LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1996, 28 June 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Air Hamilton Gilmer passed away at Wellington on "Wednesday, at the age of S2 years. , : ; v

The eight-hours’ day in the Police Force, which has been in operation in Wellington on trial for some months, is to be given a trial in the four chief centres.

A Greymouth telegram says that speculation as to the coming elections points to the probability of a three-cornered contest for the Grey-Westland seat, Labour, Reform, and Liberal candidates having been mentioned. The Auckland branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association re-aT-Jlrmed the principle of political action, and instructed the executive to take further steps to try and change the constitution of the New Zealand Association in this respect. A loan of nearly £IOO,OOO is (he Stratford County Council’s remedy for the reading trouble, says the correspondent of the Taranaki Herald. It reads like a fairy tale to one who remembers when the whole income of the council was under £I,OOO a year, A Dunedin telegram states that the late Miss Agnes McGlashan bequeathed £I,OOO to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for the founding of a scholarship in connection with Knox college, to be for the. benefit of students for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church.

The Southland News states that whitebait were observed in fair quantities in (he Waihopai, Waikiwi, and New Rivers last Friday. This is exceptionally early. It was reported locally a week or so ago that small shoals of whitebait were running in the Manawatu.

One of tho proposals coming' before'tho Council of Education ul its present sitting is by notice of motion as follows: —“That six months before Dr. Anderson retires the position of Director of Education be advertised throughout English-speak-ing countries at a salary of £1,500 a year.'’

Although feed is scarce in the Ashburton County, it is reported that several farmers have had excellent crops of mangolds, and in this direction it may be slated that a farmer in the Timvald district lias a fairly large area which is yielding close on 50 tons per acre. A large quantity of these have been sold at £2 a ton on trucks.

At Napier on Thursday night, the boxing feather-weight championship of New Zealand (£4O and expenses), between H. Johns (Auckland) 9st., and Len Robinson (Gisborne), 8.12, was won by Robinson at the end of the eighth round. Robinson was very handy with his body punches, and Johns went down several times, and eventually the towel was thrown in bv his seconds.

“When do fruit; trees begin to wear out?” was a question asked of a witness by Mr Justice Hosking in the Supremo Court at Nelson last week. The witness, a Riwaka resident, replied that he knew of an orchard in his district 15 years old which was bearing as well as ever it did. lie believed some apple trees in the district were sixty years old. Poaches ran out in ten or twelve years, but pears Vere long livers. A remarkable pretext for (he underpayment of a returned soldier was brought to light during the hearing'at Marlon of proceedings instituted against an employer for breach of the Wellington District Grocers’ Assistants’ Award. The prosecutor was the Inspector of A-ward-s, whoso report, (o the head office in Wellington is just, to hand. The employer, it. appears, admitted to the inspector (hat he was paying a returned soldier less than the prescribed minimum rate, but stated (hat he did not -consider himself called upon to pay the full rate because the soldier was in receipt of a pension of £1 per week. The Magistrate imposed a line of £5, and the employer had to pay arrears of wages as well.

From 1 ]io earliest days the* coal mining industry in Now Zealand lias drawn a considerable pari oi! the capital used in its development from sources within the Dominion, states the report of the Board of Trade. The necessary investments were made largely by men on the spot more or less familiar with local conditions. Even with the increasing scale of production (he proportion of capital drawn directly from abroad is not large. Of the large mining companies whose affairs were investigated, all of which are of the joint-stock limited liability type, only three, have their headquarters situated outside the Dominion, and of these a. considerable part of the capital is owned by local residents.

At (lie Gisborne Supreme Court this week, Hiwai Knhua was found guilty of imleeont assault ami sentenced to live years’ imprisonment. A aheue Ilurepara was found guilty of incest and carnal knowledge, and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Mr Justice Stringer said he had been associated with criminal law for twenty years, and could not recall a more disgusting and bestial case. In addition to the sentence on the carnal knowledge charge, his Honour ordered the prisoner to receive a Hogging of ten strokes. This is the first ease there for twenty-five years in which a flogging has been ordered.

