LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 227, 20 June 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

H.M.S. Chatham, from I’icton, arrived in,harbour shortly after 3 o'clock pn Sat'urday afternoon, and berthed al Lainbtou Quay Wharf (No. 1).

The Postal auHiorities have received advice from Sydney that the Moeraki, which is due here to-day, carries 197 bugs of Australian mails, . <i99 bags from the United Kingdom, and 30 parcel receptacles. Tho mail also includes 21 bags from the East.

In ihe Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning, before Air. F. K. Hunt, S.AI., three boys, two of them over 16 years of age and the other If years old, were charged that on June 13 they stole a cashbox, value J 33, and .£2l 17s. in money, the property of the. Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd. In asking for a remand for a week, Chief Detective Ward stated that the boys had been concerned in an ingenious theft. He had further, inquiries to make and required the remand for that purpose. The remand /vaa granted. The annual smoke concert of the Chid Post Office Pastimes Club was held in Dustin’s rooms. Cuba. Street, on Saturday night. Mr. J. C, Greig presided. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from ihe Postmaster-General, the Mayor (Mr. IL A. Wright, M.P.), and several others. The following toasts were honoured: —"The King," “N.Z. Post and Telegraph Department,” proposed by .Mr. J. Cooper and replied to by Mr. H. D. Grocott; “N.Z. Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association," proposed by Air. J. D. Burns and replied to by Alessrs. JI. E. Coombs, J. Cooper, and Al. AV. AV. Cunihnns; "Parliament,” proposed by Mr F AV. Penlington and replied to by Sin. John Luke, M.P.; "Superannuated Officers,’’ proposed by Air. Gibson and replied to by E. C. Gannaway, A. Alexander, and G. AA’orsfold; Chairman, Secretary, and Committee,” "The Press.” An excellent programme o± musical and elocutionary items was furnished by Messrs. Austin Blackie, T. E. .Tones. G. Tollerton, V. Jones, and L. Inch.

Some complaints were made Inst week by people who stated that the milk they were receiving "was scalded. Air. HM’ard, the manager of the milk department, who was consulted on the matter, said that, through on accident to one of the steam pipes, the pasteurising temperature was higher than usual for a few days, which was probably the cause of the complaints. He jilso indicated that with milk coming trdm considerable distances during a warm spell in the middle of winter, steps had to be taken to keep tho milk sweet, and temperatures slightly higher than normal had to bo obtain*tl. Speaking generally. Air. AVnrd said that there was no shortage of mill; this winter, thanks to n plenitude of green feed, which had been brought on by Ihe unusually mild season.

A paper on the fluctuations of rainfall in New Zealand was read before the Philosophical Society last week by Air. L. Birks. lie explained that: the data had been supplied and worked up 'by Air. D. C. Bates, the Dominion Meteorologist, from records dating back for C 8 years in Auckland and 58 years in Wetlington and Dunedin. The average annual rainfall over the whole period showed the following rather unexpected result—Auckland, 43.87 inches: AVellington, 48.57 inches; Dunedin. 38.07 inches. The annual rainfalls had been analysed Io show what periods on ihe average elapsed between years of excessive or of deficient rain. In Auckland a 30 per cent, excess over the average had occurred six times in 68 years, that is, the mean cycle of 30 per cent, excess was 11.3 years. The mean cycle for 30 per cent, deficiency in Auckland was 22.6 year’. Averaging the corresponding cycles for the three stations, an excess of 30 per cent, occurri'd on the average on a cyclo of 12.5 years and a deficiency of 30 per cent., or an average cycle id 16.2 years’. These figures, of course, did .not mean that futiiro excess nr deficiency w.mld, occur at such intervals, but they were a guide which enabled the farmer or engineer in m*ke his own forecast more intelligontlf.

New Zealand spends very many- thousands of pounds every year on wooden handles for picks, axes, rakes, chisels, and other tools. Hickory and other strong, springy woods are used for the manufacture of these handles, which come largely from the United States and Canada. The Dominion could save most of the money if use were made of the birch, or more properly’ beach, forests of Southland. Tho bir)h timber, which has 'been wasted almost entirely in the past, is eminently suitable for tho manufacture of tool handles and other similar purposes, and there seems to be no reason why a new industry should not be based on the great birch forests that still exist in the south. Specimens of the wood have been tested by the Forestry Department with satisfactory results, and lately tho Department of Industries and Commerce has been interesting itself in the matter. •

Governor Gordon, who ruled over New Zealand in the later 'seventies, was credited with being austere, domineering, and unapproachable by ordinary humanity. Shortly after his arrival in New Zealand lie commandeered tho Government steamer, under the command of the late Captain Fairchild, for a trip round the coast. The first morning out from port the Governor came on to the upper deck, when he was saluted 'by the captain (who had a. pronounced North American accent) in his usual free and easy’ style by remarking, "Good morning. Your Excellency,” and followed up with some comments respecting a foreland a short distance ahead. His Excellency replied, "Sir, when you have any communications to make to me, .be so good as to do so through my aide-de-camp.” No further exchange of compliments followed flint day. On the following day, however, His Excellency ventured to ask a question of the captain, who was I’ot slow to retaliate with the remark, "If Y'our Excellency has any communications to make to me. be so good ns to do so through my chief mate.” Needless to say no further communications pas=ed between His Excellency and the captain during that voyage.

