LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A London cable states that the Dube of Westminster’s Reynolds portrait of Mrs Si-Jdons as the Tragic Muse brought 52,000 guineas at auction. A London cable states that Mrs Sid. > don’s portrait as "The Tragic Muse," by 1 Reynolds, was withdrawn at the of Westminster's sale, not having reached the reserve of .£BO,OOO. A London cable states that James Ryan, an ex-soldier, was sentenced to twelve months on a charge of attempting to murder Private Algernon Worgcr, of the Otago. Battalion wjiile the latter was in Oatlands Park Hospital, having lost a leg. Worger admitted misconduct with Ryan’s wife. “Still await your reply in affirmative or negative to last telegram as to Cabinet’s approval.” The above is the substance of a telegram forwarded by Mr L. E. Bassett, president of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, who inquired whether the reinstatement of liquor freights on the railway had the approval of Cabinet. The trade journal. Petroleum limes, publishes an assertion by Major-General Moncreiff (late Director of Fortifications and Works) to the effect that there is sufficient oil in the rich shale lands recently surveyed southwards of King’s Lynn, in Norfolk, to keep England independent of foreign oil supplies. The shales ate shown to contain over sixty ■gallons of oil to the ton. The New Zealand barquentine lima has been towed into 'port at Sydney in a dismantled condition. She was eh route from New Zealand to Adelaide, timber laden, when she encountered heavy gales in Baas Strait. The masts were carried overboard, and the vessel 1 was left at the mercy of the weather. Temporary spars-were rigged, but the ship was unable to proem! so headed for Sydney, which was reached after a perilous voyage. Mr Hughes, addressing members of the House of Commons at a luncheon given by Sir Newton Moore, declared that Imperial communications were \ absurdly inadequate. There was urgent need for more steamers, and much lower freights, cables, wireless and even air services. An easy means must be provided for an hourly exchange of thoughts between the Imperial leaders. As an example of existing difficulties, he said the Australian press / was recently paying 9s per word forSa , the cabling of,(European news.

v An interesting demonstration of fruit tree pruning was given on Saturday afternoon at Messrs Whitley's orchard, Halswell Street, by Mr B. G. Goodwin, Government Orchard Instructor. A large number, both of amateur and commercial growers attended, and spent a profitable time, not only in witnessing the practical part of the demonstration, but also in hearing the scientific principles of .pruning, which Mr Goodwin expounded in .a lucid manner as they applied to the various kinds of trees. At the conclusion, Mr Goodwin was thanked for interesting and instructive information he had given. Two Sisters of Compassion are at present in Wanganui soliciting subscriptions in aid of Mother Mary Aubert’s Home of Compassion (Inland Bay) and the Home of Incurables (Buckle Street, Wellington). ■ Associated with these homes are the institutions up river at Jerusalem and Banana, which are being run for the especial benefit of sick and poor Maori children Admission to the homes in Wellington is free to all, there being no religious distinction made concerning the applicants.- As the institutions are supported by public subscriptions, contributions will be thankfully received by the Sist§rs. Crowds of people have been inspecting the captured Gorman guns which, as, they are taken from the Wairaana, are l>eing placed in a temporary position in front of the Wellington Town Hall, Twenty-nine of them are to be on view. This by no means represents New Zealand’s haul of guns, but it is fairly representative of the different types, especially in regard to field guns. One large howitzer captured in the later stages of the war which was exhibited through the streets of London on the occasion of the last Lord Mayor’s procession has yet to bo brought out to' New Zealand. There is, however, a 135 m.m. gun, which was being placed in position on Saturday. It weighs over six tons and is 33 feet long.

