Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The mails which were dispatched from Wellington on AugusL 18, arrived in London on October 8. Oa and after November 1 duty will be assessed on American invoices at the current rate of the day, instead of the arbitrary- rate of 4.85 dollars, as at present. On tho basis of a draft presented on Saturday, this will mean an increase in the amount of duty payable of 17 per cent. Goods afloat, but arriving in New Zealand ports fn and afler November 1, will be subject to this increase. In manv case v s these goods have been, sold on the basis of the present system by merchants who will thus be involved inft very serious loss. It is held to be unreasonable that less than three weeks' notico should be given by the Customs of this change. Recently two pearls were found on the llawke'si Bay coast near Napier—oue in «. mussel,and the other in a pipi.

For the past two months a seal has mndo its domicile in the lower harbour at Dunedin, reports the "Star." When first it sought the harbour it was shy, anu several people who caught a passing glimpse mistook it for a shark. Latterly, however, the seal has been les? uarticuiar about its being seen. The other dav soine amateurs ''rere fishing near the island, and were bmy with butterfish, when they wore stai tied by the bprl coming io the surface a few "yards from the boat. It'took a few minutes' snorting,' snarling survey of the boat before diving again. , The butterlish also left, evidently disturbed by the presence of t;he seal, which appeared to be anything from Bft. to 10ft. in length, with other dimensions in healthy proportion. The reluctance of people with capital to build tenements to, let is often attributed to the high cost of uiml, material'., and labour. There nwy, however, be another reason, judging by the fact mentioned at the Auckland Magistrate's Court, that; the tenant of .a house was .£■1!) in 'arrears'with the rent (says tho "Star"). A meeting of members of the Wellington Chamber of Cqmmorco if. to be held tu-day 'to discuss "tho Hoard of Trado Bill liojv before Parliament in the light of tho recent amendment, to it. . The I'rime Minister has been asked if ho will delay the linal passing oi' tho Bill until the commercial community have had an opportunity of making representations regarding it. Mr. John Tail, of the firm of J., and N. Tait, has received a wireless message from Sir Harry Lauder (now en routo from Sydney to San Frnncisco) asking him to bo good enough to convey to the public of New Zealand, through the Press, his keen regie.t at not being able to visit the Dominion. Mr. Tait states that Sir Harry Lauder wis nuile building on coming to' Now Zealand, where he had mnde so many friends, ami he was genuinely distressed when it was made imperative for him to return at once to America, and England. A decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, was granted by His Honour Mr. Justice Sim in the Divorce CouTt on Saturday in the undefended, case of Ethel Mary Thomson against William Alexander Thomson. The petition was pirtly heard on Tuesday last, when the petitioner gave evidence, and the case was adjourned for .the production of corroborative evidence. This was given on Saturday by tho mother of tho petitioner,' and the decree was granted. Sir. T. Neavc appeared* fur the petitioner. Writing to Mr. W. ,S. Wilson, of Wellington, the secretary of the Southland League, Mr. A. Campbell, remarks that, tho establishment >of boys' agricultural clubs has been brought prominently before tho various kinared societies in, the province, and at tho present time i_s under consideration by tho Farmers' Union, A. and P. associations, borough councils. etc. Mr. Campbell ©Jmpliments Mr. Wilson on the attention he has succeeded in securing for this important subject, and promises further information of the development of the movement in Southland. Tho growth of pasturo in the Auckland district, which this season was rather later in starting than usual, owing to the cold wenther exporienced in Sootember. has been remarkably stimulated as a result of the more genial wenther that has prevailed during the last fortnight. An exchange reports that evidence of the abundant spring growth is to be seen in all the suburbs and in the rural districts close-to the city, while the various pnvks and gardens are also displaying prodigal growth. Tho opinion is widely held that the drought experienced during tho late autumn, which prevented the growth of pasture to the usual extent, mil have the effect of providing an abnormal growth during the spring, and judging from the (lush of grass already apparent this opinion is likely to he justified. Tho Canterbury Petroleum Prospecting Company's well at Chertscy has been drilled to a depth of 2076 ft., and the'casing is down 2058 ft., states a southern exchange. Tho ground traversed for the hist sixtv feet has been very close clay, varying from yellow to blue. A supply of five-inch casing has bta obtained from New Plymouth. Two thousnnd five hundred feet of four-inch casing has been ordered from Canada. According to tho "Star," opinion is strengthening in Dunedin that:, irrespective of tile party results of the forthcoming general elections, a policy of nationalisation of the coal mines will be adopted in New Zealand, and put into practice. It is thought, however, that for a long time to come nationalisation of coal mines will he confined to the Dominion collieries which produce steam coal. In other words, few, if any, of the lignito mines are likely v to bo nationalised. That, at least, ic a strong oninion Jvold in Dunedin commercial circles. The competition of Chinamen against returned soldiers in the fruit and greengrocery business, a matter that; has been discussed by the Canterbury District Repatriation Board, was itioncd at last week's meeting ot the ":ied Soldiers' Association at Christen, .1. reports an exchange, when Mr. W. K. I.e»dley drew the Attention of the members to the facts of the case. Several members expressed themselves as against: Chinamen being allowed to set up business in opposition to soldiers who had fought for their country; while others considered that as the Chinamen had paid their poll-tax they were entitled to trade where liie.v pleased. After a lengthy discussion the following motion was passed: "That this meeting deplore* the fact that a white man should see tit: to let his shoii to Chinamen to opnn a fruit business in direct opposition to two returned soldiers already doing' busivr-s in Christchurch,"

