LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19008, 8 May 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The King has signed the AngloAmerican Liquor Treaty, which comes into operation immediately ratifications are exchanged with Washington.

A San Francisco, cable message says that the explorer Stefansson sailed yesterday lor an exploratory trip into the interior of Australia. He estimates the trip will take four months.

Since the end of the railway strike and the resumption of regular trains, the railway staff at Palmerston North has been exceptionally busy in coping with’ the heavy congestion of goods consequent on the hold-up, and special goods trains have been running at frequent intervals to relieve the situation.

Finds of outstanding scientific value of fossilised skeletons of a gigantic prehistoric amphibian reptile, dicynodon were made in the Graaffreinet district (South Africa) by the importance than any palaeontological Baron Friedorich von Huene. The find is said to rank higher in importance than any talaeouioiogical discoveries in Africa for many years.

It was reported at yesterday’s meeting of the Farmers’ Union, that the cup for shooting, presented by the executive three years ago, for competition among the branches, had been won this year by the Brunswick team. This made the latter's third win in succession, and the cup has now become their own property.

The warship Chatham, with band playing, left Wellington yesterday morning for Auckland, whence she will leave on the 27th for Colombo, to replace the Southampton, as flagship of the East Indies station. The Southampton is going homo for boiler repairs, and will be absent from the station for about 12 months. When she returns to relieve the Chatham the latter will go Home. The - Chatham’s ratings going Home from New Zealand will be transferred to the Southampton at Colombo and about seventy will leave by the Ruahine, sailing from Wellington on May 15. Two young girls, with brothers as escorts, recently rode ten miles to a dance at Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay), having earlier sent their evening frocks to a friend’s house so that they could change on arrival. The night was dark, and one of the girls blundered on her horse in to the dead branch of a tree by the roadside. A little later she felt a tickling sensation on her neck. It persisted, and her brother struck a wnatch to find the cause, but nothing was visible. So without any tribulation of spirit she rode, feeling just an occasional repetition of the irritation. Changing at her friend’s house, she discovered the cause when something dropped from her blouse to the floor. It was a four-inch centipede.

The noise of motorists approaching the churches where worshippers are at service, particularly at main thoroughfares, was referred to in a letter received from a city congregation at a recent meetiug of the Wellington Automobile Club. The communicatiou drew attention to the “unnecessary and prolonged tooting of horns.” They were quite aware that a warning note was necessary at intersections, and safety'had to be considered, but suggested that influence should be brought to bear to prevent this from continuing “to be the great distraction it is at present to worshippers.” It was described as becoming a serious annoyance. The club decided to draw attention to the matter in its next circular to members. The local club might follow suit.

. The necessity for improvement in regard to the marketng or meat on the Home market was stressed by Mr. Gregor McGregor at yesterday's meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. He said he was not endeavouring to condemn the work of the Meat Board but the present position was unsatisfactory. Those who sold forward last season had met with a good deal of trouble, and when the consignments got to the other end prices dropped. The purchasers lodged quality claims, and the vendors had no redress, which made the wholo business utterly ridiculous. The system of appointing umpires, he contended, was also unsatisfactory. Mr. McGregor was deputed to draw up a remit in connection with the matter, to bo submitted to the inter-provincial conference.

Some interesting, statistics were given by Mr. Hector Christie at the opening of the YM.C.A. fair yesterday in connection with the local institution’s activities. He said that about 500 men and boys were in regular touch with the. Wanganui Y.M.C.A., and £lOOO per annum was necessary to finance the association. The general secretary was in touch with practically all the organisations that worked for the youth of the city. He was also in close touch with the Bible class "‘movements, and in many cases acted in an advisory capacity on the councils. The speaker said that the attendances at some of the Y.M.C.A. activities during the past six weeks were as follows:-Scouts 379, boys’ clubs 402,. boys’ Bible study 'groups 301, religious meetings 216, socials 769, outside meetings 562, gymnasium classes 316, special functions 547. The other attendances at functions in the building for the past six weeks were 3,480.

It was indeed a lively deputation that waited on the Woolstou School Committee (says the Christchurch Sun), demanding that that body should resign on the grounds that they no longer represented the opinions of the householders of the district. The proceedings were characterised by “fireworks” throughout, and there were times when little could be heard but the screeching of women members above the din of heated argument. The meeting was reminiscent of the old electioneering gatherings at the Choral Hall, and probably there has never been a more disturbed gathering in the peaceful district of Woolston. That the police anticipated trouble was evidenced by the presence of representatives of the force. They kept a watchful eye on the door of the committee room, ever waiting for the moment when their services might be required. The storm was merely a verbal one, however, and there was no need to requistion the assistance of the men in blue.

A police force of 38 Chinese, concerned in the recent piracy in HongKong waters on the steani, launch Hwangtak, were shot by the Chinese authorities in the Heungshan district.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union it was decided to forward to the conference at Fcilding branch remits favouring the retention, and periodical election of the wool committee..

At yesterday’s meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union reference was made to stock routes in the boundary, and It was decided that the executive congratulate the Mayor, Mr. Hopei Gibbons, on the common-sense view ho had taken in regard to the matter.

In recognition of the assistance given by the Wanganui Rugby Union and Kaierau Football- Club in loaning their training sheds at the Recreation ground during the last show for the purpose of exhibiting stock the Wanganui Agricultural Association has donated a handsome gold medal to i-ach football organisation for competitive purposes.

Durie Hill was to the fore in the competitive sense yesterday, a youthful citizen in the suburb being awarded first prize for ugliest dog at the canine parade held at His Majesty’s Theatre. Joy was depicted on the face of the Durie Hill juvenile as he led his father’s bulldog home, for the award carried with it free admission to the pictures for a month.