The songs my mother taught to me I learned while perched upon her

knee; And though they be but simple

rhymes, I croon them fondly still at times. ’Tis then I realise and know The debt of love to her I owe; And how well justified and sure Her faith in Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.—Advt. 9

Sir .Robert Stout completed 20 years of office as Chief Justice of New Zealand on Sunday last, having been appointed on 22nd June, 1899.

A start has been made with the erection of saleyards in Russell Street, opposite Victoria Park, for Messrs Abraham and'Williams, Ltd. Mr F. H, Crawley, of Marotiri, is leaving New Zealand by the Tofua next week on a trip to San Francisco. He will he away from New Zealand for about three months.

The s.s, Blenheim, from Wellington, with a cargo of general, is due here to-morrow. She will sail a- - gain for Wellington at midday on Monday.

The Minister in Charge of the Board of Trade has consented to extend the time in which shipments of potatoes may be made for export under permit from 30th Juno to 31st July. The Glcndonald homestead at Bideford, Masterlou, of 14 rooms, was totally destroyed by fire on Thursday. The inmates had a narrow escape, getting out in their night attire.

Miss Cooke will be entertained at a variety evening by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church in honour of her approaching wedding, in the Presbyterian Sabbath school on Monday evening next. All friends arc cordially invited to be present.

The locahpostmaster has a number of .applications in for connections with the telephone exchange, but same are held up temporarily on account , of shortage of material, principally wire. -

There was no response hy tha Wellin«-(on ‘ walersiders yesterday when a (-all was made for labour to tranship eoal from the Koniata to the Barnon for Hie latter to take to Australia for Admiralty purposes. It is understood that (he men object to the eoal going out of the country when there is such a serious .shortage in New Zealand.

The general roll for the Alanawatu Electorate is now in course of compilation, Air T. 1?. Hutton, of the Electoral Department, Wellington, being in Poxton assisting the Registrar of Electors (Air A. Hawke) in connection with same. The Aiayor's room in the Council Chamber has been secured for carrying out this work, and any inquiries in reference to enrolment should be made there.

A call from the Alaraekakaho congregation to the Eev. J. H. Bredin, of Poxton, has been sustained by the Hawke’s Bay Presbytery, and arrangements made for his induction should be accept the call. The call will be submitted to the Wanganui Presbytery at its meeting on •Tidy 9th. A meeting of the Poxton session and congregation in connection with same will be held next week.

A meeting' of citizens was held at Otaki on Wednesday night for th£ purpose of considering the formation of a branch of the Y.M.C.A. After discussion, the following were appointed as a provisional committee: —Revs, Blathwayt, Petrie, and Slade, Mrs J, Bills, and Messrs H. Cockerell, Byron Brown, Frank Penn, H. Xieholson, A If. Budkin, A. E. Anderson, J. S. Pole, J. Mackay, and W. B. Smith.

The animal meeting of the Otaki Bowling Club was held on Wednesday night, when the following officers were elected: Patron, Dr. Huthwaite; President, Mr D. Xoble; vicepresident, Mr W. Knight; secretary, Mr H. Witched; assistant-secretary, Mr H. Ayre; treasurer, Mr A. Satherley; delegate to centre. Bcv. Mr Petrie; general committee, Messrs Ayre, Bills. Bax, Kilmister, and Petrie; green committee, Messrs Smith, Knight, and Gooding; match committee, Messrs Bills, Salherley and Kilmister.

A welcome home social and dance was given to Gunner Daniel], at the seaside on Wednesday night. Mr Hartley, on behalf of the beach people, in a few well chosen words, welcomed Gunner Daniell home again. During the evening songs were given by Mrs Ordish, of Palmerston X., and Mrs Oliver, which wore very nicely rendered.. The hall was very tastefully decoi’atod with bunting, etc., and music supplied by Mrs Scott and Miss Reeve was much appreciated. Supper was provided by (lie ladies, and after singing “God, Save (be King” and “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” a very pleasant evening, organised by Mr and Mrs Scott, was brought to a close.

