LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postmaster-General notifies that owing to the short 6upjily of 'suitable paper and tho necessity for, strict economy in this respect, 'it has been found necessary to.reduco tho size of tho forwarded telegram form. Tho new issue, which is half tha size of tho present form, will shortly be brought into use. , .

One of the pleasure boats being built in Auckland at present is a. small racing yaoht of tho ono-design class, to tho oilier of tho CrONleriror-Gcnaral (Lord Jellicoe). His Excellency intends to have a larger yacht built for -next soason. , ' "

For weeks past there has been ' a steady stream of Maoris from thg 'l'e Kuiti district leaving to liear a new Maori "prophet," who lias arisen in tho Native world, and whose headquarters are near Turakina, between Martoiiiand Wanganui, states the Auckland "Star." It is stated that the number who Imve visited the new. Eua from the -To Kuiti district alone is nearly 1000. When these are the figures for only one district it will be seen that the new "prophet" is exercising a big influence on tho Native mind. Tho name of this interesting personage is Wirinm ltatana, and his, metli'ods are quite modern, containing no suggestion of the old-time Tohungaisui.' lie is ft faith healer, and has some remarkable and" attested cures to his credit. There ore no ceremonies and no ritualHe tells the Natives to do away with (lie old Maori beliefs and alrido) by the doctrines contained'in the New Testament. He adopts tho principles of psycho-sug-gestion, and has applied them with remarkably successful' results. A wellknown Native of this district, John Hetot, went away .on crutches that (ho had used continuously for the last twelve months." Ilataua, purely by suggestion, it is asserted, effected a wonderful cure, and vow tho man is walking about the streets of To Kuiti m perfect health for one of his age. 'Another local example is that of a Native, named Hami Funi, a very well-known locai identity, who has been on'crutches for yenrs. lie visited the new "prophet," and the following was said to have taken place:— The "Prophet": What! A rnnn wisli four legs! ' Throw them away aiuj run to the house there! And Hnmi Pum ran, and is now walking the streets of Te Kuiti in health. The "prophet" is also said to have cured hundreds' of minor ailments and complaints. He certainly has been a gocd source of revenue to tho Railway Department.

Tho modern juryman who is told continually by counsel that lie is nu "ordinary reasonable man of -' the world" is gradually proving thnt he is one, with the result thnt his' observations are nowadays often to thanoint. In tlio divorce proceedings which were concluded yesterday after a week's trial, tho foreman of tho jury, instructed by his tolleaguov on several occasions protested to His Honour Mr. Justice Edwartls aeainst tho longevity .of the. proceedings. His Honour, in Tospotise to a prayer that counsel should shorten proceedings, said he. fully agreed with the "twelve good men and true." As 3 a result, fourcwl on either side took ea.ro to obviate irrelevant mattor from tho evidence.

Formation of a farmers' paYty in the Dominion, if the returns already received by Mr. W. Huey, secretary of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, are a criterion, is certain to be n development ■of the near future, says the Auckland "Star." Auckland provincial branches were asked their opinions on tho expediency of farmers going into politics. They "have replied in largo nunvbers, .and so far without dissent, that the' 'time is now fully ripe.

A waterside worker named '• Thomas Daniels' was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment by Mr. F. IC. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, for stealing 2-tlb. of coal, ■ the .property of the Government Railway . Department, on September 20. Tho accused was seen taking the coal, and when questioned by a wharf official gave a false name, and so made it difficult for' a summons to lw served on him. He was subsequently identified.. Daniels gave ns an excuse that it was a very wot night, and his clothe? were wet. He had no coal at homo, and took thocoal, so as to dry his clothe*, and provide somo warmth in the home. The Magistrate said that wntersiders corned large enough wages to enable them to pay for coal, and lie sentenced Daniels as stated.

.Although three jury cases were to have been takeii in the Sunremo Court yesterday, it was impossible to havo them heard,, as the Court accommodation did not permit. There will bo ono jury cose taken to-day. ■■■

The New Zealand Nurserymen's Association has long realised that- the vanishing (j;imbcr resources of the Dominion should bo counteracted by. vigorous reafforestation, and during ( the past year some millions of trees have been planted through its efforts. Mr. G. A. Green, secretary to the association, slated at C'hristcliurch on Tuesday that it was tho intention of tho association to sot. up a standing committee to assist the Forestry Department in every way passible. The registration of forest ureas is regarded as necessary,' in oi'der to obtain accurate data concerning natural and exotic forestry. Pinus insignia planting should prove -very profitable. The problem of the country's future timber supply could he solved by united effort, and by carefully husbanding tho present supply.