At the. Wellington Workingmen’s Club and T.iierurv Institute last week. a handsome silver shield for the cJnbs annual snooker champion was presented bv Air. Harold AV. Brown. A large number of members wore present: in t.Jio club’s billiard room where the presentation took place, and eulogistic references were made by the president and other members to " Air. Brown’s all-round sportsmanship. The trophy is a inassivo one with a background of polished wood and large silver centre-piece, and Ims small silver shields surrounding t»o whole for winners’ names. The tournament. fo’ this year's champion is now being held.

An undefended divorce case was heard in the Supreme Court on Saturday by His Honour Air. Justice Salmonch the case was one in which James I’urnise (Mr. O. C. Afazengarb) asked for dissd'uUon of hik marriage with .gnes Furniss on tTfe ground of her alleged fuisconduct with John YVilliam Bare ay, an architect’s works overseer. B?’ said counsel, disappeared from Wellington about two years ago in circumstances that caused, a nnlu sensa ionGiving evidence, the petitioner said that respondent was an Englishwoman, wnom he had married in Sheffield 111 while undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in which she was « His wife did not come out to ihe dominion until two years after his departure. Ho went to Auckland to meet her. but missed her owing to a mistake to the time of arrival of the steamer. He met her on the Alain Trunk line, however, but she refund to so to Huntly. and went on to Wellington While in Wellington she was for some Time a boarder with a Air and Airs. Barclay, and subsequently the respondent and Barclay disappeared it being ascertained about nine .months Jat£ that, the pair were living m Christchurch «« man and wife. A decree nisi was granted.

Gambling by means of tho sale of Lottery tickets is "within the law >P many countries. sueh is the llbert Y granted in Madeira (Canary Islands), that vendors of tickets are allowed to visit the prisons and sell tickets io the prisoners through the iron bars in their cell doore.

The question of toll-gates, which had been deferred from a previous meeting, was definitely dealt with by the Egmont County Council last week (reports tho “Taranaki Herald”). Councillor Ferguson moved that the council go on with the establishment of toll-gates. Tie contended that, as the damage to ths main roads was caused by foreign traffic, the toll-gates were necessary in order to prevent the ratepayers from being bankrupted. Councillor O’Brien seconded the motion. Jn reply to a question, th© chairman said that no steps s had jet been taken to find out what revenue was likely to be obtained by erecting gates at various points. There was some discussion as to the cost of erecting gates and the necessary cottages, and one councillor expressed opposition to toll-gates unless there was an assurance that they would enable the rates to be substantially written down. The motion was carried, only one councillor voting against it. ’ After some discussion the council decided on three sites as follow:—Eltham Road, between Patiki Road and Te Kiri store; Mein South Road, between Patiki Road and southern gate of Pihama racecourse; Afain South Road, at old tollgate site about one mile north of AVarea store. The chairman said that the nextstep would b? to submit the proposed sites to the Minister of Internal Affairs for approval. Tliat unemployment is practically nonexistent in Greymouth is the opinion of Air. J. Lowden, officer in charge of the Greymouth Labour Bureau (says an. exchange). The bulk of those applying for work are general labourers, and no difficulty is experienced in placing them. Recent applicants have been mostly now arrivals, ' and tho majority were sent to work on tho Arnold Valley Road, under the Public Works Department. Winter is always a slack season in Greymouth. He considered that there is no more unemployment now than in pre-war days. In ease of emergency, however, tents had recently been landed by tho Public Work's Department, in order that outback works may be put in hand.

A collection taken nt Newtown Pork vesferdav afternoon in aid of the Zoological Society’s Animal Purchase Fund realised 2CIB Its. 4d. Selections wore played l:y the sth Regiment Band.

Dr. T. Haigh, who is visiting New Zealand this year ns examiner for tho Associated Board of Ihe Royal Academy and Royal College of Alii-ie, was horn and educated at Wakefield, where, at tho ago nt' 15. lie held the position of suli-organisf at the Cathedral and accompanist of the Choral Society. At tho ago of 18 he gainer the A.R.C.O. and won an open scholarship at. the Royal College of Afusic. In 1895 ho took the F.R'.C.O. Diploma, and in 1897 the Atns. line. Dunolm degree and the Associafeship of the Royal College of A'usie. He was appointed orgnnht and choirmaster at South Kensington in 1896. and succerdod to a similar position at Ramsgate in 1898. He took the Mils. Doe,. Dunolm degree in 1907. His compositions include concert overture for orchestra, song-cycle for baritone, a sonata fi r violin and pianoforte, church mii«ie, pianoforte music, and songs. Dr. .Haigh ins not previously visited New Zealand, but ho has acted .as examiner for file Board in England and Australia. The eliiof clerk of the Goneijfll Post iilfi'o. who under the provisions of the I’iili!''- Service Act is the returning officer for I lie Public Service Appeal Board election to he held on June 27. announced last week that. Mr. A. 1,. B. Jordan, of tho .Audit Department, Christchurch, had withdrawn his candidature. Tho votin'.’ papers hi re already been dialrilinled. and vote.* cast for this candidate will, of course, be invalid.