LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 15, 18 January 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

.The New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation has received notitication in the freight on fruit shipped to Montevideo 'for the coming season to 3 3 6d per case, plus 10 per cent. _ An election for the purpose of selecting as members of the Teachers' Superannuation. Board, two persons from among the. contributors to the Teachers Superannuation Fund resident in the North Island, and two persons from among t ,e_ contributors . to" the fund in •the South Island, including Stewart and Chatham Islands, will.be held on Monday 3rd March. Nominations will close on Monday, 4th February. *-"Kauris are one of the most primitive types of conifers to be found anywhere in the world," said Professor Thomson, of Toronto .University prior to his departure \by the Niagara from Auckland. He had come to New Zeala™ Wlth the object of examining them at first hand, and was much impressed with the quality and variety of their wood. As yet he did not-know what could be done in the way of acclimatising them in Canada, but somo investigations \vould be made1 along that line It is very probable that kauris are the stock from which the other conifers have descended," concluded the professor. Appreciative reference to the work of the Native school teachers was made by the Minister of Education, the Hon. O. J. Parr,' at the annual conference of the Native School Teachers' Association. The social work dose by ' the teachers in the settlements was of incalculable benefit, said the Minister. The teachSr was not only an instructor in school but was a missionary of civilisation. He was not only training the brains of the-children but was also building their characters and, in many instances, those of the parents (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). The social side of the work had been performed with eminent success by 250 teachers in New Zealand. s For one reason or another the supplementary report on the change-over in ' the city's electric power supply has been held up from one council meeting to the next and from the next to the next, and so on, but presumably, since it Was "enerally understood that the heavy agenda paper alone prevented the committee ' presentmg its report at the last meeting in December, the change-over question will-be upon tho order paper of an early council meeting now, perhaps that of the first. The report, it is understood will not in any way discuss the policy of making the change-over, that big question having' been submitted to experts and their decision^approved by the council, but will put the position more clearly in regard to the cost to the householder for reconditioning, rewiring, etc., a matter of very. considerable general interest. In reply to a question as to how the present dry spell was affecting the city's milk supply, the General Manager of the Municipal Milk Department (Mr. R. E. Herron) stated that next Week milk purchased under contract with the Wellington Dairy Farmers' Co-operative Association would in part be called in from over the Paekakariki hills, that, is, milk whi-ch is at present supplying cheese factories in the Lower Manawatu, As showing the effect of the dryness of ,the present season, Mr. Herron pointed out that the complete absorption for the city's use of the milk available in the area on this side of the Rimutaka and Paekakariki hills is about two months earlier this season than last. It, is only about Eix weeks since thi Mangaroa cheese factory, which'absorbs the surplus milk controlled by the Wellington Dairy Farmers' Association, could not deal with tho surplus, and the shrinkage in supply during this period has amounted to something like 3500 gallons, or, to put it another way, to-day's production in this ■ area is down about 45 per cent, below the peak production of- early December. In the Lower Manawatu tlie farmers have experienced some good rains during the last few weeks, and accordingly the supply going to the council's Rahui (Otaki) factory is only about 20 per cent, less than the peak production. The present position seems to indicate that in the coming autumn and winter the Corporation will have to go further afield for ita milk supply than usual.

Copra is the staple article of export, from Niue Island, and the copra trade is the chief occupation of the. islanders. At the present time, stated ii passenger, from the island (Mr. It. D. Head), who arrived in Auckland on Tuesday by the barquentine Ysaliel, ahout 250 tons of copra were awaiting shipment. Early in February the Supremo Court will resume for the 1924 judicial year. Criminal sessions will open in Wellington on sth February, and on the same day, or within a day or two afterwards, sessions, will open at Auckland. Palmerston North, Oamaru, Christc'mireh, Wanganni, and Dunedin. Tho Taranaki, Invercargill, and Napier sessions will open later in the month. The justices will have a very busy timo right up to the sitting of the Appeal Court late in March. • , A monster hui is' in progress for the whole of this week, and-is being attended by Maoris from all parts of the North Island. On Wednesday a beautiful large monument to the late ChaplainMajor Wepiha Wainohu and returned Maori soldiers was unveiled. An impressive ceremony was held, Archdeacon Williams and the Maori Anglican clergy officiating. The monument was unveiled by Dr. Buck. Other speakers were Sir James Carroll, Chief Judge.Tones and the Hon.. A. T, Ngata. Pakehas and Maoris were afterwards entertained at. a big feast, and a programme -of hakus and poi dances. The Kiwitea County Council. at its meeting on Wednesday showed very determined oposition to the Main Highways Act, and after discussing the question passed the following resolution, on the motion of Councillor Pearce, seconded by Councillor Hair:—"That this council is entirely oposed to the Main Highways scheme as being extravagant and altogether useless for giving" any relief to the settlers in the back" blocks, besides making their lot more difficult by being levied upon to help construct motor roads which will result in more competition with the railways.