LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 253, 20 July 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities have been advised that the s.s. Wairuna, which left San Francisco on July 10 for Wellington, has on board 226 bags of mail for NeuZealand. Of this number 210 are parcelreceptacles.

The Paloona, which arrived at Bluff from Melbourne yesterday afternoon, has English mails aboard. The Assessment Court -.vill sit in I; ellington to-day to hear objections to the latest valuations. The number of objections received by the \ nluation Department is 737, but, on the experience of the Court elsewhere it is not likely that such a number of cases will come up for consideration. There was a persistent rumour going the rounds yesterday that trouble would Occur on the waterfront to-day. The watersiders are holding a. special “stopwork” meeting in the Opera- House today, and. it is understood, the employers have not agreed to this meeting. The rumour was to the effect that the employers were going to put an ultimatum to the watersiders, stating that they must turn-to at the usual time to-day. From information gained from a reliable source it is understood that this is not so. The employers have told the men that if they turn up to-day at the usual hour there will bo work waiting for them. There is no suggestion of an ultimatum.

The historical section of the Philosophical Society met last night, and Mr. J. C. Anderson read two papers, one on further Maori string games and the other on Maori song and music. In April and March of this year Mr. Anderson was in the Wanganui River district, and he collected a number of new string games, figures and tricks, which formed tho basis for a paper last night. In a short introduction to Maori song and music, Mr. Anderson mentioned) that it was Jimpossible to say if the Maoris possessed a scale, but ho produced several Maori flutes, and by playing different notes on these showed that if they did, it was a different scale from the one wo know. In regard to their music, he stated that in some cases rhythm counted for more than tho words or material.

The employees a.t tho Christchurch municipal destructor had an exciting expedience on 'Friday ofternepn, when some rifle cartridges, which had been collected with some rubbish, exploded in the (destructor (states jihe "Lyttelton 'i'imcs"). Investigations showed that tho cartridges had been collected from an insurance company's office, having been left there by an employee of the firm who has since left. He had apparently stored them amongst some of the rubbish in a corner of the office, and this lumber was cleaned up for removal to tho destructor a few days ago. A number of these cartridges got into tho furnace before being detected, and the employees were startled to hear a series of explosions, one bullet striking the inside of tho furnace door and another striking the wall on the opposite side of the room. Not long ago. an employee at the destructor was wounded in the. forearm by a bullet from a cartridge which' had got into tho furnace amongst some rubbish, and recently a tin of carbide also exploded in the furnace.

Final proofs of tho Samoan bank notes (says a London correspondent, writing on Juno 2) are now in the hands of the High Commissioner. Tho chief feature of tho 10s. note, about tho size of the English -£1 note, is the reproduction of a typical Samoan scene. In the foreground is a group of palm trees, beyond is tho receding coast lino girt with palms, and sweeping round' tho half-circle o f a bay. Tho Al note, larger in size, has a much more /decorative scheme. From tho edge of the picture at tho lm.se of the note radiates a colour design comparable to shot silk, and the scene chosen iu this instance is a Samoan hut with a forest setting. Similar in design is tho A 5 note, the picture chosen for ftas being a canon just off the coast, with two natives fishing from it. The set wakes n very luindsonie collection.

"The Tahiti was limed to sail at 8 p.m. on Monday.” writes a correspondent. "and at 7.45 the passengers were all ordered off. and were kept waiting on tho wharf in a bitterly cold wind till 9 o’clock. Some of the women were in light dresses, and many without headgear. Small child :cn also suffered. The boat sailed at 9.30 p.m.” The correspondent adds that he could see no reason for thh high-handed procedure.

