LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19057, 9 July 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Otago Harbour Board colebrated its jubilee yesterday.

There were well over a thousand visitors to the Sargeant Gallery last month.

'the civil sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning was exceedingly light, undefended cases principally occupying the attention of the Magistrate.

It is reported that the trout placed in Tama Lake, in the National Park, are doing well, despite the fact that the surface freezes in the winteimonths and is covered with ice a couple of feet thick.

At Christchurch yesterday Thornton Scott was sentenced to one month and Samuel Robert Smith to three months by the Magistrate for “Joyriding” in a motor car taken from outside an hotel.

The Wanganui City Council met for the first, time last evening, and completed a fairly iengthy ordef- .paper in exactly 21 minutes, a fresh municipal record, and one minute faster than the previous best time. The following Wanganui nurses were successful in passing the recent State examination: Dorothy H. Boyd, Doris Cleary, Dorothy Dawes, Margaret McCool, Nancy Strachan, Agnes Taylor.

The mildness of the present winter is attributed by a Christchurch resident to the iee packs in the Antarctic not having broken. He informed a Christchurch paper that the breaking of the pack governed to a large extent climatic conditions in this country.

“I am informed that the schools of Palmerston North are proposing to secure a machine for the showing of educational pictures in the respective schools, each school to have the machine in turn or when required,’’ stated the headmaster of College Street school (Mr W. A. Swinbourn) at Friday night’s meeting of the committee.

Residents out on the Springvale swamp area consider that early mornings of late have been the coldest for many years. One suburban amateur gardener, who got up early last Sunday morning to put some rose cuttings in. found that the ground was frozen to the depth of a couple of inches, and that on a nearby pond his Indian runner ducks were sitting on a sheet of ice.

The Fire Brigade received a call at about 5 o’clock last evening to the premises, in the Avenue, of Messrs Marks and Bott, motor engineers, where a motor-cycle had caught fire. Although the fire-fighters were quickly on the scene, the flames had been extinguished before their arrival. Little damage was done to the machine. Later in the evening the Brigade received a false alarm, being called to vicinity of St. John’s Club.

Colonial woollen goods are beginning to be affected in price as the result of the high figures paid for “golden fleece’’ last summer. New Zealand manufactured blankets and flannels have recently been advanced considerably in price, the former by from 7/4 to 9/- and 11/- per pair. Owing to the fact that sales are being conducted in town, however, blankets can be purchased at about 25 per cent, below replacement cost at many of the drapery establishments.

Mr H. Buckle, one of His Majesty’s school inspectors, has been spending a few days in Wanganui visiting the primary schools. He referred highly to the local institutions, and expressed his pleasure as to their working in the following terms:— “I would like to be a child attending one of these schools.” During his stay in Wanganui, Mr Buckle has been attached to the Auckland district, but he is finishing his period by making a hurried tour of the North and South Islands, spending a day or two at each school.

The Native Wat Memorial committee has received the following further contributions to its funds: Wanganui Licensed Trade, £5 ss; L. Craig, 5/-. Accompanying the cheque for £5 5s was an appreciative letter, in which the secretary commented inter alia as follows: “The members in voting this amount expressed the warmest admiration for the loyal part that the native race took in the Groat War.’’ The committee in charge has in most instances received a kindly welcome from those pakehas who have been approached for financial assistance, and the committee naturally arc considerably heartened in proceeding with their scheme.

The passengers by the 4 p.m. Auck-land-Frankton train on Wednesday last were treated to a free entertainment which was caused by two gentlemen of widely divergent views proceeding to settle their differences in the good old English Way. Word quickly ran throdgh the train that something unusual was happening, and numbers of curious-minded people hurried forward to the carriage which was the scene of the fray. However, on account of the speedy arrival of the guard, hostilities were suspended, and when the. train reached Huntly a few moments later one Of the participants was escorted from the station in the care of the village policeman. The other, being more modest, was content to hide his light under a bushel, and although the railway officials expressed a great desire to renew his acquaintance he had disappeared.

Considerable interest is being evinced in the trip to the National Park on August 15, when, during the stay there, the Ski Club’s sports will be held. There is accommodation for 30, and already 27 have signified their intention of going. Not many dogs can learn to ride with safety on a perch so uncertain as the carrier of a moving motor cyeye but there is said to be one sagacious animal in Napier that achieves the feat with ease, and rides on ihe back of its master’s machine, even at high speeds, as though it is all part of the day’s work. “That’s why we have to pay these high rents,’’ said Mr. F. K. Hunt S.M., at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court, when a witness gave evidence regarding his wages. The witness stated that he had been in the painting trade only nine months, and was in ietcipt of 2s 4<l an hour, or 18s a day. The scene was Bell Street near the Courthouse. A constable with a fe male in his arms struggled bravely towards the police station, the captive scratching, spitting and creating a disturbance. But valour won, and the constable reached his goal. It was merely the Court orderly bringing home a youg pet tabby cat which had stray ed across the way to see the wheels of justice revolve.

In its endeavour to carry out its policy of providing up-to-date telephone facilities to backblock settlers the P. and T. Department has completed a line to the soldiers’ settlement at Mangapurua, Upper Wanganui river, which will give the settlers communication with Wanganui and ftaetihi. An office has also been opened at Eura, between Ohakune and Raurimu.

