LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19359, 14 July 1925, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A well-known Dunedin newspaper I the other day received a letter adI dressed to “The Editor, Tiger Daily iTimes, Dunedin, N.Z.” A very unusual sight was witnessed on Sunday morning, when a school of I some sixty whales were seen about a 'quarter of a mile off Kai Iwi beach. I Air Tim Healy, the local poultry fancier, has received word that his Black Minorca hen won the New Zealand championship at the Blenheim lShow, and also secured three specials. News from Gisborne states that Sir .Tames Carroll, M.L.C., who has been very ill, is now out of danger. If his present rate of improvement continues he may be able to leave foi Wellington towards the end of the month. The Castleclifl Firo Brigade received a call to Rangiora Street, opposite the Castlccliff Tea Kiosk, at 5.37 o’clock last evening, where an incipient out break had occurred on a tramcar. The flames that resulted from a “hot box” on the car were quickly quelled without any damage being received. The Farm ami Station Workers’ Union have decided to alter their name and re-register as the Wellington, Wanganui, and Hawke’s Bay Agricultural, Pastoral, Dairying, Gardeners, Married Couples, and Domestic Workers’ Industrial I nion. All farmers ami sheep-owners will be cited for shorter hours, cottages for married couples, and hours for cooks and domestic workers to be the same as granted by the Court for hotels and boarding houses.

Air Percy H. Cox, inspector in New Zealand of the Bank of Australasia, has retired after 44 years’ service in the bank. Air Cox has been the chief officer in New Zealand since October, 1919. On Friday afternoon Air Cox was met by the officers of the Wellington staffs of the bank, and presented on behalf of the New Zealand staff with a roll-top desk and a wallet of notes, with which he was asked to obtain suitable mementoes of the occasion for Airs Cox and himself. Air W. F. L. Ward, formerly manager of the Wellington branch of the bank, succeeds Air Cox as inspector in New Zealand, and Air .1. A. Alacleod takes charge of the Wellington branch. There is a pretty general idea that

America is the great country for millionaires and that, though Englishmen talk loosely about millionaires, there are actually very few in England. This is hardly borne out by the remarkable income tax figures just published. England has 134 people paying income tax on more than .£lOO,OOO a year which, at 5 per cent, represents a cuptital of over two millions. If we take an income tax of £50,000 as representing a millionaire, then there are at least 529 millionaires in the country. Even this is by no means the whole story, for there are people paying on amounts between £40,000 and £50,000 and 503 between £30,000 and £40,000, and it is probably safe to say that a good many of these are really on the millionaire mark. Altogether England has probably a thousand millionaires.

The now type of omnibus built in the Transvaal for travel by either rail or ordinary road is described as running over the road-rail with the front, axle supported by a rail bogie, the bogie being on tho rail and the driving wheels on wheelways. The 36-horse-powcr water-cooled engine can run on the South African motor spirit known as Natalite, or on producer gas. The Parker gas producer is used, with charcoal as the fuel, a charge of 401 b sufficing for the round trip on the experimental line of 40 miles. The rear wheels have twin giant pneumatic tyres, the front tyres being solid. The speed may vary from IS to 20 miles an hour, and loads may be pulled up grades of 1 in 20. This novel vehicle can leave the track to deliver passengers, mail or freight, or can make special trips beyond the railway to any desired point.

In referring at yesterday’s meeting of the Waitotara County Council to the question of the allocation of heavy traffic license fees, the chairman Air W. Alorrison), said he could not sec why capital value should come into the matter, but everything had to be equitable. Capital value suited the City Council, who, he admitted, had treated the other local bodies very fairly. The Patea County Council, who were disputing the proposed method of distribution, desired to have all their roads put in, and if that were done they would score. All the wool traffic, pointed out the chairman, was directed towards the city, and the Waitotara County Council’s roads carried a good deal of this heavy .traffic. Although the Patea County Council would receive more traffic fees than the Waitotara Council, they were not satisfied with the method of distribution. It did not make much difference to the county which way the matter went, but hi' thought they could support the City Council in their claims, in justice to the other local bodies. Other councillors concurred in this view.

Tho Prince of Wales will pay a visit to Argentina in August, and will remain in the country for about a month. He will attend the Argentine Show, which has been specially put forward a month in order that he may have a chance of seeing tho potentialities of the country in which £700,000,000 of British capital is invested. Air H. Biddone, Consul-General for Argentina, informed a Dominion reporter last week how it was that the Prince of Wales came to be specially invited to be the guest of the Argentina Government and people. Tho present president of the Republic, Signor Al. T. do Alvear, at tho time of his election, was Alinister for the Argentine in Paris, a post he had held for six years. On hearing of his election King George A’, invited him to spend a few days in London before returning to take up his position as head of the republic. Signor Alvear accepted the invitation, and was so pleased with Ihe hospitality he received in London that ho has never forgotten it. The invitation to the Prince of Wales was President Alvoar’s way of saying “Thank You’’ to tho King of England. The Argentina peoph? can be expected to give the Prince a great reception. A few years ago the people of Buenos Aires spent 1.000,000 dollars in one week in entertaining Ihe son of King Emmanuel of Italy. It -is interesting to note that Now Zealand stock will be shown at the Argentine Show. Tho s.s. Pahkoa. which leaves Bluff on August 8, will take a specially-selected consignment of stud rams and cattle for exhibition at tho, show in Buenos Aires.

