LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Uni<<n Company and, Huddart, Parker Co. have decided on an increase in tho intercolonial rates of freights and feres, to como into forco to-day.

With a view to establishing a vice-con-sulato in the Dominion, 'Mr. K. J. Nauklor, Consul-General for Finland in Australia, is at present visiting New Zealand. 111'. Naukler stated in -Auckland yesterday that there was a prospect of the immigration of Finns of a good stamp to New Zealand. He is nlso emloavourln;! to establish trade relations between his .country and Mew Zealand.—Press Assn. ' • The latest idea from America in lettercards is a double card folded over evenly and held together with a small brass dome fastener—a Rood deal smaller aud flatter than the kind .used in tho drapery trade. The only thing against it is that onyono could open tho card,.read the contents, and then readjust the fastener. At the same time, for unimportant or non-private correspondence the idea has its advautaees.

The New Zealand Natives' Association Band will play nt Lyall Day' to-night and the Wellington Patriotic Socioty Baud at Oriental Ba>.

The exports of frozen meat from Timam in November totalled 2*8,550 car. casses. It is expected that Urn December shipments will total 106,000 carcasses, —Press Asiu.

The Ilult and Pctono Homing Club (low a race from Waipukurau on Saturday, the winning bird being Mr. C. Carter's red pied cock, Arawalu, No. 24-I—lo. Mr. .1. Drumwell's red cock Overland, No. (!30—10, came second, and Mr. E. Shaw's blue hen, Sylvia, third. Next week it u intended to race from Nnpler.

Master Cecil Watters, the Wellington boy treble singer met with an accident during his visit to Christchurch with tho Wellington Watorsiders' Hand's concert parly. He was riding along: a Christchurch street on a bicycle when ho was knocked off his machine by a motorist. One of his lejs was cut and severely scarred.

A Wellington resident was introduced to a new process of making concrete tiles whilst on a vis'iT to "Melbourne recently, and secured the rights and plant to manufacture in Wellington, but with a factory and skilled hands ready to commonco work, the whole onterpriso has been held up for lack of cement.

Tho concrete work in connection with the ornamentation of that triangular piece of ground opposite the New Zealand i'awnors' Institute (on the corner of Eentherston and Ballance Streets) has ben" completed 1»y the corporation nt the expense of tho Farmers" Institute. The space has been set out in two concrctekcrbed grass plots, with a concrete platform at the back as the base of a seat.

Tile National Defence League, at a '«- Celit meeting held in Wellington, decided to endeavour to raise funds for the provision of a Territorial and Senior Cadets' clubroom. A carnival Is to bo held in this connection in March next. The following have been appointed to the executive, with power to add to their num-bers-Messrs. J. P. I'irtli, A. Gray, K.C., .1. P. Luke, C.M.G.. M.P., C. A. L. Treadwell, H. T. Marshall, D. M'Laren, S. G. Cowles. E. E. Muir, J. T. Atkins. J. P. Maxwell, T. Ward. E. W. G. Coleridge, Mesdames Chatfield, Middleton, Mouatt, and Hall, and Miss Ford. Mr. ■T. Pow (representing tho Keturned Soldiers' Association) and Lieutenant-Col-onel P.. St. J. Beere, D.5.0., and -Major E. Gibbs (representing the local Territorial"'and Senior Cadet units). Mr. Grey has been apopinted chairman. Mr. Wurd vice-chairman, and Mr. Coleriduo lion, treasurer. The question of the appointment of an organiser is now deihe considered.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. .G. J. Anderson) stated yesterday that he had made inquiries with reference to the practice of allowing children to sell tickets for raffles in public places. The reports he had received had satisfied him that the practice was not a desirable one, and he intended to mako provision in the regulations under which raffles would be held, in tho future that no boy under 14 years of age and no girl under 1G years of age should be allowed to sell or offer for sale tickets in any street, hotel, shop, office, factory, boardinghouse, place of entertainment, or at any gathering of tho public in any public place. These restrictions will not apply to any boy or girl residing in a hotel, boardinghouse, etc., in respect "' to the sale of tickets in such places.

Health inspectors from many parts of New Zealand met the chief officers of the Health Department and the Minister of Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) in Wellington yesterday, in order that tho administration of tho new Health Act might be discussed. This Act extends (lie powers and responsibilities of tho health officers in various directions, and the Departmental head's are indicating methods of procedure.- The Minister addressed the officers in the morning.

Mr. P. Fraswr, M.8., addressed .1 meeting of electors in the Mount Cook Boys' School last night. He discussed the work of the recent session of Parliament from the point of view of-the Labour members, described some of the legislation 'that had hcen passed, and explained the attitude of the Labour group towards some of the more important proposals placed before the House. Mr. Eraser insisted that the Government had not done justico to the workers, and tthnt additional Labour members were required in the House in order Hint their protests anight be made effective.

Sugar for tfhe production of the domestic jam supply will he available next week if the plans of the Sugar Control' to that end are carried out (says the Auckland "Star"). Stoppnge of production in tho sugar •refinery may delay the creation of llhe necessary surplus, but if possible the Control Board will place an allotment increased by onethird at the disposal of grocers for the summer months, such allotment to go towards n!he manufacture of domestic preserves. Last year there was no houie-uiadc- jam, owing to sugar Hhortnge. This year, however, the house-\ wife may lorfk forward to tasting more of the sweets of existence.

