LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13887, 12 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Do not despise a man lx-eause he is nut a college graduate; he may be long on .common sense. Rerlin has issued a denial of the rumour of the Kaiser's abdication. A committee of the Borough Council will u;<peet the unsightly bank between St. Peter's Church and Victoria street on Mowfay, with a view to arranging with the church committee for its improvement. ( In connection with the production of "The Magic Wood" on Mondav evening, it has lieen arranged that the front of the hou.se shall be in charge of the iiernianent theatre management and staff. Many, motorists seem to be unaware that, under the Motor Regulations Act, it is necessary to have the number displayed at the front as well a s at the rear of their cars. It is intended to prosecute in* future if the Act is not complied with. We have received a copy of a little booklet entitled "A short complete course of breathing exercises and true movements for children under twelve years," by Royd Gurlick. JJhjs. bookhjt, which is to' be placed on the markel through Messrs Gordon and Gotch. deals with the prevention of adenoid growths and the better development of neuro-muscular activity.

At a meeting of the Pukeknra Road Board, held in Cambridge, the chairman (.Mr R. Fisher) stated that he had received a tender from Mr W. Eastwood for gravelling the Norwegian road at os (id per yard, whieh he had accepted.—Action approved. Mr Peake was appointed to arrange with Mr W. Eastwood to cart an extra 150 yards of metal on the Mangapiko deviation road at a cost not exceeding the price per yard of his recent contract. A man named Wilfred Martin, with several aliases, was arrested for theft at Muripa, near Rutorua, by the Hotorua police, and sentenced to 1 i days' imprisonment. He has been identified by Detective Sergeant Coonoy', of Hamilton, as a man wanted fur a series of offences in the Waikato and Auckland districts, including the theft of a pair of horses and a double buggy Belonging to Mr Orini. Accused will appear before the .Magistrate at Hamilton in due course.

Mr P. Norris, lion, organiser National Service League, Masterton. asked the Hamilton Borough Council last night to support the proposal to establish four memorial workshops in New Zealand, as a national tribute to the memory of the brave men of this country, whose lives have been sacrificed in the world's war, the object being to provide training and permanent work for disabled soldiers, after the manner of Lord Roberts' workshops in England.—The matter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee.

At last night's meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council, the Legal and Finance Committee recommended that the charge for current supplied for pumping be 3d per unit, and that no current for power purposes be supplied for less than 3d per unit: also that a committee consisting of the .Mayor and Cr. Young go into the matter, with the Borough Solicitor, of obtaining legislative authority to raise the £2500 loan for electricity, authorised by Frankton ratepayers on .lanuaiy 10, 1910.—The recommendations were approved. Efforts are to lie made to secure a metal quarry for Hamilton. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor staled that he had discussed the nutter with the supervisor. He proposed lii.it a committee, consisting of Crs. Howdeu and Tristram, and the supervisor, investigate the matter, and endeavour to get a quarry for the Council's own use. .Metal was the one crying need in the borough. They had lost opportunities in the past, and he hoped they would not lose others in the future. Cr. Tristram supported the suggestion. He thought it a step in the right direction, and it should have been taken tofore.

At a sitting of the Court held at Kawhia, before Messrs W. A. Mason and J. K. Newton, justices. Harry Crewe was charged with having as. saulted Stanley Wright by striking him on the hand with a slasher. The matron of the cottage hospital, who had attended to the complainant Wright, stated that a bone had been broken by the force of a blow, and that the injury may be permanent. For the defence defendant stated that Wright attempted to cross his land, and called him a German. Complainant stated that he would bring an action against accused later for loss of wagr s owing to injuries received. Accused was convicted and ordered to pay costs, and bound over to keep the peace.

At # the Police Court. Hamilton, this morning, before Mr Uawson, S.M., Cecil Hatfield a youth IS years oi age was charged with the theft of Is from •Mrs Irvine, and a silver watch valued at Ljs from William Ham. Accused pleaded guilty to hotli charges. SeniorSergeant Cassells, representing the police, said that the vouth was an exRurnham Iwy, having l)Ocn committed to the school four years ago lor [heft at Auckland. Six months ago he was licensed out l>y his father, and had worked in a shop in Hamilton. The other day bo went into the shop of Mrs Irvine, and took -Is from the till. Mrs Irvine noticed bin:, and upon hoi'i<_i caught he returned the money. He also admitted stealing the watch from the shoi> of .Mr Harp. 111-- lather of the youth said he could do nothing with him. Accused was convicted, and ordered to he returned to the school.

Labour leaders in Canada now tinunanimously favour Prohibition. H. C. Witch, president ol the Winnipeg Labour Party, writes thus:—-"Prior to Prohibition I was rather doubtful a.s to tiie economic results it might have: after watching its effects lor two years I am convinced that Prohibition has proved a blessing to the LaNiiir movement. We no longer have to compete with the bar-room lor attendance at union meetings, and the itn. provotnont in conditions is readily seen." Supposing State Liquor had lieen operating would these results have been achieved' Labour in Ani"ricu endorses Prohibition as the only s;'le and satisfactory solution for the Drink curse. 11

