LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 138, 7 March 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is understood that a further cu tin retail meat prices will be made this week. These prices do not as yet fully represent the big; fall that has taken place in. the price of fat stock. The Ruapehu, which called here on Saturday to disembark North Island passengers, brought about two hundred immigrants. Of these fifty were nominated passengers. The vessel also brought the wives and families of some o.f the officers and men of 11.M.5.. Chatham. Many of the immigrants are farmers and artisans.

A local angler reports good catches in the Hutt River. On Saturday, between Moiling and Haywards, he landed a number of fish, including six three-pounders. A. short time ago he landed twenty fish in tho afternoon.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that amongst the passengers by the Maheno arc a few immigrants who had been stranded at Svdnev. At a recent meeting of the Board of Governors of the Christchurch Technical College, the chairman (Mr. C. H. Opie) drew attention to the fact that children living in the country have been allowed free passes to tho technical and secondary schools of the city, thus lessening the educational disabilities under which country children suffer. “Hundreds of children, by means of this privilege, have been enabled to secure a good education,” he said. "The Education Department has directed that in future no country youth shall be allowed a free pass if a secondary school is more convenient to hi= residence. This will mean that a large number of country youths coming with free passes by rail to the secondary schools of the city will now have to attend the local secondary schools, with often only one teacher of secondary subjects, and never with the staff, equipment, and facilities of the big technical schools.” . He suggested thnt a protest against the regulation should he made. It was decided to communicate with the Minister of Education.

As the outcome of the recent difference of opinion, among the oveciitivo of’ the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in regard to pensions, resulting in the resignation of the two Auckland members, the following resolution from the military patients at the Cashmere Sanatorium hns been received by the executive: —"That this meeting of disabled soldiers feels that the N.Z.R.S.A. has the interests of sick and disabled soldiers nt heart, and''has every confidence in lhe association’s efforts on our behalf.” —Christchurch "Press.”

A Press Association telegram from Invercargill states;—Mr. Samuel Turner and tourist guides, who were reported to be missing near Milford Sound, are safe. D M'Pherson. one of the party, telegraphs that they bare been to Martin’s Ray, and are now going back to Milford. They expect to reach Invercargill on March 15.

A special train was chartered by the Methodist ■ Conference to take the delegates and friends on Saturday afternoon to Melting, where some five or six hundred people gathered in the grounds of Mr. J. Mitchell. The president and vice-president were introduced to their host, and hostess ami to the Mayor (Mr. E. P. Rishworthl, and replied to their addresses of welcome. Refreshments were provided by the Young AVomen’s nnd Young Men’s Bible Class Union, and n very enjoyable afternoon was spent by the visiters.

For the benefit of school children the two champion lady swimmers, Misses Shand and Bristed, will give an exhibition at the Te Aro Baths this afternoon. It is expected that some 2060 children from the upper standards will be present.

Representatives of the Petone and Lower Hutt Borough Councils conferred on Thursday night with a.,view to entering into a new agreement between the boroughs in respect of the gas supply. Tho discussion-throughout was harmonious. It was decided to hold a. further conference on a date io be arranged.

The Auckland Education Board is evidently seeking yet another form of notoriety—that of quick-change artist (says the “AA’aipu I’ost’T A lady teacher was recently appointecl to the Te Awamutu school/and-she arrived on Monday to take up her new duties. During tho day telegrams—several of them—reached her, and before many hours had passed she was again en route for freeh fields and tires . green. AVe imagine that, like most young 1 ladies, she keeps ft diaur, which will read: “Monday—Arrived Te Awamutu; met class, and found accommodation. Tuesday—Said good-bye to class and paid for lodgings in lieu of notice. Wednesday—After night's travelling landed in another school miles away, and now awaiting more urgent telegrams. Such is the necessity of modern education !”

The £1 notes now in circulation throughout Australia will shortly be withdrawn'and a note of new design substituted, says the “Age.” The board of directors of the Commonwealth Bank has under consideration a design prepared bv Mr. Harrison, Commonwealth note printer, which will most likely be adopted. The new note will be slightly smaller than the note at present in use. During the hearing of a bv-law case in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court counsel for the defendant, who was charged with having left his car unattended near the Addington saleyards, stated that the fines made in such cases went to alignment the revenue of the Riccarton Borough Council. He suggested, amidst laughter, that, there being no parking place for motor-cars in the vicinity, ears were sometimes allowed to stand about as decoys until several collected, whereupon their numbers were noted, with a view to court proceedings being taken. At a later stage he suggested that, owing to the slump in prices at the saleyards, fines for such offences should be reduced accordingly. The Magistrate commented: "You think that the scale of fines should follow the priee of sheep? All I can say is that in that case sheepfarmers have got off very lightly in the past.” A fine of ss. was inflicted.

