LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 28 January 1932, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A miner writes to the Cliristeliureli Press from Greymouth: "Sir, —The Dobson, mine has been idle a long time and all of us have been out of a job all the time. Eighty'men could have had a job if we had not been silly enough to say all or none.”

A Christchurch Press Association messago reports that A. S. White, aged 18, a cadet on the motor-ship Karamea, received serious injuries on board the vessel on Tuesday, his left hand being almost severed by a hawser. lie was admitted to hospital and is progressing favourably.

A remit to the Department of Agriculture to the effect that a plant quarantine station should be established in the Dominion was passed at the Conference of delegatee of the New Zealand Horticultural Trades Association. It Avas stated that if this station were established a check could be made on diseased plant imports, with resultant benefit to Dominion growers. The Masterton Amateur Athletic Club held it weekly runs on the Park Oval last night. The various events resulted as follow: —Half-mile: Cycle, McCord, 1; G. Pye, 2; W. Pye, 3. Three Miles Cycle: McCord, 1; Sayers, 2; G. Pye, 3. 75 Yards: Watson, 1; Mulvey, 2; Hack, 3. 100 Yards. Watson, 1; McGregor, 2; Perry, 3. ‘SSO Yards: Pye, 1; Hack, 2; Mulvey, 3. A deputation from the Wheat Marketing Board interviewed the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters), yesterday, in regard to the sliding scale of duties on wheat and 'flour. The deputation was not open to the Press. The Prime Minister informed the deputation that the representations submitted would have tho careful consideration of the Government.

Professor Algie, who returned to Auckland on Tuesday from Europe, made an interesting comparison between the New Zealand Alps and the Swiss Alps. Without undue prejudice, he remarked, one can properly say that our own mountain regions do not suffer at all by -comparison with those of Switzerland. “The character of the Swiss scenery is vastly different, ” he said, “but we saw nothing to equal in grandeur the magnificence of Cook, Tasman and Sefton, or our wonderful Tasman Glacier. In addition, Switzerland has nothing in the nature of Ngauruhoc and Ruapehu, and certainly we saw nothing so exquisite as Mount Egmont. ” He remarked, however, that climbing facilities in Switzerland and comforts for tourists are much greater than could be expected in New Zealand. Somo spirited contests were seen at last night’s meeting of the Masterton Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club. Tho results were as follow: 100 Yards, senior handicap.—First heat: J. Barnes, scr., 1; 11. Bodle, 9see., 2; R. Bodle, 7sec., 3. Time, 71 sec. Second heat: D. Thomas, 3sec, 1; R. Barnes 7sec., 2; L. Newland, 12sec., 3. Time, 74sec. Final: J. Barnes, 1; D. Thomas, 2; H. Bodle, 3. Time, 71sec. 50 Yards, intermediate handicap.—L. Pole, 2see., 1; B. Bodle, scr., 2. Time, 37 4-ssec. 25 Yards, ladies’ handicap.—Miss B. Coleman, 4sec., 1; Miss N. Cohen., 2sec., 2; Miss D. Hargood, scr., 3. Time, 22 ]-ssec. 25 Yards, junior girls—Miss E. Barnes, 6set\, 1; Miss I. Wallace, ssec., 2: Mies N. Cohen, scr., 3. Time, 26 l-osec. Ribbon Dive. —L. Pole and R. Barnes, dead heat, 1.

Tlio total sum paid out of the British Unemployment Fund in the last 10 years has been £600,000,000.

The United Farmers of Alberta, Can ada, have approved of a weekly half holiday on farms during the summer.

The Christchurch breweries have discontinued supplying yeast and finings for the manufacture of home-brewed beer.

The New Zealand police force is reported to be below its normal strength, and steps are to be taken to bring it up to an effective standard.

Given a choice of records from opera to jazz, the Eskimos prefer Harry Lauder, states Bishop W. A. Geddes, the Arctic missionary, who lias arrived in Halifax.

Hr. I. McLaren, arrived at the Hood Aerodrome at 11.40 a.m. to-day from Dannevirke. He piloted a Wellington Moth ’plane, ZIv —A AO. He depaited for Wellington this afternoon.

Triplets —two girls and a boy—were born at St. Helen's Hospital, Wellington, yesterday. The matron states that the largest babe is over 51b. in weight, and the smallest over 51b. All are doing well. Mr. J. Mowlem, president of the Tauranga Deep-sea Fishing Club, when fishing off Mayor Island on Tuesday, landed a striped marlin weighing S2O lbs., the largest ever caught there. The clothes, reported to have been stolen recently at Waikanae while two ladies were bathing, have been recovered by Constable Satherley at a place where they were probably left by the bathers themselves.

The London County Council lias been informed that if it decides to replace Waterloo Bridge across the Thames with a new one carrying six lines of traffic, the Government will make a grant of 60 per cent, of the cost.

Mr. J. N. Tait, the Australian entrepreneur, who is at present in London, intends to proceed to Italy in connection with the engagement of a grand opera company. He says he is continuing his policy of giving Australia tho opportunity to hear foremost artists. A sitting of the Native .Land Court, commenced in Master ton this morning, is being presided over by Judge Gilfedder. It is understood that the applications of a number of leaseholders of native land for a reduction of rent are being heard. The applications have been made under the provisions of an Act passed last year, which gives lessees of native land tho right to apply for a reduction of rent.

The Wellington-New Plymouth express suffered a mishap near Shannon yesterday morning, when a- car at the front of the train was derailed. A relief car was sent from Palmerston North attached to the Napier-Welling-ton express, but it was reported later that it was not required, as the derailed ear was got on to the rails and removed to the Shannon yard. The express later resumed the journey.

A" Wellington telegram states that the questions of an exchange credit pool and the exchange rate were discussed yesterday at a conference of representatives of the Government, the Associated Banks of New Zealand, and the Farmers’ Exchange Committee. The Government was represented by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and Mr. Park, secretary to the Treasury. The conference was a private one and no statement was available for publication. It is understood that a full and free discussion of the problems took place but that no agreement or decision was arrived at.

Reports from several districts in Taranaki state that now rivers aro running low illegal taking of trout is being practised. Acclimatisation societies concerned, it is understood, have appointed numbers of rangers amongst the license holders, and a sharp look-out is being kept to catch the poachers and bring them before the courts. During recent years the societies have spent practically all their revenue in stocking tho rivers, and streams are showing promising numbers of young trout. If poaching could be stopped in Taranaki streams the province would soon become renowned as one of the best angling districts in the Dominion.

Peat and timber fires have been raging at Kaihere, on the Hauraki Plains, since the week-end. Houses have been endangered, and some of the farmers have removed their furniture to safety. They have been fighting the flames day and night, and it was stated yesterday that the fire-fighters are at great disadvantage through lack of water, “Alany of the drain are dried up,” said Air. T. G. Tizard, a settler of Kaihere, who was interviewed by telephone. “The fires sweep along the dry banks of the drains and travel for miles. In the high wind the smoke is suffocating and the heat has been terrific. In some places it has been impossible to see a yard ahead.”