LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18785, 19 May 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Sydney cable states that Mr. James Joynton Smith has issued a. writ for £2 5,000 against the Daily Mail for alleged libel.

Mr. Massey states that the Government intends to appoint a manager to look after New Zealand’s interests at the British Empire Exhibition. The Otago Returned Soldiers’ Executive decided to forward a suggestion to the Dunedin conference that the Government be asked to consider the advisability of procuring the rights of the “ Spalilinger” treatment for tuberculosis. The reticulation of the Borough for electrical power and lighting is proceeding steadily, and there has been a good response on the part of consumers, three gangs now being at work “connecting up.” On Durie Hill, in Durie Street the carrying the wires are now being erected. By carrying loan proposals aggregating £49,000 on Wednesday, Levin will make a big progressive move in the establishment of up-to-date municipal buildings, and the laying down of all the loading streets in tarred macadam. The voting on the municipal building loan was: For. 371; against, 191. On the streets proposal the verdict was even more decisive, the votes being: For, 445; against, 116. As the outcome of the recent controversy in Wanganui in connection with the borer being found in heart of totara timber, specimens of infected timber were, by request, sent to. interested parties in other parts of New Zealand. One Auckland firm interested in tbtara has now expressed the opinion that the borer is only found in the sap of totara as the result of logs lying on the ground. This opinion, however, does not coincide with some of the observations made locally.

One of the few good results of the recent flood will be the drowning of rabbits (says the Christchurch Press). Thousands of these pests have been washed away by the rivers, and very few of those which burrowed in the beds of the North Canterbury rivers will never eat another blade of grass.

Apropos the story going round about a farmer inadvertently disposing of his fourteen-year-old pet rooster while fulfilling an order for catering purposes, it is stated that a local pressman located the ancient bird at a recent function. He is not altogether certain on the point, as there is the possibility of his discovery being a relic of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Fifty-four of the school districts under the control of the Auckland Education Board failed to elect committees at the recent annual meetings of householders. Thirty districts have neglected to notify the board of the result of elections. The failure to appoint committees is due in some instances to disputes in connection with irregularities in nominations, but in the majority of cases the householders did not attend the meetings in sufficient numbers. An extraordinary accident occurred on the West Coast .of the South Island recently. firs. A. Ritchie was walking in her garden when suddenly the ground gave way beneath her. She clung to the surface, however, and her cries soon brought assistance. When she was rescued it was discovered that an old digger’s shaft, which had apparently been covered over with timber and earth, had been sunk in the garden many years ago. No one knew of the shaft, and the possibilities of a serious drowning accident were hidden under a well-kept lawn. The depth of the shaft can only be estimated, as a pole, 16ft. long, could pot reach the bottom of the water, which was about five feet from the surface.

The task of the jury selected to deal with the Cooper case is by no means an envious one. The 12 good men not only have to sit for six hours each day and hear a mass or evidence, but they have to spend each night away from their homes, as in susch a serious and important trial as the present the Crown does not deem it expedient that they should be given their liberty. On the opening day of the trial they had -to make a trip out to the section at Newlands under circumstances that by no means made the outing a holiday. It rained heavily throughout the inspection, and the mud was thick on the ground. The visit lasted over two hours.

"I am sure the majority of people, do not realise what a wonderful artery the river is,” said a member of the River Trust Board yesterday, on his return after a visit of inspection which was extended as far as Taumarunul. Unfortunately the trip was at a time when the river was well up, and so a lot of the improvement work could not be inspected to full advantage. The member returned satisfied that the river will be the main outlet, for a big territory. He. mentioned that at various localities the settlers roll the bales of wool to the river bank, and if the bales are not shipped, they had to be rolled uphill again, for should heavy rain come the river rises to extraordinary heights.

The need for the early removal of the moratorium was emphasised at a meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Mr. J. Carter suggested that the best means was to provide for extensions of mortgages for, say, ten years from 1914, so that all mortgages would not fall due at the same time, as they would if the moratorium were lifted in a specified date. As things were at present, lenders were apprenhensivo lest legislation be brought down at any time placing the moratorium on dealings that were entered under the understanding that the-present Mortgages Extension Act did not apply. Other speakers agreed that there should be a gradual elimination of the restrictive legislation concerning mortgages. No resolution was pro posed.

Some time ago a series of burglaries in Rora Street, Te Kuiti, caused not a little concern to shopkeepers, particularly those carrying valuable stocks. One of the premises was that occupied by Mr. W. Ingram, hairdresser and tobacconist, a small sum of money being stolen, after the glass door had been broken to allow easy manipulation of the lock inside. Mr. Ingram then fastened a sheet of iron to the door, covering it with a piece of thin wood. On opening the shop for business on Monday morning last he was surprised to find a circular hole in the woodwork near the lock, but the sheet had intervened, and it is presumed the burglars gave up the attempt in disgust. This is the fourth case of burglary with’n the past twelve months. Appeals have been made by the Justice Department. for extra police assistance, but so far without result. Sir Walter Buchanan, at the annual meeting of the Walrarapa P. and A. Society on Saturady reports the Age, said his recent mission to the South was in connection with shipping, the only bridge between producer and consumer. For years he had taken a keen interest in getting produce Home at the lowest possible rate. Shipping companies had more than once endeavoured to create a combine. In 1897 producers realised they were paying double the freight charged Australia, and a company known as the Freights Reduction Committee was set up. It had no money, but individual members went, guarantors at the bank for sufficient to charter a sailing vessel. A big saving in wool freight was affected. In 15 years they saved sheep-owners no less than £2,000,000 in freights. It was then considered sheep-owners generally should come into the corner and a company was floated with a capital of £lOO,OOO. No other share list contained such a substantial array of shareholders. From the flotation in 1912 until the war of 1914 little was done, and the money remained in the hands of the shareholders. For five succeeding years they were in recess, but last year chartered boats and sent Home 5300 bales of wool at a greatly reduced rate. This season they had saved to wool growers not a shilling less than £380,000.