Writing to a friend in Christchurch, General Sir Inn Hamilton says that the last celebration of Anzae Day was the most general and the most enthusiastic since the actual event. He adds: “Besides Braithwaite, Birdwood, do Robeck, Hunter-Weston at Capo Hellos, and some of the battalions of the 29th Diviaion, I heard from France, where an association has been formed by Gouraud, d'Atnande. Bailloud, Guepratte, etc., for the celebration of April 25.” A report was circulated some considerable time ago that there were a number of ex-soldiers in various hospitals in England suffering from shell-shock and loss of memory who had not been identified. As a result of this report (writes a London correspondent under date of Juno 2), a number of lettershave been received from time to time at the office of the High Commissioner from relatives of soldiers reported missing, requesting that inquiries should be made to ascertain if there were any members of the Dominion troops amongst these unidentified patients. Some months ago the War Office reported that, with one exception, tjio relatives of the men had then been found, and that some of them had belonged to colonial contingents. Recently, however, a widow wrote asking that a photograph of the one remaining unidentified should bo eent to her and ehe forwarded the money for this to bo done. The question has again been put to the authorities here, and the answer now received is to the effect that there is not one man remaining who has not been identified. The last case has been settled.

A London correspondent mentions that a well-known New Zealand visitor to England, who during the war was very much interested in the welfare of the “boys” of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, lately went down to tho New Forest, and, of course, made a point of reviving his memories of Brockenhurst which was tho headquarters of the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital. Ho went to tho local military cemetery and was much pleased to find how carefully tended are tho graves of New Zealanders who are buried there, fresh flowers being continually placed on them all. He feels it would be a comfort for relatives in New Zealand to know that their sons and brothers have not been forgotten and that kind English folk are tending their graves.

It is an easy matter to ’hrow tho. responsibility of permitting the production of every moving picture that is impcrted upon tho shoulders of the censor (says the Melbourne "Ago”). It is i ot so easy for tho censors to carry their duty ir.to effect. They cannot differentiate between mixed audiences; it is net for them to say: "This picture is suitable for adults, hut it must not bo shown to children.” The public itself ihonld he the true censor of all entertainment. If a certain picture bo not suitable for children it is tho duty of parents to ensure that their children are not ; mong the spectators. The censors appointed by tho Commonwealth Government are neither chaperons for the “grown-ups” who go to picture shows nor nursemaids for the children. It is to the good sense of tho public rather than tho arbitrary decision of n few experts that one would look for tho regulation of picture-plays. Public taste governs fashions in public entertainments and the disapproval of tho gallery is worth ten orders of prohibition from tho censor.

Many people in Queen Street, Auckland, paused on Friday to see a lordly, turbaned visitor from Madras getting his boots blacked by an unfortunate white Now Zealander, who shines the footwear of the mighty at one of tho street corners.—Auckland “Star." Speaking of the present-day self-import-ance of firemen on vessels, in comparison with their standing in bygone days, a master of an overseas vessel, who was appearing as a witness in an assault case in the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court, remarked that a few days previously a fireman, who had an alleged grievance to ventilate, bustled into his cabin and demanded a “man to man” hearing. "The time was.” continued the captain, “when I should have bundled him out quick and lively; but now, alas, captains are obliged to use a lot of tact and discretion in such instances, to ensure anything like a peaceable life at sea.”— Exchange. ' “The total amount of gas produced last year was 06,000,000 cubic feet,” stated the gasworks manager (Mr. H. Appleyard) at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night. “This year we hope to produce 72,000,000 cubic feet.” One of those kindly acts which are so much appreciated was performed by the children of Karori Public School on Monday. A number of the senior pupils attended the funeral of the late Lieutenant Wade, and at the conclusion of the service a wreath made by the scholars was placed on the coffin of the deceased.

It is anticipated among local bowlers that the individual touring cost to members of the New Zealand team in tho Old Country will be much greater than was computed when they left these shores. The bowlers, who liave, for a scratch team, acquitted themselves surprisingly well both in England and Scotland, reached the Old Country during the coal-miners’ strike, and had to do tho greater part of their touring by inotor during its progress. The team should arrive back in New Zealand in September, in ample time for the opening of the season here.