The number of immiijrrints' Hint have arrive*] in Auckland (luring the last few ww-Rs shows a <lccmi.se as'com pared with the arrivals earli&r in the year.. Mr. W. Iluey, Secretary of the provincial executive _of tho Farmers' Union, who hnn compiled a resistor of farmers who havn vacancies for immigrants, stated to a "Herald" reporter that the register now included over 20fl names. ITe added that names were daily being ndJlixl to the list, and it was evident that the country districts would ho able to absorb a large proportion of the new arrivals for <=01110 t.inio to corner '■ A witness at the Auckland Jfagistrate' Court tiie other morning saftl that ill his search for houses. ho round ho ivas handicapped by the fact that his name was similar to that of a land agent. As soon os he gave his Jiame ho wns promptly informed that the house was for sale, and not to let. "I bolieve," he added, "someone with a narno not like n land agent. mißlit persiinde owners to let- some of tlio houses that \iro at present kept empty, witli a viow to aalo." —Auckland "Star."

The Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) recently forwarded to the New Zealand Educational Institute the results of the ballot taken among teachers on the question of appointment according to tho grading list.' The figures showed that a very large majority of the teachers had approved of the method of appointment, proposed by the Minister. The secretary of the institute has replied conveying to Mr. Parr, tho executive's appreciation of the action of tho Minister in taking the ballot and putting the appointment of teachers on n much more satisfactory basis than it has ever occupied before. Tho Wellington Municipal Tramways Military Band held its half-yearly meeting; on Thursday evening. .It was decided to enter for the brass band contest, which is to be held at Nelson next March, and ofiieisjl collectors were apnointcd to raise funds to enable tlie 'band to compete. In acknowledging Teceipt of tho results of the ballot taken among teachers recently on the question of appointment according to the grading list, the secretary of tho Now Zealand Kducntiou.il Instituto has written to the Minister of Education (the Hon. 0. J.,Parr) as follows:—"At n meeting of the local executive I was directed to convey' to you an expression of the appreciation of the executive, not only of your action in taking the ballot, but also of the consequent step taken by you to put tho appointment of teachers on a much more satisfactory basis than it has ever been before.". In his reply, the Minister expresses gratification at the great advance made by the new Act in plncing the profession of the teachers on .1 truly Dominion basis.

"The elements of strife in tlio political and. social life of India displayed in the riots, and tho activities of Bolshevik agents in India and beyond tho frontier, liave by no means speiit their foroe," states the annual report on the Punjab Mission which was submitted to the Presbyterian General Assembly last evening. "During tho past year they have found an outlet in other channels. A series 'ot more or less violent strikes? affecting cotton and woollen mills, railways, printing presses, from Madras to Lahore, and from lianpoon to Karachi, have given.vent for much feeling. Labour generally in India is finding in its hand a new weapon, ana led on by agitators, is learning by practice how to strike. Labour and Capital in India, as elsewhere, have not yet mado peace, villi tho result tlvat the cost of living continues to rise. The ever-increnK-ing price of food and clothing is a constant source of anxiety . to the great masses, who cannot understand why, now that tho Great War is over, everything should still be sd very dear. The principle of'individual right and liberty is slowly sinking 'through tho deep waters of Indian life, through the currents of caste, through the'whirlpools of custom to the depths below. When the 'untouchables' realise that as meii they too have rights and learn how to strike for' them, the social life of India will be shaken as never before. Through H"*' mass' movement of these untouchables towards Christianity, as their hope of emancipation, the Church in India to-day has a unique opportunity of being the Saviour of India in tho evil day."

