LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 198, 17 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho following wireless message has lieen intercepted from the steamer Talune bv the Chatham Island station:— "S.S. Talune picked _ up lost schoonei Retriever between Rain tea and Papeete. Towing her to Papeete." ( \

"There appears," runs a paragraph; in the latest Military-General Headquartersinstructions, "to be a somewhat popular, though quite erroneous, impression among the general public that the medals (or medal ribands) «f deceased soldiers may bo worn by their next-of-kin). No authority for such a. practice exists."

"Wo aTe all profiteering."' f-aid Mr. Massey, speaking to a deputation Saturday. "There is not an individual in New Zealand to-day who is not. out to make as much money its •he can, and mako it as easily as he can. ■ There is no exception—except tho Prime Minister."

The Eastern Company advises:—"Fullrate traffic for United Kingdom as usual."

Tho question of arranging to have folding perambulators carried on tho tra'mcars has been exhaustively discussed by the Auckland City Council in consultation with the manager of tho tramways department, and hopes wero entertained in suburban homes; that some means of affording this assistance to the mothers' of young children might be found.' It is not to be, however, for on a report by tho manager to the Public Services Committee, the council finally decided last week that <ho concession could not bo arranged. It was pointed out b.y the manager that a new plause was being added to the Government regulations which wns aimed at stopping the practice of putting luggage of any sort on tranicar platforms, as being likely to ihipede tho proper and safe control of the driving gear and brakes. The effect of that, he considered, would probably bo tho prevention of carriage of any parcels on tranv car platforms. The above prohibition will nit AVellingtori'peoife hard, for hero both prams and luggage are freely carried on the cars, '

At the annual meeting of members of the Petone Workshops library officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow: - —President. Mr. C. T. Bargh; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. Murison, Johnston, Banning, Scott, Lowden, Hargreaves; librarians. Messrs.'Lawrcnce, King, Abrahall; committee, Messre. Cunliffe, Andrews, Eiffe, Bryant, Pointon, .T. Arnold, Waters : trustees, Messrs, M'Bride and Coley; secretary, Mr. P. Godber (re-elected for the twenty-third successive time); treasurer, Mr. W. A. Taylor.

. A strange coincidence has occurred in connection with'the preparations for the planting of a kauri tree in the OliTistchurch Gardens by tho Prince of Wales. While the gardeners vfire digging the hole on the site at the 'bottom of the archway lawn, thlsy unearthed a medallion struck in 1901 'to commemorate tho visit to Christchurch of (lie present King and Queen. The find was (reports the "Press") so significant that the curator (Mr. J. Young) decided to ask the chairman of the board (Mr. George Harper) to present the medal to the Prince when he plants the kauri. Tho medallion is just a Utile copper token, bearing the heads of the King and Queen on one side and 11.M.5. Ophir on the other. It will bo handed to the Prince in a little case just as it was found,' The time for the tree-plant-ing ceremony has not yet been fixed.

It is gratifying to note, writes "Townplanner, that the City Council intends to improve the entrance to Oriental T3ay, nnd tlie news will be hailed with pleasure by all residents of that locality. However, the "drab and rather sordid appearance" of Clyde Quay is not coufined to the City Council's side of the road; there are old buildings on the opposite 6ide that are as depressing' as the council's ugly fence', and' the Mayor's proposed improvements will accentuate these blots on the landscape. Unfortunately. there, is no law to compel owners to improve their property, _ though it is hoped that under the provisions of the Town-planning Act, which will probably be passed this session, propertyowners will bo compelled to consider the rest of the community when building or making alterations. Meanwhile, let U6 be thankful for small mercies and look forward to the time when ( not only Orientall Bay, *iut the whole of our Umpire C:tv will be as attractive as anj ; one could wish.

The Wellington Provincial Conference of the Now Zealand Farmers' Uniiinwill be lirfd at Oddfellows' Hall. Feildinsj. on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 25 end 26. The order-paper contains a large number of roniits covering a wide range, of subjects.

Tho difficulties of travel in • the far north were emphasised last week when the Lyric Quartet Party, comprising four men and two ladies, hnd a narrow escape from death when travelling from Whangarei to Dargaville. A coach wns bringing tho party through, and encountered a flood. at Taylor's Flat. The coach tried to press on, but got into sorious difficulty, nnd- cApsized. Two valuable horses wero immediately drowncd, and the whole party was in danger of drowning as the current wns running strongly. Mr. Charles Taylor saw the, coach taking the flooded road, and anticipated disaster. He therefore put oil' in a. boat, mid reached tho overturned vehicle in the nick of time! One man had gone down once, nnd was rescued in a state of exhaustion. The ladies of tho party were very plucky, and Mr. Taylor wns able to get everyone to safely. Tho whole of the luggage of tho concert party was washed away in the flood.

Mr. ,T. 11. Stringer, who was among the veterans presented to tho Prince of Wales at'the military parade at Christchurch on Friday, served in the Crimean War as a gunner in the Royal Horso Artillery. According to an- exchange, lie was then only 18 years of age, but this did not prevent him winning a medal for distinguished conduct in tho field. In September, 1855, during the final bombardment of S'elxistopol, the officer in charge of the gun of which Mr. Stringer was No. 2, ordered th!at a shot be fired into tho protecting parapet that the gun might bo brought to bear on a body of Russians. The shot_ was fired, but when tho smoke oleared it was 6een Hint a gabion had been blown Into such a position that it was impossible | 0 lay the gun. On the call for a - volunteer, Mr. Stringer at once stepped forward, ieft the protection of tho parapet, erosswl Hie five-swept' spaco in frpnt of tho battery, and cleared away tho obstruction, 'returning uninjured. In addition to fclih medal no received for this deed, Mr Stringer was also awarded ono rf the' 500' Frenoh Crimean' medals distributed among tho English troops, and tho English ~and Turkish Crimean I modals.

During the hearing at Napier of the petition for divorce by Flora It. Faulkner against J. J. Faulkner, His Honour, Sir W. B. Edwards, stated that the evidence regarding the allegation of adultery was very flimsy, and that had it not beon for the finding of the jury in tho ease of Pried against Price and Faulkner. and the fact that the respondent in

ho present case had not filed an nnswer, ic would not have granted a decree.

r 'Theso ladies seem to assume that there is not a low-priced costume nor any other article of dress i'o be obtained m Auckland," remarked the head of a wellknown firm of drapers on Friday to a "Herald" reporter, in referring to statements made at a meeting of women held on Monday. "For instance, our firm alone has sold about 200 all-wool; New Zealnndmade costumes for 955. this season, well finished, and good fitting. Isn t that cheap enough,? We have also sold fully 150 dozen of New Zealand woollen stockings at 3s. Ud. a pair. I daresay none of the ladies at the meeting would have looked at either, but nevertheless they are on sale, and readily found by those who are looking for cheap costumes. In sup- . port of this statement other costumes were slilown, indigo serge, from .£7 10s. upwards. Exception was taken to the statement with regard to the stun of 103. lid. being paid the sower, machinist, and prefer in a 22-gu'nea model costume, in addition to these, he enumerated lio fewer than 15 other items to he considered in assessing the cost of nianufacture, including the salary of a hig-Wly-pitfd cutter.