LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18974, 27 March 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Messrs C. Pearce, J. C. Arnold and C. Jensen have beeq appointed by the Gonville Town Board as members of Wanganui Borough Council. A constable who was giving evidence at the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch was emphatic on the point that defendant in a case was under the influence of liquor. “I could feel the smell of liquor Your Worship," he declared earnestly. No news has yet been received in official circles in regard to the successor to Lord Jellicoe as GovernorGeneral of New Zealand. In reply to a query, the Prime Minister said that he had heard nothing in regard to the next appointment. As a rule the Premier wag consulted, and he expected that that course would be adopted as usual.-<rimes.

A story concerning a recent visit to his old school in the N-rth of Ireland was told by the Prime Minister when addjessing the children of the Taumarunui school. Mr. Massey said that like all boys he used to carry a pocket-knife. When he revisited the old school he looked for some trace that had been left by his knife, and, sure enough, he found his own initials, “W.F.M.," carved on one of the desks. The grant for new desks must be a small one in that district'

The Education Department is not in a position to pay a subsidy for the purchase of gramophones for schol use. The Director of Education writes to the Canterbury Education Board: "With reference to your memorandum regarding the introduction of gramophones into the schools in order that some attempt may be made to teach musical appreciation. I have to inform you that the department is in full sympathy with the project but regrets that other matters of greater urgency prevent in the meantime such liberal support being ..ecorded as might be desired."

Enterprise is a necessary quality ii business, and in some cases it i deemed so essential that truth falls as a sacrifice to enterprise. In the course of an interview by an Otago Daily Time s reporter on Friday, Mr. R. W. Flynn a survivor of the wrecked Trevessa, stated that when the ship was abandoned the crew were compelled to subsist largely on condensed milk. This piece of news came to the ears of the proprietors of a condensed milk making concern, and herein enters the enterprise. Flaring advertisements were posted up in many places telling how a shipwrecked crew had lived for many days on their condensed milk, and how they were eventually rescued, full of praise for the valuable commodity. But the bills were not allowed to stay, for it was pointed out to the proprieters that they were not the makers, but that the condensed milk came from another country altogether.

Easter Tuesday will not this year be observed as a bank holiday. To that extent the holiday fixtures as announced yesterday are amended.

The progress of Wanganui is evidenced in the extensive alterations which McGruers, Ltd., are undertaking at their well-known drapery establishment on the Avenue-Guyton Street corner. It is the intention of this 'progressive firm to ihstal the most modern display windows for their clothing and mercery departments on the Avenue frontage, and also to re organise their entirefloor space. When these alterations are completed McGruers, Ltd., will have one of the most up-to-date drapery stores in the Dominion. •

‘‘lt will be a good thing for labour if its leader could be persuaded tn study the principles of industry which have been practiced by Mr. Henry Ford with such remarkable success that he is now able to produce the cheapest article of its kind in the world, pay the highest wages, and get the biggest rate of production, all this-be it noted accompanied by the gradual elimination and the now practical abolition of overtime in his shops." The above is an extract from the annual report of tie Wanganui Employers’ Association.

Another “Australian nightingale” created a good impression in London when Miss Rosa Alba, the Sydney soprano, had an unusually cordial reception at her first recital at Wigmore Hall, says a London message. A crowd of Australians waited after the concert to congratulate her on her remarkable success. They predict a big future for her. On the interpretative side, says the critic of the London Daily Mail, Miss Alba’s art needs developing. She should then become a charming singer, with a voice of unusual possibilities. ,

When dealing with the Army Estimates in the House of Commons, the Opposition tried to get a definite statement of policy regarding the Dominions' preference for army contracts. Mr. Lawson explained that it was the practice of the department to give reasonable sympathetic consideration to our own people, but they were not going to let the taxpayer pay to the extent involved in one case, where certain people tried to take advantage of the existing agreement, to the extent of 35 per cent. Therefore, they declined to pin themselves to a definite policy.

The Christchurch Hospital Board resolved “that three Christchurch nurses, Misses Rattray, Rogers and Hilliard, having lost their lives on active service in 1915, the Board decide to name a ward after each of these ladies in memory ef their heroism while serving thqir country.” Dr. Ffcnwick said that these nurses were among those who lost their lives in the Marquette disaster. These girls had drifted about for nine hours after the torpedoing. When the survivors were rescued every one of them volunteered to go back to Solonika. That, was the “stuff” New Zealand nurses were made of. Their heroism had made a great impression.

