LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 259, 27 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mails dispatched from Wellington on Juno ?l, per It.M.S. Marama, via. San Francisco, arrived in. London on July 24. Thore is a movement on foot—which has been vaguely referred to by the Prime Minister—for some of the larger construction companies to unite in. building some 500 houses for the Government. It is understood that th» building firms interested have _ placed themselves in the petition of being able to secure blocks of land at Miramar, and providing the Government will ensure them a supply of materials necessary they will build tho houses for 2J per cent, over bare cost, the Government to take over the land at a price to be arranged. Tho builders concerned liavo already approached 6ome of the building trade unions on the matter, and ' have been given an idea on what terms tho members will accept work on the big Kohenie. By concentrated effort it is

believed that the erection of the 500 houses can be completed in about seven months, and, to this end, it is understood that the construction companies ate' prepared to suspend all other building operations until the work on the houses is finished. The development of the proposal should bo interesting tc tho building world as well as the public. "I think the boys in your schools know more about English history tlilan they do of New Zealand history," remarked General Sir William Birdwood when speaking to a gathering of early settlers last nighi. "I believe tlaey ought to know all about English history, U& I think tlley should learn everything they possibly can about New Zealand." The shortage of coal is being seriously felt by the Auckland Gas Company with the result that an effort is to be made to conserve present supplies by reducing tlio pressure of gas between the hours of T. 30 p.m. ajid 5 a.m. until further notice. The company have not sufficient coal to carry on at the present rate of consumption, hence tho above precautions.—Press Assn.

Tho class of instruction in physical training for Senior Cadets who desire [ promotion to n.c.o. rank concluded last j nicht. Between 65 and 70 boys havo attended nightly and havo exhibited | great keenness' to learn all they could about the art of keeping fit, _Gla6sware ie expensive and not easily obtained, consequently a practice liao grown up of stealing glasses and tumblers at hotel bars. The iicensce o£ tho Caledonian Hotel has been a very rreat sufferer from such thefts, so much so that he found it advisablo to employ a man to keep watch in tho bar. On Saturday this private detective saw a young man named Alfred Frank Tyree put a couple of glasses in bis pocket, and the licensee was infoirsed. Tyroe was asked to step into the dining-room and was there accused of pocketing the glasses. He admitted faking them and said ho had dona bo for a joke. Tyree was handed over to the police and yesterday morning ho appeared in the Magistrate's Court ana pleaded guilty to tho theft. Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., who was on Urn bench, inflicted a fine of JC3, in default eevon days' imprisonment.

The renewal of tho license of the Clarendon Hotel, which was adjourned from tho annual meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committed so that ccrtain repairs recommended by Inspector M'llveney could be carried out, was wanted yesterday by tho Licensing Committee, over which Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., presided Mr. D. Jackson, who appeared for the licensee, expressed regret at the deljy, which ho explained was due to tho difficulty of obtaining labour. The Wellington Football League haa been informed by the City Council that its request for additional dressing-shed accommodation at Wakefield Park will be dealt with in 'connection with- the scheme for general improvements to tha ground.

The sunshine recorded at Hokitika for the past nine days givos an average of Bhr. 42niln. 40sec. per day.—Press Assn. An energetic lady witness at the Auckland Magistrate's Court, when being cross-examined by counsel, made some frank admissions illustrative of tho vigorous character. "I believe you have had trouble with some of tho men who have worked on your place?" was ono question. "Yes, I had to give one of them a hiding," was tho nonchalant reply. "Then thero was a littft incident with a brick, I understand?" asked counsel. "Yes, but I missed him," answered witness, at which tho Court smiled all round, in recollection of the average woman's straightness of aim when throwing. Yet another query had tie lawyer. "Did you striko my client with your umbrella?" "Oh, yes," replied witness. "But ho did not bleed rauoh, it was a mere scratch. Men are not used to seeing much blood."

"Ten shillings Is nothing like tho value of this overcoat," said Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court last week, in commenting on tho action of a second-hand dealer in paying that sum for a coat, tj)<> vaJuo of which was stated to be -E{. "If second-hand dealers will buy things at nn under value like that," lie continued, '.'they are only offering a premium to SMSi,"-

In the League football match at Auckland on Saturday, Rogers, tho English half-back, had his left leg broken below tho knee—Press Assn. • Mr. J. B. Williams, speaking at a meeting of tho Broken Hill Distress Fund Committee last night, gavo an unqualified donial to a statement appearing in the Press to the effect tliut the Broken Hill 6trike was nearing its close. He said that his latest advice was in direct contradiction to this statement. Ho also emphatically denied the statement published in the New Zealand Press that collectors in Australia woro receiving a commission for taking up collections.