Art lovers in Wanganui hav shown their appreciation of the exh bition of pictures at the Serjean Gallery by making many purchases. While travelling from Feilding t Wanganui a motorist met 92 motor cars that were presumably returnin from the races.

A notice of interest to jurors an witnesses summoned to attend tt next sittings of the Supreme Cou: appears in another column.

The gas lamp at the corner Brassey Road and the Groat Nor Road, where the recent fatal accide occurred, has not been alight for t! past five nights.

Exclusive of £37.719 9s 2d still o loan to soldiers, the Walrarapa Pa 1 riotic Association s funds investe on mortgage total £32,7115 Ss S< The association has advanced a tot: of £70,511 12s 5d as loans to so diers, of which amount £32,792 3 3d has been repaid. The Mayor of Pahiatua, referrin to the remit concerning fidelity it

surance to be forwarded to the Mun cipal Conference, stated that Maste ton and other local bodies had foun out where defalcations had not bee discovered in 12 months, the fide ity bond had no value.

Tlte exhibition of pictures of th Arts and Crafts Society at the Sar jeant Gallery is creating considerab! attention among the general public Large attendances are reported dail: and a pleasing feature to the Socict; is that the display is being well pa* ronised by “the man in the street as well as by members.

A reverend gentleman stepped int the Aramoho railway refreshmon room and called for the usual te and sandwich. The waitress, no recognising “the cloth,” pleasantl

inquired what horse ho fancie would win the Steeplechase. Th minister replied: “We parsons don' know much about horse-racing, but, sipping his tea, he added, “we ar authorities on Amber Tips.”

A local resident was chatting to a friend about the reduced price of beef, and how cheap it was to buy the choicest roasts, ribs, steaks, and other portions from the ox. lie became quite enthusiastic about the re duced cost of living, and also about tho increased vitality he felt as a result from his increased meat diet. But his listener did not seem to respond, and finally he remarked: “Excurse me; I’m a vegetarian.”

A large deputation, including delegates from the Technical Education Conference, urged the Prime Minister yesterday to continue work at the new technical college buildings at Wellington and to effect other improvements in respect to lavatories. Mr. Massey said he wished to see the east wing tytmpleted, and took responsibility, as Minister for Finance, for the work to be proceeded with and tenders called. The allegation that drugs could be obtained by the inmates of the Inebriates’ Home at Rotoroa Island was withdrawn yesterday by a man who appeared in the S.M. Court to plead guilty to a charge of escaping from the island. Barker, who was described as a drunkard and a drug addict, retracted al! his Allegations, and which he now admitted had no foundation.

Anglers will be pleased to learn that the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society are about to proceed with a vigorous policy of stocking local waters with brown and rainbow trout. Two thousand yearling fish are being acquired from Hawera. It is proposed to put 500 brown trout in Virginia and Westmere lakes, while IUUO rainbow yearling trout will be put in the Mangawhero river. The Moawhanga stream will also be stocked with the rainbow variety. The Mangawhero river is regarded as one of the best, stretches of trout water in the Dominion, but at the time of the Raetihi fire the fish in It were practically exterminated.

”1 think the training of apprentices should form a part of our education system, and that the Government should give this matter its serious consideration,” said the President of the Auckland Industrial Association at the annual meeting. The securing of suitable apprentices was ono of the chief obstacles with Which manufacturers had to contend, continued the speaker. Already, owing to the lack of apprentices during tho past few years, great difficulty was being experienced in obtaining good operatives in a number of industries, and unless this difficulty was overcome, the country could not expect to progress as rapidly as it otherwise would.

A Sydney correspondent reports that some of the recently released Bawra £6,000,000 has gone into the Rural Bank loan and helped to swell the £1,000,1000 asked for to £4,000,000. Whether the whole offering will be availed of or not is immaterial to the city consideration of the matter. The main points of inter est—though in Pitt Street —are that the applications indicate that there is no lack of money, and perhaps still more important, the downward trend of the interest rate. If these impressions are confirmed there should presently be an all-round improvement in an already fairly satisfactory market for every kind of legitimate stocks. First-grade indus trials should improve their position. The time is coming, it is thought, when seven per cent, from these will look good to most investors. Some financial authorities consider that the supply of mortgage money is the best guide of the volume available. Not merely the rate but the margin has to be considered. When lenders will advance 75 per cent, of the value it will be a clear sign that money is plentiful. At the present time they mostly advance 50 per cent, and really less than that in instances, for a conservative estimate of value is the basis for most banks, insurance companies, and other big lenders.