Further donations tu the Rod Croc* 7-iaiß? y F "" d \ ma ! d ? g a total uf 4.18,841, ~r e acknowledged in this issue. The terms of the settlement of the Wellington tramway trouble, arrived at at a conference with Mr Newton, I oneiliation Commissioner, have lieea agreed to by the men. When the question of tenders was being considered at the Mataraata County Council yesterday, the engineer said that he was almost afraid to prepare an estimate for work at present, in view of the increasing cost. "The sooner the motor comes the better," was a remark passed by a Matamata County Councillor when a tender for carting was received. The distance was stated to be only short, but the tender worked out at about 10s per yard. "He is an absolute nuisance to me," remarked at Matamata councillor yesterday, when a ratepayer's account was submitted. "If the Council gavehim a blank cheque and told him to fill it in, he would not be satisfied, but would be back again next day." On the motion of Cr. Young, the borough supervisor was instructed, -it last night's meeting of the Council, to lay down a chain of concrete road| at the corner of Bridge and Victoria streets, as an experiment, as soon ss conditions allow. ■n^T* About noon to-dav the four-vear-old son of Mr and Mrs W. Harwood was knocked down by a motor car in Rosstrevor street, and considerably bruised' and cut about. The driver of the ear stopped and picked the child up, and then told another little boy who was near by to take, him home. Mr Shannon, engineer of the Matamata County Council, stated on Friday that there was considerable pilfering of timber going on in the county; it was unsafe to leave a plank anywhere. Cr. Rollett brought the matter up by narrating a suspicious circumstance which had come under his notice recently, and the Council decided that the incident should be fully probed, and if a case can be established, to prosecute the offender. „ _ - ' '• Mr Shannon, Matamata county engineer, at yesterday's meeting of the Council, during a discussion on electrical matters, stated that when tbe Waihi Goldmining Company generated power by steam it cost them £9 per annum por horsepower: by suction gas it cost £7; and by waterpower £3. If the Hora Hora works were fully utilised they would 1 get their power for about 30s per annum per horsepower. Mr "Jimmy" Simpson, one of Canada's Great Labour Leaders, will. deliver an address in the Town Hall, , Hamilton, on Monday evening next on "The State Control of the Liquor Traffic." Mr Simpson is acknowledged • to be one of the finest orators that has - visited New Zealand, and has attracted crowded audiences wherever he has ; lectured. The chair will be taken at 8 p.m. by His Worship the Mayor. Admission will be free, but an opportunity will be given during the evening to contribute towards the expense. Mr Simpson is anxious that any wno> desire to ask questions should do so at the conclusion of his address.

Cr. Stopford, of the Matamata County Council, referring to the work being carried out on Kaimai, suggested that blasting would be more expeditious than the method now employed. When informed of the restrictions governing the system, and the probability of a charge of manslaughter being laid should a fatal accident occur, the Councillor asked, "Who wonld go up—the chairman or the riding member?" When informed that the riding member would most probably be the scapegoat, he did not press the suggestion for the use of blasting powder.

A shrewd Matamata County Councillor, who was appointed to a certain committee "with power to act" at yesterday's meeting: caused considerable hilarity by naively remarking, "We must not act too soon." The matter under discussion affected a work now in hand which the Councillor is anxious to have completed. He feared that if the Council acted too soon: the completion of the job would he held up. Hence his desire to procrastinate. The Councillors expressed admiration of the adroitness of their fellow member in advocating the principles enunciated by the Unjust Steward, and commended him for his wisdom in thus endeavouring to conserve the interests of the Council.

Referring at last night's meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council to the danger caused by stock being driven through the through streets, Cr. Snell thought the Council should strongly protest against the Saleyards Company erecting yards on the site proposed at Frankton. If the yards were put there they would become a public danger, such as existed at Hamilton now. It was not right that they should he erected in centres of population. He moved that the company's attention lie drawn to the possible danger which mighf arise from the establishment ot saleyards on the site suggested. Several councillors thought the Council could hardly do anything in the matter at present. They would have tile power to close streets to stock later if a danger was created. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was lost.

Noxious weeds were a<jain the subject of discussion at last night's meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council. Cr. How den wanted t« know what was being done in regard to breaches of the Noxious Weeds Act. They should move steadily in the matter. It was very disheartening to a man who cleared his section to have a neighbour who ajlowed his property to become overrun with weeds. The position was acute at Frankton. Cr. Fraser Smith agreed, stating that there were patches of gorse eight feet high in the swamp, and the danger from fire would be serious as the summer advanced. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Tristram, the Council decided to instruct the inspector to go on with the prosecutions. Later in the evening. Cr. Lafferty gave notice of motion that legal action taken against ratepayers for breaches of the Noxious Weeds Act he suspended until the Council has made allocations to clear all streets and reserves.

The annual meeting of the Waiknto Telephone Company was held 0,, Thursday. There- were 31 members present, and Mr \\\ Kunciman Chairman of Directors, presided. fh c proceedings were most enthusiastic A •ohomo drafted V Mr Huncinian u> endeavour to get members to pay up their arrears of erection fees, and thus secure a reduction of the annual subscription was endorsed. The minimum subscription for the current vear \\>- fixed at £4, the amount to ho increased to memliers in arrears with their erection tees in proportion to the amount, The Company has reoeiv, d a number of application's for installations, hut great difficulty i- experienced in procuring the neoessary mat-rial: this is regrettaMe- *s the Inn." r the number of subscribers the smaller -he companv -an mp.ko the annual fee. Tho balance-sheet showed a nrofii o) *X3 I4s (id on the year's working, and this was devoted to reducing the overdraft. Mr 1!. English, was re-appointed auditor, and .Mr K. H. O'Mrara socivt-irv. The folloM ire; were elected directors: Messrs \V. Kuncimau. ('•. H. (iiihinr, W E. Clark. J. V.. Brvant. J. M; • k. IV •I. Bruce, A X. Dingle. !{. F. Bollard, T. Hinton. X. K. Tnjlor, W. J. Trulishaw, and E. P. (irifftn.