LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Westndia, with mails from Australia, the East, and flic United' Kingdom, is due here on Sunday evening from Melbourne direct. Should she arrive after dark the mail will not he handled until Monday morning. Tho Ruapehu is also due here on Sunday night with _ a parcels mail, and it iB probable her mails will not lie sorted before Monday.

Owing to the Westport coal that was being used at the tramways power house yesterday not being the most 6uitablo for the furnaces, some difficulty was experienced in maintaining a full head of steam yesterday. So as not to disappoint the public during the evening rush 'hours, the power was cut off between 3.50 p.m. and 4.20 p.m. in order to bank up steam for the peak load.

' In the st'i'i* of chaos and disorder in which the world finds itself to-day, it is obvious that our hope that war has ended for all time is shattered," remarked Lieu-tenant-Colonel J. L. Sleenmn (Director of Mil'tn.ry Training) in: the course of an addipss delivered t" the Garrison Officers' Club Inst night. "It would be optimistic,-, ind«pd, to forecast a long period of . peace for the British- Empire, theretore the •iefei.re of our Empire and of New ; Zealand. becomes a vitnl problem calling for urgent and exact solution."

• ■"•Very well, ilr. Jackson, solicitor-,-go outside the Court, take off your wig and gotvn, and re-enter as Mr. Jackfon, witiims. Then go outside again, put on your •wig. and' grown; and come back here as Mr. Jackson, solicitor." In (Ihe forefioinjj terms Mr. Justice Edwards addressed counsel for the petitioner'in an undefended divorce action -irt the -Supreme. Court yesterday afternoon, in response to his. application to be allowed to give evidence on behalf of his .client touching the service'of certain ; papers which he had witnessed. In reply to His Honour counsel remarked: "Well. I have done it before." "But you won't do it in this Court.-, while I am on the beijch," was th'o rejoinder. Counsel persisted that ho was entitled, to figure in the dual role of solicitor and witness, and . after further discussion His Honour'dismissed .the matte with this parting shot: "Well, jret, someone, else. to appear as' solicitor, in the case." Further hearing of the case was then adjourned till this morning, in order to enable -counsel to produce the essential evidence in .point.

By n regulation recently brought into force, the postbffico requires tlmt, to facilitate the delivery of letters, a letter-box be affixed to every Any person whose house lies 'back from the street may be required at n.ny. limo by the. Chief; Postmaster to provide a box oii 't£e street-line for the . reception ot iriajl ,n*\tter. Failing compliance, such person may bo excluded from tho postman's delivery. A delivery' by- post,man will not. .in future be made above tho first floor of any building unless an elevator is available for use, nor to the different room's or'suites Oii any floor in an anartinent house, whether or not an elevator is.nvnilnble. If in such a. ease delivery by postman is required, a suitable locked box must be provided by (lie person .concerned 011 the ground floor, or somo responsible person on . Oi« ground floor must be authorised to receive tin, correspondence. In the caso'of rural deliveries, settlers off tho . road-line must, either meet the mailman or provide * suitable'box on the road-line in which their correspondence can.bo deposited.

A waterside worker named M. Bay, an elderly man, while standing outside > :> shed on the Queen's Wharf; yesterday afternoon,, was suddenly taken ill. B» was attended to'by some Harbour Board officials, and subsequently removed to tb« Hospital, where he died soon after ad-, mission. 1

Speaking on the subject of.representation', en the City Council. Mr. Parton, addressing a meeting-of Miramar ratepayers. 011 Wednesday, said:—"lhave been astounded that we, still have men :n out midst wbo cannot see beyond such a parochial Mandpoint, ih.'.t Miramar «lioiild lviv? special representation on the City Council. It may still appear to some of my audience that we should have special representation, but consider his or their position. All actions would be liable to be."misconstrued,'and on any not affectin» Miramar alone ttey would perhaps be disregarded, because thev did not represent the whole of the voters of. Greater Wellington. Such a position would easily become intolerable. Every item "not affecting Miramar 11 ay be (ntirelv ignored. Under siicn conditions we tonld not expect our best men ■ to come out and assist iis, but on the other hand; being elected by Miramarvoters as well as the city, every councillor would represent Miramar equally with the other districts."