- The council therefore declines to nominate any roads in thiscounty as mafri^ or secondary highways." For the next fortnight, non-commis-sioned officers representing practically every Cadet unit in the South- Island will undergo a course of military training at Burnhani (states the Christchurch .Press"). Over 200 boys will take the refresher ' course, which will be conducted by a staff of officers and noncommissioned officers from the permanent forces. The first batch of boys left for Burnham last evening, and "in the next few clays the remainder will join. Lieut.-Colonel F. Symonds is in charge, and Lieut, R, J. D. Davis is the adjutant. The Cadet ii.c.o.'s will undergo specialist courses, each being trained fully in a special department such as infantry training, musketry, or physical training. connection with the value of Mt. Cook as a tourist resort, General Alex. Jobson, a well-known business man, now. on a vist to New Zealand pointed out to the "Timaru. Post" that the Government mighf do much in improving the road to the' Hermitage. He knew that the road was-a difficult .one to maintain, but in such cases it was impossible to estimate the value' of a good rosd Any money that was spent on' tourist resorts seldom brought an immediate return. It was often necessary to spend thousands in building up the reputation of a resort; but, once this was done, the country reaped a rich reward, for the tourist wa s a valuable asset, and those. lands .that haci the means to attract him'were richly endowed in-' deed. In view of this it was a shortsighted_ policy to recoil at the initial expenditure which many tourist resorts required. * In connection with a fire reported from Taupo on Saturday, it is stated that the blaze was one, of the biggest witnessed in that district for many years, although this year there has been a large number of fires, some being of considerable magnitude. The fire en Saturday started at the Huka Falls, swept past the Rotokawa sulphur fields', and> travelling some miles, finished halfway up Mount Tauhara. To those who witnessed the spectacle of miles of blazing country, the sight was awe-inspiring. A dense column of smoke was carried by a northerly breeze to the south. It was fortunate that the breeze was not stronger, and that it continued from this quarter, otherwise the Spa Hotel, Terraces Hotel, and also a number of summer residences on the shores of the lake, might have been destroyed, states the Auckland ''Star." By 9 o'clock; in the evening the fire had died out. Taupo has had more fires this year than for many years past. A proposal by Mr. T. TJ. Wells, that an hour's daylight saving be introduced into the Auckland schools during February, so that the pupils could begin lessons at 8.30 and put in two attendances daily by 1 o'clock ordinary timo (2 p.m. daylight'saving time), failed to receive support 'from other members of the Auckland Education Board on Wednesday. Mr. Wells said his, preference was that the school hours during February should be determined by the headmasters and the chairmen of committees, but headmasters did not like that idea. During the hot weather the half-holiday was ■not necessary in some schools and in some rooms, but in others the atmosphere was simply stifling, and his daylight saving proposal, if carried, would enable the worst heat of the afternoon to be avoided. Mr. J. Bpddia said they could not expect country children to attend school an hour earlier than usual. He had heard more complaints from mothers-aboui their children being sent home in the sweltering noon-day heat than in regard to their remaining in school. It was pointed out that under the new .regulation coming into force next year the schools must be open for 400 half-days. This year they had ten extra half-days to come and go on (reports the "Star"). Mr. A. Burns: "Surely you would not keep a child in school on a roasting hot day even if these ten half-days are exceeded?" It was finally agreed to leave the matter of half-day attendances in February to the discretion of the headmasters and -chairmen of committees. The annual 1 conference of.the New Zealand Institute of Architects .is to be held in Auckland on 6th, 7th, and Bth February, and delegates representing the profession will attend it from all parts of the Dominion. The southern delegates will be met on arrival by the. members of the Reception Committee, and the business meetings of the conference will start at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 6th February. The same morning the Mayor of Auckland will formally welcome the delegates at the Town Hall Council Chamber. The three days of. the conference will be occupied for the greater part with the business of the institute and lectures by members.' The evening of the first day will'be devoted to an exhibition of drawings at the gallery of the Auckland Society of Arts, "and will be largely of a social nature. On the following evening a public lecture will be delivered in the same hall by one of the visiting delegates on some topic of public interest. The final afternoon of the gathering will be given over to the entertainment of the visitors. by local members, in the shape of trips to various points of interest about the city (states the " Auckland Star "). The presidential address wiil be delivered in tho course of the proceedings by the outgoing . president, Mr. W. Crichtqu, pf Wellington,

