LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160731, 18 August 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Vindictive (which played such an important role in the blocking of Osteud and Zeebruggo harbours) has been refloated. Owing to the high cost of fuel and the demand for increased productio: many British mill-owners are installing water turbines to use moderate heads of water and are using steam plant as an auxiliary. Both, plants generate electricity, the hydro-plant taking tho constant load and tiie steam plant dealing with additional demands in the busiest hours. The arrangements which several of the leading British electrical linns are making to carry out complete hydro-electrical installations of every size will encourage this movement towards power economy. In Italy marriage has been taken entirely out of the hands of the church, remarks a correspondent of a contemporary. No priest can no\y legally marry a com le, for marriage is a civil contract, only legal when performed by tho Mayor of the place in which tho couple live, or by his deputy. As recently as 1908 tho question of priests who undertook to marry persons independently of the civil rite, was _ Ipught forward for the second or third timo in the Hou.sc of Deputies. , While no steps were taken, the law stands that if people rest content with a religious marriage exclusively, their children are registered as illegitimate. The re-trial of Alfred Thomas Percy Victor Dare, on a charge of having committed mischief at Penrose (Auckland) last January by wilfully damagiti"’ a motor car and bicycle, was taken at° the Supreme Court on Monday. The charge related to a fatality at Penrose, when Mr Horton, who was riding* a bicycle* was knocked down by a motor car’ and killed. It was alleged that Dare “borrowed the motor car, which was left standing outside the Opera House by its owner, and that he drove it in a reckless maimer. He was originally chatged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Horton, and after two trials was acquitted. The charge of mischief was then preferred against him, and another disagreement was recorded. At Monday’s trial thd jury returned a verdict of guilty of mischief and sentence was deferred.

