LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19032, 9 June 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P., will give a political address at the Opera House this evening, and will spsak on the political situation in general and on the recent railway strike.

In an effort to solve the housing shortage the South Australian Government has called for tenders for the erection of a thousand dwelling houses in various localities. It is intended that the work should be completed in twelve months from the acceptance of the tenders. Fourteen different designs have been prepared.

“I don’t know how these farmers distinguish their own car-marks on Clieir sheep,” remarked counsel during the hearing of a case at the Waitara Court. “But they do though," said the magistrate (Mr. A. M. Mowlem). "The bootmaker to his last, the lawyer to his bench, and the farmer to his farm.”

Mr. A. Christie, Jersey breeder, of Hikurangi. has at present under test a cow which promises to become the champion Jersey animat or tne .Dominion. The cow has been under test for eight months, during which period it has returned 8601 b of butter-fat, and with two months still to go, it promises to even top the great feat of Pretty’s Flirt with 10121 b for the 12 months.

The effect of a favourable verdict was the subject of amusing reference by the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) at the Supreme Court at Wellington last week. “I saw a man who once stated in evidence that he could not lift his hand higher than his shoulder,” said Sir Robert. "The jury gave a verdict in his favour, and he went out waving his arm over his head.” A favourable verdict often made a man very much stronger, added the Chief Justice. A direct shipment of 14,000 cases of benzine is scheduled to arrive in Wanganui in a week’s itme. Just prior to the railway strike the price of benzine increased and consumers are wondering if this direct shipment will have the effect of reducing it again. A local merchant volunteered the information that the retail price of benzine in Wanganui was at present 22/- per case, about half-a-crown dearer than ports that regularly receive direct shipments.

A correspondent writes: A subleadcr in Saturday’s Herald contains a statement concerning the much-dis-cussed Agricultural Bank which requires correction. Your contemporary says: ‘‘lf the Government is not asked for a charitable bequest to this proposed institution, the promoters can have their Agricultural Bank, for the bankers merely ask that the bank should not be given privileges that the other banks have not got.” The Agricultural Bank Act, as circulated at present, asks for no charitable bequest. It asks for the loan of a certain sum of money, free of interest, on the best security that the country can offer, namely, mortgages of freehold and long term leaseholds up to three-fifths of the value of the land. Provision is made in the Act for the repayment of the amount advanced by the State. A similar type of bank with even greater Government assistance has been in operation in America since 1917, and the branches formed in 1917 and 1918 have now repaid all their Government loads, whilst the later branches are steadily reducing their indebtedness. Compared with the assistance quite rightly afforded by the State to various enterprises within the Dominion, the finance asked for to enable the Agricultural Bank to become an accomplished fact can by no stretch of imagination be termed a ‘‘charitable bequest.”

For cold in the head—inhale NAZOL. For sore throats or tickling cough take some drops on sugar. Used either way “NAZOL” works wonders. 60 doses Is 6d,

It is claimed that the New Morrison, in Chicago, when completed, will be the largest hotel in the world, containing 3400 rooms. A girl at Camberwell baths fancy dress ball wore a costume covered with 4000 spent matches, the motto being, "No more strikes.” The motor thief is reported to be busy in several of the centres, but fortunately the “joy-rider” has not made his appearance in Wanganui. However, several coats and bicycles are reported to be missing from various places of late. "There is a mortgage ot £2OO on the motor-car, and it’s only worth £25 now/’ said a witness in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court, when being examined as to his ability to pay a debt. “Oh, you're a pretty shrewd business man if that’s the case,” retorted Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. “Why don’t you raise some money on it?” (Laughter).

The trustees of the estate of the late Thomas Manson have notified the office bearers of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Palmerston North, of a bequest of £5OO for the Berhampore Presbyterian orphanage, also a further £5OO left for a Presbyterian orphanage in Palmerston North, provided the same is started within two years, otherwise the second bequest goes to the Berhampore Orphanage.

The Pahiatua Licensing Committee, at the annual meeting on Friday, refused a permanent transfer and new license to F. C. Thompkins in respect of the Masonic Hotel, Woodville, on the grounds that applicant was a dummy and was only holding the license for the Yanko family, who were objected to by the police. The application was adjourned for three months to give the licensee an opportunity of quitting the premises.

“To New Zealanders, the most interesting thing about the Riviera is that the principal trees in its many beautiful gardens are natives of New Zet land,” said Mr. H. E. Vaile, in an address he gave in Auckland. "Here one sees grooving luxuriantly the familiar cabbage-tree, New Zealand flax and pobutukawa, which, by the way, they have labelled ‘from Australia.’ There are also a number of trees from Australia, but it is the New Zealand trees that stand out conspicuously.” The Mercantile Gazette announces the formation of the following company: Farmers’ Co-op. Wool Storage Co.,’ Ltd.—Private company, Wanganui. Capital: £5OOO into 1000 shares of £5 each. Subscribers: A. Robinson 70, A. G. Bigncll 50, H. Y. Lethbridge 40, G. Marshall 120, T. Currie 120, C. Smith 20, F. Handley 60, W. J. Polson 20, T. Mitchell 20, C. M. Cranstone 60, W. Kcllick 200, J. Higgie 50, H. Bayley 20, C. D. Handley 50, C. G. Bignell 20, A. N. F. Bignell 20, G. C. Wells 20, D. Fcrnie 40. Objects: To carry on the business of storing and displaying for sale or otherwise wool and-or other produce or merchandise.