The Wanganui Agricultural Association’s next show—in Novemner next—will be the fiftieth anniversary of the association’s operations and will be known ag the jubilee show. It is intended to make it the bc-st show yet held in Wanganui, and special arrangements will be made towards that end. The association has decided that each member of the committee shall look after his particular district in order to stimulate interest in the show, aJid get entries.

A sitting of the local Assessment Court was held yesterday morning to deal with objections to borougn valuations. Mr. Barton, S.M., presided. The Borough Council was represented by Mr L. Pleasants, borough valuer. Mr. Pleasants intimated that there had been a number of objections, but these' had been settled out of Court. Only two objections were lodged, and in each case the valuation was sustained.

“During the. dry. spell a few months back, it looked as though the market would be flooded with stock,’’ remarked a local farmer yesterday. “However, now that the crops have improved, those who were anxious to sell are buying.” There was an abundance of feed in the surrounding district of Wanganui, it was pointed out, and the price being Charged to have turnips eaten off by sheep was £5 per acre.

Speaking at a meeting 01 tne committee of the Wanganui Agricultural Association yesterday Mr. R. Farley suggested that, the new showground at Wanganui East should be thrown open to the public for the purpose of sport, picnics, etc. He satd that the town had supported the association well, and the town should be offered some facilities in return. The ground would bd particularly useful for football matche s or picnics. The suggestion met with general support, and was referred to the grounds committee.

The striking increase in the importations of motor vehicles into New Zealand, recorded in 1923, will be totally eclipsed in 1924 if the gain for the first quarter of 1924 is a fair criterion. In 1923 three times as many motor vehicles were imported as in 1922. In the first quarter of 1924, almost twice as many were brought into the country as in the corresponding period of last year. For the first three months of 1924 5178 vehicles,, valued at £902,830 - , were imported, as against 1777 and £4 88,706 in the first quarter last year.

A busy scene was witnessed on the Onehunga wharf last week, when the Arapawa completed her loading for Port Waikato, leaving soon after dusk with a full cargo (says an exchange). This included 4600 cases of oil for the various centres on the Waikato river, as well as numerous consignments of merchandise that were arranged before the railways resumed running. At one time during the afternoon there were no fewer than 16 motor-lorries at the wharf, loaded with benzine, and residents of Onehunga who happened to be in the vicinity had a vivid picture of what will become quite a regular occurrence when this embryo traffic is brought up to its proper dimensions by the construction of the Waiuku canal.

The following motion, moved by Mr. J Hurley, was passed by 60 votes to 20 at a meeting of householders in Mount Cook (Wellington) area: “That, in view of the fact that denominational schools have been established in this country, resulting In a tendency to and having as its object the undermining of the present system of free and secular education, this meeting calls upon the Government to amend the Act governing the election of school committees so as to render not available for membership of committees parents or guardians who have children attending such denominational schools and that as such they shall not vote at elections of committees.”

The proposal of the Government to set up a commission to go Into railway matters generally was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. Mr. D. McGregor, who raised the question, was of the opinion that the Inquiry Board,, when established, should consist of men Inccpendent of the railways. Mr. Howie remarked that Mr. Massc-y, as well as everybody else 1 , recognised the railways were not being run satisfactorily, and he thought that the matter should be left to him to secure the best men available. Mr. Allan Robinson considered that overstaffing was the trouble with the railways, and he Instanced specific cases in this connection in support of his argument. It was eventually resolved that the following resolution be forwarded to the .Minister of Railways: “That in the opinion of this executive it is desirable that when the Government is choosing members of the board to investigate matters in dispute between the Government and the employees of the railways, or other State Departments, the members chosen should not inhlude members or ex-members of the railways or of the State department concerned*”

A local resident much interested in farming pursuits states that the back country is at present looking splendid, and everywhere feed is plentiful. The Waimarino district had experienced a wonderful season, and was looking at its best.

In recording in yesterday’s issue the N. Z. Producers’ Co-op. Marketing Associations advice it was stated that the cheese market was quiet, aud N. Z. white and coloured were realising 54s and 565. The prices should have read 84s and 86s respectively.

A woman in New York recently cut an artery in her hand, and, being unable to obtain a doctor, would probably have bled to death had not a twelve-year-old Boy Scout come to her rescue. Fragments of a broken glass jar had been thrown into a rubbish can, and when the woman [dunged her hand into the can the bits of glass slashed her wrist in three places, one gash being an inch long and another two Inches long. Blood issued in a stream. The Boy Scout seized his handkerchief and a stick and made a tourniquet, which he twisted around the arm and held for an hour until a doctor arrived.

Have you not looked with alarm on the prospect of the bringing of yet an other pest to the fair shores of New Zealand? says an Auckland Star correspondent. We already have gorse, blackberry, mosquitoes and flies, but ihe earwigs will beat the lot out. I have come from the Old Country and know what they are like. They will swarm in their millions. rney are creepy, vicious, horrible things, and a sting or bite of one is not easily for gotten. Every article that has been left out to dry overnight is black underneath with them in the morning, and if you forget to shake the article well, you bring them into the house. There will bb no peace of mind for campers, as the vicious things will be in your beds, on your clothes, and everywhere. It will not be wise to put a baby in a pram or push cart out under a tree, as they will get into the blankets, and perhaps into its ears. And what about verandah beds? You will think of them with dread in future. You must search them thoroughly before' you get In. Frequent fires kindled after dark will kill more orchard pestg than all the earwigs in Christendom. Get up a huge petition