LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14769, 7 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Our ideal will never be met with in life unless wc have lirst achieved il within ourselves- —Maeterlinck. The rale of interest to be paid by the Napier Harbour Board in respect to £240,000 to ho borrowed either within or beyond New Zealand, is iixed at not more than OA per cent. The Hamilton Rugby Union will officially wind-up the season to-mor-row. A smoke concert to players and supporters will be held at the Toorak Chambers at 8 p.m.

At the annual meeting of the Patea Freezing Company, the profit and loss account showed a loss of £58,385, mainly attributable to loss on cased meats and tallow from Hie previous season’s working.

Opposition to the proposed union of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in New Zealand is developing. The opponents contend that the proposal would mean the absorption of Hie Congregational Church by the Presbyterian, and an Anti-Absorption League, which has boon formed in (lie South, is actively opposing the fusion. The Dominion Freezing Works dispute was lo have been considered by a conciliation council yesterday, but as no representatives of tire union appeared, the matter was referred to I lie Arbitration Court. The dispute had been heard in several Southern centres, and a partial agreement reached. Yesterday’s sitting at Auckland was arranged by the parlies in Wellington, in September last. Authority is given by this week’s Gazette for local authorities lo borrow the following sums Cambridge Electric Power Board, construction of electric works, £15,000; Morrinsvillc Borough Council, water supply, £lO,000; ilauraki Plains County Council, construcling roads in Nelherlon Hiding, £2350, constructing roads in Tahuua Hiding, £2350.

At a special meeting of the Morrinsvillc Borough Council, last night, the following resolutions were carried; “That Messrs Mellarric and Richards’ lender of £75 7s Od for (he formation of Brink Street he accented”; “That a poll be taken in connection with Ihc proposal to purchase six acres of Mr Milliken’s property for a park and recreation ground, the cost not to exceed £3000; and that Ihc matter of the disposal of part of Ihc present recreation ground lie also referred to the ratepayers.” Tim sale of work organised by St. Peter's Women’s Guild, which was held in St. Peter’s Parish Hall yesterday, established a record so far as receipts arc concerned, the total being £177 0s 2d. Miss Olga Jolly was the winner of Mr Lowry’s cake, and'Airs Dalzell of Mr Faville’s cake; Miss 'firedwell was the win.; t of the dolt; Rev. A. MeAchoson won the hattrimming competition: Miqs Watson won a brass bowl, and Miss Phoebe Newdick won the prize rooster. I Hiring Hie evening excellent instrumental music was provided by a parly kindly organised by Mrs Fox, and Mrs Arthur contributed a song, wlicih was encored.

Desertion was tin; ground upon which Benjamin Hamshnltom sought, a divorce from Margaret Hanks Itamshollom at the Supreme Gourl, Auckland. The petitioner .said Ihe marriage look place in 1897, and there was one child. For some years his relations with the respondent, were quite satisfactory. However, in February, 1908, when they were living al Hamilton, she went away for a week’s holiday, and lie had not seen her since. He received one, teller from tier, written from Australia, hut she did not give any reason why she had deserted him. il was staled the respondent visited New Zealand some months njdo, but had now returned to Australia. A decree nisi was granted.

Elaborate celebrations will lake place next week in Hie busiest part of Victoria Street, the occasion being the Sixth Birthday and Anniversary Jubilee of the Big Store of Hooker and Kingston’s. Once each year they celebrate this great event by preparing special values and discounts —thus showing their appreciation In Hie many thousands of loyal and faithful customers. 'film success and unbounded prosperity that this store has shown from year In year is proof of |,lie firm’s good values and methods of trailing. 11. is no doubt these points that have attracted yon to Ihe store, and will continue to do so. for Hie firm’s slogan of “Better value, belter service and complete satisfaction” wilt he rigidly adhered |o in the future. Crowds each year attend this big Anniversary Jubilee —your welcome —• and the spirit of friendship is strengthened.-—Hooker and Kingston, Ltd.'

