LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12394, 19 February 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owin<* to the drought the hop crop in Nelson promises to be unusually light this season. In one garden of 12 acres in the Waimea, just picked, only about 12 bales were gathered. Last year three acres of the same variety yielded 20 bales.

A purple altar cloth bearing the date 1617 has been found at the bottom of an old chest at St. Giles' Church, Colchester. It had evidently been used on the altar in the Lucas chapel, and was probably hidden when the Hounheads besieged Colchester in 1648, and executed Sir Charles Lucas.

Since the introduction of tbe Dunedin electric tramway services to the suburbs, the value of property in the centre of Dunedin has increased 25 per cent., while within the penny section areas the worth of dwellinghouses has improved 20. per cent. The demand for houses in the centre of the city exceeds the supply.

A schoolgirl was required to write an essay of 250 words about a motor car. She submitted the following:— "My uncle bought a motor car. He was riding in the country when it busted up a bill. I guess this is about 50 words, llie other 200 are what my uncle said when lie wae walking back to 'town, but they are not fit for publication."

The Alexa, Ururoa, Pendle Hill aad many other vessels are stuck up in Sydney unable to discharge their cargoes, by reason of the lumpers' strike. Thia meana serious loss to vessels which are chartered with a strike provisco in their charter parties, and to the charterers when they have to pay the ships demmurage by reason of the strike.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday. The annual report was adopted. It was resolved — "That other Chambers of Commerce be invited to co-operate with the Wellington Chamber in urging upon the Government the desirableness of continuing to give Chambers of Commerce -direct reprosentataion on Harbour Boards at least the four principal shipping porU of the Dominion."

After one of the many charitable performances which Mme. Yvette Guilbert had given, the priest of the village where it had been held entertained all the company at luncheon. Mme. Yvette found an egg on her plate, broke it, and ten gold -pieces fell -out. "Y-ou don't know taj tastes quite well yet, Monsieur Ie Cure," she said. "I adore boiled eggs, but I eat only the white. I never touch >,the yolk, and I must leave it to you for your poor people."

A fetling of relief pervaded the 'Su preme Court proceedings yesterday wuen, in arranging the calendar for next week's {iroceedings, his Honor, discerning the or>]: of anxiety on the faces of counsel «>ud others present, intimated that he would fall in with their engagements for Tuesday — n j one uttered a word as to the nature of the engagements, that being taken for granted— and leave that day clear of business. This intimation was received with broad smiles, suggestive of decided relief from a doubtful i-opefulness.

Patea was easily first for the quantity of chetjss exported during January, 19,632 cwt, valued at £54,970 being exported. Bluff came next with 8,515 cwt, valued at ,£24.420, Wellington being third with 7,528 cwt, valued at £21,116, and NewPlymouth fourth with 6803 cwt, valued at .£18,896. New Plymouth shipped the most butter with 12,325 cwt, valued at £'61,,924. Then followed Auckland 11,472 cwt, valued at £55,785, Wellington 9831 cwt, valued at £47,111, and Patea 4402 cwt, valued at £21.569.

The danger of lighting fires outside during the present dry weather was referred to at the Council table last evening by the Mayor, who said he hoped the Press would emphasise the danger of picknickers lighting fires in unsuitable places, or dropping matches in the grass, on the day of the sculling match. Such might not only result in loss to property owners, but possibly in danger to the people themselves. We strongly endorse his Worship's warning and trust it will be taken notice of., »

The New Plymduth Harbour Board yesterday decided to erect a fog signal at the wharves, as during the past few weeks boats have had difficulty in picking up the port in consequence of the fogs and smoke and haze. The Board discussed the proposed Bill authorising the borrowing of three hundred thousand pounds, of which J>135,000 is to pay o_ the expiring loan in May, 1908. The balance it is proposed to expend on the breakwater extension, dredging, and harbour improvements. It was decided to submit the proposals to the ratepayers.

The rainfall in January of last month is probably the lowest ever recorded in Wanganui — at anyrate, it is the lowest on record since January, 1863 — the year strange to say, when the late Mr Henry liveson Jones started to keep a record of the rainfall, which he continued to do up to the time- of his death, about a year ago. In January, 1863, Mr Jones recorded the rain fall as .59. The next lowest was in January, 1887, viz .75. Last month, January, 1908, it was, only .14— practically nil. This month, February, there has been no rainfall; only a few heat drops on one occasion.

The Hon R. McNab arrived at Chriatchurch from Wellington by the Maori yesterday morning, and left by the Broken River train in company with Mr T. Y. rieddon, M.P., on a viait to the West Coast. The Minister has never previously been in that part of the Dominion, and intends in the limited space of time at his disposal to see as much of the district as can be managed. He arrived in Greymouth last night, visits the Hokitika Show today, and reaches Ross to-morrow. Prom there Mr McNab will proceed South through the Ross district as far as the Big Wanganui, returning to Greymouth. From thence he goes to Reefton, and on to Westport, spending' two days in that locality. He then intends taking steamer to Wellington, arriving at the Empire City on Sunday week. The advantages of the parcels post tystem are evidently fully realised by Messrs McGruer and Co., who at present have one of their windows full of new season's goods which they have landed through the Post Office. Among the advantages this method has in its favour may be mentioned that on this particular shipment, consisting of some 400 parcels (for Wanganui and the Hawera branch), the measurement aggregates betwen four and five tons, whereas, being all light gods — hats, furs, gloves, etc., their weight is comparatively trifling ; the firm (and indirectly the public) thus saves a considerable amount. What is perhaps even more important is the dispatch secured by this method of importtation; instead of perishable goods being shut up for weeks on end in the close and stuffy holds of ocean tramps, landing in Wellington (perhaps broached), and lying in the wharf sheds there for weeks more, by mail everything is brought along by the fastest steamers available and on arrival in. the Dominion is immediately forwarded by mail trains. The shipment under notice only left England at the beginning of January, goods were entered on December 31st in London, so the saving in time can be realised.

