LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 95, 15 January 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An important conference wjis held in Wellington yesterday between the Board of Agriculture and the Wool Committee set up last year by the producers of New Zealand. It is understood that the conference discussed the disposal of the wool clip, and also the question of shipping freights. The proceedings were private, and the decisions of the conference were communicated during the day to the Prime Minister. Mr. Massey informed Press representatives last night that he was not prepared to make any disclosures for the time being.

Throwing empty beer' bottles oHt of the window of a railway carriage sometimes proves expensive, as a man named Janies Edward Maley found out in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday- morning. Maley ilnew an empty bottle out of a railway carriage window- the other day, and the bottle landed on the nose of a porter on point duty. The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, said the practice of thrown? bottles out of railway carriages was a very dangerous one, and he fined Maley 20s. with costs and expenses totalling 19s. Under a Swedish Royal Decree, tne importation into Sweden of shaving brushes manufactured in or exported from Japan is prohibited. Shaving brushes which have arrived in Sweden may not be delivered from the Customs unless a certificate, to the effect that the brushes have not been manufactured in Japan, nor exported from that country, is produced to the Customs authorities.

Mr. Henri Segaert, Consul-General for Belgium for Australasia, will arrive from Sydney on Monday per the Manuka. Mr. Segaert is making an official visit to New Zealand, his principal aim being to express to the people of New Zealand the gratitude, of Belgium for the splendid help afforded at the time of the war, to inquire and report on the trade prospects of the country, to get into touch with the prominent business men, and promote the best intercourse between New Zealand and Belgium. A civic reception is being arranged for Mr. Segaert in the Council Chamber, which will 'tike place probably on Tuesday. In addition to his official calls at the four principal towns in New Zealand, Mr. Segaert is making an extensive tour throughout the country, and expects to leave finally for Sydney from Auckland about Jfarch 24.

The trade of the port of New Plymouth for 1920 shows a marked increase over the 1919 figures, being 123,954 tons, 104.319 (tljs a Press Association message). Twelve ocean liners were berthed, as compared with seven in 1919-Ex-Detective Herbert, formerly of Dunedin, writes from San Francisco to a New Zealand friend in the following strain" Some enterprising and patriotic New Zealander should stir up Air. Massey to do something to combat the ignorance of these California ornadhauns concerning New Zealand, \v e have here a ‘New Zealand Government agent,’ but no one knows anything about him. I found him by accident. . . . His agency is only a side line, for which ho has only a mere nominal screw, li e think in New Zealand that the world is watching us for a lead in freak or advanced legislation. I am sure this is quite wrong. It would be nearer correct to say the world (California, anyhow) hardly knows of our existence, and those that do know laugh sarcastically at our insignificance. God has been good to these darned Yanks. He gave them the most beautiful country on earth, nnd they think, or appear to think, they created it themselves. - Auckland “Star.”

Tho life-saving club« of Lyall Bay are much indebted to tho local residents for tho generous response to their appeal for funds to hold an opening day to-day-A programme of athletic, swimming, and life-saving events has been arranged. The lifo-saving competitions with a full reel team and with a four-men team should prove very interesting. Several novelty events are also included.

Can you invent a time-saving device. Porliape you have an idea that will develop into a money-making inventionIf you have, protect it by patent rigid. Consult Henry Hughes, Limited, Patent Attorneys, 157 Featherston 'Street, Wellington. Write or call for free booklet, "Advice to Inventor®.” — Advt

At a recent meeting of the Medical Board of New Zealand a letter was received from the Consul of Japan, in r<4 ply to the board’s inquiry, stating that the Japanese law permits reciprocally, without further examination, the registration in Japan of New Zealand medical practitioners having British nationality who are registered as medical practitioners by the British Government. The board decided, with a view to establishing reciprocity, to ascertain how many years’ course of study was required at Japanese medical universities.—Auckland “Star.” '