Since tho Murchison bank robbery on February 22 the police have been diligently searching for tho burglars without result. The following details of the robbery, more complete than those already published, are culled from a letter received from a Murchison resident (states the "Lyttelton Times”). The statement made by the teller, IV. Engold, was to the effect that at about 3 a.m. on February 22, when asleep in his room adjoining the office some person put a rug or coat over his head and held him down, whilst another tied his feet and hands with a rope. A sheet was taken from the bed and tied axonnd the bed stead over his feet, and a rope was tied around tho bed over his chest. A silkhandkerchief was then put into his mouth, and secured there with a sateen belt. He struggled, but could not getup, and he neither saw the burglars nor heard them speak.' He managed to free himself at about 7.30 a-m. and immediately informed the bank manager, Mr. Ellis, of the occurrence. Information was given to tho police, and Countable Roliertson went to the bank. He found the doors of both safes w-ide open, books scattered about the floor, and £2127 15s. missing. A considerable sum in silver was overlooked by the thieves. Two days later a. person passing over the Matakitaki Bridge, about half a niile from tho township, saw a parcel lying on the riverbank under the bridge. Thinking it might have something to do with the robbery, he sent word to the police, and Detectives Young and Buscell and Constables Robertson, proceeding to the spot, took charge of the parcel, and on opening it found tho whole of the missing mqney. The misleading nature of the term "Australasia” was pointed out in a discussion which took place at a meeting of ?be council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce over a movement initialed in Australia by an organisation using the term "Australasian” to make a "trade drive” in the interests of Australia and New Zealand in Britain and America (states the “New Zealand Herald”). One member said that in the past the use of the term "Australasia” by trade organisations had done injury to New Zealand because those interested had concentrated their energies upon Australia. It was agreed that unless the lecturers to be employed made iti clear that New Zealand trade was distinct from that of Australia the chambers of commerce of the Dominion would be disinterested.

"The time has come to form another union, a union of the general public,” said ft, speaker at a meeting of superannuated public servants held in Auckland to discuss the question of their bonus. Ho was discussing thp hearing of industrial unrest upon tne prosperity of the community, and concquently the amount of money at the disposal of the Government for such purposes as augmenting pensions. Taking as an instance ithe shipping trouble in Australia, he Said the shipowners would be able to make up their losses out of freights, and the men, by working overtime, could recoup themselves for a portion of what they had lost but the general public had no redress for their sufferings.* Referring further to the present trouble on the waterfront he said he did not know which party was in the wrong. Probably both were. But when it came to a settlement of disputes of the kind the general public should b& consulted.

To be mistaken for tho Governor-Gen-eral was once the experience of a wellknown Pressman (says an Australian pnper). The Ophir with the Duke and Duchess of York (the present King and Queen) on board, had arrived in Port Phillip and anchored off Mornington. In the afternoon the Governor-General (Lord Hopetown) went, down on the gunboat Protector to pay his respects. After a couple of hours the look-out reported that the Governor-General was returning. The small boat could be seen round the stern of the Ophir and making direct for the Protector. Though the ligTvt was failing it occurred to no one that tho slim, clean-shaven, frock-coated and top-hatted gentleman sitting in the stern could be other than Lord Hqpetown. So the guard was formed up, bluejackets panned the gangwav. and as the visitor’s head reached the level of the gunwale the order 1 al ’K out "Present Arms!” The recipient of the salute was a Pressman who had T>een the guest of Sir Lewis Beaumont on the Rovnl Arthur, and • had been given the Admiral’s permission to run up to Melbourne with his “copy' on tho returning gunboat. He appreciated the “honour.”

q'he inch aiming rifles on the six-inch guns at Fort Dorset, Seatoun, were in action on Saturday, when gun crews belonging to No. 3 Company of the Now Zealand Garrison Artillery fired at. HongKong targets, towed by the Janie Seadon. Only one of the big guns was in use. as the other battery is at present, dismantled, undergoing repair. Captain Abel, N.Z.G.A., was battery commander. The aiming with the inch tubes which are sighted and aimed telescopically, with the telescopic sights of the six-inch guns on which they are placed—was. on the whole, good, and reflected great credit on the gun-layers. There were few “shorts,” and usually the bullet struck close up, and in target range. At the conclusion of tube firing the Janie Seddon steamed out past the Heads, with the Hong-Kongs, and three-pounder firing was. engaged in. In this shoot, also, tho aiming was good, and there were no bad misses. It had been .intended. in addition, to fire a series of six-pounder shells, but tho gun refused to respond when the gun-crew had everything in preparation. On March 19 a big six-inch shoot will take place, when it is honed thirty rounds will bo fired from the fort.

The City Council is about to appoint a supervisor for the Orongorongo tunnel work. Several applications from men skilled in tunnelling l*ave been received, and a recommendation has been made.’ The appointment will probably be announced this week.

For tho purpose of further considering the matter iu dispute, with a view to reaching a settlement, it is understood that a conference between tho Petone Borough Council and its gas stokers will be held this evening. The world is waiting for the man with ideas. And often the simplest inventions are the most useful and the most lucrative. Your idea may be very valuable. Get it protected by Patent Rights. For advice about patents consult Henry Hughes, Ltd., 157 FeatHiorston Street, AA'alkogton.—Advt.

Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., dealt with the police business in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. Hugh Kerrigan, a fireman. who was convicted for the seventh time for drunkenness, was sent to prison, for fourteen days. For unlawfully absenting himself from the s.s. AVoodara on December 31, William Henry Taylor was also sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment.

Under the auspices of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee. Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., spoke at the Empress Theatre last evening on. "Tho Imperial Conference and the Menace of Secrecy.” In the course of his remarks, the speaker asked the reason for Mr. Massey’s impeding departure for England, and made particular reference to the cable message from Mr. Lloyd George. He hinted at “Imperialist plots,” at the "hatching of new wars,” and dealt with the operations of secret diplomacy. Several musical items were given during the evening. There was a large attendance of members at the annual fneeting of the Professional Orchestra, held yesterday morning. Mr. Moschini was re-elected conductor, and Mr. G. Nelson lion, secretary. It was decided that the first practice of the season should be held on April 3, the first concert to follow about three weeks later. The meeting recorded the opinion that members should lie compelled to attend practices, and this rule will be put into force during the coming musical season. Satisfaction was expressed at the performances given during last season, special reference being made to the Techaikovski Symphony.