LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15752, 26 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, George Baker, auctioneer, was fined L 3 and Abraham Josephs and Orest© Terrini £1 each for smoking in premises where foodstuffs were sold by auction.

The Feilding Star states that it "IS* not unlikely that Lieut. Clutha Mackenzie, the blind son of the High Commissioner, will contest one of the North Island West Coast seats at the next general elections. His father. Sir Mackenzie, it will be remembered, represented Egroout for a short time in 1911-12.

The shortage of coal at Port Chalmers is said to be such that householders are experiencing considerable difficulty in “carrying on,” and that in some cases the cooking of meals owing to the shortage of fuel is a problem of increasing perplexity. The matter has been referred to the Mayor and the borough councillors, who are endeavouring to make arrangements to augment the town’s coal supply through the usual channels.

A new departure as to racing was noticed at Wingatui on 'Thursday last. A brisk “Hip-ray” from the group of crippled soldiers sitting in motors near the birdcage called attention to the fact that Mr Fred Price, owner of Eorke’s Drift, had been' saying something to them, for he was walking away and acknowledged the salute; and upon inquiry it turned out that instead of celebrating his Dunedin Gup win by “shouting” champagne he elected bo handed to the wounded and sick soldiers LI each fo help them to further celebrate their outing.—Dunedin Star. King-fishing enthusiasts from Auckland and the north -are reported to be having excellent sport at the Bay of Islands. The fishing, which is done chiefly off Cape Brett and The Ninepins, is stated to be very good this year, and several large catches up to 781b have been recorded. There are plenty of king-fish, but so far no swordfish have been caught. This is the most spectacular and exciting form of rodfishing in the world, and encounters with these fish during the last few seasons have added keen zest and no small element of danger to the sport. Several well-known Aucklanders will be leaving for the Bay of Islands within a week or two, when it is expected that the warm weather will have brought the large fish near the northern coast.

The Rev. J. Cocker, of Christchurch, in an article in the New Zealand Methodist, states that when he arrived in New Zealand, many years ago, he was walking with another minister down the street of one of the towns; “Here is our member of Parliament. I will introduce yon to him.” Mr Cocker looked round, expecting to see a well-dressed gentleman, but his friend stopped near a man who was making a footpath. He was dressed in well-worn fustian; he had his coat off, and his shirt sleeves turned up. His hands were dirty, several of his fingers had sticking plaster on them, and looked as if they had been bruised. He was making a new road. After the introduction was over, the member said, “People cannot get along very well without roads, so when I am not doing my duty in the House of Representatives I spend my time mending and making roads.” “I had just arrived from England,” Mr Cocker writes, “and though I profess to be Liberal in politics I had an old-fashioned idea that members of Parliament belonged to the upper class and were employers of labour, owners of property, or men of title. Before I left England a few workingmen had been sent to Parliament by the unions they represented, but as members of Parliament were not paid for their services at that time, only men of wealth could afford to enter th© House of Commons Government was left almost entirely to the wealthy da®.”

The Lyttelton Citizens’ Committee decided not to invite their member (Mr J. McCombs, M.P.) to take part in the arrangements in connection with the reception of returned soldiers.

Fears are entertained for the safety of a woman, a resident of Tinakori road, Wellington, who disappeared from her home early on Monday morning. She was about 40 years of age and in delicate health. .

“One of the by-laws which is never enforced is that prohibiting expectorating on footpaths,’’ said the Mayor last night. He described it as a filthy practice, Ajid mentioned that if any councillor who saw anyone breaking this bylaw made it his business to see that an information was laid it would do a great deal to check the habit.

“I will shortly be calling you together to discuss a loan for street formation’’ said the Mayro to the Councillors last evening.’’ “The time has now come when we will have to face it; the war is over and we will have to undertake a forward policy.” “l£ will be a pretty big loan, said Cr. Alder ton. The Mayor agreed and said that there would probably be three proposals —water works loan, street loans, and tramway loan proposals. A complaint was made to the Borough Council last night by Cr. Burnett, of the damaged caused in Moutoa Gardens by juveniles and others. 4 brief discussion on what could be done took place, and it was suggested that the Police might keep a watch on the grounds. Gr. Thompson said the people had lost a great deal of money through ruthless destruction: it was-shameful that it should be so. The matter was finally referred to the Reserves Committee. “The committee wish to inform thi? Council that the Library business is growing rapidly, and' there are early prospects of further accommodation being required, necessitating a number of improvements. In view of this, the committee wish some direction as to when the new building scheme will be considered.” The above was an interesting extract from the report of the Library Committee to the Borough Council last night. The estate of Mr R. J. Collier, the publisher of Colier’s Weekly, New York, has been returned at, £1,000,000. By his will, Mr Collier left his entire estate to three. friends—Mr Harry Payne Whitney, Mr F. J. Garvin, and Mr F. P. Dunne, who achieved fame as the creator of Mr Dooley. The omission of his widow from the provisions of the will was explained by Mr Collier on the ground that her father, Mr James P. Vanalon, had amply provided for her. The legatees have, however, renounced their, rights in favour of Mrs Collier, and have also intimated that they decline to serve as executors.