Fines totalling £3O odd were inflicted by Air J. S. Barton, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday os Ihe result of prosecutions for breaches of the bylaws brought about by the City Inspector, Air Geo. Fear. Amateur gardeners in the city have received a set-back to their hobby this year on account of continuous -wet weather. It is almost impossible to | cultivate ihe soil in its present sodden state. Drier and warmer weather is patiently waited for in order that arrears in work may be overtaken. “Would a punt be any good?” queried Cr. W. Ritchie at yesterday’s meeting of the Waitotara County Council when a deputation representing the Devon Road settlers were complaining of tho state of their access and the difficulties under which the residents were labouring. A member of the deputation admitted that a punt would be useful, but added that Ihe Harbour Board’s dredge—Kaionc—would possibly be of more advantage, as it could b utilised to pump some of the mud out. A fine of £7 10s was imposed on O. T. Brown at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday for speeding in the Avenue. The defendant who did not appear, was prosecuted by the city inspector (Air Geo. Fear). The inspector informed the court that Brown proceeded down the Avenue at a speed of 35 miles an hour, and when stopped and interrogated as to the necessity for the speed, merely said he was in a hurry. Al r Fear said that he informed the defendant that he was speeding at 35 miles, Brown replying “Alakc it 30—that will make it lighter.’’ (Laughter). I “Did Pope Leo sell or (authorise the sale of indulgences?” was the subject 'of a keen controversy in the columns of the Manawatu Daily Times between [Air A. Ernest Munder, lecturer for the iW.E.A., and Father Lynch, of Palmerston North. As the result of a chal;lenge by the hitter that ho would pay £lOO to the hospital if Air Alander [could prove tho sale, a committee conjsisting of Messrs F. J. Nathan, H. L. iYoung, and J. J*. Innes heard tho cviidonee. They have now given their verdict, which is that Air Alander has 'failed to prove his cUse. The commit|too made a condition of the hearing [that evidence should not be published, i—Alanawatu Tinies. Air. A. A. Barton, who appeared on behalf of a number of defendants at the Afagistratc’s Court yesterday who were charged with speeding, pointed out to the Alagistrate that the method adopted in bringing about prosecutions of the kind was grossly unfair. As matters stood, defendants in such cases were not allowed a reasonable chance to prepare their respective cases. He doubted, also, ho said, tho accuracy of the speedometer, and considered that the most practical and fair test of speed was that taken over a given distance with the aid of stop-watches. The Alagistrate said he agreed with Air. Barton, but tho one. way to negotiate the difficulty was to require an absolute degree of proof as 1o speed on tho part of informants. Ho expressed the liope Hint a means would be found by which defendants would be allowed reasonable time to prepare their dofenco, “for.” concluded his Worship, . ’“it is hardly fair 1o expect a man ; j charged with speeding to accurately , ‘cast his mind back to the incident [ ' wherein tho alleged broach was noted, I the offender not being at that time I aware of a possible prosecution.” I The oversea steamer Kcelung, from | New York direct, has just landed at i Wanganui a large consignment of geni oral merchandise for local merchants, i Included in the cargo for this port were a number of motor ears consigned to tho local agents of a well-known Amort | can make, also a considerable quantity of hardware, comprising galvanised piping, steel rods and other iron and steel goods. From inquiries made amongst ; the local merchants, it is found that las a result of direct shipments from j America to Wanganui, it pays them ' better to buy this class of goods in Hie [ United States than in Great Britain, as | the savings in ooastal freight and trani shipment charges, together with prompt i delivery, and tho bettor condition in 'which the goods are landed, more than I compensate them for tho extra duty ' payable. Tn view of the present trade conditions in Groat Britain, it is regrettable that Wanganui merchants should bo forced into Hie position of buying American goods instead of Hie .British article, but until tho authorities controlling tho oversea shipping [lines consent to carry British goods 'from British ports to Wanganui'the im- ! portation of American goods direct ; from U.S.A. to Wanganui is bound to increase.

I At the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday. 1 fines were imposed as below on offenders against the city by-laws: For leaving their respective cars standing •inattended over a period of 15 minutes, convictions were entered against Charles Savage (fined 10s and costs 7s). Dr. U. Williams (£1 and 7s costs), Imlay Saunders (£1 and 7s costs). C. G. Ross (10s and 7s costs), A. Nairn (10s and 7s costs). S. W. Aloffatt (£1 10s and 7s costs), A. Anderson (7s 60 and 7s costs). S. 11. Christie (10s and 7s costs), and Frank Iledgman (10s an<t 7s costs). For leaving their cars standing without lights at night time. T. i Alexander was fined £1 10s with 7r costs: D. J. Anthony. 15s and 7s costs; 'G. Beaglehall, £1 10s and 7s costs; i Percy AfeDonald, £2 and costs 7s; Basil jllair, 5s and 7s costs. \. F. Dickson. £l I 10s and 7s costs; and G. F. Cuttelli, 15s and 7s costs. For riding a motor-cycle without a light nt night time. T. Barnes junior was penalised in the sum of £1 10s. with costs 7s, and for a similar broach Don Campbell was fined £1 15s with costs 7s. A penalty of 5s with 7s .costs was imposed on William bibs, who rode a. bicycle minus a rear rod disc. The same offender, for riding n ■ cycle nt night without, a light, was fined £1 15s and costs 7s. Airs J. Farb’y 'was fined 10s with costs for not displaying a tail light at the rear of her car. For a like offence. A. Wilson was 'mulcted in the sum of 12s 6d and 7s ! costs. Edgar Clarke, who drove his mo 1 tor cycle whilst not licensed, was fined i 7s 6d with 7s costs.