Australian troops in Britain have voiced many grievances daring recent months, and it is an interesting fact that (hey often complain that (hey cannot get the same treatment as the New Zealanders, “When wo Australians go on leave," writes an Australian soldier in the British Australasian, “we have to pay our fare at half the old rates, excepting sick furlough. Other troops, the New Zealanders, for instance, get their railway warrants free for every leave. They also get more leave than we Aussies.” 'Other Australians have stated that the New Zealanders have secured quicker demobilisation and more liberal provision for wives and fiancees, THEY PREVENT BILIOUSNESS. For the prevention of biliousness nothing is equal to Chamberlain’s Tablets. They stimulate your liver, which lias more to do with your bilious condition than any other organ. Take a course of Chamberlain’s Tablets to get your liver and bowels into a healthy condition. Then take one at regular intervals, and you will no longer be troubled with biliousness. For sale everywhere. —Advt, •...«* jli

By a proclamation gazetted last night, the meeting of Parliament has been fixed for July 24th.

There is a good deal of diphtheria about Feilding and district just now, and there is something of an epide-. mie of it in the Rongotea and Carnarvon districts, although the eases a.re not serious.

Mr Moses .Aryton has been selected as the official Labour candidate for the Palmerston North seat at (ho forthcoming general election. Mr John Robertson, cx-M.P. for Otaki, was nominated to contest the .selection ballot with Mr Ayrton, but afterwards withdrew. •

Large and important problems will have to be faced during the next ten years in New Zealand, said Sir William Fraser, Minister for Public Works, at Dargavillc, this week. He added that the future was full of possibilities,-'and whatever party was.in power it would have to give far greater attention to the provision of roads, bridges, and railways, iii order that the vast resources of (ho country might he suitably developed.

An advertisement in to-day’s issue slates that, in view of the necessity for conserving the railway ' coal slocks, a drastic curtailment of passenger and goods services will be brought into operation on AVodncsday, July 2nd. The t ravelling public are therefore strongly urged to avail themselves ol; the opportunity permitted by the continuation of the present service of passenger trains to complete contemplated journeys, on or before July Ist. After that date, and until further notice, travidling facilities will he strictly limited to the barest necessities.

Mr J. O. Olsen, of Dannevirke, has obtained letters patent covering an invention which may possibly revolutionise the building trade in New Zealand (reports the Dannevirke News). Briefly, concrete in slab and brick form may be used in almost any manner in building construction, and with a complete air circuit between (lie wall slabs all dampness is excluded. With the present high prices of timber and (he almost limitless uses lo which, in building construction, the concrete slabs or'A. bricks may be used, it would appear that (lie invention will open up a new era in the building trade. Arrangements have been made to place the article on the market at a low price (relatively with timber), and a big future is evidently before the invention. The distinction of being one of the oldest inhabitants of New Zealand is held by Air William White, an inmate of the Home for Aged and Needy, Wellington, whose many years of life date as far back as . the Battle of Waterloo. Having been born in London on the day that the battle was fought—lßth June, 1815 —he is now 104 years of age. He arrived in New Zealand over half a century ago, and took part in the Maori War, in one action of which he was wounded in the head. As a means of livelihood lie wffs mainly engaged in labouring work, being attracted by the fresh air of outdoor life. He still enjoys good health, and indulges in' occasional walks. When asked to account for his long life, ho jocularly remarked that he had never been married.