The quetion of coal supplies for the gas works was again mentioned at the meeting of the Borough Council last night by the gas manager, Mr C. D. Stone. He-said the Inga was due in a few days time and the Coal Committee bad decided to give the Council 500 tons out of the ships cargo of 946 tons. Of its last consignment the Committee took 300 tons and had givep the works 439 tons from other sources. This amount would be barely sufficient to last until the Inga arrived on its next trip. The matter was getting worse every month. The manager was instructed to take what steps he onaidered neessary to obtain a supply of coal.

■ Hie recent drowning fatality was mentioned at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening when several Councillors urged that some means for protection should be adopted. Other Councillors were at a loss to know what could be done, as it was impossible to keep the children from the banks. A larger supply of life-belts was suggested, but in answer to flus it was said that this would not be of much use as there were people unscrupulous enough to cut the ropes attached to the belts. A Councillor made the suggestion that safe places should be found whore children could paddle or bathe and that they be warned not to go to other parts of the bank. The matter was finally referred to the Eeserves Committee to devise some protective measures.

Indent agents, particularly for soft and Manchester goods, are doing very little business of late (states the N.Z. Times). Although it is being persistently stated that prices cannot decrease for some time to come, ■ those in the trade realise that there must be solid reductions this' year, so they hesitate to indent. One indentor of Manchester goods, whose annual orders .invariably run into four' figures iu each of the four centres, has, returned to Wellington without having “opened hie book.” The position is that those in the trade do not care to place big orders at the present extremely high prices ruling (the highest, probably, in the history of tire trade), and are rather prepared to depend on existing stocks lasting out. rather than buy high and have to sell low.

The social hall at the Convalescent Home is now an accomplished fact, and is much appreciated by the returned soldiers. The Freemasons of Wanganui have supplied a billiard table for the use of the men for as long as it is required. A well-wisher has loaned a firstclass Chappell piano for the same time. Mr .1 rownson, recently in business in the Avenue, has undertaken to initiate the boys iu the art of chair making. He is also educating them in bee-keep-hug. Several other articles are required for the hall, one of them being a typowwriter for the boys to practice on, as a number of them are now taking lessons at the Technical College. The trustees are also in want of another V.A.D. worker. Recently Mrs Wyvern Moore left to rejoin her husband, and Miss Cameron, who has assisted so generously and faithfully since the Home was opened, is leaving early next month. The Matron will be glad to hear of anyone willing to assist in nursing our soldiers back to health and strength.

The Court set up to inquire into the loss of the Australian collier Undola found that the vessel left Bellambi on December 20 last, bound for Sydney. She had not arrived at her destination, and was still missing. The ship was well found, and provided with the necessary life-saving appliances. The weather was very bad, the sea heavy and confused, and there was a strong south-east gale. On leaving the jetty, and at the time she went full speed ahead, three men were levelling about half a ton of coal in the forward corner of the main hatch. Neither hatch was covered or secured. The Undola left the jetty'shortly after 6 p.m. She was passed by the Bermagui going south, about 15 miles north of Wollongong, about 7.15 or 7.30 p.m. The Bermagui was then about two and a half miles outside of her, and the Undola was apparently flying no signals and was not in any distress. On the evidence before the Court there was nothing to show bow the unfortunate disaster was brought about. The vessel had been overhauled in February, 1918, and was then found to be thoroughly seaworthy. The mysterious disappearance of the Undola only adds to the long list of vessels missing without a trace of them having been-, left.

On the recommendation of the Reserves Committee, the Borough Council lias decided to vote £SOO to the Domain Board for improvements to Queen’s Park.

The Auckland Star hears from ft reliable source that there will be no advance in the price of hour. Indeed* there is more likely to be a slight reduction.

A general “cleaning-up” week will bo inaugurated in Auckland to-day, and arrangements have been made for the removal of any thing at all under the heading of rubbish or material that tends to create an insanitary condition. A Nelson, soldier in a letter stated that General Richardson informed his unit that he had to arrange for the passages of two thousand wives out to New Zealand, while another two thousand would be ready to leave FMgland during the next few months.