A meeting of the executive-council 01 the Wellington Competitions Society was held last evening, Mr. L. E. Partridge presiding. The secretary stated' tho en. tries received were: Instrumental, 193; vocal, 628; elocution, G4l; speeches, »; national dancing, 211; fancy dancing, 70; cover-designs, -21j making a total of .1709, including four choirs and lour male choirs, A request for billeting the Napier school children was referred to Hit Billeting Committee, with power to act. Tliq Railway Department wrote that excursion tickets would be issued to competitors from September 16 to October if, all available for return until October 18. Twenty-one entries wcra received for the Bocietr's covcr design, the winner being Mr. Edwin Skelton; Auckland; Miss FicWing, Wellington, v.h. commended; Mr. Harrv Ciark. Auckland, h. commended; and Mr. Albert Hooper, Auckland, commended. The whole 'of the designs submitted were a. decided improvement.on those of last year. .. . • ■

"1 don't. think .that the prerogatives of a lieutenant, go as -far as-that," re-, marked Hisi Honour Mr. Justice Edwards yesterday in traversing the explanation of'a'.petitioner in th® Divorce Court that ho left the co-Tcspondont living with his wife, "■'because, ho being a lieutenant arid I being n private, 1 1 could not .interfere with .him ", 1 -

. Hearing was concluded 111 tho Supreme Court yesterday' of' the claim for the recovery of £412 10s. preferred bv John Ditwen, .probntion officer, of against Llewellyn Hathaway. It was alleged that plaintiff paid the defendant's agent for a motor-car, of which he had never taken delivery. Mr. T. C. A. Hislop appeared. for! the'plaintiff and Mr. H. F.' O'Leary for' the defendant. Decision was reserved.. * .

JThc commercial travellers', male voice clioir i= leaving by this, morning's train for > Masterton to "give concert?: to-night and Sunday night to raise funds for fife furnishing of the Nurees' Home.in Sfrtiitorton.. Tlie 'choir .will ■ be forty strong, and is'under the leadership of Mr;. Temple-White.'

'"The reasons, both national and economic, for New Zealand maintaining its wheat-production, at least sufficiently to supply local requirements have. been, further, strengthened 'by the recent 'course of'.events," says the Minister of Agriculture in his annual report. "Australia lias, demonstrated its unreliability as 'a sourco of supply, -and shipping facilities in these waters have failed to keep up ivith the demand for tonnage, while the outside world price of wheat has risen tb a level almost prohibitive, judged on the standards of this country. A total area of some 300,000 acres- of wheat at it 'normal average yield .is sufficient for the Dominion's present consumption,'and with reasonable encouragement .this acreage can •be readily grown. Reports indicate that- the area sown and to bo sown in wheat for the ensuing' season's crop in Canterbury and North Otago will show a' substantial increase on last season's acreage. With the increased minimum prices guaranteed by the Government for ,tho crop a reasonable return should be. secured by. growers, given fair srA. c onfl! conditions."

' A message received by the "police from Martinborougli last- evening eiateu tnat during a quarrel between two men David Carlston stepped in to stop them, and was. stabbed between the rib?. Cnrlston was removed to the hospital in a serious condition. His alleged aasailant wns arrested.

"Militm'y defence is an insurance, with the additional advantage (that it brvu» great interest by strengthening those who possess its teachings nnd improving then) 111 the Mescßiiities for good citizenship,'' remarked Lieut.-Colonel .T. L. Sleeman {Director of Military Training) 111 tho coursc of an address at the . Garrisou Oflieers' Club last "It is a national insurance, agaiust war, and 1 the premium is infinitesimal compared with the security offered."

$ mishap occurred in the recent gale to the De Haviland aeropluno belonging to the Walsh Brothers, of the Auckland Flying School. The machine was moored in the open, but apparently not quite securely moored. The wind bore it from us moorings, raised it like a kite about fifty feet in the atr, and then the machine feu 011 its.back. The damage was considerable, the top plane being broken badly. Tlio damaged machine is the one which wan flown down from Auckland to Wellington. >,

A new position has been created by tho Olago Education-Board—that of teacher at the Dunedin Hospital and the Prince Edward Convalescent Home nt Forbwy Corner. '.Ilw teacher's duties will .be tu give such instruction as is possible to the inmates of the children's ward at the Dunedin Hospital and to the little folk at the Cavershain home, being guided in each place by the , advice ol' the medical superintendent, and having in view the physical and mental capabilities of the children. The teaching will, as far as practicable, follow the publio school course. The teacher-will ullond for two hours in the forenoon at tins Prince'Edivard Home, and fcr two houis ill the afternoon at the hospital. The salary of the mistress is provided by ine Education Department.—Dunedin "War."