An accident, which fortunately was not attended with serious consequences, occurred in the Avenue at about 5 o’clock on Saturday. A young woman named Miss Bush fainted when crossing the street, in the vicinity of Maria Place, and a motor car driven by a local solicitor passed over one of her feet. Fortunately the driver of the car had his machine under good control, and averted a more serious’ accident. The woman, who sustained only minor injuries, was conveyed to a nearby shop, and a doctor attended to her. She was later removed to her home, where she is progressing satisfactorily.

When notifying boxing enthusiasts that the present committee of the Wanganui Boxing Association would vacate office at the end of this month, the president, Mr. J. Coull, stated at the championship tournament on Saturday night that when they took over the reins of office two years ago the Association was owing something in the vicinity of £BOO. However, at the end of this month the Association would owe practically nothing, the debt having been wiped off, principally by the untiring efforts of the secretary, Mr. A. G. Mac Kay, and the art union, which had proved very successful. The balance-sheet in regard to- the latter would be announced at a later date. In conclusion, Mr. Coull appealed to those present to offer themselves for election, and pictured a bright future for boxing in Wanganui, providing it was boomed.

In one of our suburban schools on Friday teacher and students discovered that even text books are liable to be misleading. The headblaster was ut the time discoursing on the coal industry of the United Kingdom, and, quoting from a text book, he gave Durham as the county responsible for the greatest output, with Northumberland about seventh on the list. "Please, sir,” interjected one of the class, “isn’t Northumberland the first coal county?” “Why do you think so?” queried the teacher. “It says so in this text book,” replied the pupil, "and Durham is placed sixth on the list.” Another pupil evidently thought it worth while to consult his book, and chimed in with “If you please, sir, neither Durham nor Northumberland is the most important coal-mining county. My book gives Glamorgan, in Wales, as the country with the greatest output.” The teacher, however, was equal, to the occasion. Each ot the three books was the work of a different publishing firm, and this fact gave him his clue. To pupil No. 1 he said, “Where was your book published?” “In New Zealand, sir.” ‘‘And yours?” “In Australia, sir,” “Well, this one (pointing to the one from which he had quoted) was published in England. Now, if you wanted to know something about New Zealand, where would you seek for correct information?” "In a New Zealand book, sir,” came the prompt reply. “Quite right,” concluded the teacher, “and we may take it that a text book published in England gives us the correct information about England’s coal industry.”

The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has decided to ask Messrs T. L. List and C. H. Burgess to be its representatives at the conference or British Chambers of Commerce which takes place in London early next month.

The four huge cheeses which were manufactured by the Ngaire factory to be displayed at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, left Nerd Plymouth on the steamer Port Wellington on Thursday last, collectively the cheeses have a net weight of 3 tons 8 cwt.

"In my opinion the quality of the butter passing through the port of Wellington this season has been very disappointing, despite the fact that practically all companies have generally improved or installed more up-to-date machinery. A number of our best brands have come down to second grade, while the majority have not been the high scoring butters of some few years ago, ’’ said Mr. J. W. Smith, Government dairy instructor, when advocating creanh grading in the course of a lecture at Palmerston North to the Manawatu and West Coast Dairy Factories’ Association,

Twelve stowaways were found on a steamer that left Liverpool on April 3 for Auckland. Eight of these were men who were found during a search of the ship when she was leaving port. When they had been sent ashore another search was carefully made, and three boys of ages ranging between ten and fourteen years were found in hiding-places, where they had concealed themselves while the vessel was loading. Three days after the steamer had cleared and was well on her way over the Atlantic, the twelfth man, who had stowed away in the bunkers, was brought to light, after eluding the crew for three days.

The Wanganui Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was addressed Saturday afternoon by the General Secretary, Mr. M. J. Mack. The speaker reviewed the position of the Society and garfe the history of recent events. The large meeting eventually passed the following resolution: —"That after hearing the General Secretary we express our confidence in him as the Society’s general executive officer; and we arc still of the opinion that a special conference is absolutely necessary to inquire into the circumstances in connection with the recent strike, and to define the future policy of the Society.”

An effort is being made by certain importing interests, according to a report made to the executive of the New Zealand Sawmillers’ Federation, to induce dairy companies in New Zealand to import and use butter boxes of Baltic spruce. It is stated that owing to the verv cheap rate of freight offering by European sailing vessels coming to Australia for wheat cargoes, and to the very tow European wage standard, these boxes may be imported at a figure to compete with the New Zealand white pine. According to the information avail able to the federation Baltic spruct is not considered a fit timber foi butter for food containers in Europe as it is liable to give a taint to butter Hence it is felt that dairy companies would be well advised not to jeopardise the high standard of the quality of their products on the London market for the sake of saving possibly a penny per box.