A large number of .business men, renresenting teams organised for ,collecting money ,fqr tho Starving Children' Fund, met for tea last evening. His Wowhin "the Mayor (Mr. J. F. Luke) presided at a meeting which followed, and in his. remarks stressed tho importance of making a strenuous elfort to raise fnnds for the relief «f the millions of'." helpless., children. especially as His Majesty the King, the Prince of Wales, Mr. Lloyd. George, and many other notable people were endorsing the appeal. Professor W. N. Benson, of Otago ITniversity, snoke of the experiences of Dr. Truby King in tho famine areas, and also mentioned that his own • personal friends wero working in those districts. The various teams were given their districts. and the plan of organisation explained. Tho following gentlemen are team captains: Messrs.. I'. W. Shallcrass (Snorts), K, F. Aldrich (R.S.A.), E. P. Hav, .T. 1?. Salt (Advertising Institute),' H. Stockbridire (Central Chamber of Commerce), It, Pearson .'(St. John's). ' -

The exemption of 6chool materials from Customs duties was recommended recent-' )y to the Education Department'by tho Auckland Education Board, which suggested that if any revision of the Customs tariff was made during next session of Parliament this matter should be favourably considered, states the "New Zealand Herald. 0 ' The board, at its last meeting,, received "from the Department In letter stating that it was doubtful if the Government would grant this concession as it would apply to all school requisites for all schools in tho Dominion and the Customs Department would strenuously oppose such loss of revenue.

It-is announced thnt the British Government has. definitely decided on the formation of- a corps of police officers, mounted on motor cycles, for certain duties for which this type of organisation lias special advantages (says tho Bulletin of the Department of Overseas Trade). Tho British motor cycle is with-, out a peer *.for such services.. Steady, reliable, speedy, and as silent as neccs. sary consistent-with the safety of the general public,' there was 110 mount so much favoured by the dispatch riders of the six Allied armies as the British motor cycle. During the war it was, of coutsc," impossible for- British makers to compete in events in various, parts of the world with American.: motor cycles, and an opinion l»)is apparently been formed in certain, countries;: that the American machine was.6H»orior ill road qualities' In the recent open ..races .held fn tlie Isle of Man, however;-the Ameri-; can machines were hopele«lv beaten on a mountainous give-and-take. course which must approximate vory closely to the roads, found in all' parts of the world.. , . The prizes won by competitors jit the Wellington College sports were distributed to the winners yesterday morning by Mrs. Firth#

"China remains in her state of apparent chaos," was a paragraph-in the report on the Cauton Villages Mission .which was presented to tlie Presbyterian General Assembly last evening. "Bribery and corruption, political "intrigue,' and self-seeking are rampant. The great Hepublic is divided to the gxtent of having still two separate .Governments. "Threatened from without and full of dissention and corruption within, how does she maintain !i,er place as a nation? Human nature, being what it is, wo. know that a. change of Government cannot in itself mean a change of heart. The real revolution did not take'place i" PcJcing when the Emperor abdicated. It began years before, and it is still going on. There are forces working above and. in the very midst of tho chnos that, inj the providence of the.God of Nations, are going to jirciduco a wonderful and beautiful order. Strong men, who can sre visions, men full of faith and.good ivorks are required; although there seems at present to be Jin one such man .who coiikl be a leader for Hip nation, there arc many who, In a smaller way, are making their influence' felt. Some are Christians, others may not yet, have' gripped Christianity, but Christian truths and ideals havo niorc or less gripped them."

Of the IG2 vessels cleared outward* at Newcastle- during October no fewer than 25 wcro Japanese steamers, which took away coal cargoes and bunker supplies aggregating- 102,6{1i) tons. New Zealand's ?liare of tho coal carried in Japanese bottoms totalled 3G,3G2 tons.

A new,system of writing Chinese lias been found,v which, it is claimed, wifl bring reading within ■ vcach. of the imprest inhabitant of' that country. In winging this fact under the llotico of the Presbyterian General Assembly last evening, the report of the Canton Villages Mission for the year 11)19-20 stated as follows:—"This is not a foreign system, but makes use of. the ordinary s.trokes of Cliinoso writing to represent sounds phonetically.- Along witli this there is a strong, movement in favour of writing the langunge as spoken. \Wc may look for n new and great advance for the Gospel: in China, when to road will not be the privilege of a select few only, but all, even lo the humblest,.may enjoy it. That lliis is no ephemeral fad is seen from the fiicl that tho Government lias approved of the system, and has introduced "it into schools." Tho Waterside Workers' 13and will play at Newtown Park to-morrow afternoon.