LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Niagara, which arrivod at Auckland yesterday from Vancouver, brought about 25U bugs of mails for New Zealand. Tho Postal authorities advise that mails which left Auckland on October 26 per K.M.S. Niagara, via Vancouver, arrived in London on December 2. The unusual sight of a motor-car making its second ir:ft laden with what appeared to be luggage to the H.M.S, Mnrama at about midnight on. Sunday caused three Customs officials to pay u visit to the vessel concerned. Chief j Custodian M. Mason and Custodians D. | Lloyd aud Cook entered tho stewards' quarters, and found several of the men i unfastening bottles of whisky out/ of suitcases. The stewards produced a receipt for payment for the whisky, butl a ( s tho Mnrama is to sail for Sail Francisco to-day and the enforcement o£ prohibition in tho United States prohibits the impomtion of liquor into tlio country. the Customs officials took charge of the booty. "The delay in the prosecution of public works, has not been altogether to our disadvantage." said the Minister' of Public Works (Mr. Coatos) tho other day. "We liavo been able to purchase cement at much better prices than wo would have had to pay earlier. We have been abl* within the last lew months to let tenders (ft less than, the engineers' estimates—tho first time this has happened for Kevcral years. Wo have been able to , make contracts with firm provisions as I to dates and conditions of delivery." The. Education Board has received the formal resignation of the Terraco School Committee, and will consider it at. tomorrow's meeting. The committee has tendered its resignation because of a difference of opinion wi'-h the lioard as to the appointment of n ti-acher. Tho trouble cuimt to a head las' week. Government surveyors aro at present, ongagod on a Inrge block of land eastward ortTio Tapapa, Jload, Putaruru (stares the Auckland "Star"). It is understood that tho surveyors aro cutting the block into Bec.--.inns for ststttammt. by disehnVgcd soldiers, whose outlet will be to Putaruru via tho by-road mentioned. Information n3 to the exact area of tho block is unt available, but it w stated that it is about six miles long una would probably contain at least 10,000 ucros.

has been arrivod at with respect to tho proposed. rest park on. tho Town Belt, opposite Wakefield l'ark, on tho road to Island Bay., lieeontly tho Municipal Electors' Association of Island Bay protested vigorously against tho golt link' extension impinging on the ground which was set aside some years ago as a rest park for tho women and children of the district nnd visitors. At. the same time the City Council,, in wow- of tho popularity of tho municipal golf links, was determined to provide an extension, making the existing 9-holc coureo an W-hnln O""- ' |,hn dimclnr of reserves ar,' J M'lCcnzie). has found a way to make provision for both fa«n-emon ; s Bv altering the position of two of the weens, an nrea of between two and throe acres *iH free for le H rp l ( T! of „ rest park, and a portion of that ground is to be provided wuh swings, see-saws, otc., for the ljttle ones, provision will not interfero in any way wijth tlio oonvomonco of golfara.

A (jucstioi) an to funeral expenses, which ivoro nai'l tv be abnormally hi;,'}), iirosn luring tho hearing of n compensation case in tho .Arbitration Court yesterday, over ivhieh His Honour Mr. Justice Stringer presided. Counsel for n plaintiff had been aging the payment of coitain expenses mid to havu beon incurred in paying for tho burial of a man killed in an accident. Counsel for defendants streiiuouiily opposed this, and linnlly, in desperation, appealed to tho Judge. "Your Honour," he said, "wn all know how cxponsivo funerals are nowadays, and tho fees charged by the undertaker in this case are by no means singular. Will you mako a slatcnient on the matter?" His Honour thought for a moment. "Well, Mr. -— ho said, "all I can say is that it is expensive to die, as well as to live in these Limes." An intonating souvenir of the war is carried liy the steamer Kalhlamba, which is due hero this week from N«w York, vi.i. Auckland. Tho vessel was torpedoed during the war, several feel of the hull being' blown from ono sido of tho ship to tho other She wnn Winched to prevent her from sinking. After repairs had 'been effected and the vessel made seaworthy, the missing portion of tho plate was discovered in tho engine-room. This the oliicers decided to keep as a souvcniiy'and it now may be seen on tho deck .of the vessel, inscribed, '.'With tho Kaiser's Compliments."