The Borough Council decided last night to decline the tender of Messrs 11. W. Cameron and Co. for the supply of train rails from America. Inquiries are now being m.ulo with a view to obtaining, if passible, rails of British manufacture. Queen’s Park improvements and a proposal to spend jCd-00 in completing the terraces on the .Maria Place frontage of tlie Park were again discussed at length at last night's meeting of the Council, Speakers advanced arguments on similar lines to the previous discussion at last mcciijig, and a recommendation of the Works Committee to spend ,£4OO on this work was finally carried. The question of a site for the Technical College Hostel cropped up again at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, when a deputation from the committee asked the Council to consider leasing -an area of about five acres on the corner of Purnell Street and Jackson Street, near the rubbish tip. Tho request was referred to the Beserves Committee for consideration and report. “A speaker at Monday night’s meeting complained that the public men of Wanganui had not looked far enough ahead,” su'd Cr. Sigley at last nightds meeting of the Council. Proceeding, he said that he did not know of any work where C'-vesigi tulness had been exercised except in the case of the Serjeant Gallery, where they had looked • about tnree hundred years ahead. The unfair position in which certain hospital hoards stand iu regard to Government subsidies, owing to the diiiereiitial. system which at present obtains, was the on sc of a very outspoken protest at the last meeting of the Waikato Board, when it was decided to circularise all boards, asking for joint action to bring about an alteration in tho system. A Targe number of replies have been received by the board, and Mj J. P. Bailey (chairman) announced that while in Wellington recently he waited on the Minister respecting the present unfair system, and tho Minister had definitely promised to rectify the mat* tor. The General Manager of State Mines (Mr J. A. James) on arrival at Greymouth was met by, representatives of the State Miners’ Union and the Kailway Department in conference. Settlement w r as effected alter considerable discussion. Tho terms are those originally submitted to the Departments concerned by the Miners’ Union on. Wednesday last providing for miners’ trains departing and returning not earlier than 6.35 a.m., or later than 4.40 p.m. respectively, and being purely passenger trains, suburban fare rates to apply. The Union later at Kunanga met and accepted the terms of settlement unanimously, and agreed, to resume work tlie next morning. Tiie report of the engineers on the proposed iight line railway, between Morrinsville and the river head at Tahuna lias been received. The proposed route connects with the Government line and tho dried milk factory at Morrinsviiic station, passes through Morrinsville and the Mangatcpara soldiers’ settlement, across the Piako Bridge, and then along either to No. Fto or No. 7 road to Taiuina and tho * Mankoro-landing. The engineers advised that an extension to Patotonga should be kept in view, as tho lino would pass through the country and open up tho most fertile district of tho Hauraki Plains. The estimated cost of the construction of 14 miles of lino.was £38,5J20, or £2780 per mile. Bolling stock was estimated to cost £13,509. Strong exception was taken by several Councillorat last night’s meeting of the Council to tiie conveniences in PJdgway Street. Cr Burnett declared that they were a disgrace and referred to the want of adequate convenience's at the level portion of the town. He declared that if the Council did not do something it was p'cpwcu to call a public meeting and to provide for facilities, even if a special rating area were set up. The Mayo.- said that if anything were done it should be done comprclu nsiveiy, and ho hoped that the time was not far distant when this matter would be dealt with. Cr, Thompson suggested that in any future scheme consideration should be given to facilities for women. Cr. Luxford suggested that the carriers’ stand should be removed, as he considered that in its present position it was an eyesore and an inconvenience to the public. One or two interesting matters in relation to tlie influx of Japanese into Western America came under the notice of Mr Malcolm Fraser, of Wellington, during Ills recent trip to the Statistical Conference in London, relates the Post. In California there arc a great number of Japanese. By law they cannot own, land, Mint children born to them on American soil arc American citizens, and nothing can prevent them purchasing the freehold of land. Land is, therefore, bought on behalf of tho Japanese and placed in trust for these children, and, of course, utilised in trust for them. The practice has grown to so great an extent that the Japanese no\v own a large percentage of tlie orchards of California, and lawyers are \uxing fat solely on the proceeds of this work. The problem of dealing with the Japanese invasion was, indeed, a most serious one. Japanese single women were not allowed to enter the country, so the practice existed of a Japanese marrying a country-woman by her photograph, which enabled her in some . evasion of the law to enter the country as a bride. In the course of an investigation by the Supreme Court at Wellington of a money-lending transaction, it was made clear that the borrower of a sum of £250 on a security valued at £50(1 had repaid to the lender £l6O, ami yet was still iu debt to the extent of £319. This abnormal position, it was said, had come, about not by reason of any default in payment of instalments by the borrower, but solely as a result of tho nature of the contract entered into by the parties. Mr Justice Edwards said that all he had to decide was the question as to whether the interest charged was excessive. In 1918, the year tlie loan was negotiated, tho price for money was generally 6 per cent., but in respect of a ‘'chattel security-—which, would not he accepted by some people—the rates were higher. In the present case defendnat, Lazarus Baikind, had a chattel security, but it was a good one all through; that Baikind know such was the case Jl'aU, amply demonstrated iu tne fact that ho did not inspect it. No one could contend that a charge of £55 for a loan of £IOO was not excessive. It seemed to him that 20 per cent, was an ampin rate of interest, and accordingly ho would relieve plaintiff from the payment of any sum in excess of £l6l, which was the amount owing—principal and interest—on tho basis of interest at 20 per cent. The defandant would bo awarded the costs of the proceedings in the lower court.

The Telegraph Office advises: The Eastern Co. notify; "Please divert all traffic to United Kingdom to via Pacific.

In connection with the proposal to establish a plant for working the limestone deposits in the Manawatu Gorge near the old toll gate, a meeting of delegates from the various branches of the Farmers’ Union was held at .Palmerston on Saturday. It was decided to obtain all passible information with regard to the cost of erecting and running a crushing plant and to bring the matter up for further discussion at the snb-provincial meeting on Saturday nest.

The matron of the Wanganui Orphanage desires to acknowledge with thanks the following gifts:—Girls’ College, drapery; Miss Nixon, cakes; Mrs Connell (No. 3 Line), bananas; Mrs Stephenson, apples; Bassett and Co., clothes props: Airs F. Allen, F-euev and vegetables; Airs H. F. Orrisue, clothing; anonymous, £'2: •J. Paul and Co.’s stair dance, Dustins Ltd., and George and Kersley, eatables : A Friend, cabbages; Mrs Ashton (Castlcciiff). fruit, milk, sweets; Air F. W. Smith (Kai Iwi), apples. The .argLsi ermubmion to the universal problem oi fuel economy is a British invention for efficiently utilising was to- coal, peat, litrnite, and other lowgrade solid fuels. The material is made into Uccks of any desired shape or size, cacn block being composed of a number of layers. When the mass is burning it tends to separate along the layers, thus exposing a large area for complete combustion and giving a result similar to the burning of raw coal. Licenses have been granted to many British collieries to work up coal dust into this form. The cost of production is stated to he nearly onc-tbirl less than that of briquetting in the ordnary way, and the resulting fuel can Ik> sold at only ]ut per ton Jess than the price of raw coal. The regular form of the blocks facilitates the storing of the fuci on board shin.

