LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities have received advice that the R.ALS. Mamma left San Francisco on Alay 21 for Wellington. She carries .1531 bags of mails, including 552 bags from the United Kingdom, and 591 parcel receptacles. The s.s. Aloeraki left Sydney at 11 a.m. on Alay 26 for Wellington. She carries 244 bags of mails, including one bag from Sail I raneisco. and 17 bags from the East. The Riverina left Sydney at 3 p.m. on May 26 for Auckland. She carries 148 bags of mails, including five from U.S.A., am* nine from the East.

"This man is always .getting arun.k, and is a perfect nuisance.” was (ho remark made by Sub-Inspector 'Willis when a man named William Woods appeared in the dock in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning on a charge of drunkenness. Tho Alagistrate: "Is bo married?” Sub-Inspector Willis: "No, sir, no one would many him!” The Magistrate; -‘'Seven days.”

The New South Wales Football Association, as requested by the New Zealand Football Association, will not lie. able io send a team to New Zealand this season io play representative matches. This intimation has been received by the secretary (Mr. B. L. Salmon), following an earlier cablegram. It is possible, according to a statement in the letter from the New South Wales Association that a combined Queensland and New South Wales teain may visit New Zealand in 1922, a return match to follow in 1924. Present fixtures make it impossible for the learn to come across this year.

Should a. girl smoke? During the hearing of a case at tho Auckland Criminal Court a woman witness was asked by counsel whether she knew that her niece

.-molted cigarettes. "It is fashionable for girls to smoke now,” said the witness. "Do you smoke?” queried counsel. “No; I am a married woman.” replied the lady, amid laughter. "Most girls of 17 or 18 smoko nowadays, it would app'ar,” observed Judge Stringer, from the Bench. “When you go into a fashionable hotel you find most of the girls smoking.” Later Dr. Horton was "iving evidence. “Would you. v.ioctor, take it as a sign of vice in a girl of 1< if she ■ smokes ?” asked llis Honour. By no means.” replied the doctor. "1 know any amount of nice girls who smoke. Prospective plans are being prepared by Mr. C. A. Lawrence for a proposed new sports- pavilion for the. AA pllingtou College grounds. The old pavilion, situated on tile eastern side of the tennis courts, was destioycd by fire a few month’s ago. It was announced al yesterday’s meeting of the College Governors that £15(1 was available, from the insurance, and the Education Department. is to ha approached to provide 'the to lance of the money necessary for the erection of a new pavilion.

The secretarv of tho Shearers' Union (Mr. C. Grayndler) . stated yesterday that a report that shearers and employers hod agreed upon 255. per hundred as the shearing rate, for next season was without foundation. No agreement had been reached as far as the union was* concerned.

An unfortunate■ mistake was made by the member for Bruce, Air. John Edie, M.P., regarding the date, of the Clutha Valley show at Tuakona Mouth (says the “Bruce Herald”). Mr. Eadie, who was married on the. Saturday, turned up at Tuapeka Mouth (with his bride the day after tho show, much to tho astonishment and amusement of the local committee, who were busy clean, ing up. The member for Bruce was the subject of much good-natured luinter in consequence, and, having regard to the excitement associated with ’ wedding festivities, his lapse was readily forgiven. It is not generally known that the Boy. Scout uniform is recognised and protected bv Parliament, and cannot be altered without the consent of Parliament. not even with the sanction of the Chief Commissioner. Speaking on that matter at the recent 'conference here, Brigadier-General A. W. Andre*, said: "I think this is just as it should be. The cost of every innovation in uniform eventually falls upon the patents. and if they" ere' nut to more expanse it should only be done after tl' r most careful consideration, and with the consent of the council.”

The trapping of trout in the Wairarapa for the Wellington Acclimatisation Society commenced as early as May 2 this year nnd so far the society’s trapper (Mr. J. Aliller) has been very successful. It is necessary to commence early in Atay, id secure the male fish, which ■ commence to run a couple of weeks liefore the female fish. So far some 300 male and 200 female trout have been trapped and transferred to the hatchery at AJasterton for stripping. In order to allow of the. trapper covering a wider field, tho society has this year provided Air. Alillar with a motor-car for two months, so that streams other than the, AVaipoua may be exploited. The trout-fishing season this year has been a record, both in the number of licenses taken out, and Hie sport secured.