The Canterbury Progress League ha* received the following telegram from the Hon. Mac Donald, Actong-Postmaster-General, with regard to the League's offer to assist in thp carriage of mails- to and from country districts: “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your telegram conveying the resolution passed by,i the . executive of your League in connection j with arrangements made by it for the., maintenance of the mails service in North Canterbury, and to state.that the Department will not recognise arrangements made without its authority, nor will it reimburse the League for expenditure incurred without the special authority of the Department, - which is taking the necessary steps' to make good the hiatus created by the interruption of the railway service; Whilst appreciating the offer made; by ybur IfWjuc, I am not by any incansl dispose® to allow the functions of the Department to be usurped by any person or association.” "

‘ “Wirt woo Id too do with a tree that Wy grew one apple? 7 ' was a question Wad of Mr Goodwin, the demonstrator v » Saturday’s pruning demonstration. \rTChop it up for firewood/’ was the brief ptl practical reply. Preah instructions of a sweeping nature hare been issued by Defence Headjmartera regarding demobilisation, parfctiflariy in relating to dispensing with pM aarricea of ail temporary home serboa officers, N.CjO.’s, and men at protect employed. (There wna a particularly impressive toanaeot at the thanksgiving meeting hi His Majesty's Theatre yesterday afternoon. when at the suggestion of the chairman (Rev. H. L. B lam tree, Chap-ibn-Cvptaln) the large congregation rose |mi stood silently with bowed heads in Memory of the fallen and in sympathy loth the bereaved. Lord Bryce and Lord Crewe, in a letter to the newspapers, urge the Peace Bonfcreno* to appoint a commission to tepart rally consider boundary and other Boc.cpovtraks in eo nth-eastern Europe, •ad so enable the Conference to settle |fcu by the autumn, otherwise errors (re inevitable because the Conference wae swayed, by temporarily influential claim-Second-hand dealers are required by jhkw to keep a book in which all transactions should be recorded. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, (.'. Downey (pleaded guilty to not keeping the look (property. It was stated by Senior Sergeant Boa rice that gome tin» ago a ■cumber of overcoats were stolen, and toe or two were .sold to the defendant. When the police visited his premises they tea ad no record of to whom the articles Irere sold. He pointed out that it was Jkhaolutely necessary for the records to pc properly kept. " The Magistrate imposed a tine of id. Sale-yards were briefly discussed at the public meeting at Wanganui East )»e Saturday eight. Mr Hunt remarkUd that the Health authorities had taken pM» action in regard to the sale-yards, tie thought that the health of the children living in the locality was of first . importance. The Mayor explained that ithe Council had no power to have the yyards removed, but it could exercise a "m.;- ruin amount of control with regard ’ bo sanitation. Cr. Green sais the Works Committee of the Council had decided •pen a coarser of action which would greatly improve matters. Cr. F. H. Allen suggested that, the Borough Council mieht consider erecting municipal yards and compiling all firms to sell thereat. The Mayor eaid the Council had power to erect the yards, but no power to do more than that. At presort the Cornell had too much work in hand to consider the suggestion, hut it was quite within the power of the County Council to erect county yard?. Some time va« taken up at the Magistrate's Court this morning in hearing

ft charge of t.tei't of an overcoat again-t ft young man named Eirnoks. a taxi driver. For the prosecution, Mr J. Meuli stated that he was at a dance at Rapanni about five weeks ago. When leaving the hall he missed his overcoat from the car, and did not see it again until ho saw Brooks wearing it on the street fthdt.t three weeks later. The accused Stated that he had taken a party of young fellows out Jo the dance. The following day he found a coat in his car. Thinking it belonged to one of hli cute. whom he bad driven oat to tee dance, he left it in the car for the owner to call for it. Ele did not wear it until the day Mr Moult rf-rc-gn:;,d and claimed it. It was a very roe <>,-.y, and his own coat was flam"'. I;:- giving hia decision, the Magistrate, Mr Wy▼cm Wilson, said the police were c.nite Justified in bringing on the ease. A. person who conic into p.;-, .~<nn , - ]n~t r Lad a dutv to tmioic.,:;; : rv and nud the owner, unless if knew wito fee owner was, and was waiting 0/ar* trie property to the ■ xr.er' ..: tV irst opportunity. His . -...4 teat the defendant's ex . ve, - quite sati.-factorv, ~ud h'- did aot con«tit.ue theft of r; tajfton would teach Mr:; i:i----«s a driver of a licensed vehicle with retard to lost property. The information, was dismissed. Mr A. 15. Clipper appeared for the accused.