Shearing operations in tho Auckland province will bo introduced with the first spell of fine weather, says an exchange. It is customary for farmers within easy distance of ilie railway to be the first to start, those in the backcountry following about November ]. Judging from the number of outside applications that have been received by auctioneering firms from prospective shearers, farmers should not experience anv difficulty in getting the wcol from the sheep. It is anticipated that 'the clip will compare very favourably with last season's. ■ The eleventh yearly Fair of Paris, held in July last, proved a very (ireat suecess. More than 3500 exhibitors took, part in it, and very important business was transacted there. The twelfth Fair will be held in Paris from May 10 to 25. 1920, and is expected to obtain a greater measure of success even than the preceding ones. The Foire de Paris is exclusively national, like a yearly exhibition of all French manufactured and other .products. It is-organised by the Municipal Council of Paris, the Paris Chamber of Commerce, the General Coun.' cil of the Seine, under the patronage of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and is inaugurated by the President of the Republic. What may bo called the Jellicoe touch has been seen at many social functions within tho past few days, big strong men taking liable? in their arms and trying to nurse tliem back into quietness, and in other ways trying to interests very young peoplo (says the Auckland "Star'). One old lady at a social meeting last night, when she saw e. big official over lift. Bin.: in length trying to pacify an unruly baby of nearly a year old by trying to soothe it in 'his arms, said: "Oh, if he could only nurse the child like the Admiral did." Evidently the Admiral will be quoted for his nursing capabilities for many a long day to come. Sweden is carefully testing a new system for the use of wireless telephones. As soon ,as the system has been successfully tested,-" it is intended to establish stations for the mercantile fleet. Special advantage will be taken of the telephone by the Swedish fishing fleet. By providing fishing vessels with telephone apparatus the fishermen can obtain from reconnoitring vessels exact information as to the position of the fish in particular districts, and, in addition, will send warnings of tiio approach of storms, There were five candidates for the position of Bishop of Dunedin, their names being: Archdeacon Richards, of St. John's, Invercargill; Archdeacon Fitchelt, of St. John's, Roslyn; Archdeacon _Woodtliorpe,- Dunediu; the Bishop of Waiapu (Dr. Sedgwick) ; the Rev. P. A. Micklem, rector of St. James's _ Parish, . Sydney. . Archdeacon Richards is not yet bishop-' elect, but the procedure standing between him and the title is now purely formal. He has first to declare, in writing, his assent to the constitution of the Church of the Province of New Zealand. His name will then be sent on to the Bishop of each diocese, and brought before the Standing Committee of each diocese. The Standing Committee will then vote on the question of accepting him, and if three of the five dioceses accept him, ho will become Bishop-elect. He will be consecrated by the Primate (Bishop Nevill) probably in November or December, and the ceremony will take placo in St. Paul's Cathedral.—"OVago Times." What is the best way to get rid of blackbirds?" Mr. K. I l '. Stead was asked at the meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association last Saturday night. ■"I think'the best way is with strychliined fruit," was his reply.. "But after the first day lie is very hard to get," said the questioner. "The first day should finish him—it should be tlio last day," 'Mr. Stead said. He added that it wag not the slightest, use to get tlio blackbirds "on tlio rebound," and he advised that after having got tliem on the first day the. poisoned fruit should be removed until the birds were lulled into a sense of security again. There is the scandal, for it i. l nolhing less,, savs the Christehurcli "Press," of Iho Atlienic's mail, of which between SO and GO bags out of some 10(1 were mutilated by rats to an extent that made -it;- the woi'st case of the kind that ever came under the notice of ilie