Trir-re is states the Wellington Post’s special correspondent with tlie Kmpire Press Union delegates to the conference in Canada) abundant evidence of growth and prosperity in the Fijian capital—the business houses arc becoming more palatial—hc.t the crowds oi Hindoos who throng the streets indicate that the white man will soon become a minor quantity in the life of the community. The coolie is no longer limiting his sphere of operations to labouring occupations, or even to independent !»anana and sugar cultivation, although there is a considerable population so engaged. lie L-, forcing his way into every mechanical and mercantile trade. The discontent and unrest which a short time ago assumed such a threatening aspect that a detachment of troops, armed with machine-guns, was despatched from New Zealand to overawe the coloured population, scorns to have disappeared since the departure of the principal agitators, and there is every indication of general prosperity. The Council of the Churches at Dunedin at its monthly meeting discusser! the question of gambling, and resolved: That this Council of Christian Churches of Dunedin, in view of t i.e fact that a Gaming Act Amendment Hill (No. 2) is being brought before Parliament, is convinced that Hi'iy effort should he made bv way of legislative enactment to restrict the gambling propensities oi the com mu niv ~ and enters an emphatic protest against any proposal to increase the number of totalisator permits. It f! mmends the Premier and Minister or Internal Affairs for their endeavour to suppress tire bookmaker, and urges that the Saw against these men should be rigid!}- enforced. It appeals to all .Ministers. Bible Class leaders, members of Parliament and tire press to use their utmost inlluence to foster healthy public opinion regarding the gambling evil, which has in every age proved a pernicious practice, degrading to the individual, wasteful to. society, and injurious to the well being of the Estate. The London correspondent of the Pest writes; —■■ Air Jo-vnh and Lady Ward an- staying at the Savoy Hotel. They States without a freak, ward Slaving been received that their starrier, the giant Imperator. v.as to sail from New York two days earlier than scheduled time. Butiliev managed to make the connection after four and a half days’ continuous travel. The crossing of the Atlantic took about nine days, and severe summer fog was encountered on four of them. The Imperator did not strive at anv great speed, being handicapped by very inferior coal and by inexperienced stokers. There were three thousand passengers on board. The ship herself i.- of huge size, and the cabin accommodation is generous in its dimension?. .Seasoned travellers as are Sir Joseph, and Ladv Ward, they had never seen Cherbourg, at which French port tlm ship made a stay of five hours prior to coming into Southampton. The-.- were delighted with the place. It is Sir Joseph's intention to hate a rest. Therefore ho is declining to be interviewed, though requests for hi? views and opinions have been made by renresontativc London newspapers. Callers at the hotel are many, end so far Air Joseph and Ladv TV aid have not been about much. They are delighted to see their friends. After about sis months in England they will go to the Riviera for the v inter.’’ At the annual district B.S.A. conference at Palmerston on .Saturday, the general organisation committee brought down a report as regards the constitution of the Wellington District N.Z. E.S.A. For the purpose of organisation, the district was divided into the following groups: —(1) Palmerston North and Levin: (2; Wellington: (3i Masterton, Woodville, Dannevirkc, and Pahiatna (when affiliated); (4) Waipawa. Waipnkurau, Hastings, Napier, and Wairoa; (5) Feilding, Marton, Taihape, Tanmarunui : (S> Wanganui. Waverley; (7) Stratford, New Plymouth. Hawera, Waitara: (8) Gisborne. It was recommended that the district conference should consist of delegates appointed by the local associations affiliated to the N.Z.R.S.A. Each local association would have voting power on the conference on the following basis; one vote for each 400 financial members or part thereof; one delegate for every 1000 financial members or "portion thereof, but no association to be entitled, to more than three delegates. The district conference would be held in May rach Tear, At this conference delegates should be re-elected to the Dominion ’ tference. The officers were elected ns f S"ilows:—President, Mr H. J. Jacobs; rice-president, Mr H. B. Burdekin; lion, treasurer. Mr F. Cook; committee. Mr H. M. Haycock (Group 1), Mr IL J. F. Aldridge- (Group 2), Mr J. F. A. Hebenton (Group 3), Mr A. F. Ford (Group L, Mr E. Lenihan (Group 5), Mr G. Beckett (Group 6), Mr C. Corner (Group 7j. Mill. Bullard (Group 8); district secretary, Mr N. Nielsen.