On Saturday evening the Victoria University College Debating Society debated the motioi^;—“That tho Peace Treaty is economically impossible ano politically unjustifiable.” Tho motion was moved by Mr. Kitching, seconded by Mr. Sheet, and opposed by Mr. Al'Cotmick, seconded by Mr. Sawtell. Mr. Kitching held that the Allies had said they were fighting a war to end war. He outlined the history of the armistice and tho Peace Conference, and maintained that tho Versailles Treaty would only cause more ware. In the armistice agreement the Allies had laid down the conditions on which the Peace Treaty was to rest, but they had not rept to that agreement. The .reparation clauses were far too stringent, and the control of German waterways by the Allies was totally without, precedent in the history of Europe. Mr. M'Cormick opposed tho idea that the hand of friendship should immediately by extended to Germany. Ho pointed out that the lion-tamer took care that the lion's claws were _ clipped before he attempted to tame it. He admitted that the Peace Treaty was not perfect, but maintained that; it had to bo drawn up hurriedly to enable Europe to return to normal conditions. After a number of other speakers had expressed their views on the subject, the motion was submitted to the meeting and declared carried by a small majority. Tho judge (Mr. A. R. Atkinson) placed the best five speakers in the tollowing order: —Messrs. Shea!;. Haigh, At Goim.ck. Meltzer, and Kitching. The Tararua Tramping Club, which has organised a trip to the Tongariro National Park, has booked the Whakapapa Cottage from August 19 till the end 'of August, and is about to pack and forward provisions and equipment. By organisation and management tho due is making tho cost, per head very cheap, and expects that it will not exceed 10s. for the ten days. Further evidence of the acclimatisation of quinnat salmon was observed by Mr. R. Conn, of Dunedin (stales an exchange). He found tho Tasman River ‘‘teeming with quinnat." The fish wore not only numerous, but some of them worn of enormous size, one that had been taken out of the waler being estimated to weigh well over 301 b. The Waitaki, which comes from Lake Pukaki, into which the Tasman empties, has not contained many quinnat recently. It *is onlv through the Waitaki River that salmon from the ocean could reach the Tasman River, and to do so they must have travelled many miles.

At a special meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night it was decided to strike a general rate of SJd. — an increase of five-eighths of a penny on the rate of last year.

A lad met with an unusual accident at Auckland on Saturday evening (states the 'Herald”). He collided with a tram pole when running to catch a car, and was rendered unconscious.

May 30 is Decoration Day in America '-a day of remembrance and patriotic observance. It was observed by Americans in Edinburgh, where arrangements wore made by the United Sti'.e.-, Consul (Mr. Hunter Sharp). Referring to the occasion, the “Scotsman" said :—“There are many graves of American soldiers and sailors in this country, although few in Edinburgh. One American is buried in Comely Bank Cemetery. A portion of tho cemetery, with its close-planted rows of uniform wooden crosses, makes a strong contrast with its surroundings in its suggestion of the battlefield. At the western end of this area, in which British soldiers lie buried, is a row of six Canadian graves, marked by tho same wooden crosses. One of these is of Private Miron, an American who nerved with the Canadian Forces. On his grave a wreath of lilies, pink sweet peas, and iris had been placed, with tho miniature flag—last ■ year’s flag, faded with too weather, being still in position. Alongside, facing the south, is a. row of Australian and New 7 Zealand graves, which, with the American grave, are kept flesh , and trim by the devotion of some Edinburgh residents. Similar decorations were placed on the grave of .(another American soldier in Seafield Cemetery, who also served with the Canadian Forces.”

Mr. Oscar Borer. 8.E., B.Sc. (Wellington), is still prominently associated with, the Port of London Authority. Some months ago he was appointed engineer to the now jetty works which were being put in hand at Tilbury, and recently he had held the position of assistant restdent engineer, with headquarters at Woolwich. This jetty was constructed in response to the demands of shipowners and traders for facilities for ships to discharge part of their cargo nt Tilbury, and then to leave the remainder for some other port. It is built of reinforced concrete, and is 1000 ft. long, oOtt. wide, and runs parallel to and at a distance of 160 ft. from the shore. Tlie jetty has an upper and lower deck, and much interest is being taken in the opening ceremony. Mr. Borer has been elected an associate member of the Concrete Institute, A.M.C.I. This is on ? of tho larger institutions, and it has already done good work. Its membership is large, and it will have a good future in view of the extended use of reinforced concrete.