"There is a persistent demand lor the nstablishment of more State experimental fiimn, "out.this requires to bo met cautiously," says the Diredor-Generni of Agriculture in .his annual report. "It is undoubtedly necessary to (jo what, is possible to meet the very ovident desire or the agricultural and pastorol community' for moru information and more advice oil matters bearing on tie fuvtW development of lliwe industries aud 011 the ineroaae of prediction, but this can be done without unduly multiplying Ciovernment farms. A commencement is being made with the demonntration farm arranged to bo established in the Wesi Coast district of the Smith Island. 'J'liu possibilities of this portion of the Dominion for dairying, and from a pastoral point of view pmcrally, are veiy considerable, and the establishment of a demonstration farm there should prove of practical value to the district cud, indirectly, to the country as a whole. Special'consideration is also being given to-the question of a tarrn'for the southern portion of the Soutj^pslalid." A protest against tmratceptancc by the Milk Committee of tlSlselity Council of 0 tender for refrigerating plant- manuttictiiveil ■ abroad' in preference to New Zea-land-made'machinery at a cheaper price, was lodged by « deputation from the Wellington Industrial Association which waited upVin the committee •on Thursday. The»deputation expressed some doubt as to whether Messrs. John Chambers and Son, who. had secured the tender, had complied with the specifications. At the same time a strong pleu was made for the and encouragement of local industry. The chairman of the .committee (Councillor - Norwood), 111 rep.y, stated that any lirm was entitled to oiler tenders for n.stamlnrd niflchine. Messrs. Chambers and {.ion complied with all the conditions rer|tii"ed. Theirs had the advantage of being % a "Duplex" machine, which meant one-half of the machine could be' run while the other half was.undergoing repairs. 11l consideration of this difference in the machines tendered for, tile accepted, offer was in reality the cheaper one. He congratulated the Industrial Association upon so closely watching the interests of flic New Ze.i land .manufacturer. It showed that I lie association was of real value to the com nninity. The committee had accepted the tender .for t.he machine which it consider ed would be of best value to the conn oil. The committee was alive first of all to the interests of the milk department, on which there must be no capital expenditure that was not warranted. Thei. were, neverr-heiess, entirely in sympathy with the objects of the. deputation.

1 The recent controversy upon the question' whether pupils at the Auckland Technical College should be compelled to play in the school football teams was referred to' at the' meeting of tlie hoard of malingers on Monday. Tho following resolutions were passed"That the rules of the Technical School in so far as they deal with sports and the compulsory attendance of scholars at sports fixtures are quite ordinary rules'of all public schools, aiid the board sees no necessity for any alterations/' "That a sports committee of three members of the board be appointed to sit. with the director, such committee to. have full power to act in all cases." "That any objection of parents concerning their children . playing in any of tlio games provided for in the school rules he referred to such sport* committee, tho board admitting that the requests of . the parents must receive consideration, and that their rights be dujy recognised."—Auckland exch an go.

A case of unusual tenacity of life on the part of a. tomato plant in a sheltered spot in Gisborue is reported in a local paper. Despite the recent bad weather tho plant continues to prosper. Tiltowner tho other day exhibited a line sample of fruit which ho gathered from tho vine at a height of close on 10ft. Asked how the plajit was faring lie said that no symptoms of old age had as yet appeared. In fact, new blossoms were just making their appearance.

It is understood that the "Federal Government proposes that the High Commissioner who is to be appointed in the United States shall liiive rank equal to that of the representative of the Canadian Government at 'Washington, says the Melbourne "Age." He will bo stationed nt Washington, and will )» distinct from the present Trade Commissioner, whose headquarter are p,t New York. The Government coiisjdcrs that the' increased status which it is contemplated shall be given to the new office will 'enable the lligli Commissioner to speak with greater authority on behalf of Australia. The need for the position is considered to have been exercised by such an event as the speeches delivered bv Dr. Mnnnix in New York and other parts of America.

Viscount Grey, addressing the inaugural meeting of the British Institute of International Affairs ot the Eoyal Society of Arts in London, eaid Governments 6hould (rive it to be elenrly understood by the world, for a rule of their own conduct, that! they would not in timo of peace have secret treaties. "I myself have been a party to tho making of some secret treaties, but that- was in time of war, and I would suggest that it should bo regarded as a fair rule of foreign policy that you 6liould not have secret treaties in time of peace. But you must bo prepared for this, that if you again have secret treaties." War made many objectionable things inevitable.

• A case, stated to be Mie first of its kiud in England, was heard at Bournemouth, .when Reginald Edmund Tollerfield, an air pilot employed by tlio Bournemouth Aviation Company, wt« summoned under the Air Navigation Regulations for ilyiiig too loiv and doing trick Hying over Bournemouth. Two ii.A.F. officers said the.v saw TollcrtieM (lying over the town 500 ft. to 600 ft. up, aiid doing the Immelmann turn, a lightning air manoeuvre tailed after, the German "hawk" pilot- of that name. Tollerftold said the turn was not_ trick flying, but <a, quick way of swerving. He denied that he could not have landed safely if'his'engine had failed. He was fined .£SO.

At the Empire Timber Exhibition, organised by the Board of Trade to advertisifin the United Kingdom the extent and variety of the Empire's forest wealth, opened in London last month, there were about 80(1 different woods on exhibition. Many were practically unknown in England, though of great beauty and commercial ' value. India made the most attractive individual display. Among the specimens /from hor forests we,re the Shishan wood (used in building Solomon's tomplo), Anderman marble wood, black walnut,' and many othor kind?, • out of which strikingly beautiful furniture has been made. India. has almost unlimited supplies oi timber.