of a travelling circus which was camped near ‘the hall. One portly Maori woman, sitting quietly watching the picture, saw Elmo struggling with the lion on the screen and then heard the roar of animals outside. With an excited yell she rushed to the door and disappeared rapidly in the darkness, amid shrieks of joy from tHose present.

In connection with the Wellington Racing Club’s issue ot debentures, the £50,000 required was doubly subscribed in a few days. The Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board has postponed its meeting from Thursday next till Thursday, 23rd instant, so as to' enable members to visit Te Awamutu before the meeting. When a Wanganui East lady returned to her home on Monday afternoon she found a young man in possession but beat a hurried retreat before an alarm could be given. Evidently he was of the sneak thief variety. The only article of value found to be missing was a. ring. One local young lady with a commercial turn of wind forwarded to the Borough Council a mouse with expectations of a bonus of 3d. It is understood that the civic authorities have refused to pay out for mice, but are still offering 3d per head reward for rats. On Thursday morning, Dr. Fairclough, of Auckland, in order to perform an urgent operation at Tauranga, left Kohimarama in an Avro seaplane, says the Auckland Star. The departure was made at 10.40 a.m. and two hours later the East Coast port was reached. A ten minutes’ stop was made at Katikati. The Dunedin “Star” says:—The stocks of imported provisions that were held by New Zealand merchants are now pretty well eaten, so there must be before long a fresh ordering in quantity from the manufacturers in Britain and elsewhere, and this will mean a little more activity in shipping and in wharf work. That all motor lorries should carry a mirror to see traffic coming from the rear was advocated by the chairman ot the Pateq County Council yesterday. There were some lorry drivers who wanted all the road, he said, and at times they appeared to be “stone aeaf.” Other people than lorry drivers were entitled to their share of the toad. A royal road to health and beauty is said to be skipping. “Skip and be beautiful” is the advice George Cook, the Australian boxer, gives .to women. Half the ailments from which modern girls suffer would disappear if they would only devote a few minutes every morning to skipping. I advise them to drink a little warm water or milk before they commence, while the knees should be well drawn up while skipping, so that all muscles are brought into play." Several Masterton housewifes are lamenting their confidence in an itinerant vendor of soap, who assured them that if small pieces were placed in the rooms of a house they would kill every fly that came near them. After several days’ trial, when it was found that not only did the flies refuse to die after inspection of the soap, but actually preferred it as a resting-place, the buyers made inquiries and discovered that they had paid 2/9 for a piece of coal-tar soap, and that for half the money they could buy a much larger cake.

A deputation from the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Association waited upon the Borough Council last evening and stated that the recent athletic meeting at which the South African athletes competed had been a financial failure, the loss being £2l 9/. Under the circumstances it was decided to make a minimum charge for use of Cook’s Gardens. An application by the deputation for the use ot Cook’s Gardens on April Bth to hold a primary schools athletic meeting was referred to the reserves committee. What do they know of New Zealand who only its town life know? asks the “Wairarapa Age.” A soldier settler, fired with a desire to top last week’s wool sale, started in with his wool after the recent heavy rains. The motor-lorry became bogged, and a bale of wool rolled into a lagoon beside the bog-hole, and soon became to heavy to get out. although the “digger” stripped and got in behind it. Next morning the motor-lorry was extracated, and grappling hooks were attached and a badly-battered bale was fished out and landed at Waingawa to be scoured. Now the digger dreams of topping the market for scoured wool. Dealing with the subject” The Attack on Retailer,” the Manchester Guardian says; “No class is less well-fitted to rig the market and nowhere is there freer competition than among small shopkeeers.” The same issue resents a chart to show that whole sale rices of commodities at large were 210 per cent, above the July, 1924, level in April 1920, and are now some 65 per cent above the line. The wholesale figures are taken from the Statist, and include, of course, a heavy proportion of crude articles, the raw materials of industry, rather than manufactured goods at wholesale. These “wholesale” prices are set in contrast with retail prices, as ascertained by the Board of Trade, and with this result: That, whereas wholesale prices reached their peak (210) in April of last year, retail prices reached theirs (175) in November of a year ago. Retail prices have neither risen as high nor fallen as low as those of the quasi-wholesale, but have slid in a year from 170 per cent, above the datum line to 103 per cent. The Legitimation Amendment Act of last session contains a provision which is of interest, and materially modifies the law in an important particular. The old Act precluded the legitimation of a child born out of wedlock, if at the time of the birth there existed any legal Impediment to the marriage of the parents. This restriction is now entirely removed, and parents may legitimise their child at any time subsequent to their marriage, no matter what the obstacle to their marrying at the time the child was born. Another provision makes it now possible for the mother of a child born out of wedlock whose husband has died without availing himself of the provisions of the principal Act, to secure the legitimation of the child herself, by making application. Any application so made must be heard by a stipendiary magistrate, and supported, if considered necessary, by sworn evidence that the deceased husband was the father of the child to be legitimised. Previous to the Act of last session all hope of a child being legitimised passed W’ith the death of the child’s father, if he hajl failed to apply for it.

