LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 111, 4 February 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

'Pile Pacific Cable Board notify Hint traffic is clear at nil stations. Tlio time of transit to and from tho United Kingdom is between two and three, hours. , A. new British trade organisation of importance is an amalgamation called ' Agricultural and General Engineers, Limited." .It consists of iivo great engineering firms, which intend to "secure tho full benefits of scientific mass pre duetion and properly organised salesmanship" The firms will control their production individually, but they will have a, common selling organisation. "Another vital olnmge, and 0110 which is the inner meaning of tho fusion," it is explained, "is that tliero will bo no comnetiim one with anolhor on the part; othe combined firms, and only these goods will lie made that loud tlicmselvos to vcadv and economical production in till' mass. It is hoped to arrange that the "A.G.K." will produce the whole of. the leadinir clnsses of agricultural machines and implements, and in such a way as to make the undertaking a powerful force in obtaining trade," At six minutes past 6cven last evening tho firo brigade received a call to tin York Street, the premises occupied by Carter and Guise brass founders. Tho roof was found alight, and this was badly damaged before the fire was got under control. The cause of tho lire was a defective chimney.

Speaking to a "Press" reporter on the question of aviation, Sir .lames Allen, Minister of Defence, stated that the Government had not as yet. decided on any definite policy. They ' had been offered 100 machines, but were not going lo take moro than 35 at present. Even for this number extra accommodation would have to be provided. It was probable that numbers of returned men, who had had experience in air work (mid there are- soma hundreds of these), would be brought together nt intervals lo refresh thoir knowledge. The training would be in connection with postal nnd'other work, recruits being enrolled as the occasion demanded. The classes would probably bo carried out in conjunction with the two companies (at Sockbnrn and Auckland) already in existence. The provision depot, on the main island of tho Three Kings group, which was dismantled by the New Zealand Government in the early months of tho wai in order to prevent the enemy stealing tho provisions, is to bo rebuilt ana restocked with provisions for castawsys. Instructions will bo posted at tho depot to inform shipwrecked people- that if a firo is lit there it will bo seen by the lighthouse-koepors at Capo Maria Van. Dioman, and a rescuing party will bo sent.

The inspection of dairy farms was the subject of a question put to tho .manager of tho citv milk depot at a meeting last night. Tho questioner remarked thai ho had seen milking dono in most insanitarv fashion on tho outskirts of Auckland. Tho farmer, who had been handline manure, had exceedingly dirty hands. Ho wet his hands with tho first iet, of milk from tho cow, and then proceeded to milk into a kcroseno tin. Wliilo he was fillinc a second tin, cats and dogs had access to tho first tin. When two tins were full, ho carried them to u can outside, the shed. Mr. Ward explained that tho inspection of dairy farms was the dutv of the Agricultural Department. Tho Citv Council received tho milk after it had left the farms.

Tho proposed schema for tho subdivision of tho Mount Pisa run involves tho cutting up Of the property (which consists of U?,COO acres) into 12 runs, ranging from about 8000 acres up to 16,000 acres in urea, ami to sot asulo between COOO and 7000 acres for closo settlement. Tho intention is that this land shall bo irrigated by means of tho projected hydro-electric scheme, and Mr. L. Uirks, chief eloctrical engineer, who is at present in Central Otago, is conducting an investigation into tho feasibility of suoli a propusal. There are four or live sottlers at different places along the borders of tho Mount Pisa ruiv who liavo insufficient land from which to earn a living at tho present time, and a portion of tho run will bo oll'orod lo them for selection for the purpose of increasing their holdings. Tho proposed plan of subdivision has been carefully considered, and tho schemo so drawn up as, in tho opinion of experienced surveyors, to give tho best results. At tho present time the whole property, which is carrying only 23,000 sheep, is very badly overrun with rabbits, liven if the country wore well "rabbited," it is suggested that none of tho proposed subdivision areas would carry more than £000 or MOO hill sheep—a number which was i-bout sumcioi't lo provido the settler with a fail living. Tho run has been subdivided so as to equalise-the proportion of high and low country in each of the holdings, to give nil opportunity of providing homestead sites, and to adopt, as far as possible, tho existing fencing boundaries, otherwise Micro would bs long, narrow stretches of land, which would icquirr a groat deal (if touting, involving a heavy oxpondM'ire by the new settlers. —"Star" (Duncdin). TliiTi.' 1.-, little doubt that this season lias been ono of the best experienced in Ihe Ashburton comity for ninny farmers (writes tho "Lyttellon Times". correspondent). Tho recent heavy rains have, caused the feed to come away, and already many of tho rape and turnip crops are ready for ilio lambs. Farmers who did not get their "fats" away last year until bile, have already 6ont drafts away this benson. Right up into the hills thfc sheep have done ronmvkaWy well,

Tho Tasmanian Parliament passed an amending Divorce Bill, making divorce in that Slato easier. One new ground is imprisonment for a term; uuoluer insanity; whilo both parties were to bo put on the tamo fooling in regard to misconduct. But tho Guvernor (Sir G. Macartney) reified to give uis assent, and referred Uio measure Uomo for consideration by t;ie Imperial authorities. According tu the "Ago,'' impuilanl changes in the Federal Ministry are impending. A Department of Foreign A flail's is to be created, and it will i, under the special direction of .Mr. Hughes, and be linked up with tno Prime .Minister's ohice.. Consequent on the defeat oi Messrs. Glynn anil Webster, Mr. Wise (Victoria)' and Mr. 11. liamoud (New South Wales) aro likely Co bo their successors, while Air. L. 1. Uruum (Queensland) will probably become Atturn.ey-Ucneral, and Do relieved of Kailways, which will be transferred to Mr. Laird Smith (.Tasmania). As thero has been much discontent at Defcnco being kept in tuo Senate, it is thought that that portfolio will in future !.c administered by General Myrio (New South Wales). If Senatur Milieu retires from the post of Repatriation Minister it will go to Mr. Birchall (Western Australia), .and if ill-health compels Mr. Watt to retire ho will be succeeded as Finance Minister by Mr. Poynton (South Australia), rnere stems to be a geivral opinion that Sir Joseph Cook will be Australia's first Resident Minister in Loudon.

