LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 December 1927, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The prolonged spell of dry weather is causing Auckland orchards a good deal of concern. The twenty-third annual conference of the New Zealand Presbyterian Bible Class Union opened in Ashburton yesterday, stales a Press Association message. It. is expected that five hundred will be in attendance, some four hundred being campers accommodated in the various schools. That the railway is now out to compete seriously with motor traffic was shown by an incident near Ngatapa, the other day when the train was halted at a crossing and took aboard 26 bales of wool for Gisborne (says the ‘‘Times''). Low trucks wore provided, and the bales slid aboard from the bank in less than U> minutes. The four English nightingales which were recently brought from London bv Mr A. Wilson were released early on Christmas morning (says the “New Zealand Herald"). They were taken to a native bush reserve in the Tamaki district ,and given their freedom near a small stream where the undergrowth resembles that of an English wood. The birds tlew off gaily into the teatree and were soon heard calling to one another.

An enjoyable “Fining People's" invitation dance was held in the Church of Epiphany Ilall last night. There was a good attendance and dancing was kept going till midnight to excellent music supplied by Mr L. Arnold. Extras were played by .Misses Duncan and O. Rue and Messrs Erie Green and Cyril Wilson. A small admission charge was made to defray expenses, and a surplus of ten shillings, as well as a supply of cakes, etc., is being handed to the Sedgley Bovs' Home. The hostesses for the evening were Mesdames Whitton, Green, Miller and Sheppard. 'This season, for the first time, strawberries, raspberries, loganberries, and cherries come under new regulations enforcing the fair packing of fruit. Under these regulations all fruit exposed for sale in containers must bo packed so that the fruit exposed to view fairly represents in size, maturity, and condition the whole contents of the container. Inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, who daily attend the fruit markets in Auckland, report that* strawberry-growers are faithfully observing the regulations (reports the “New Zealand Herald"), and in very few instances have they had to report ease of “facings” which are not fair samples of the contents of the chips.

A case of alleged fraud in New Zealand on the part of a man posing as a skin buyer is mentioned by a Sydney paper. It is stated that a few weeks ago the victim—a middle-aged and prosperous New Zealander—was introduced in the Dominion to a man who posed as a skin buyer. A few meetings, and the “skin buyer” induced the New Zealander to invest £7OO with him in a skin deal. They would, buy in New Zealand, lie said, and double their money by selling in .Melbourne. The “buyer” handled all the business—as well as the cash—paid the fares to Melbourne, where the pair put up at the best hotel. For a week the

“buyer” took the New Zealander round Melbourne, ostensibly selling their skins. And then he disappeared. Detectives, it. is said, traced the “buyer” to the steamer Sierra, bound for Honolulu. The paper adds;—■“ But nothing can be done from Australia, since the offence was committed in Now Zealand. And the victim of the swindle must go to New Zealand to swear a warrant personally before extradition proceedings can commence. ”

Mr Justice (.'anfor. who was reeentlv appointed to the Industrial < 'ommissioii of New South Wales and who has the distinction of being one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Australia or New Zealand, arrived from Sydney by the D'imarou at Auckland on Tuesday. lie is 4b years of age, but hip colleague, Mr Justice Strut, is only :;,S. These two, with Mr Justice Piddington, form the New South Wales Industrial Commission. The departure from precedent in giving younger men au opportunity in a position usually reserved for men of riper years, is being watched with considerable interest. Judge Cantor took part in the work of the Commission only for about a week before tho Christmas vacation intervened. He is spending it in New Zealand, which he considers is a most delightful place for a tourist. “1 would live here if I could, ’' he said, “but my work lies elsewhere. ” He was practising at the Bar in Sydney when lie was called to the Judicial Office. He saw much of the North Island on a previous visit and is to spend most of his time in the South on this vacation, which will last till January .‘!0. He expects to include the Milford Track in his itinerarv.

Two housemaids wanted. Furnished liou.se or rooms wanted. Mr B. IT. Just, Nurseryman, Palmerston North, Inserts an advertisement in our wanted known column. Jenkins’ Aard Service advertises extra cars for New Year holiday. It appears on page one of this issue. Elsewhere in this issue Graham and Co. have a special announcement to their customers. It conveys the tirm’s thanks and compliments for past support, and expresses the hope that, by giving thoroughly good value and a generally efficient service, Graham and Co. will merit a continuance of old and new customers’ favours during the coming year. In a special notice on page 1, J. L. Murray, Limited, draw attention to the hours of closing their premises for the remainder of this week. For the convenience of town and country customers, the firm will remain open till 5.J0 p.m. on Thursday, December 29: “>.:»() p.m. on Friday, Dee. JO; and 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 31 (New Year 's Fve),

All drunken people arrested in Christchurch in such a state that taxi cabs must bo hired for their conveyance to the lock-up, now have to pay their fares, in addition to the ordinary fine.

There is in Christchurch a man who is feeling very pleased with himself (says the. ‘'Sun.”) When his wife left for her holiday he decided to celebrate the festive season by inviting some fellow Froth-Blowers to share with him a case of beer, which he ordered from a well-known brewery. Unfortunately, his wife missed her train, and returned home to find the case of beer outside the back door of the house, where it had been left by the man who delivered it. Much annoyed by this proof of her husband’s weakness, and determined to tench him a lesson, she straightway smashed all the bottles. Now, the husband was a man of ready wit, and seeing that the damage was done, lie promptly sought out the carrier who had delivered the beer, and who was a friend of his, and together they devised a plan. The husband returned to his home, and was asked bv his wife for an explanation of his conduct. In the midst of a heated discussion the carrier arrived, and explained that, having been given a wrong address, lie had left a case of beer there by mistake. Jt was a very crestfallen wife who had to foot the bill.