The 200 Senior Cadets from the secondary schools of the Dominion, who have tieen undergoing special training in physical drill, musketry, and infantry drill at Trentham Camp since the New Year, will conclude their course on Wednesday next. All being specially keen and alert, they have made rapid progress in their work, and their discipline and esprit de corps have been so good as to earn for them the highest praise of the camp authorities. The course is being concluded with a special series of events for the purpose of deciding the district championships. These include shooting matches, boxing contests, cricket matches, and a programme of atalet '° sports. The shooting matches wi 1 be fired this afternoon, and the final for the district cricket championship will take place on Monday afternoon. No fewer than 106 entries having been received for the boxing contests, it has been found necessary- to devote two evenings to getting them off. Thes’e have been fixed for Monday and Tuesday evenings, and are arousing keen int ores ADuring the year ended December 31 last 200 petitions in divorce were filed in the Supreme Court at Wellington. Decree nisi was made in 149 cases, and * decree absolute in 138 cases.

Amsterdam is fast losmg its hold as the diamond-cutting centre of the states the November B'’ lle tin of the Department of Overseas Ipidc. One g • factor is the development of the industryin England, and in the Sainte-Clauoe district of France, where however, the cutting is reputed to be inferior. Anothe factor is the increasing competition ot Antwerp, owing to the low value of the Belgian franc compared with the Dutcli florin and the relatively low cost of cutting at Antwerp. A grocer named G. Prime was fined 10s. in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday for keeping his shop open after closing' hours. Mr. R. T. Bailey, the Inspector of Awards, stated that grocers’ shops must close at 10 p.m. on Friday, and the defendant’s shop was open at 10.15 p.m. It was stated on behalf of Prime that his own watch had gone wrong, and he thought he was closing up at 10 p.m. However, he had since taken the precaution of ringing up the Exchange on a Friday to get the correct time.

A deputation from Brunnerton yesterday waited on the Prime Minister and complained that the town was likely to Buffer severely as the result of uie Hallway Bepartment's decision that the railwav and traffic bridge across the river should be closed. The bridge was recently condemned as unsafe, and closed to all but pedestrian traffic. The deputation emphasised the importance of the bridge to the commercial life of the rown and suggested that the Government should either replace the structure or make it fit for further use. Mr. Massey replied that the decision of the Government would depend upon a report from the Chief Engineer of Railways, who would be instructed to make investigations.

In addition io the usual 10.30 steamer from Wellington to Day’s Bay and Rona Bay to-morrow morning, a special steamer‘will leave the Ferry Wharf at 9.80, running to Day’s Bay only. The Wellington Professional Band will play on the 2.30 p.m. steamer and at Day’s Bay.

It is reported, says an exchange, that a number of young farmers in Hawke's Bay propose shifting their quarters to South Africa. Already fully twenty young men have arranged their passages and others are to follow. It is stated that they are going to Durban with the idea of taking up land on the East Coast of the "Dark” Com'inent.

The Waterside Workers’ Band "ill play at Island Bay on Sunday afternoon.

Discussing various matters of interest in connection with his visit to England, Dean Fitchett said that prices were undoubtedly high, but one thing that must strike anyone visiting Lug and. now was ilie excessive luxury. Along with the industrial mutiny there was an extraordinary manifestation of luxurious living. The fashionable restaurants were always crowded. One had to Iwok seats for luncheons, and at places of amusement in like manner. On the night before he left: England the Dean went to a concert in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester-one of the largest auditoriums in the Kingdom. The place was full from floor to ceiling and the lowest-priced seats were 10s. The work-ing-class people had plenty of n ’‘O no j r > and they spent -it freely. Undoubtedly they had more now than ever they had had.

The stocks of flour in the Dominion for the month ended November 30, 19-0, totalled 9209 tons, as compared with 8546 tons for the corresponding month of 1919. The total stocks of milling wheat in the Dominion at November 30 last amounted to 1,078,013 bushels, a decrease of 686,244 bushels as compared 'with rsovember, 191 V.