LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14263, 14 January 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Difficulties arc notices that we must put forth some extra effort. The Admiral Codringlon has sailed from Sydney, for Auckland with a cargo of Westralian jarrah for the New Zealand Government.

“Cheap roads are dear roads very often,” was an observation made by Cr. MeGhie at yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa County. It sounds very much like an Irish-ism, but even cursory analysis will grant that' there is more than a grain of wisdom in it. A week or two ago some vandal rode over one of the plots of the Hamilton Beautifying Society at Frankton and destroyed the fence. At the last meeting of the Society, Mr R. Parr was authorised to inquire into the matter with a view to taking legal proceedings.

In our issue of Monday last, under the heading of “Wanted locking up,” we stated that the defendant in the case was a single woman. We. have now received a letter from her to the effect that she has been married for over 13 years. We accept the lady’s statement in good faith, and offer her our apology' for the inadvertence.

The Hamilton Municipal Band has been invited by the residents of Raglan to visit the seaside township during the week-end. The instrumentalists will, therefore leave Hamilton on Saturday afternoon, give a concert in the Raglan Town Hall in the evening, and an open-air programme in the reserve on Sunday, returning to Hamilton or. Sunday night. “The only difference next year will make is that we .will be getting more used to them,” was the manner in which Cr Johnson, at the Waipa County meeting yesterday, described high prices and the likelihood or otherwise of recession. There appeared unanimity round the table that the barometer would move upward. The engineer to the . Waipa County Council is to take steps to immediately have the water laid on to the trough at Dinsdale’s bridge on the Whatawhata road. Cr. Livingstone brought- the matter to notice at yesterday’s meeting and pointed to the necessity for provision of water for the stock traffic at the point in question. “Tell us how you enjoyed your holidays then,” jocularly interjected the chairman at yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa County. The engineer was ex plaining that by the graciousness of the Council he had been afforded three weeks holidays, from which he had just returned, and consequently ’ was not able to make his customary inspection and report upon the works under way in the county. “Well, I enjoyed them very much," remarked Mr Mandeno, taking his cue from the chairman.

The Under-Secretary for Public Works drew the Waipa County Council’s attention yesterday to the fact that the district engineer had reported that the Council had undertaken metalling p,n the Cambridge-Kihikihi roaJ at a cost of £1499 10s in excess of the estimate of £SOO, and that plans and specifications for the extra work wore not submitted unitl after it had been completed. If it was the Council’s intention to apply for a subsidy it should have received formal monetary authority from the Minister before proceeding with the extra work. While the Min ister was prepared to overlook the irregularity the importance of strictly keeping to the conditions relating to the. granting of Government subsidies for road works was impressed upon the Council. After the engineer had satisfactorily explained the situation, which concerned work originally put in hand five years ago, the Council smiled in the ’knowledge that all was well. “Don’t do it again” is the stricture departmental law now says must be rigidly obeyed. “Wait and see” the retaliatory note echoes.

Mr Joseph Hooper, who has for some time been practising dentistry at Matamata. has now commenced practice oi his profession at Frankton. where he has opened a surgery in Higgins’ Buildings.

There is every indication of all goods of Japanese manufacture becoming much higher, as Japan, like other countries is full of labour troubles and unrest. In fact, in many lines, they arc discussing the prohibition of export. This is going to make a huge difference to the goods on which wo depend solely on receiving from that country. Jo view of this we are buying all the Jap. goods we can, and holding for the benefit of our’clients. We have probably enough crepe dressing jackets and kimonos to last us this season and next. These goods are well worth buying now. as the prices have advanced very little at present. Jackets 6s lid, gowns 11s Gd, to 21s. These are elaborately embroidered. —Hall’s Drapery Stores. The essence of ah knowledge is self knowledge. Scientific Charactr Heading by return registered mail. Send birth date, month, year, and postal note ss, to T. J. Dunstone, Box 1418, ■ Auckland.*

“It docs not seem to be generally known that pillion riding on motor cycles is prohibited by the by-laws, judging by the number one sees in the streets,’' said Mr Wyveru Wilson, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, when dealing with by-law cases. “Pillion riding is a dangerous practice,” commented his Worship.