A vote of condolence was passed at a meeting of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation with the relatives of Hie late Mr, \V. D. Southeott, one of the Dominion's most prominent fruitgrowers, who died at Hastings test Wednesday. Fruit trees,-after having suffered a long series of damaging assaults from the protracted spell of north-west- winds, sustained another severe buffeting from the south-west gale, and there were- further heavy losses, particularly of apples and penrs, states the Christchurch "Star." 1 lums have not suffered to the same extent. So scarce have flowers become in G'hnstehurch that several of the smaller horticultural shows have been abandoned. A shipment of a hundred high-quality ltomney rams was sent North from Duu-edmto-day by the steamer Waipori. The consignment was bred by Messrs Murray Brothers, of Clydesvale (near Bnlclutha), who ar e well-known breeders of Eomney sheep, and the purchaser is Mr. Matthews, of the Auckland district Hie shipment, telegraphs "The Post's'" Dunedin correspondent, is a particularly good hue, well bred, and showing great density of wool, and also great.size of carcass. - An increase in the number of bankruptcies in the Dominion is still apparent, m the latest statistics available. Last, month 66 bankruptcies occurred as compared with 49 in December, 1922 During the year 1925 there were 696 insolvencies, as against 689 in 1922, and 322 in 1921. Prior to May, 1921, the number of bankruptcies was below 20 per month, but since then there has been a steadily inoreasing monthly average. Last year 49 was the lowest number in any one month, and the highest was 74 in November. Farmers again account for the greatest number of insolvencies—2s per cent, of the total. Labourers, motor traders, and builders are also prominent in the list. A committee of the New Zealand I'ruitgrowers' Federation .has been set up to go into the question of temperatures in connection with, the carriage of fruit overseas. The committee will include a biologist, a chemist, a refrigerating engineer from one of the ccol stores in the Dominion, and tire Director of the Horticultural Division of the Agricultural Department. It will consider the report of the Cambridge University Kesearch Committee, and generally deal with matters in regard to refrigeration. It is estimated that 225.0C0. cases of apples will be shipped from the Dominion during the coming export season. Of this quantity 175,000 cases will ffo to England, and the balance of ~50,C00 will go to South America. Some advice to employers of labour offered, by an American entrepreneur, received hearty approval when quoted by Mr. C Rhodes to members of the Auckland Rotary Club (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Men valued a word of praise for work well done, declared the speaker, yet there were some employers who uttered the words "Well done!" only when they were ordering a plate of beefsteak. A little praise such- as ■"Well, that is not half a bad job," was often nearly as welcome as the day's wages./ "When employers go through their works on a visit of inspection," said Mr. Rhodes, "let them keep, a critical, eye for the good and the bad, but when they find good work, for goodness sake let them say so." According to a Press Association message, air. J. Cow, t ■ .chairman, of the ! Central.; Canterbury. :,-. Soldiers' .■■. Land Valuation Committee, told an Ashburton reporter yesterday that of the soldiers. \vho applied for revaluation most 'would receive , a,, moderation. They had dealt with fifty-four holdings at Lyndhurst, Lauiiston, Riverina, Mitcham, Buckley, Alford, Buccleugh, Springfield, and were proceeding now to Seafield. They would finish in two months' ttiriie; Detailed information would not be divulged until they reported to the board, and the report submitted.to Parliament. Mr. Cow declares that the soldier settlers were dogged battlers, hard workers, and hard livers. In reply to the definite refusal of the Canterbury Industrial Association to allow its president to be on the list of executive commissioners, stales a Press Association message from Duuedin, Mr. J. Sutherland Ross, chairman of the New Zealand South Seas Exhibition, says that the invitation Was intended as a courtesy to the Canterbury Association, and he regretted it had not been met in that spirit. It is a disappointment to the directors, he said, to find that' there is still a feeling of antagonism on the part of tho executive association to the Dunedin project. He feels that Canterbury manufacturers individually .will realise their interests, and be best served by exhibiting at Dunedin, and bringing their goods under the notice of a- very large number of visitors who will be attracted. The question of New Zealand's representative at the World Congress on hydro-electricity, to be held in London" from 30th June to 12th ■ July, during the Empire Exhibition, will probably be considered by the Prime Minister when ho returns to the Dominion. The congress was organised originally by the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association, .but has now become an official one. National committees, to arrange details, have been appointed in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, India, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Holland Denmark, Rumania, Czecho'-Slovakia, Austria, and' Greece. It is intended to investigate and correlate matters involved in the development of power throughout the .world. , The Technical .board includes Mr. Evan Parry. "As n, matter of policy we must do everything possible to restore* England to prosperity, for it affects us in ihe matter of defence," said Mr. E. H. Wyles at a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Industrial Association. "We must have British ships-to protect our trade. There 'is not one British statesman who does not recognise the import!JJ cc f defence to the Empire. I hope Air. Massey will have something interesting to tell us in this connection. . It is'not the policy of the Industrial Association to talk' politics, but the New Zealander who goes to England Las his perspective changed, for politics are bound up with the national life of the country The opinion of main- p e 6ple of standing m Great Britain is that there will be no restoration of commerce ?nd • industry in Europe until England and France stand shoulder to shoulder ar-iinst' the common enemy as they did dunna the war. "