The Kit-ham Dairy Company's Herdtesting Association lias now a membership of over ho, testing over 2000 cows. Slopwork meetings have been held by coalminers in Ihe Waikato during the last three days regarding the proposal to hold conferences with a view to arriving at fresh agreements with the coalmine owners, but nothing definite has yet been reached. The Home Mission anniversary will he celebrated on Sunday next at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, London streetRev. S. Keen will conduct the morning service, and Rev. A. Mitchell ( ■ hames) that in the evening. Rev. A. .Mitchell will also lecture on Monday evening, and sing both at Sunday evening's service and on Monday evening.

Speaking in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly recently, a Labour member, Mr Molesworth, proceeded to praise the motherhood endowment scheme, and Mr McGirr’s care for the babies- “He lias made available a splendid outfit to ensure that children come into the world properly clothed.” remarked the speaker—a “bull” I hatcaused roars of laughter. Du Ihc motion of Mr Bruce, at a meeting of the Wanganui Education Board., it was decided to ask the Education Department t.u supply free copies of t.ho School journal to children laid aside by long illness in hospitals or at their homes. Ho considered the children would greatly appreciate receiving the journal.

The carelessness of some of the business people in New Plymouth was shown in the report of the nightwatchman to the annual meeting of the Employers’ Association the other nightThe report gave the following interesting details; —Lights left on 21, doors left open 72. parcels left outside shops 5, keys left in doors d, windows left open 15. The Board of Education has decided to call for tenders for the. erection of two portable schoolrooms at Whitiora to accommodate 28 children. A lender (£885) for the erection of a school at Taotaoroa was accepted. An application for provision of additional accommodation at Hamilton West school was declined, the architect being requested to report on a request for improved lighting and ventilation.

Petitions bearing in all nearly 700 signatures and praying for an amendment of llic Crimes Act for the better protection of young girls, have been presented in the House of Representatives by Messrs J. Craigic (Timaru) and D. Jones (Kaiapoi). What was most desired was the elimination of the clause in the Act relating to the age of girls. At the present, time the, male accused is protected by the “reasonable cause lo believe” clause, and this it is desired to have altered in the interests of morality and the girls themselves.

The Tasmanians are making an effort to promote a fat lamb trade with the Old Country. Shipping space is naturally plentiful, and promises arc held out of ships calling regularly to lift cargoes. It is feared, however, that the high freights will be a drawback, but if the export trade throughout Australia is not developed it will not be long before (here will be a big surplus of slock again in Australia, which will mean a big reduction in the income to primary producers. At the Temora (NLSAV.) Show last mouth, a well-known pony jumper Ginger Mick was killed in a remarkable manner. He was tied up to a fence/ preparatory lo taking part in the high jumping contest, and being frightened by a piece of Hying paper, jumped clean over Hie fence. Un account of being lied up short, the rein pulled his head back and broke his neck. Ginger Mick was valued at ,t‘2oo, and had a record of Oft lOiu fur a high jump. An eminent London physician says that the infirmities of old age are. gradually taking possession of Hie system some years earlier than they were wont Lo do in former generations. There has been a decrease in the death-rale in Great Britain since 18:V' al all ages under sb, while between the years of 65 and 75 there has been an increase. This is believed Lo he due in Hie one ease to the better care taken of children, and in the oilier lo the wear and tear of modern life. Mr Joseph Partridge, brother of oxSistcr Liguori, who arrived in Sydney in September last year from Hongkong, where he was connected with one of the biggest business houses, intends leaving for Ireland in November. He resigned his position lo go to Australia lo do whatever lie could to watch the interests of his sister. Mr Partridge stated recently that if life sister wished to leave with him she would be very welcome lo do so. A [elegram lo the effect that (he conference lo be held at Wellington to frame Hie future policy lo govern (he Taupo Tulara Timber Company’s railway can now be convened whenever the representatives of the settlers concerned are ready to proceed to Wellington for the purpose, lias been received from the Minister fur Lands, (lie Hon. D. H. Guthrie, by Hie Putaruru District Development Board. Accordingly, ■ the board is communicating with the settlers' delegates, namely, Mr It. W. Bullock, representing Lichfield and Tokoroa, and Mr K. S. Cox, representing Taupo, Atiamuri, and Ongaroto, but as Mr Bullock is at present absent from home, it will be several days before they can leave for Wellington.