Speaking of the immigration scheme devised by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce for bringing English public school boys out to Taranaki, Mr. W. H. Moyes, principal of the Boys’ High School, mentioned at the meeting of the Board of Governors on Monday night that a suggestion he had made that the boys should be given a year at a secondary school before going on to farms was being encouraged by the chamber- Mr. Moyes said that the boy that would be coming to New Zealand was a splqpdid typo of youth and by attending a school hero he would make friends with New Zealand boys and become used to colonial conditions. Ho stated fhalt he had already received inquiries from abroad asking for advice whether boys should be placed at a school before being sent on to a farm. If the amalgamation with the Technical College was accomplished they might bo able to take some of the lads, but they could not crowd New Zealand boys to take them in. He understood the Chamber of Commerce were making inquiries and would endeavour to have the suggestion put into effect

As a matter of interest, in view of Cr. Riordan’s complaint that redwood was being used in the borough cottage joinery, the following description of the timber from Alexander L. Howard’s book (1920 Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) printed in 1920 on “A Manual of the Timbers of the World” is interesting:— Redwood. — Sequoia (sequoia sempervirens, Endl., Southern Oregon and Central California). "This timber is called sequoia in England and redwood in America. The trees are of immense size; when the merits of the wood are considered, it seems strange that the demand is not more general (England). It is easily worked, stands exceedingly well and is very durable both indoors and when exposed to the weather. The colour is dark red, deepening and improving with" age and exposure. Although soft, the timber dulls the edge of the tool and its uses are those im which hardwoods are usually employed. It is used for shingles, alLsorts of joinery work, sleepers for railways, paving blocks, etc. In all these it is satisfactory and the wood is so strong and durable, according to Gibson, that when the sleepers are worn out, the rejected ones are gathered up by thousands and used as fencing posts. It is deceptive in regard to its, qualities of seasoning. However long it has been drying, the wood, -when cut, gives the impression that it has not been properly seasoned, yet it has been found to stand in places where other timbers would have failed. A short time ago some work was required to be carried out in sequoia, and it was found that wood seasoned was unobtainable. The work was completed with redwood considered to be unseasoned, such work including a mantelpiece and overmantel—yet if was found that no shrinkage occurred. It has been extensively used in shipbuilding, pattern-making, etc. Redwood was also used for the Adelaide sewerage reticulation, being subjected to the dampness, and also to the blaze of the Australian sun. Redwood in New Zealand is said to be a much more costly timber than totara.

LEVER BROS. AND Q-TOL. '■ Preliminary negotiations were for the use of the name ‘Q-tol’ for edible oils: but It has since been decided by the big firm to purchase the manufacturing and marketing rights ot Q-tpl for all purposes throughout the woi;ld outside, of N-Z. and Australia.

A proposal to borrow £9OOO to reticulate the district for electric current from Napier, was yesterday carried by the ratepayers ot the Taradale town district.

What is a bungalow? To this question a'naive answer was given in the Supreme Court at Auckland, during tho hearing df an action in regard to the sale of a Parnell house. A, witness had described the place as a

“good, average, jerry-built house.” Mr. Justice Herdman suggested that there w-ere three types of houses — the good house, art bungalow, and a jerry-built place. Then it was that the term “bungalow” came in for discussion. The witness volunteered the information that "bungalow” was only a fancy name used to induce a purchaser to buy.

David Borne who was arrested on board the barque Hesperian, which was • lying in Wellington harbour ready to sail for ’Frisco, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, on a charge of the theft of £ll5 from his partner in a building business, Frederick Newman. Evidence was given that Borne had received from a client £l5O, which had not been accounted for, and had drawn £BO from th 0 bank without his partner’s knowledge. When arrested he had four £5O notes in his possession. The accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

. .Bearding the depth of snow on Mt. Egmont, Mr. B. H. Horner, of Stratford, writes to the Post: “I have been asked at different times to say what depth of snow these is on lop of Mt. Egmont in winter. Last Autumn I took observations with my most accurate theodolite from Stratford, before snow had commenced to fall, and also this summer. Comparing the results with other readings taken in the middle of winter, I have been able to arrive at the conclusion that there was from 18 to 20 feet of snow. This was on the summit where the trig is, end the greatest depth found was just after the heavy fall at the end of June last, when the tracks to the mountain houses were full of snow.”

“I admire your energy in wanting this, but unfortunately it is a question of* finance.” That is what the Minister of Education (Hon. Parr) to-day told a deputation from Christchurch Technical College Board of Governors. The board wanted a grant of money to buy a building in Opawa Street to be used as a boys’ hostel. Christchurch, the Hon. Parr said, was the best-off city in New Zealand with regard to hostel accommodation. Hon. Parr concluded: I regret very much that I cannot give you a more favourable answer, but you see it is all a question ot the purse. It is impossible for the coming financial year, but. with regard to 1925, something might, be done, but I cannot pledge myself to what may be done.”

A Maori who was appearing 'to answer a judgment summons at the Magistrate’s Court at Gisborne caused a good deal ot amusement (relates the Poverty Bay Herald). In faltering English he said: “I not know the English very well— want the interpreter.” The Magistrate said that he surely could not expect the people who were suing him to provide an interpreter; what was he going to do about it? In perfect ■ English the .Maori replied that he thought he’d better chance it then. At a later stage it was suggested that he should endeavour to pay the money within reasonable time. “How long do you want to pay off the money?” asked the Magistrate. “Oh,” said the Maori, “I think you’d .better give me the chance, not me give you.”