The Bank of New Zealand has made (he enormous profit of £45!),000 for the past year. Where is this huge profit going? If it were distributed among the shareholders by way of dividends nobody would seriously complain. But no! A sum of about £300,000 is to go to swell the Bank’s reserves.- A member of ihe struggling staff of (ho Bank wants to know why increases arc not made in the salaries of underpaid hank' clerk's. “All workers’ wages have gone up. and are going up, and so is, consequently, the cost of living; and (here are men in (be t Bank’s service with families to pro-

vide for whoso eimimHances are desperate. A mere ten per cent, of (he £300,000 carried to reserves if devoted to (he increase Of the salaries of lower-grade men would completely relieve the position. Is it too much to ask? Are we no| entitled to it? Will it hurt the shareholders if we get it ? Obviously not!” —Mas ter ton Age.

Now that the war is over and many patriotic societies are going out of action, states the lion. G. W. Russell, it has been thought necessary to reconsider the postage concessions that were granted to them. I'or the year ended 31st December, IGIB, (he cost of these concessions, borne by (he Internal Affairs Department, was .1.9,300, or an average of over £270 per'‘month. Owing to the cessation of hostilities and (he diminution of collections, the cost of postage for (lie last fpiarter was reduced to £146 per month, or, roughly, by 50 per cent. Many of the smaller funds are now being closed up, and the moneys in the hands of the branches of larger funds are being concentrated in the centres. Consequently, it has now been determined that, from and after Ist August, no postage concessions will be allowed, excepting to societies which are administering funds, and in addition to the Women’s National Reserve and the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the latter of which has an allowance of £250 per annum. There are some large organisations whoso work is drawing to a close, such as the* Red Cross Society, (he Salvation Army War Fund, theT.M.C.A. War Fund, the Navy League War Fund, the . Lady laverpoo] Fund, and sundry comforts funds, all of which have large surpluses from which it is considered they can, from the date indicated, well afford to pay theij; own postages. " Aj

“Leniency does not seem to do yon much good,” said Mr Wyvorn Wilson, S.M., at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court, to Michael McCann, who had come up for sentence for breaking away from lawful custody. • His Worship went on to say that McCann, who had a long police history, had had four years’ opportunity to reform, but had not taken advantage of. it. It' did not seem much use in extending ,leniency to McCann. His Worship sentenced the accused to six months’ imprisonment.

The annual meeting of the loeal branch of the P.W.M.U. was held in the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday afternoon last. The Rev. .1. H. Bred in presided. The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted, and showed the branch to be in a very nourishing condition. The office-bearers for the ensuing year were appointed. Sister Christabel, travelling secretary, was present, and gave a very interesting and helpful address, dealing with

the work of the P.W.M.U. general_Jy, and giving instructive informa,r""lion regarding (ho particular missions of the church. Sister Christobel’s address was much appreciated and infused fresh energy into the members as they entered on another year’s work. Afternoon tea Avas prbyided by the members, and it Avas felt by all present that a profitable and enjoyable a fternoon had been spent.

It having come to our knowledge that Mr Powell complains that he was misrepresented in our report of the case in which he was sued for law costs of lease of the Town Hall, we referred our report to Mr A ebb (the plaintiff). Air Webb replies; — “Your report is very brief, but quite correct. The claim of my firm (Webb and Van Staveren) was for £9 Os, pins outlay for stamp duty. As a concession to Air Powell, I asked the Magistrate to give judgment for £6 Gs, instead of £9 9s. Subsequently to the issue of the summons, Mr Powell (-ailed on me, and stated that the late Air Van Staveren had quoted him £G Gs inclusive of outlay. I knew nothing of this, hut. caused a complete search f* to he made, when a rough memorandum in Air Van Staveren’s handwriting was found showing that he had quoted £G Gs, plus the outlay for the lease. Under the circumstances I applied for judgment for the £G Gs, and outlay and Court fees only, without making any claim for a bond which had also been prepared. Judgment was entered accordingly, the Magistrate assuring Air PoWell that the latter had been very generously treated by my firm, and that £ll 11s Od, or £l2 12s Od, could reasonably have been charged for the work.”