. Mr. F. Smith, headmaster of tho Dunsandol School, has conducted experiments at the school to test t.&e effect of limo and inoculated soil on the growth of lucerne, Four plots, each 21ft. by 9ft., were sown in rows nine inches apart in the school garden in December, 1914. Plot 1 had lime at the rate of ono ton per acre, and inoculated soil; plot 2 had inoculated soil only; plot 3 had limo only; plot 4. had neither limo nor inoculated soil. It was found that tho combination of lime and _ inoculated soil gavo tho best immediate results. The 6eoond best plot was the ono that had received lime only. The growth in the fourth plot, tie untreated one, was of a yellowfsh-green colour, and seemed to lack vigour. To test tho effect of. manure on tho growth of the plant a strip 24ft. long and 4}ft. wide in each plot was manured with sulphate of potash, superphosphate and basic slag. The conclusions arrived at up to tho present time are; (I) That manure lias no effect on the growth of lucerne; (3) that inoculation or limo gives the plants on soil so treated two years start of plants grown on untreated soil; (3) that tows sown wide, say, up to 24m., give a better growth than rows sown closer.

A special meeting of the Finance Committee of the City Council was. held yesterday afternoon to consider in detail tho schedule of the proposed new loan. A few days ago, tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) announced that the schedulo would come up for consideration as soon as Mr. L. Birks'a Teport on the powerhouse scheme was available. That report has now been presented to and adopted by the council, so the Mayor intends to push on with the loan schedule as rapidly as possible. The activity in the cheese market noted last week etill prevails (says the Otautau "Standard"). Several local factories have sold at prices exceeding Is. 2d. per lb. on trucks. Buyers' agents apparently have instructions only fo commit their principals to limited purchases, instead of having a free hand to buy all offering as in pre-war days. The proposed co-operative marketing scheme is sympathetically approved among manj of the Southland factories, and the action of several factories in selling their current year's make is not likely to hinder their joining up with tho co-operative company for the future handling of their produce.

Tho late Chinese Consul in Samoa, Mr. I/in ,Tun Chao, arrived in Sydney on his way to China by the Ventura lust week (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"): The Consul did not wish to discuss the political situation in China, but was of tho opinion that there was a big future industrially ahead of Samoa. At present the Chinese there were only of the indentured labouring class. He advocated an open-door policy for the Chinese. He wanted to see Chinese merchants permitted to do business there. The condition of the labourers was better now than it was some years afro.

Quito . a histoir centres around tho Methodist Church, Oriental Street, I'etone, which has been acquired by Mr, 0. Jonas, of Petone, for tho purpose of conversion into shops and dwellings. The church has been in existence alxmt 20 years. Upon the amalgamation of tho Methodists and Wesloyatis about seven or eight years ago, the building, which since its erection had been situated in Sydney Street, was removed on rollers to its present sito, with-a view to serving the requirements of the congregation, who were resident in the east end of th» district. After a trial of about seven years it was found lather unsatisfactory, and it was decided to sell tho building .and furniture. At last night's meeting of the Petone Borough Council Mr. Jones made application for a permit to convert the church into two shops and dwellings at-, tached, and lock-up shop, facing Jackson Street, and a dwelling at the back of tho section facing Oriental Street. After considera'blo disoussion, during which tlio plans for the proposed shops worn reviewed, it was decided to refer tho matter back to Mr. Jones, so that ho might alter the plans to the satisfaction of the engineer.

At tho request of the Education Department the director of the Technical College arranged a special examination for the returned soldiers attending the college, to enable them to qualify for entering the Public Service. Tho examination was held on June 28 and 29, and 28 of tho students and one who came down from Auckland succeeded in passing.

In connection with the Technical College, examinations are now being held both in the evening classes and Technical High School covering tho work of tho half session. In tho caso of the latter detailed reports, giving the results, are to be sent to the parenta. Mr. T. Pelham has been appointed poundtoeper to tlio Hutt bfroujh. Tho nineteenth annual report presented at last night's meeting of the Petono Bowing Club 6hows that the 6eason oommenced with a credit balance of ill 3 lis. Cd., with outstanding liabilities of *£202, an 3 assets valued at JJSW Us. 6d. The balance-sheet now gives a credit balance of Ji9o with liabilities nil, and assets valued at £1130. During the season 40 new members 'vere elected, ranking a tola! of 77—60 nctivo, 11 honorary and three life.

At Inst night's meeting of tho lower Hutt Borough' Council the wgitcer (Mr. E. A. Gumbley) leported that vhe pis pressure continued extremely low. The gas manager at Potone had been interviewed on the matter, and he stated that they were still in a precarious position with regard to thoir coal supply, and' that tho present low pressuro waa duo to tho elceing out of tho gas manufacTendered neccssary by tho coal situation. The Mayor said ho thought it a fair thing that Potone should grant them the extra pressure. They did not want to unduly harass Petone, but as far as the Hutt was concerned it was a serious position. Ho moved that the Petone council be asked to grant tho full pressure agreed upon between tho hours of 4.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Councillor Meldrum seconded tho motion, which was carried.

In his Teport to tho Board of Governors of the Technical College last evening the director (Mr. J. H. Howell) stated that ho had communicated to the students the board's desire that every support should be given to the movement to raise funds for tho Prince of Wales Park and that!'the classes were competing to eeo which, could raise the largest sum, and a good deal of interest if not excitement had been aroused.