Wellington 'Postal officials. How many letters and parcels were destroyed 'will probably never be known, but the number must be considerable. In (bfault. of cargo, the rats in tho Athenic apnear to have turned their attention to the mail-bags with an avidity not warranted, so far as food went, by -the nature of their contents. And apparently there is nothiiis to prevent the same thing happening Again -unless the shipping company,' its own motion, protects the mails it carries. There is nothing in the- British Post Office laws or regulations giving it authority to direct where mails shall bo stowed. As long ns' mails were carried only in mail steamers, they were quite safe, but in the case of the carjo boats which are now bringing tliem out, a small mail is apparently carried in on officer's, room, and a largo one in the hold. This is a matter on which the Now Zealand Post Office might warrantably make strong representations to the British authorities. Another incident, that 6iiggestfl some laxity in looking after the mails was the case of the returning soldier who, when the transport on which he was travelling was close to Wellington, threw overboard a mail-bag and its contonts. What most, people want to know is how it happened that the mailbags were so accessible to anyone.who wanted to play tricks gitli thein. The handling of the mails after they are landed leaves something to be desired from the point, of view of expedition, but their treatment in the Dominion, after all, compares favourably with the illtreatment some of them have lieen roceiving on the way out. A tribute to Roman Catholic soldiers who fell in the great war was paid recently by Dean C'ahill at the unveiling of the Sacred Heart College roll of honour (says Monday's Auckland "Herald,") "The Roman Catholic schools," said the Dean, "are an essential part of the Church's organisation. In these schools the teacher looks after the body and soul of the child and trains complete citizens. The boys of Sacred Heart College are to lie found in every walk of life in every part of the Dominion,'young men leading moral lives and preserving, the ideals of their college. The facts of the ready response of'young Catholics to the Army were not generally known," said the Dean. "Jingoism is not part of our creed," he added. "These boys were away fighting for some wlip remained at homo to carry on a war against our teaching orders. Roman Catholics have no monopoly of patriotism, but the roll of honour eoes to show that the young Catholics did their part in the war." An interesting bit of history was contained in the paper on' Federation, read by Mr. W. Kirkpatrick, F.R.H.S., at a meeting of the Philosophical Institute in Christcliurch, says the "Press." ,'fn ISB9, the Premier of New Zealand addressed a note as'follows to Governor Jervois to forward to Lord Knutsford: "II; being desirable in connection with the conservation of the seal fisheries belonging to the colony, that the Macquarie -Island should form part of tho colony. His Excellency tlio Governor is rcspectfr.lly advised to move tho Secretary of State to cause tho necessary stops to be taken to have the British flag hoisted and tho Queen's sovereignty proclaimed over these islands with a view to their annexation by New Zealand." Tn reply, Lord Knutsford advised the Colonial Government to uispateh a vo?sel, to hoist the flag and proclaim Her Majesty's sovereignty, and to report the same to tho Home .authorities with a joint address from the Now' Zealand Government, when steps would bo taken to issue letters patent for the purpose. The Hinemoa was on tho point of sailing'when. Lord Onslow, who had' succeeded Sir F. Jervois as Governor, recoived the following cablegram from Hobart: "Macquarie Islands are included in the letters natent of the Governor of Tasmania,—Hamilton, Governor."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191013.2.13

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 15, 13 October 1919, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,487

LOCAL AND GENERAL Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 15, 13 October 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 15, 13 October 1919, Page 4

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert