LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 25, 24 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

6 Pick-pockets were operating at the Trentham raceconso on Saturday. Several ladies aro reported to have lost their purses from their handbags. To-day will be observed asm general holiday by banks and commercial houses in honour of Labour Day, and if the weather permits there will be a number of attractions for those who wish Io make the most of the respite from tcil. The races at Trentham will be a prenlier attraction, while in town the Labour Day sports should provide good entertainment.

The price of benzine in Auckland was recently reduced by approximately Is. a case. High-grade benzine and motor spirit are now being sold at 295. Gd. a case ex store, and 295. ex ship, and power benzine at 275. 6d. Certain grades are on sale at 255. a case. N.Z, Herald."

The annual conference of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association is to commence in Wellington this morning. Ten Chinese arrived by the Maheno from Sydney yesterday. Two men who are charged with the theft of jewellery valued at over ..£4OO. tho property of Niniwn Hcremaia, of Lyall Bay, arrived under escort from Sydney by tho Maheno yesterday. *

The second ballot for the election of Wellington delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation was 'held on Thursday and Friday and resulted in the election of Messrs. J. W. Trim and R. Gould. Messrs. T. Brindle and J. GBruce wore elected at the first ballot, and'these four will bo tho delegates.

Tho establishment of a service of fast limited expresses on tho Main Trunk Railway between Auckland and Wellington. was advocated by Mr. Clutha Mackenzie in his address at Auckland on Friday last, thus reviving interest in the experiment made along these lines some time ago ,'reports tho “New Zealand Herald"). Such a train, the speaker said, would bo of special design, with a considerably higher standard of comfort.than at present, and it would always remain of tho some weight and size, so that its time-table on all grades could be calculated' to tho greatest nicety None but booked passengers would 'be taken upon 'it and no more passengers would be taken than there was actually accommodation for. Such a train would run at. first perhaps only three times or twice a week and would take none but through passengers, with the exception perhaps of Frankton and Palmerston.

"The land -agent is going to be made to pay ft tax of £10," said the lion. W. G. Russell at his Parnell meeting on Friday night. "Quite right,” interjected a voice. "I can see you’re not a land agent,’’ said Mr. Russell. "Why should tho land agent pay a tax, more than a lawyer? A voice: “Or a dentist?” (Laughter.) “Is a A2lO tax going to make, a. land agent .honest?” asked Mr. Russell. “Impossible!" replied a solemn voice, amid renewed laughter. Mr. Russell said agents now had to enter on a £5OO guarantee of integrity. 'The fact was, ho asserted that Mr. Massey was not out for the protection of the country, but for revenue.

An ex-police officer of Dunedin and Christchurch, who, since retiring from the New Zealand Force on superannuation, has been residing in San Francisco for tho past years, writing to a friend in Dunedin on the prohibition question there, says: /'Nearly every house makes its own beer or whisky,, or both. Illicit stills aro seized sometimes. Some of the fellows making the stuff have become enormously rich. The Federal Government had a special force for its suppression, and they aro certainly putting it down (down their throats). Scores ot them have been dismissed for graft. 1 rohibition in this country is absolutely impossible. Liquor is coming from British Columbia in the north, and Mexico in the south, and 1 also by ships from the East (China, Japan, and other countries).” ,

The explosion of a detonator which he was picking with a pin resulted in a 12-year-old lx>y, John Elliot, of <>«ihuliu, losing two Angel’s and the ihunib of one hand, and portion of tho thumb on the other hand. He is at present tn a private hospital at Otahuhu. Iho boy was given the detonator by a. companion at. school, who found a box of them under a 'house. The police aro inquiring into the matter. Speaking of the influence exercised by youn l * men in Now Zealand s Parliament in the past. Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, in tho course of his address to the electors of Auckland East last Friday evening, said it was asserted by some that ho was entirely ignorant of such important measures ns the tariff and finance, and that he would be of little use in dealing with such subjects. ■'Before passing on to a review >of the tariff,” said tho speaker, "might I not ask, have not these, who aro vaunting their great knowledge, hnd an Oar in the political boat during recent years and if the results are so unsatisfactory what beneficial effect has their experience had upon the ship of State? According to their own story tho effect has been bad. Are they likely to do more in an opposition minority than they did when they had a sent in ihe Cabinet of the country?” ho asked. Tho candidate said lie was a beginner. In 1887, he added, a number of young beginners won seats, among them being Ward Alton. Pember Reeves, Westby, Percivnl, James Mills, James Carroll, Dr. Fitchett, T. Mackenzie, and others, and they immediately helped to effect great reforms "I am out to make good,” continued Mr. Mackenzie. •‘Those who take the responsibility of me now. will, I hope, be able fo say in future veer’s that they nut their money on tho right horse. Thoneh slightly liandicapped in one direction. ,T hope to far more than compensate for that by the use which T make, of other faculties. 1 A total of lOfl.nOO trout fry have been liberated in the streams in tho Tnngariro National Park. Tho fish have been obtained from tho Rotorua hatcheries by the courtesy of the Internal Affairs Department. A similar number have boon placed in the. tSwr ronehos of tho Wanganui River and 20.6G0 in the Onearur and Wnimilin Rivers, in the vicinty of Porootarno.

Tho following notice of motion, standing tn the name of Mr. A. J. M'Curdy. will be considered al. the next meeting of tho Hospital Board:—“Thnt tho special sub-cnmm.iftco. consisting of three members each of the Hospital and Social Welfare Committees, with iho chairman of iho Hospital Board, ontrustod with Iho management of the McCarthy Convalescent Home, bo discharg’d; and tlnil tho system in oneration in Dr. Barclay’s form’bo reverted to. Um! is tn say that tho management of Hie McCarthy Homo bo entrusted to the medical superintendent and two advisors the chairman of tho Hospital Board and the member representing the district in which the Macarthy Homo is situated being such advisors); tho superintendent . and his advisors to report to tho Hospital Committee at least monthly."