■When in England in the. autumn of 1920, Air. R. A. Holmes, an enthusiast in acclimatisation matters, purchased from a Berkshire trout farm an assortment of suitable water plants for fish food, and some nolluscs. for presentation to the Acclimatisation Society; and consigned the collection by the M'ai',wcra direct to Wellington. Unfortunately the ■ vessel was diverted to Durban,. Newcastle Sydney, and Auckland, leaving London iu October, 1920, and arriving at Auckland in February, only to be sent to quarantine. When the consignment eventually reached AVellington Ixrth water plants and molluscs were found to have perished. The result was disastrous. and the donor after all his outlay of monev. time and trouble, did not have tho satisfaction of handing over anvthing but ampty carboys; but the hearty thanks of members are tendered to Mr. Holmes for bis spirited effort, says the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. “What with the rabbit a well-estab-lished nuisance and the opossum a growing one New Zealand threatens to become one of the great j'ur-producing countries of the. world, said a Wellington resident who is interested in acclimatisation matters to a Dominion reporter yesterday. In the Supreme Court yesterday, before His Honour Air. Justice Hosting and a. jury of twelve, the ease was continued in which Frederick William Vare sued two brothers, George Edwin Tantrum and William Tantrum, farmers at Otaki. for £1455 17s. 6d. damages, for alleged trespass. Air. G. G. Matson and Mr. B. Cooke appeared for the plaintiff. and the defendant, George Tantrum, was represented'hy Air. G. Harper. The defendant William Tantrum did not filo a defence. The case for the plaintiff was commenced on Thursday, when it was alleged that William Tantrum, engaged hy Vare as “temporary manager” on~ a farm sold by the brothers to the plaintiff, had refused to quit the place on the arrival of the "permanent manager” and in addition had hampered him in his work. The defendant yesterday denied he had counselled his brother to adopt that' attitude. The hearing continued last evening. The jury returned at five minutes to eleven with a verdict for the defendants. The council of the New Zealand Rugby League was asked at its last meeting in Auckland to give their . help towards oombating the action of the Hawke’s Buy Rugby Union in taking men from the Northern code and playing them in Rugby fixtures without such players being reinstated, nnd notwithstanding disqualifications previously imposed upon them. The request was put forward on behalf of the Hawke’s Bay League by Mr. G. Frat or, delegate on the council for that laxly. Air. E. Phelan contended that after copying the League’s rules the Now Zealand Rugby Union was now attempting to capture 1/eague players, lie advocated ignoring such tactics, and for the League to follow the course already sei, and play the game, and keep it. clea.n. He would, always oppose anything in the direction of al templing to induce Rugby players to play th.e League game. He was confident that the League would win out, and finally urged the necessity of combating the methods adopted by the other side. The president of the council. Air. D. 'A. APT.can, had something to say regarding the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union "in endeavouring to whitewash disqualified players.” He was satisfied that_ it would not be sanctioned by the English Rugby Union, nnd he was positive that, th*' New Zealand Union had no idea of asking its parent body to approve of what it: had none, because it k_np.w quite woll that the proposal would not be entertained for a moment. It. would 1» tho duty of the, league to bring tine matter under the notice of English Northern Union Council, which would doubtless make it known to the English Rugby Viion.—"N.Z. Herald.”

Writing in the “New Zealand Herald a Fiji, correspondent states that it has been a long-standing hardship to Europeans who have desired to secure land nnd settle in Fiji, that they could not do so without having to compete at open auction. The system was iniquitous. A European desiring land had to gel permission from the Lands Commissioner, then travel at his own expense until he found land that met his ideas. Then he had to see the native owners and arrange terms with them. The ‘land application was then bubt mitted to a council of chiefs and if they approved it wont before the Native Lands Commissioner and if farther approved was finally advertised for public auction at an upset price. The original applicant. after considerable expense, jwas often outbid by others, even Indians, who had spent nothing. Now the Secretary of State has agreed to the abolition -of the auction system except in special cases. The decision is the result of a long and strenuous agitation hy both the hyal Press and politicians. In this case it had the cordial support of His. Excellency the Governor, who is sympathetic with any movement for progress. The peculiar thing under tho old regime was that any Indian could get land without the final competition at auction.

Tree planting as a financial proposition was discussed at the Christchurch Hospital' Board on Tuesday, says an exchange, on a question by air. AV. Leadley as to whether tho hoard's planting operations were intended, ns a commercial proposition or for beautifying. He said that in' South Africa he had seen a black wattle plantation that was being run on a commercial venture. Air. Leadle.y’s remarks were made on a rebv the Health Committee that it. had been decided to put in a. small area, at the infectious diseases hospital of various trees, including an experimental sowing of black wattle. Afr. I. D. Hoag replied that Air. -1. 5 outig, curator to the Domnins Board, had iniDressed on the committee the necessity for planting trees that would be of value io the community. Black wattle was An experiment, but there was no reason why in seven years thev might not be stripping the bark for sale.

The. remarkable success of Air. IT. J* Finlay, a recent Beverly scholarshqi holder, was reported tn the Otago University Connell on Tuesday by the Chancellor, the Rev. Dr. Cameron, who drew particular attention to (he marks awarded Air. Finlay. lie gamed the senior scholarship in chemistry, and was second for |the senior scholarship in plivsies, bring only seven marks behind (he winner. ‘ He 'gained the chemistry scholarship with 97 per cent, m each of two papers. Tho council. Cameron, had good reason to bo satisfied that they had given this young man a Beverlr scholarship. He was very severely handicapped in that he had never walked nnd never would walk. Dr. Maedonald mentioned that Air. had also gained a prize for poetry. The council decided to send him a message of congratulation on his great success. Dr. Afacdonald at the same time drew attention to the feet that seven of the senior scholarships tins year had been won bv Otago, nnd it was decided to ofl'er the council's congratulations to the teachers of the successful students — ''Otago Daily Tinies.”