“Before he came here he accused the Council of being asleep, but I don’t think that while he has been here he ever caught one of us asleep,” com . merited Cr. Cavanagh during valedictory remarks towards Cr. Ellicott at yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa CountyCouncil. The expression produced* hearty laughter. Tire Waipa County Council is to consideration to Hie imposition of a special tariff on Uie heavy lorry traffic of dried milk companies, as Iras been done in Malamata and Piako. Tire engineer, in mentioning the matter yesterday, said that it was ids opinion that the industry was one which should contribute in a substantial way towards tiie increased cost of maintenance of the county roads.

Tire secretary to the New Zealand Counties’ Association, writing to the Waipa County Council yesterday, stated that the committee of the association had considered the subject of employee’s insurance and fidelity guarantee fund. If a sufficient number of county councils signified that they were in favour of establishing a mutual fund the association would undertake the business. The Council resolved to support the scheme.

Touching on the scarcity of butter in England, Mr J. B. Murdoch, one of Hie delegates who have just returned, informed the meeting of dairy factory delegates at Hawera recently, that daring the whole time he was in England he had only eaten butter on about ten occasions. He had had margarine, which was so bad that one preferred to eat dry bread. He predicted that with the present scarcity, if New Zealand were given a free market at Horne, its butter would realise probably as high as 5s per lb. In fact, people would have butter at any price. ‘Oh! they shouldn’t try to stir up strife at ’Xmas time,” ruefully commented Cr, Livingstone when a fellow councillor was placing some alleged grievances of workmen before yesterday’s meeting at Waipa. The bone of contention of the complaint was in the way orders were issued by one member of the staff of the Council. The Conn cil did net place a serious construction on the complaints, which they looked on as more imaginary than real. However, they went so far as to resolve that to gain cognisance and brook discussion in future such matters must be placed in writing before the Council. The Te Awamutu Borough Council advised the Waipa 'County Council yesterday that a conference of local bodies would be held at Te Awamutu on the 23rd inst. for the purpose of devising some means for bettering the unsatisfactory conditions now obtaining witn regard to supplies of road metal. The Council approved of the conference, which it was thought might lead to a solution of the pressing problem of metal scarcity. Crs. Fisher, Johnson and McGhie, with the engineer, were appointed to represent the county at the conference.

"It is absurd for the regulations to be worked the way they have been of late to extort more money from the Council.” These remarks followed the reading by the engineer of a communication from the Railway Department in regard to .metal weight and payment, the engineer holding that ah agreement entered into was not being adhered to. It is theointention of the engineer to make this one of the subjects of the many which will be on the Council’s order paper when the Prune Minister visits the district. This appointment was made by the Prime Minister prior to the elections, and negotiations are now in train for the fixing of the date of its fulfilment.

When Cr. Cavanagh pointed out to the Waipa Council yesterday that he had on one occasion of late noticed a county employee a couple of miles away from his work at 4.20, it naturally put the Council in inquiring mood as to whether, on such a happening, would it be receiving "a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay.” With more faith in his fellow men than his fellow member, Cr. Livingstone seriously commented that, perhaps, the workman had fulfilled his contract well and truly toy making an early start. The shaking of sagacious heads and the winking of knowing eyes round the table conveyed the impression that councillors thought it possible, but highly improbable. Blackberries were a topic upon which Cr. Cavanagh turned his attention for a brief period at yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa County Conned. He uttered the complaint that there were certain ratepayers on whose areas this offending noxious growth existed. The properties referred to had been mentioned some five months ago, but the black berries were still growing. Cr. Johnson saw the opportunity io wax humorous when he observed: “What’s the good of destroying the fruit when you can’t get the sugar to make the jam.” A member with his thoughts on another commodity interjected that there was still hope for the housewife when the sugar was diverted from the brewer’s vat and transferred to the jam pan.

In speaking upon the metal question at yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council, the engineer slated that there was metal in Auckland, but no trucks. At Karangahake there were both metal and trucks, but the difficulty there was in getting hands to do the crushing. Cr. Johnson, however, had been informed that supplies were out, in Auckland, where the Harbour Board wal? taking it as fast as it could be quarried from Mt. Eden. Cr. Cavanagh. while hoping for good things under the To Awamutu Borough’s scheme, remarked that there was an unlimited supply of limestone at To Kuiti if the bodies interested put in a plant to crush it.

