LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160712, 27 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A number of gas workers have resumed at Melbourne. General resumption is expected to-morrow. A Sydney cable states that Mr Justice Ewing announced that his report on the Industrial Workers of the World case wdl be ready on the 28th. li; is four years ago to-day that Cap* tain Fryatt was shot by the Germans, and it will be six years to-morrow since Austria declared war on Senna and set Europe ablaze. During th§ week end a burglar broke into Burley’s drapery shop at To Kuiti, carefully removing the soft putty round a. new window pane. He forced a drawer in the manager’s desk and stole £lO in cash. No goods arc missing. Bolshevik agitations are spreading throughout Mexico. "Draft dodgers” (men who left the United States to avoid military service) are the principal agents. The authorities seem to bo puzzled how to combat the trouble. Mrs Arthur Hamilton, daughter of the late Sir Charles and Lady FairlicCuninghame, will attempt to swim the channel this summer, probably in August. The first woman to swim tlio Solent, she is well-known as a longdistance swimmer, and holds several medals, one for a swim of 15 miles. Mrs Hamilton believes in a Spartan life, and is a strict vegetarian. Mr Samuel Gompers, who recently declared that the Democratic platform more thoroughly represents Labour’d desires, states ijhat be is not recommending how delegates at large shall vote for the President, hub pointing out that Labour’s non-partisan political campaign is the most virile movement in American political life. Ho reiterates that Labour should strive to defeat every candidate opposed to Labour’s interests. A witness during the hearing of a case at the Court yesterday in which a local butcher was involved, stated that he saw some steak passed over to a customer after hours. The Magistrate asked witness how he knew it was steak, and ironically remarked that one had frequently to get very close to the article to know it was steak, and even after being through the process of cooking it was hard sometimes to realise that one was eating steak. At the Court, yesterday afternoon, George Sherman, butcher, was proceeded against by Mr E. Gohns for tailing to ©lose his shop at 5.30 p.m. on Friday, June 11, the premises not having been closed until 5.40. Informant .stated that defendant had been warned during the previous week regarding his shop being open, and on the night of the alleged offence he saw two persons enter the shop and get meat after 5.30 p.m. Defendant stated that a lady came to the shop before 5.30 for a roast of beef, and witness had to roll it for her. After Mr Gohns had departed defendant rang up the telephone exchange, and they told him it was 5.38 p.m. The Magistrate held that the shop was open, after hours for the purpose of doing business. He also placed no reliance on the hearsay evidence of what the Post Office officials said the time was when defendant rang up. A fine-of 20s, with costs,, was imposed.

Marconi’s Wireless Company’s expert® have announced (says a message from St. John) that they heard wireless tele* phonic messages from Chelmsford station, and said they recognised tho voice of Captain Round, tho expert in charge, and identified several words, but failed to pick up connected sentences. Plans are afoot (says a New Torfc cable) to establish a rationing system to control oil consumption. This its urgently needed, because tho existing supply will not meet demands. It is impossible to augment the output, and curtailment of consumption is imperative, otherwise disaster will be ahead. Tho Timam Chamber of Commerce has telegraphed local M’s.P. that tho building trade there had stopped for want of cement. I'our hundred tons are arrivng there from Auckland, but all has been commandeered for Arthur’s Pass. Members arc to see the Minister to gel) half for urgent requirements at Timam, The Hawcra Chamber of Commeroa at its last meeting discussed the railway regulation affecting the reserving of seats, and on tho motion of Mr Isborne it was decided to write to tha member for the district, and to seek the co-operation of the Wanganui chamber in having the matter placed on a satisfactory footingThe foreign exchange market' atiN«*# York suffered a serious relapse. Tha pound sterling dropped to 3351 cents, the French franc to 7.47 cents, and’ tho German mark to 2J cents. Other European exchanges have also fallen hcanly. It is thought the Russo-Polish situation and the probability of Allied intervention have caused the market’s condition. In these days of shortage of building materials there is a good demand for second-hand materials such as would bo found in a building to b© removed. An auction sale of a building for removal was held on Saturday morning and evoked keen competition amongst three or four builders. The building was knocked