The Auckland Charitable Aid Board has overspent its i 125,000 loan to the extent of .£1750. Mr; Tyrell, late of the Clifton Hotel, Bullb, hhoa o taken over Summers' Commercial Hotel. On Tuesday, 23th February, mails for liakirikiri and Papaiti will close at 11 a.m. instead of usual time, 3.30 p.m. The articles taken from the stomach of a shark captured at Coney Island includeu & piece ot granite, a ship's hammer made of iron, a revolver, several boote, and a piece of plate glass. It was proposed to hold a convention of New Zealand Sunday Schools' workers at Easter, but the meeting has been postponed until a thoroughly representative gathering can be held.

Mr Carnegie has declined a request from the Palmerston North Borough Council for a sum. of £10,000 to build a public library. He eaid their present building was quite large enough for library purposes.

There were no reports of rain throughout the Dominion this morning, and the 'glass was exceptionally high, ranging from 30.26 at Auckland to 30.40 locally, 30.55 at Wellington and Christchurch, and 30.48 at the Bluff.

"The mind of the average English worker i 6so absolutely absorbed with sports in general, and football in particular, that we can hardly expect him to find time for the more serious* pursuit of bus-lness."— Pall Mall Gazette

"There are more houses empty in Christchurch than there have been, for a long time, and rent 3 have a tendency to go down," was the opinion expressed by a business man before the local Conciliation Board, says the Press.

The Premier stated, in reply to a Hamilton deputation, that the utlisation of water power to provide electric power for the railways wa3 too costly, but that regulations would be framed to permit its use for other purposes by private enterprise under certain conditions.

The Recess Committee of the University Senate met at Wellington yesterday to consider the results of the deferred scholarship examination. Among those who gained credit are: — H. G. Brodie (Wanganui), 2718; G. C. Jackson (Wanganui), 2585. No Wanganui students gained scholarships.

At the meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday afternoon a recommendation of the Committee was adopted providing that two premiums should be given in addition to those already established for the benefit of the School of Commerce, one for economics and the, other for accountancy.

A man named Wells was this morning fined 10s and costs 14s 6d by the S.M. for being drunk while in charge of a horse>. A man named Nolan, for disobeying an order for the maintenance of his wife, was sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment, unless he paid £10 10s arrears of mainteancc forthwith. For disobeying an ordrr for the maintenance of his illegimato child, a young man named Ross was sentenced to one month's imprisonment unless he paid the £2 2s 6d in arrears at once.

Many residents in the suburbs who have been depending on their tanks for a water eupply have now run their tanks dry and arts anxiously waiting for a downfall of rain, which, however, appears as far off as ever. We are asked (to mention to residents on Durie Hill who are absolutely out of water, that they may get supplies temporarily from Mr C. F. Mill ward's residence between the hours of 8.30 and 9.30 any evening.. Mr Millward'6 residence is connected with the Okehu system, and he has generously offered to supply Durietown residents gratis whilst the drought lasts.

The British Medical Journal has been analysing a number of patent medicines, estimating the cost of the materials, and comparing it with the prices charged for the compounds. The results will be startling, even to persons who know something of the figures of the wholesale trade. The most startling discrepancy is found in the case of a mixture which is sold for lie a bottle, and can be prepared, we are told, for Is 3d a bottle; but the average discrepancy is surprising enough. Sixteen medicaments are dealt with in all. The total cost of them all to the vendor is 2s 2d. To the purchaser in the chemist's shop they cost £4 3s 6d, a profit of something like 2000 per cent.

Periodically the school truant inspector,, Mr Easther, hails a batch of parents before the local S.M. for failing ( to secure the regular attendance of their j children at school for a least » half days per week. The latest delinquent6 — some eighteen in all, were dealt with by Mr R. L. Stanford, S.M. This morning. He decided that fifteeen of the number had not shown sufficient excuse for their children's absence from school, and inflicted fines of 2s and costs 7s in each case. The remaining three cases were withdrawn. The parents who were fined might be interested to know that by paying their fines at once they will save themselves the loss of a further 3s, which will be added to the costs should the fines have to be collected.

An interesting comment on the present condition of San Francisco is given by Mr Herbert Dix, formerly of Wellington, and now of the former city, in the course in a letter to a Wellington friend. "Thousands are out of employment," he says, "that fact being primarily due to the banks failing to advance money as readily as they should in such a city. Huge buildings of from 10 to 15 storeys high are at a standstill, or in some cases there are only a handful of carpenters working on a job where there should be anything from 200 to 300." Wages, he adds, are not too good outside trades, and so far as he can see clerks and salesmen are not too well paid.

At the oilworks last Friday, says the New Plymouth News, the manager of the Taranaki Oil Comany, in speaking to his Excellency the Governor about the difficulties associated with the work of boring for oil at Moturoa, mentioned that one of the great troubles they had to contend •with was the defective nature of some of the casing. The piping, Mr Simpson contended, was no stronger than it was at the weakest part, and they had had, to their great loss and inconvenience, several imperfect pipes. "I believe in according patronage to Britishers so long as they turn out the articles we want, but I must say that in, respect of piping for our purposes they fall a good way short of the Germans. There is a 20 per cent, difference in duty against the German piping, but big as it is unless the British workmen do their work more faithfully I will, through sheer necessity, have to advise my company to pay the difference and fret the material that we must have in oil-boring."