In connection with the Public Schools Athletic Tournament, to take place on the Basin Kcserve on Thursday, arrangements are being made by tho association to make an early start, so as to got as manv of the heats oft' in the morning as possible. This will leave the afternoon clear for the finals. A very large attendance of Iho public, as well as school children, is anticipated. '1 ho Sinkiwr Fund Commissioners of the Wellington City Corporation nre now asking for G-i per cent, on all moneys loaned bv them. 'Th'e annual break'lng-un ceremony in connection with St. Patrick s College will take place to-morrow evening. Tho following conversation was overheard at on Auckland fish shop, states the "Star."—lrate Customers "You ro making a mistalfle. There's 18 ounces w the pound." Angry Attendant: "I tell you there's only H ounces to the pound.' Tho indignant customer threw the fish back, and flounced out of the shop. The High Commissioner advises that tho official price of gold on December I was 17s. 6d. pur ounce, shipments. to America. 1 l)y direction of the Minister of 'Education (Hon. C. J. l'orr) th.s Department s architect will confer with the architect to the Wellington Education Board to M>o if it is possible to give, effect to tho request-■ of the 'To Aro School Committee and tho women teachers for an assembly hall in the new Tc Aro infant school. Apart from tho cost of tho building, there is a question as to the suitability of the site.

Speaking at a meeting of farmers in 'Musterton, Mr. James M'Gregor drew attention to tlio fact that because there was such a popular demand for tho finer cloths the tailors did not stock crossbred woollen materials. He had asked for a cheaper material, and thorc was not one in stock. In practically all the big Scottish and English factories, the orders, mostly foreign by tho way, were for fine cloths. He hoped, m time there would be a demand for the coarser cloth?, but when he left England tho mills in response to tho popular demand TCW ;uraing out worsteds and other fine cloth*. At the recent Auckland Agricultural Show, a slight mistake-was made in the nnmo or rather the sex, of one of thn ?id™' in the class for the best pony hunter, to bo ridden by a boy or Mi under 18 years ;pf age. Jho lider of the third prizo-winfter was Miss Joyce mi her own pony, but on looking at Imr prize ticket she found that the L.i i-.,i-cn her for a bo.V. With. 101 nnir cut short, hoy's hat, and with-her breeches X«t »"hafslio looked a P»"Master Beale" on her show tICKCi. Auckland "Star. The Milford season Is in full nnd visitors seem to be satisfied with the Tourl t Department's airangements for the!" sustenance while «Mg overthe Auckland S p"tv wwntly R had the novel oSeeMtojnv Starart Island have been exceptton. U> l eat , and both places are Pr^ 1 ™ 11 *, 11,1 J?" Thorp have also been fairly heavy bookings for Mount Cook, in spite of the ill crease in tho Hermitage, tariff. "There is nothing in civilisation which excites more vice than the cooplnß-wP of growing children in a school desk, said Professor Shelley when lecturing, to tlio Social Hygiene Society at Christchurch- "No-emotional control is built up from passivity. No emotional control oan bo built up until the emotions arc aroused and worked out In physical activity. From tho aesthetic and physical poiuts of view nlso tlio cooping tip of ohildren in desks is the most abominable tyranny of modern times. Tho child is not allowed to be anything but dead— there must bo absolute stillness, rliat, however, is not discipline. True discipline is ordered action—not repression." Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., gave his reserved decision in tho Court yesterday in the case of E. T. Bailey (Inspector of Awards) against the Union Steam Ship Company. The company was charged with failing to pay the stewards on the Jfaramn an extra day's paywhen leaving Papeete on a Sunday, as provided in tho award. Tho whiclv was timed to sail at -i p.m. oil Sunday, July 25, actually loft the wharf at 8 p.m., and anchored some 500 yai-da from the wharf. She weighed anchor and left til? port early on Monday morning. The Magistrate held that the vessel did not leave port on Sunday, and therefore the stewards wero not entitled to extra pay. Tho case was dismissed with £2 2s. costs. Security for a general appeal on tho facts was fixed at J:H Bs. Mr. P. Levi appeared for the company. In the first race for tho Thorndon Dinghy Cup, threo Wellington yachts blew their jibs-out, and one of them also had it-s gaff carried away. A Petono yacht, tlio Warobau. capsized when nearinc the finishing! line, and had it not been for the promptitude of tho crew of the Illinois, which was close at hand, soniothing more than a drench might have been tlio result.

It was reported to the Lower Hult police on Satmdhy that a hand-bag, containing money and personnl effects, had boon lemoved rom the ladies' waiting room at the Ilutt railway station while the owner was purchasing a ticket. Two girls, who were seen in the vicinity, were suspected of tho theft, and informed of the occurrence. Senior-Sergeant. Iflrd, of l'oinitr. instituted ii/miiries. the" results of -which .were tho apprehension of t'lii; suspects aud tho recovery of the stolen property. "While tho housing- conditions are somewhat easier than tlioy were six months ago they are still very serious, as tho following verified' eases, llto last few days, testify," ran a. clause in the housing report submitted to last night's meeting of tho Central Progress League by the secretary, .Mr. G. Mitchell. The cases referred to were, as follow:—(1) Man, wifo and two children, man, wife and ono child, man and wife, all in one 5-j-oomed Ihouse; (2) man, -wife and two children (and another child expected). in one room. Tlieso people have two other children which they liavo had to put out to a homo becauso of lack or room. (3). Man, wifo aud four yoiins children, living in two rooms.