“My firm lost about £IO,OOO as a result of the closing of all theatres during the epidemic last year,” was a statement made by Mr Walter Puller to the By-Laws Committee of the Wellington City Council the other day. The Borough Council last night adopted a recommendation of the Works Committee to offer to supply Castled iff Town District with water at Is fid per 1000 gallons at the Council’s station meter, to be fixed at a point to be determined by it, provided tlie Board install the meter system in every hona*. A suggestion was made by the secretary of the Group 20 Rifle Meeting Committee to the Borough Council last night that the Council should present a challenge belt for competition at the forthcoming rifle meeting. It was decided to donate a belt valued at £7O, fo hj« called the Wanganui Borough Challenge Belt.

The manager of the Masterton ga« works recently got into communication with the various mine owners of the Dominion to ascertain if supplies of coal could be obtained to establish a municipal depot before Ihe coming winter. It is understood that the replies received give little encouragement oft securing sufficient supplies to meet the possible demand for ooal.—Wairarapa Age.

A ease of honesty being well rewarded occurred recently at the front. A. soldier, walking along tire road, found a wallet, and on opening ft, fonnd there were notes to the value of JDOO. Th* name on the papers inside was that of a lieutenant then serving with a. division close to where the soldier was billeted. Tire soldier took the wallet round to the lieutenant, who gave him £lO aa a reward, and also three weeks’ leave. The Goverwienfc has been informed that the following are the approximate dates of the tour of Admiral Jclliooo in the battle-cruiser New Zealand; March 13th to May Ist, India; Mar 15th to August 15th, Australia; August 18th to October Ist, New Zealand; October 20th to January Ist, 1920, Canada: March 7th to April 20th, South Africa. The dates arc tentative only, and depend on whether or not the work Lord Jclliooe is undertaking can be completed satisfactorily in the time allowed. During Lord Jelliooe's stay in Australia in June and July, the New Zealand will visit the principal ports of the Dominion.

Sime little time ago the Committee of the West Coast and Mauawatu A. and P. Association decided that more accommodation was required on the Showgrounds. On the ccasion of various Shows, ram fairs, etc. the rooms provided has been quite inadequate for holding the many meetings which coincide with such fixtures. The proposal now is to erect a suitable building on the Showgrounds containing committee and other club rooms, and to this end it was decided to solicit contributions. The invitation has been so heartily responded to that when the committee last met it was announced that already over £2009 had been subscribed.

A London correspondent says:—Th* great cloud in the sky is represented by the spread of Bolshevism in Russia. There is no need to be greatly alarmed about this menace, as the type of men who associate themselves with the Bolshevik movement axe not likely to prove heroic fighters once they are opposed by a force anything near their own. To run amok in a town and massacre unarmed people is one thing, but, it is quite another matter to fight someone able to hit back. It is also safe to say that a great many of Lenin’s army, will be composed of men who have associated themselves with Bolshevism in self-preservation. They did not obtain food and avoid massacre. Directly any form of government ensuring law and order is set np, however, and there is a force to see that justice is done, they will glady forsake Lenin and go over (o the other side.

The Attorney-General issued an order recently prohibiting the landing in New Zealand of two men who reached a Dominion port from Australia. Subsequently, Messrs Glover and Roberts, representing the watersiders, waited upon the Minister for an explanation. In the course of his reply, Sir Francis Bell stated that he was satisfied the persons in question were of such character that their presence in New Zealand would b« injurious to public safety. He had arrived at that conclusion upon information which was satisfactory to him. H« could not disclose the information upon which he acted. It was one of the most important elements of public policy and security that sources of information, whether of the Government or the police, were absolutely sacred. Trtie Minister added that nobody bated more than he did the exercise of power of the kind, but in certain instances the power should exist.

A long standing trouble was further ventilated at the meeting of Hie Borough Council last night, when a deputation representing business men whose premises were in Bidgway Street, waited upon the Council. Mr C. P. Brown, on behalf of the deputationists complained of the dirty the footpath in this street, the smells and obstructions to pedestrian traffic caused by persons loitering about the street, particularly at the Rutland corner. Mr Brown said that he had heard of no prosecution for loitering for a long time, and had occasionally seen a policeman move some persons on. He suggested some drastic action should he taken. The Mayor said it was a matter of great difficulty. He mentioned that the footpaths were hosed down every morning. He moved that the matter, of congestion of Bidgway Street be referred to the Works Committee. This was seconded by Cr Slipper, who declared the street was a discredit to the town. He advocated prosecutions as the only means of remedying the matter. Other councillors spoke upon the matter, and it was finally decided to adopt the Mayor’s suggestion. ' Cr. Sigley said the committee threshed out the matter before, and could only do as previously, ask the police to take action.