When the steamer Canberra was examined on arrival in Melbourne recently about 100 rats were, caught, but they were all healthy. This is not regarded as a very large number for a vessel of this size (says the Argus). Some time ago the Federal officers caught 1100 rats mi an overseas vessel which had not been fumigated for scleral years. It is claimed by some seamen that the metal discs on the mooring ropes are not an effective guard against Ihe egress of rats from Ihe vessels. Rats have been known to climb down ropes hanging over the sides. They will .jump from a height of -I Of I it pressed. Instances have been quoted where rats have swum for a distance of half a mile.

Rumours have filtered through in l( rinil,tently during the past month or two, says the Public Service Journal, as to the possibility of a rateable reduction in salaries, nr in the cost-of-hviug salary increases (bonuses, some, still persist in dubbing them) granted in IDl'.i and 11)20. Suffice it lo sav that Iln> executive has no knowledge of such a proposal, and at any interview with Ihe Public Service Commissioner, when salaries and Public service conditions generally have been discussed, there has not even been a suggestion that such a course wool be proposed. When, in IR2O. Ihc association entered into an agreement with Government in regard to salaries, the clear understanding with the Government’s agents—the Uniformity Committee —was that there was to he no reduction unless the percentage increase in the cost of living (then al 02) fell below a2 per cent. This position has not yd obtained, and until it does so (he public servant, we believe, does not I lo display any anxmi.v. We feel satisfied that Hi'’ U.uvernmeiu will continue lo honour the acreemcnt. ,md Ihc possibility of any proposal lo Ihc contrary is, in the eierumslanccs, hardly conceivable.

l-’or fironclilal comma, cakc Woods' Great Peppermint Cure,

| A curious fact was mentioned at the ■ Counties’ Conference. It was pointed 1 out that if a borough or city has ! properly in a county the county cannot : charge rales on that property, but if a I county iias property in a borough or 1 city, that property is liable to be, and 1 is, rated.

During the war period a prisoner in one of our gaols escaped, and under an assumed name enlisted and fought for a long period at the front. He came back to New Zealand, got married, and set up a little home for himself. Some lime afterwards he was recognised and put in gaol again to carry out the remainder of his sentence. The matter so preyed on bis mind that after a short while behind prison bars it was found necessary to commit him to a menial hospital. His ease is just one ol the. little tragedies of the war, and shows the complex nature of the human mind —rebellion, patriotism, love, suffering, and then the breakdown: the broken home and a child without a father's care.

A young man who lives in the Temuka district has informed Sergeant Dwan. of Tcmuka, that he rode out from Timaru on his motor bicycle early in the morning on which Constable Dorgan was murdered, and that his motor back-fired when tie was at the north end of the town, making a noise something like a shot from a pistol. He and another young fellow had been to Fairview the previous night, and Ids companion rode home behind him. While this may account for the noise heard on the morning in question (says the Timaru Herald), it still leaves unsolved the mystery as to who rode the motor cycle, which was traced as far as Dunsandcl.

Sir James Allen is confident that the appointment of a publicity officer for the New Zealand Government is likely to be of great value (writes a London correspondent). He has submitted a report to the New Zealand Government.- He has suggested the urgent need for publicity, both at this end and in New Zealand. The most urgent call of all, he affirms, is for communication between the Dominion and the High Commissioner’s Ofllce'in London, and a closer touch between Hie two. He has suggested that the publicity officer should be a liaison officer between New Zealand and the London office, and he should spend part of ins time in New Zealand and part in London, and that lie should he in touch with all the Departments, and learn from them what they have to tell for the benefit of those on this side. He should come over here and give information regarding any inter-action. He should assist in getting information concerning the Dominion into the British newspapers and magazines. He would sec what produce and other things were needed for exhibition purposes and window display, and toil the Department on the other side. He should talk New Zealand in the vessels he travels by, and in all the countries he goes through.