Since 1913 the Borough *Mrdener and his staff have planted 120,1 no forest trees and 36,4 50 on the Borough reserves. Cr. Oakley Browne gave notice of motion' to move at the next meetirz. of the Borough Council that the m '•y ion to £x a rate for a war metnori. ” should be rescinded. The question of leasing the recreation ground by tender was mentioned at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening, and the matter was referred to the reserves committee with power to act. The result of the sheep guessing competition conducted by the Amateur Athletic Club is announced in another column. Three guessed the exact weight and the result of the ballot Mr A ,E. Falconer won the prize. *ihe Wanganui Borough Council has decided to set up a commitee consisting of Councillors Burgess, (chairman). Richardson, Reardon. Luxford and Gohns to report on the appointment of a general manager and the reorganisation of the borough staff. 1 o show what can be done in the way of municipal music it has practically been decided that the Auckland Municipal Choir—numbering some 80 voices —is to undertake a week’s tour during tie corning winter. The towns to be t isited have hot yet been definitely decided upon, but it is certain that, if th<, tour eventuates. Hamilton and Waffim mu will be included, and possibly Pal. merston North and Wellington,' with Hastings and Napier as an alternative. The Wanganui-Rangitikei Hydro- *“ Electrio Power Board wrote to the U.ingiinm Borough C'mincil last evening asking the borough s power require* ments in bulk. The Mayor said th. J the Council was not in a position t< state its power requirements, but they would bo pleased to know on whai terms power could bo supplied “Th. > do not know yet,” said CT. Reardon < r. Burgess said that possibly before the Board was ready the Council would have power themselves and be able te sell some to the Power Board. Possibly as the outcome a-s the recent trend in the direction of the retrenchment, the Post and Telegraph Department have tefused to paythe Wanganui Borough Council the sum of one shilling a week for the removal of rubbish from the Wanganui Post Office. The Council took the step of discontinuing the service with the upshot tVat the Department have now threatened that the rubbish will be removed at the expense of the Council. The Council consequently sought a legal opinion and has been advised that he Department’s stand is untenable. Where does the Alliance of Labour stand on the question of loyalMr J. Roberts, secretary of the Alliance, recently addressed th< Auckland branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers Association, and at the conclusion he was asked a question respecting the loyaltv of the alliance. According to the Auckland Star his answer was as follows: This question was prompted by opponents of the Labour movement, who "ought to know better than to drag the ytn<; of the King into the mire of iWhistrial strife. Those people certainly did not have much respect for the King when they were prepared tc bring his name into questions which did not concern him.

That there has been a big reviva. * in sport since the war is evidences by the increased number ot nomina lions which are being received by various sports bodies for handicap events. The Taihape St. Patrick’s Day Sports Cluo, which is holding an axemen’s and athletic meeting on Friday, has received no less than 286 nominations for eleven events. Five foot races have attracted 91 nominations from all North Island provinces, four handicap chops have attracted 171 nominations, ot which lu3 are for the two 12-inch chops. The two sawing events have attracted 24 competitors. The number of nominations is claimed to be a record lor a programme of this kind. A letter was received by the Wanganui Borough Council last ev»ninf from the Wanganui East Ratepayers’ Association urging that matters dealing with finance should bo dealt with in open Council when possible Cr. Goiins said that the ratepayers were anxious for the fullest information on matters of finance as it enabled them to cast an intelligent vote. Recently the Council went into committee to discuss a proposed waterworks loan, but nothing was said on that owa—• won which could not have been published in the Press. Cr. Oaklev Browne protested that there was too much work in committee. Cr. Richardson considered that with the exception of judicious occasions the business should be conducted openly. The Mayor said he felt that the Council acted wisely on the recent occasion. He did not favour star chamber matters. The discussion lapsed. A daring burglary was perpetrated in the New Lynn district some time between 11.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. the other day, resulting in the loss to Mr. Craney, baker, of a sum in the vicinity of £BO. The money, Hie greater portion in notes was extra'ted from a trunk in a bedroom, where it had been placed pending being deposited in the bank. The procedure in the past has been to bank the takings, but this was not followed each day, owing to the business demanding the full attention ot the owner .consequently a tidy roll was left in the improvised “safe.” An astounding feature of the entry’ is the fact that Mr and Mrs Craney and 1 their two little children were on the properly during the period mentioned, the husband in the bakehouse, a detached building, up till 1 a.m., and from then on till 5 p.m. in the shop, and for the remainder of the time in a room adjoining lhe bedroom. Il is conjectured that entry was effected to this room tjirougn a window. The trunk was prised open with either a chisel, screwdriver, or some other like instrument. The police have the matter in hand.