A Penrith correspondent of the London "Times" states: It is stated on good authority that Mr. ,1. TV. Lowther will resign his scat and will cease to be Speaker of the House of Commons next May, and that tho Con.sei'vati'o candidate for tho Penrith and Cockcrmouth Division of Cumberland, which he now represents, will bo his brother, General H. C. Lowther, who was member for North Westmorland from 1915 to 11)18. In reply, to a ninquiry Mr. Lowther said the statement was not authorised by himself. When he intended to retire it would bo his duly to inform the House of Commons of the fact, and that was tile course ho proposed to take. A rather unusual item figured in the proQt and loss account of the Canterbury Industrial Society, Ltd. At its meeting on Saturday nignt a me'.nocr asked for an explanation o.' tlto entry, "Burglary account, MO," and on the credit fiido tnat of "Received conscience money, X'2o." '.file president (Mr. 11. Hunter) replied that the store had unfortunately been broken into and the sum of .£4O stolen. Some time later, a letter had been received enclosing ,E>3 "conscience money," with a footnote s\nt?.ng tlrnt the balance would be sent later. "However," said Mr. Hurter, "th" was the last heard of it." (.L-nighter.) "Suppose we refer the matter to the Pu'-glars' Union," suggested a iv.cmW. Tho Wellington R.S.A. has been successful in securing Mr. Tom Long, a member of the Auckland Ivxacutive, who is now on a, visit to Wellington in connection with R.S.A. matters, to spenk at the meeting of returned soldiers to ho held this evening at tho Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street. Much interest is centred in the address Mr. Long is to deliver to-night. At this meeting three members are to be elected to till vacancies on the committee.

An argument in a. friend's house led two young men, Frederick Gordon Potter and William Konche, into Jessie Street on Mouday night to settle their difference in the- old English fashion. Unfortunately for them, a constable came along, and as a result they appeared before Mr.-' E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, charged with using threatening behaviour. 1 Each was fined .£l. the alternative being fixed at three days' imprisonment. At eight o'clock yesterday morning a fjro broke out in a washhousc at the rear of No. 5 Britannia Street, Petone. Tho brigade was called, b«t the building was destroyed, • . « Quite an amusing line of defence was taken by a young mau charged beforeMr. E. Pago, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with riding <\ motorcyclo too fast across the intersection of rertain streets. Constable Smith had been giving evidenco respecting tho speed at which defendant had be?n travlling, and defendant proceeded to see if the constable knew anything about speed. "Are you any judge of'time" asked defendant. Ho proceeded to explain that if the constable was not a judge of ttmo he was not ft judge r.f speed. Ho suggested that a test should be made, and produced a watch which he handed to the Magistrate. The constable was told to commence to count to himself (at a given signal) what he estimated to bo 20 seconds, and signify when he thought that space of time had elapsed. When tho constable said "Time" the wntch had registered 32 seconds.

Sir Edward I'oynter's recent death recalls the marriage romances of the three Bisters Maedonald (says an exchange). Tliev wero the daughters of the Rev. John Maedonald. who some sixty years nsro was a AVeslcyan minister at Bursleni. One. of the trio married a rising young artist named Poynter, who was to becomo president of the Royal Academy. The second was wooed and won by Burne Jones, destined to achieve not less fame, The third Miss Maedonald married Lockwood Kipling, then a designer in the Dotteries. and accompanied him to India, where was born to them a son, christened Rudvard. Is there any parallel to tho careers of these sisters, children of a Methodist parsonage?

A correspondent to an English newspaper, writing on the domestic servant difficulty, states that man servants are now beine utilised.. Demobilised sorvico men are performing the necessary duties. One experience is related as follows: In response to a telephone call there eamo to the house a demobolieed soldier armed with a pail, scrubbing brushes, soap, metal polish, cleaning raiis. etc. Ho worked for three hours, tackling anything, from tho polishing of the door-knobs and hearth-stoning of doorstens to the cleaning of kitchen flues; and he did all that was asked willingly and well, at a fixed charge of Is. Gd. per hour. This went on for several davs. Then a further experiment wns made. An ex-sailor arrived, in accordance with nlon, at 7.30 a.m., and spent ilialf an hour in laying and lighting jires, cleaning boots, and even "putting on" the kettle for the breakfast cup of tea. Tho trials have proved a complete success. The. ex-servico men are content. So is the housewife.

The nrice of moat in Christeliurch has been reduced by one penny per lb. This is welcome news to the sorely taxed householder. It is the outcome of an agreement come to bv the master butchers at Addiiißton saleyards on Wednesday last, and it is warranted by the present nrices of stock. Speaking on, this question to a reporter, a butcher said:— Fororniarters of mutton are a drug with us iust now, and necks and breasts are hard to sell. People don't want stews. Shins of beef, too, are not easy trading. Perhans the shortage of coal has somethimr to do with the change in ninny resnecls. Now what better, or nioro profitable from a buying point of view, than a shin of beef for anyone with a family? From it can be made soups, stews, or a beefsteak pudding, enough to Inst a counle of days,' whereas a shoulder of mutton, a dearer article, will practically disappear at one meal. Ido not think that the price will fall any lower than now fixed, and the present reduced rate will. I should say, hold good for about three or four months."