In all cases where new public crossings over th e railways arc sought, or where it is desired to convert private level crossings into public crossings, the local body concerned is required to enter into an agreement with the Railway Department to bear the cost of the crossing and to defray the cost of an overbridge or subway wherever such is deemed essential (by the Department to provide for the safety of the public and the trains. This information, supplied toy the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. F. Massey, to the Waipa County yesterday, hinged round a communication in response to representa lions made in Wellington by a council deputation seeking the provision of a public level crossing over the railway lino near Frankton Junction. The Minister added that the Council could rest assured that the Department would not call on the Council to bear the cost of the overbridge or subway unless the safety of Hie traffic and the public using the crossing necessitated such provision being made. The Council did not decide on any definite action, and the matter stands in abeyance.

For the seaside wo are showing a fine range of children’s and ladies’ bathing suits and caps at special holiday values. AH sizes are stocked, including bathing trunks for the smaller boys- Hooker and Kingston, Ltd., the House of Satisfaction, where you get 3d discount in every 5s spent, Gd" oft' in every 10s, 9cl in 15s, and so ou. This is the store whore your money goes farthest.*

A largo number of people left Ilomil.ton for the Rotorua races to-day, .'-‘-a bv train and motor ears.

The number of employees at t Glaxo Factory, Te Aroha West.no aboiu 70, which is a conS t •crease over the dumber time last year. Mails will close at Hamilton for the Australian Slates, Ceylon, India, Ui ■ • Japan, Straits Settlements South Africa, and Egypt at 8 o’clock to night. The northern draft of the returned to New Zealand j port Ki-'orna came through b> V le . c \ X yesterday. Thirteen detrained at ifinkr-.n and they were met b\ LieuttWtand, of tb C Defence Department.^ in an address before the growers’ Association on b-s recent to V erica, Mr K. F. St. .lolm said that So livoar’ot New ml .(g .considered by Americans to be sipeiwi li, that of their own Iruit. -n \iif.Monrl Acclimatisation &omatter was considered by the I 1 armei s Union last evening, and it was decided that, as poisoning was the ihos \ eessful method of killing rabbits,- t could not see its way to recommend Klaimers to discontinue the practice. “The Messiah,’ 5 as sung by the combined musical societies of Auckland, assisted by the New South Wales Stale Orchestra, last night, was a memorable performance. The hall was crowded, no less than £7SO being taken at the doors. An Auckland papers says Oml Mr Verbrugghen galvanised his choi us iuto uncommon activities, and tuc suits of his magnetic influence permeated all sections of the large body o singers. In connection with the proposed running of a late train from Hamilton to Cambridge'on Friday nights leaving Hamilton at 10.30 p.m., the secretary ot the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has wired Hon. W. F. Massey, Minister of Railways: “The Cambridge Chamber of* Commerce emphatically protest.against late train Hamilton to Cambridge on Friday nights as advocated by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. A copy of the ’telegram has been forwarded to J. A. Young, M.P.

The scare which recently oocured in '.the potato market of Australia had its reflection in New Zealand, where growers held supplies from home consumption in anticipation of securing higher prices in Australia. The easier •"'feeling on the Australian market lias, however, had the effect of levelling prices here. During the past fortnight prices in some of the stores shot up, but the market lias settled down ascain according to a big Hamilton dealer, and there is not likely to he .any shortage as the New Zealand crop lias proved a good one. \V,e have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a facsimile of the hisioric letter of condolence which was forwarded by the Mayor, aldermen, town councillors and inhabitants of the Borough of Wellington to the colonists of .Nelson on the occasion of the terrible Wairau massacre of 18-13, which has been forwarded to us by the Director of the Dominion Museum, Wellington. The document proffers sincere condolence to the residents of the settlement of Nelson, and pledged to aid the endeavour to procure justice and protection for their fellow colonists. The names of 137 then colonists are appended to the letter. The original is in the New Zealand national historical section of the Dominion Museum.