down for ,£165, and immediately after the sale the purchaser was offered £25 on his bargain. A youth who applied for exemption from attending Territorial parades at the Court yesterday afternoon, • stated, in answer to the Magistrate, that be was engaged ;ys a runner for the “Herald” and “Chronicle,” and both hia rounds were similar, but he did not receive as much payment from tha “Chronicle,” as the “Herald.” The Magistrate replied that he did not know why that should bo, except that the services rendered to the public by the “Chronicle” were not so great as by tho “Herald.” A number of allotments, larger than usual, have been made for the shipment from tliis district, through Wellington, of tallow, casein, case meats, etc., and it would appear very ranch as if a clearance of these goods is to be made, not only in AVanganui, but throughout tho Dominion. The position in regard ta wool is not so definite. Apart, from tha Hororata's allocation of 4500 bales from AVanganui, which are to lie shipped ta New York, no further shipment is in .sight, and it appears almost certain that the beginning of next shearing season will see a great quantity of tho 38,000 bales now in store still occupying shed room A British tramway expert was recently in Now Plymouth. He was interviewed by a Press man on the subject of trackless trams. “Trackless tramways,” said Mr Wray, the expert, “are purely trams without rails.” He proceeded to state that they provided quite a comfortable service, and with the eliminating of tho rails there was less expense. Particularly for the lattef reason they were more adapted to tha development of the districts where initial expenses were an important factor. The cars wore built to accommodate thirty-one passengers, and could carry forty or more without serious overcrowding. The system is run from overhead wires, similar to the usual trams, except that there is an additional wire. Should the development of any particular route warrant it, the track system can be inaugurated by the laying of rails and procuring of the ordinary cars, the overhead gear being adaptable to tho track system. Mr AVray say® that seiveral trackless routes are in operation in England, a recent installation being that at Middlesborough. Tho following paragraph from the Samoa Times should be of interest to newspaper proprietors in New Zealand at the present time; “It is not commonly known that Samoa possesses d tree known by the native name Salago, which grows in considerable quantity in our bush mid which is said to possess the finest wood pulp for papermakiiig. The trees grow very rapidly* During the past week Mr McKenzie, of Tuasivi, Savaii, who also has a small plantation near Apia, showed us a splendid samplo of this wood, pulp, which, we intend to forward to NeW Zealand for examination. At the present time there is an acute shortage of newspaper throughout the world. A report on the sample in our possession will be awaited with interest.” Syst© malic inquiries arc being made on behalf of tho New Zealand newspapers as to the cost of erecting a paper mill in one or other of the wooded regions of the West Coast, with the view of producing a supply of printing nape* sufficient for the requirements of the Dominion, but if an adequate supply of wood pulp could be relied on from Samoa, the capital expenditure on the erection of machinery in New Zealand would be a good deal lessened, and the labour difficulty in cutting down and preparing tho pulping timber avoided. The oat market lias steadied in Canterbury after the spasmodic “bump” of last week. As a result either of a “bear” from Auckland or legit mate mis savings as to the future, several weak sellers materialised, and one firm sold rather heavily at prices from fivepence to sixpence below ruling quotations. Two other holders followed suit in smaller quantities, but the movement quickly stopped, and the opinion of the majority of merchants, who are holding firmly.” is that there was nothing to warrant the sudden agitation of the market. Tho suggestion of a “bearing” of the market is supported by the fact that practically all the heavy offerings made were “subject to confirmation,” and the business in meet cases went no further. There is a feeling amongst merchants that a eto|* should be put to these 'phot balloons, as they have a distinctly disturbing effect on legitimate business. It ia known that northern merchants have sold heavily forward at ralery that entail a loss on current quotations if delivery is to be enforced, and the feeling is that enforcement is necessary to check these periodical flutierings. In the meantime merchants are “sitting tight”—neither buying nor selli nf r n _and in the absence, of business quotations are to au extent nominal* particularly in regard to business with growers, whose holdings are now very small. The market may be deemed steady, with a firmer tone than at the week-end.