No white heron (or crane) has, says tho annual report of idle Wellington Acclimatisation Society, Ixien reported as seen during the past year, but a small colony of blu«* herons (Demie-o-retta Sacra) has settled on the Ngahauranga reels; six birds wore noted during December last. Blue herons are strictly protected, aud the penalty for shooting or capturing one is substantial.

A dispute between the Wellington Jewellers, Watch and Clock Makers and Kindred Trades' Union, and employers, was commenced, yesterday before a Conciliation Council, over which the Conciliation Commissioner (Air. W. H. Newton) presided. The union is asking for an award, the principal clauses in which relate to wages and hours of work. It asks for a for journeymen of £6 a week, and that working hours be lowered from 461 a week to 40. After discussion, it was resolved that the case be adjourned sine die, pending the result of the Auckland Union’s dispute, which, is to be heard by the Court of Arbitration at its next sittings.

The following letter has been forwarded by Mr. 11. (J’-Malley, secretary of ths Wellington District Hotel, Club, and Restaurant Workers’ Union, to the Act-ing-Prime Alinister (Sir Francis Bell):— “I am instructed! by my executive to write to you informing you that at the annual meeting of the union the Government ban upon the circulation of working-class literature in New Zealand was considered by the union, and a resolution of protest was carried; it was also resolved that an appeal should be made to the Government to remove the restrictions complained of. I trust that the matter will receive favourable consideration.”

Attention is drawn to the fact that under section 11. of the shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1920, as far as the Wellington area is concerned, there will be no late shopping night next. week. Under the new amendment, where Saturday is the statutory half-holiday, Friday' must be the late night, and no Otimi night: is now permissible. The tug's Birthday happens to fall on a. 1 ri(lay this year, so that by the abovementioned amendment to the Act, the late night cannot be observed. This provision of the Act will affect every district where Saturday is the statutory half-holiday in the same manner. At the annual meeting of householders in the West Christchurch school district, a motion was adopted urging the Government to allow nominations for school committees to close at the annual meetings, instead of a week earlier. The Minister of Eotication (Hon. C. J. Parr) iias replied:—“l have to say that the date for the closing of nominations was fixed at seven days before the election because it is mseessary in districts where the number of householders is large, io have the voting papers prepared beforehand. It was found in practice that it was impossible in a crowded meeting to make suitable arrangements for taking a. poll when the nominations were received at the meeting. Considerable confusion resulted in several cases, and. therefore, it was found necessary to alter the Act so as to require nominations lieforehand, in accordance with the present practice. I may add further that recently, on aceount of the difficulty in taking a poll in a crowded meeting, the Government has been urged/ not only to have the nominations in heforehnnd. but to make arrangements for taking the poll in urban areas during the day. I regret, therefore, tha*. I cannot: see my way at present to grant the request of your committee, and revert to the previous practice of receiving nominations on the evening of the householders' meeting.” The tenth International Conference of ths Red Cross which is 'being held just now in Geneva put one more public seal on the new status of the Dominions for at its opening session last week it was announced that the British Dominions should rank as nations (stated a London correspondent on April 7). This was proposed 'hr the International Committee of the Rod Cross, and was done with the approbation of the English Red Cross. Among the delegates who attended were Viscountess Novar, for Australia, and Air. F. D. Wnldegrave for New Zealand, fine regrettable feature of the conference was the abstention of Franco and Belgium from it. “We know,” said the president., "that they remain faithfully attached to tho traditions of the .Rod Cross and valuable co-adjutors in our committee. Political considerations alone, circumstances not yet cleared up botweon their Governments and Germany, have forced them to remain absent.”

< The Patriotic Society Band "i’J at Island Bay at 3 p.m. to-morrow.

The flax milling industry in. the Auclf*: land district this season has not been so successful us was anticipated when operations were resumed in the spring. At that time shipping fieights were still abnormally high, but the price of hemp on the British market: was sufficiently, good to enable the mills to keep run-: uing. These conditions continued ’ill' early m January, when the price ot ' hemp on the Ixmflnn market experiene-’ ed a drop of about £l6 a ton. 'Dus’ serious decline m price rendered milling, operations unprofitable, notwithstanding, a reduction in freight rates of £5 a ton. This reduction was due to representations to the shipping companies by the merchants interested in the industry. These conditions still exist, and very little fibre is being produced, practically all the mills of the district having closed down lor the season. It is stated by ex- : , )C rt< that unless the position improves• in the meantime very few mills w‘ n open next season.-" New Zealand Her- • aid.”