"With the exception of Auckland, tho movement for the formation of a farmers' political party is getting a very poor hearing." remarked Mr.. W. J. Poison (Wangauui) at yesterday's meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. "Tho bulk of the farmers of New Zealand are strongly opposed to active participation in party politics." „

The office of the New Zealand Workers' Union was broken into on Monday night, but the thieves met with little reward, as tho secretary, Mr. Grayndler, had banked all cash in the afternoon. Tho burglar, or burglars, forced a way in through the door and smashed the lock of the safe.

Mr. Ben J. Fuller, formerly of Wellington, has given J2IOOO to.enable tho New South Wales Rhodes scholar, V. H. Troatt, to go to England to continue his studies.

Tho Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday passed a resolution expressing appreciation ot 'tho services Sir Thomas Mackenzie had rendered tho country while acting as High Commissioner in London.

Ml kinds of stories are related of instances of profiteering which never officially come before the public (states the "Otago Daily Times." On Saturday ono of our reporters was shown a biU, with tho figures altered, which divulged a rather startling example of an overcharge. Tho man in chargo of the firm's motor-van required half a dozen screws. Ho purchased them from ft small hardware firm, and in due course received an account for Bs. The pric* appeared very high, and the motor man went to a leading local hardware firm and asked the price charged for similar 'screws. "Three shillings per dozen was tho quotation (or Is. 6d. the haltdozen). This quotation was placed before tho small firm, and its account was at once reduced to Is. Gd., without comment.

As indicating the increase in values in Auckland during the war period, it is significant (says the "New A'aland Herald") to note that 168 dwellings for which permits were issued m tho liliri-lG period were valued at XIID.G3I, while the 190 dwellings for which permits were granted during the. year ended March 31. 1020, were valued at. .£2lllßO. The average vailue of tne is>s dwellings in tho 1915-16 period was npprckimaMv .CM, while .the averapn value of the 1!K1 dwellings erected rh fb» 1il'l!)-20 -period was over AIIOU. Tim increase In the cost of houses was largely due to the. higher prices of all clnssefi of building material and the hMicr scale of wages.

Tn tho No. 1 Jury Court recently (says n Sydnev exchange!, Matthew Collins, carrier, of'Marrickville, New' South Wales, claimed £1500 damages from Patrick Sheahan, produce merchant, of Marnckville, in respect of tho loss of 33 horses and the injury of others. It. was explained on behalf "of plaintiff that in May last Mr. Collins was supplied with certain chaff by Mr. Sheahan, who was n producn merchant. At that time Mr. Collins had G9 horses, and after eating tho chaff 33 died, and the remainder, except two, beesime seriously ill. It IVI,S discovered that the chaff, which had been imiwrted, contained castor oil beans, which were -.ioisonous. Tho average valuo of the horses was JHS 10s. It was further explained that Mr Sheahan. who had no kfiowledgo of tho castor oil beans having becomo mixed with the chaff, expressed his great regret and the nuesHon for the uii'V would be one of the assessment of damages The vessel which had brought this particular consignment of chaff had carried castor oil beans, ami it was supposed that some of the chafl bags had broken auj the beans were swept up from the hold into tho chaff bags. Phe jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff tor 0:3300 lSs. Hd.

Can you invent a limo-«avlng device? Perhaps you hava an idea that will develop into a money-making invention. If you have, protect it v by patent right. Consult Henry Hughes, Limited Patent Attorneys, 157 Fcathereton Street. Wellington. Write or call for tree booklet, ■'Advice to InTenton."—Adrt,

The Prince of Wales lias coino back to a different England from tho gay, reckless, extravagant Homeland that he left last March (writes -Mr. John Sandos to the "Sydney Daily Telegraph"). Already the shadow of the coming 6lump is over this proud metropolis. Wearable suits of clothes aio selling in Oxford Street for ,£5 10s., and in St, I'aul's Churchyard for J;2 19s. Gd. Ifaw cotton has sagged heavily. The bottom, has fallen out of tho sugar market, and there are financial earthquakes in Amsterdam, Butavia and Cuba, in consequence. Copra is tumbling like a houso of cards, and tin like the barometer before a hurricane. Consumers of manufactured articles cannot buy, owing to that "cursed lack of pence, and in the absence of orders, supported by cash, manufacturers cannot manufacture. Ilciice tho rapid decline iu values of raw materials. The stoppage of 'manufactures Spoils unemployment in capital letters during tho coming months.

Tho cathedral of Ecims, 6ecn from a distance of four or five miles, the' Hon. W. 11. Triggs, M.L.C., said in tho course oft his lccluro at .Hie H r .B.A., Christchurch, on| Saturday night, gave one the impression {hat the accounts of tho damage done by tho German bombardment were exaggerated. When tho visitor got close „to the building he saw that it was only a burnt-out shell. The beautiful .sculptured figures .»n the western .portals could still Ik? seen, hut when they were examined they were found to be crumbling to pieces, tho result of the great heat to which they were subjected. Yet there was a very substantial framework remaining which shoved that the builders of old, when they built a cathedral to the glory of Gcd, put good work in|o it. Deferring to the proposal to restore the cathedral, Mr. Triggs 6aid thai: it would take a tremendous amount of money and work. It might he restored after a fashion, but it would not be the same building that artists from all parts nf the world visited. All the beautiful stained glass windows, tho sculptures, and the carrin<"<; were damaged beyond hope of repair. I