The first- consignment of ten thousand books from Germany has been restored to Louvain Library. The Postal Department has been advised that a mail, which left New Zealand on 17th June, arrived in London on 24 th inst. Ths Lyric Quartette, which is at present visiting Wanganui, was entertained at morning tea to-dav bv the Wanganui Male Choir, an act of courtesy which was much appreciated by the visitors. At the Police Court this morning. Ernest Albert Singleton, on a charge of theft of an overcoat, valued at £l-5, the property of Thomas H. Wilson, Palmerston North, was remanded to appear at the latter place on Saturday next. The English mail to hand to-day brings news of a serious outbreak of smallpox in Scotland. There were 157 rases in hospital in Glasgow early in •June, and something of a scare had been created as there was a great rush for vaccination in the various .centres. The novel sight of a steam-engine pushing electric tram cars was seen in the Avenue this morning. This was '“Puffing Billy” making room down at the power-house for the reception of the plant from Napier, the first instalment of which is on its way. It is hoped to have the engine on the Castlecliff run tomorrow. The severe frosts of the past week are reported to have cut down the supply of feed on dairy farms in the coastal area of the Wanganui district, but in the more sheltered areas and billy country the effects of frost have not been so severely felt. The leaves of a large number of garden plants in Wanganui have also been considerably blackened by frost. At yesterday’s meeting of the Patriotic Association it was reported that a case of telephones, presumably from Alartgaparua, had been picked up on the Foxton beach in a practically useless condition. The exact loss has not yet been ascertained, but there were at least half-a-dozen telephones carried away by the flood waters. It was resolved that Messrs Williams and Bignell wait on the Telegraph Departmen to ascertain the position of the settlers concerned, and to report to the next meeting. Advice has been received by the Tramway Department that the first engine was despatched from Napier on Friday last by rail. Up to this morning, however, no word had been received of the arrival of the engine in Wanganui, The work of re-erecting the engine will take about a fortnight to complete, and as it is capable of 135 li.p. some improvement on existing conditions may be expected shortly after that. As recorded on Saturday, the cylinders of No. 3 engine were despatched by rail to Wellington that flay, but advico as to their arrival at their destination has yet to be received. The usual monthly meeting of the Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association was held yesterday afternoon, when purely formal business was dealt with. The reports of the lands and finance and grants committees were laid on the table, disclosing the fact that the Association continues to assist all deserving cases which arc brought before it. Loans and grants ranging from £T to £IOO were authorised. There were present;— Messrs T. B. Williams (chairman). A. G. R'.gnell, N. Menli. E. Webb Jones, J. 11. Burnet. J. Ball and G. C. Russell. At yesterday’s meeting of tlie Wan-g3Elii-VV.iit.ota.ra Patriotic Association, the following letter wa» received from the .secretary of the Marlborough Association: “As we are arranging to colL iect essential information in connection •v'.'.u; hj lib: p-ai ti.il <lis>>ur.-.einent <>f theMarlborough Patriotic Fluid. I would be o'lligcl U yon would bring to our r.oti'-j th_- cases of any disabled or par-tmilv-'lisabied soldiers or dependents of deceased soldiers which arc xnown to you, and lor winch ihis Association is responsible- We are anions that fio i names shall be overlooked, and besides local measures to cclicet information, we arc circularising all patriotic organisations on the subject.” It was decided J to ask the Pr j -3 to give publicity to J the letter, with uie intimation that any eligible claimants on the Marl- j borough fund who may be resident in j this district should promptly make i known their claims. The big question facing the various Patriotic Associations in New Zealand to-day is the matter of making provision. with the balance of the funds at their disposal, for permanently disabled soldiers. Some of the Associations have already allocated theii funds, distributing them pro rata according to the nature of the disablement. At yesterday’s meeting of the local Association a lengthy letter waa received from the Auckland Association, in which it was stated that permanently disabled soldiers had been classified into three groups, and the folkwring allocations were proposed: Total disablement, 76 to 100 per cent., £OOO to £500; partial. 51 to 75 pel cent., £2OO to' £300; slight. 40 to 50 per cent., £IOO to £2OO. The chairman (Mr T. B. Williams) said he was strongly opposed to allocating the funds, as some of the patriotic bodies wore doing, and thought that each case should be dealt with on its merits. The Association would have the care of disabled soldiers for many years, and should carefully conserve its funds to that end. There were Wanganui soldiers, sick and disabled, in various parts of the Dominion receiving assistance from the Association at present. 1 For some time past the cnSoldier Settlers’ Association, aided by the Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association, have been working for the establishment of telephonic com mnnication with their settlement between Pipiriki and Taumarunui. The Government has been very sympathetic in the matter, and acceded to the Association’s request to provide rho material conditionally on the settlers t erecting the line. During a recent big flood in the Wanganui River an unfortunate accident happened, which is explained by the following letter forwarded to the Patriotic Association “Just as we were congratulating ourselves,” the secretary wrote, “and on the eve of starting the erection of oui telephone line, an unfortunate and unforeseen .disaster has overtaken us. When the material arrived at our lacding we earned it up the bank well above anv previous flood level known in rhe settlement, but the heavy rainfall early in the month (June) caused the river to rise abnormally, with the result that the water was almost 80 feet above normal level at our landing. Though we hurried to the landing when daylight came, it was only to find tho material partly submerged. We salved all the wire and the gear, with the exception of one case of cells and 200 insulators.”