Tho matter of costs led to 11 liricf passage-of-arms between two counsel in a ease heard in tho Arbitration Court yesterday. After ft short argument ono of the lawyers turned to his t.pponont, and in refer'enco to the taking cf tlio ense thrnnsh tho Anneal Court si,id:— ''If my learned friend were actuated by the lushest motives ho would have offered to ra> half the cost of printing the ©vidonoo for presentation to the Grippal Bench." Tho other lawyer vug cn his feet in mi instant.' "Titay I l,u'permitted io say. Your Honour," he saw', "that [ admire the audacity of my learned frk-r.d?" "Everything is coming Auckland's way, said a speaker at a deputation to the Minister of Public Works at Auckland recently in his desire to emphasise tho progress and development of his district.' 'There are others beside you say ovurythiiiij is coming Auckland's way,'"' #aid tho Miiast'cr. "l r ou would know all about that if you had my job'."

The dntes on which the civil of the Supreme Court at Wellington.will bo commenced next year arc:—Vebruary 7. May 10. August 8, and November 7. The Presbyterian Bible Class Conference is lo be. held in TTawcra this year I'iom December !!'J lo January 4. Delegates will bo present from all parts of New Zealand. "After a good look round Auckland," said a well-known Wellington builder wiio has been on a holiday trip to Ihe northern city, "I must say that, as far as homes go, Wellington has to take a back seat. The general standard of a borne hero is very much below v.-liat it is in Auckland, and as for better-class bonus, we in Wellington have nothing to compare with the homes" of l.'-imuera and certain oilier parts of Auckland. Auckland bouses,are more pic Luvesll;i 'jly designed than ours, are better built and usually stand on a decent eoction '.f laud, i which i-} by no means the rule in Wel- | lington. Wellington may have its good points, but its humus in the aggregate aro not nearly n,s picturesque or <is comfortable as those either of Auckland or Chi-istchurch. Jlnu- can it bo otherwise with so many hundreds of 25ft. and 30ft. sections for a man lo build a home upon?" "Tho labour problem is heart-break-ing," said a farmer during tho hearing at, Masterton of a charge against him of failing to keep down the rabbit pest. "I have been paying men 15s. a day for rabbit poisoning, but it is now so hard to obtain labour that I've had a Hindu, now working for a neighbour, booked up seven weeks ahead'." The mixed train from Wellington to Palmerston North, which left here at 9.25 yesterday morning, met with a mishap near Paraparaumu. An axle of ono of the wagons broke, and the wagon was derailed. Traffic, including that on tho Main Trunk line, was delayed for about an hour. No damage was "caused to the permanent way. A meeting of tho Auckland branch of tlio Superannuated Civil Servants' Association, held last week, decided to make representations to the Prime Minister emiccrniiig tho question of a s-liding-scnlo for pension allowances. 13y this means pensioners over CO years of age, or sult'erig disability, would be given relief if their > total income did not l exceed ,£3OO a year in the case of the married, and .£l5O in the case of the unmarried. Widowers with dependent children would rank as married, and widows be granted tho increase at the age of -10 years. Pensioner? weening ,£SO or less would, under tjiis echome, receive an increase of one-half of the amount, those between .£SO and 41100 if single, and .£SO and .£l3O if marri'ed, an increase of two-lifths, and thoso 'between JBIOO and JUSV-rfngle, or .£l3O and .£3OO married, of one-third

At 8 p.m. yesterday a marriod man named Fred Plioimer, aged 42, and residing at No. 1G Normandy Street, Newtown, was admitted to the hospital suffering from injuries to the head, caused through running into an ensino which has shunting at Thorndon Station. A curiously-shaped skull and some tones, obviously ancient, were (found at the back of Whakatano. Dr. Buck supposes that these are the remains of a prehistoric race whom Maoris called ferneaters. He intends to make a further exploration, and says that Whakatane is the most historic spot in New Zealand—Press Assn. Tho anniversary services of tho Worker Bay Methodist Sunday School, which we're held on Sunday were of a most enjoyable nature.- ■ Under the baton of Mr. E. S. Latham the scholars, assisted bv friends, gave a spirited rendering of nn excellent selection of music. Miss Joyco Epigers and Nellie Latham had solo Darts, while-Gwen Manthel, Norah Kellow, Edyll:g Howard, Nancy Murie, and Mona. Browne were associated in a quintet. Mrs. W. W. Moxham (piano) and Mr. F.' Wesney (organ) materially assisted with the accompaniments. Tho Rev. P. T. Head conducted tho mornins and afternoon services, while in the evening/tho Rev. J. G. Chapman preached to a largo congregation.