There is a strong probability that tho Governor-General will lay the foundation stone of the Dunedin Exhibition (states the Dunedin Star). Mr. J. Sutherland Ross has received a letter from Government House intimating that His Excellency’s farewell visit to Dunedin will probably be in mid-October, and if that would be a suitable time for the ceremony His Excellency will be pleased to perform it.

A contrast was made at a meeting of the City council last evening by Or. A. H. Rogers. He said' if one stood at the intersection of Maria Place and the Avenue the view in one direc lion was the Sargeant Gallery, tho Veterans’ Steps and grass slopes. Tho view in the other direction was a billboard and dilapidated posters. It was suggested by another councillor that the board should be shifted down to the destructor to screen the pile of empty tin cans accummulating there.

Dunedin business men are petitioning Parliament opposing an extension of gambling facilities. The petition, which is headed by Sir John Roberts, says: “We, the undersigned business men of Dunedin, viewing the financial position of the Dominion and tho Empire, are opposed to the extension of gambling facilities. We believe that existing race days are, if anything, excessive, and that redistribution is the utmost that ought to be contemplated. Wo also believe that the existing restrictions imposed on the Press .should, in the general interest, be maintained.”

One decision contained in the rulings of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association’s executive’s report is of interest. The query was as follows: Tho ball has been kicked over tho touchline by the attacking side. An attacker runs down in touch and falls on the ball. Simultaneously with touching down the ball he grips th? touch flag with his other hand. Thus, at the time of forcing the ball his feet are in touch, one hand on tho ball and life other hand on the touch flag. What is the decision? The committee determined that a try should be awarded.

The returns in regard to the business transacted in the Wanganui Magistrate ’s Court during the quarter ended June 30 disclose the fact that for tho period there were 15 civil and 49 criminal sittings. The total amount sued for was £5707 13s sd. Seventynine applications were heard in court or chambers, while 327 plaints were entered. Summonses to the total of 402 were served by the bailiff, who executed 41 warrants. Criminal cases against males totalled 314, and females 29, making a total of 343 for the quarter. Civil, criminal and licensing fees, in addition to fines paid in stamps, amounted to £656 7s 6d.

Office and shop rents in Christchurch in many instances are taking a sharp rise. This is the natural outcome of the recent appreciation of property values, in many instances the high prices that have been paid being only justified by an increased return from the rentals. Many business men. on the expiry of their leases, have received something of a shock when presented with the terms of renewal. The leases of one of the largest buildings |i« the city recently fell due and increases in rents have been made approximating 50 per cent. Such a rise is claimed to be by no means out of the ordinary. Particulars have been supplied ill resiteet of increases in shop rents in the busiest portions of the city. Oneishop in Colombo, street advanced by 100 per cent, from the rate in a lease of a few years back.

It has been noticed in some towns where electric current has been swithchcd on recently that the consumers are complaining about the increase in their lighting bills, compared with those for gas. Questioned in regard to the matter, an electrician gave an explanation for the increase. He pointed Out that some people, when they had their places fitted out, generally in stalled lamps of too strong a candlepower for ordinary purposes, and. besides, burned electricity till the “wee sma’ hours,” entertaining their friends, and showing them over the house with its new fittings. “Show me a house where the people follow the simple practice of ‘switching off’ the light whenever they leave a room, and I’ll show you a house where the cost of lighting is all in favour of electricity,” he concluded.

Thirty-two claims for pensions were received at the Magistrate’s Court during the quarter ended Juno 30, and 18 claims are pending. Ninety-eight pen sions were renewed, one was refused, and 19 renewals are pending.

The contractor, Mr. W. Salt, has completed the erection of the temporary bridge across the Wangaehu river at Kauangaroa, which is now open for light traffic. The permanent bridge will be commenced about the end of the vear.

Petone has for many years past paid the sum of over £.lOO annually to cover interest, sinking fund and maintenance on a boat harbour, which has proved a white elephant. The Welling ton Harbour Board have now agreed to refnoVe the structure and to relieve the borough council from the charges.

A total of 6520 men were employed on public works during April. This number included 2637 ou railways, of whom 2255 were engaged on North Island lines, including 92 on the Whangarei branch, 709 between Ranganui and Waiotira, 528 on the East Coast Main Trunk, 588 between Gisborne and Napier, and 144 on the Stratford section. Of the 920 men on hydroelectric works, 796 were employed at Mangahao.

A wonderful mental feat was per formed at Melbourne recently. Without seeing boards or players, and without notes or prompting, Louis Kostick. an international chess master, played six of the Melbourne Chess Club’s strongest members. He sat with his back to the players. Two hundred persons watched with interest the powers of Kostick, who possesses the extra ordinary faculty of memorising the changes and conditions of six games simultaneously. The only thing communicated to him was each player’s move. "

Labour is wooing the small farmer heavily on his front gate. Mr. Armstrong, the member for Christchurch East, has been consolidating the rural position in the North Island. He reports exceptional progress. Yet it seems but yesterday that Labour could not mention the farmer—all farmers —without a torrent of revilement. Times have changed indeed The whilom object of contempt has suddenly blossomed into a rose —a political rose which Labour would shield from the cold blasts of Reform neglect. We are irresistibly reminded of a cartoon in which a most unbeautiful creature, with a bottle of whisky among her possessions, is being courted by a ravening Scot.’ The caption runs to this effect It is not for what she is, but for what .he has in the basket.—Christchurch Sun.