LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 15 July 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) has announced that the New Zealand 'warships, which have been engaged in naval manoeuvres off the Australian coast, will leave Hobart for Now Zealand on 25th July, the Dunedin to arrive at Wellington on 30th July and the Diomede at Auckland on 30th July. Details of the movements of the vessels after their return to New Zealand are as follow: H.M.S. Diomede. —Depart from Aucldand, 7th August; Lyttelton, 9th-19th August; Picton, 20th-23rd August; Tclorus Sound, 23rd24th August; Nelson, 24th-29th August; Wellington, 30th August-7th September: Auckland, 9th September to Ist October. H.-M.S. Dunedin Depart from Wellington, 20th August; Auckland, 22nd August-3rd September; Wellington, sth to 18th September; Auckland, 20th-30th September; Wellington, 24th October27th November; Auckland. 6th December. A new movement to further the construction of a ship canal from the Waikato River to the Manukau Harbour at Waiuku, was inaugurated at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last week. On the motion of Mr J. E. Tidd a special committee was set up. to confer with other local bodies in order to secure the scheme recognition as a State enterprise. Mr Tidd said the proposal had been discussed for the last 20 or 30 years. The cost would be about £200,000. It was a matter outside the sphere of active politics, and on that account no definite step had hitherto been taken to put the scheme on a working basis. A canal would add considerably to the prestige of. Hamilton as the largest town in the Waikato. The Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, said the matter was one of great interest to the whole of the Waikato.

An output totalling over one quarter of that for the whole Dominion is recorded by the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company for the season 1928-29. Its output has grown to little short of 40,000 tons (says the Auckland "Sun"). During the season the company manufactured 39,040 tons of dairy produce, made up as follows: —Butter, 27,195 tons; cheese, 5,949 tons; milk powder, 4,341 ton's; condensed milk, 934 tons; casein, 621 tons. The manager, Mr C. J. Parlane, states that these figures constitute an increase over the Erevious season of 3,702 tons, with a utter-fat increase of 3,339,0051 b. When it is considered that ten years ago the total output was 11,652 tons,' the extent, of the company's, expansion is strikingly illustrated. The unparalleled increase which has been recorded for the last season is due, said Mr Parlane, to the excellent support accorded by dairy farmers in the company's territory, assisted by favourable climatic conditions, and a wider use of fertilisers, which was made possible by the company's effort in reducing the* cost of manures to a figure which brought this very necessary commodity more' within the reach of the producer. "There is' a tendency in some Courts to think that second thoughts of a witness are always false," said Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland, during the examination of' a witness concerned in a nautical inquiry. This was not always so, the magistrate said. People thinking over a happening after a few days often came, to a different conclusion perfectly honestly.

The annual statement of the Post Office Savings Bank accounts reveals the interesting fact that the number of savings bank branches increased from 40 in the year 1807 to 879 in the year ended March last. In 1807 only 0977 deposits were received, but deposits last year numbered t,0"l 8,050. In the same period total deposits rose from £9G,H72 to well over £27,000,000. More fjratifyiiigr still, the average amount of deposits increased from £l3 l(!s 3d to £lO 10s 9d. In this connection, however, it should be noted that the average amount of deposits has fallen steadily since 1024, when it was £23 9s 4d. The depression of last year is reflected in the fact that there was an excess of withdrawals over deposits of £359,599. This is a great improvement on the previous year's position, when withdrawals exceeded deposits bv the record total of £2,973,931.

Hearty endorsement of the Minister of Education's proposal to 'give an agricultural bias to education in New Zealand was approved by the Horticultural Institute in Auckland last week on the motion of Mr F. Carr Rollett. The cnl'erence further approved of the report on the suggested functions and objects of agricultural high schools. Dr. W. S. Hill, instructor in agriculture ut the Seddon Memorial Technical School, said of all the boys who had been under him only 6 per cent "had gone'astray"—he meant had gone in for trades. Of the others, some were on farms of their own, some on home farms, and others were in other positions to do with the land. He reckoned that of the post primary school children now coming forward the city would absorb only 60 per cent, and "the other 40 per cent, would have to be diverted to the land. The other day a Wellington man fell

asleep on his verandah while reading the paper. Unfortunately his pipe was in I'is mouth at the time and he got badly burned. Moral: "Don't go to sleep while smoking." And there's another "Don't" for smokers: "Don't smoke tobacco heavily charged with nicotine" (as most of the imported tobaccos are), "unless you are looking for trouble." Come to think of it. why should you smoke poisonous stuff like that, when you can buy, at any tobacconists, the beautiful tobacco grown and manufactured in the Dominion by the National Tobacco Co.. Ltd.. (pioneers of the tobacco industry in New Zealand). This tobacco is toasted —no other is—and is therefore practically free from nicotine. You can ;imoke it from sun-rise to sun-set. and it won't hurt yon. You can't say that of any other tobacco on the market. Ask any tobacconist for Riverhead Gold (mildh Cavendish or Navy Cut (medium) or (Cut Plug No. 10 "(full-flavoured). There's a brand for every smoker.* Evening Frocks ! Smart new garments ;it Pn!e nri.'ips, including a parce' just arrived i>y Inst English mail. Worth 55s to 65s'. Now 35s.—McKay's Sale.*

On the recommendation of the Hon. H. Atmore, Cabinet last evening approved of a substantial grant for additions to the Ron'gotai Boys' College, at Mininmr, Wellington.

Protection from the annoyance of music from gramophones and wireless sets in shop doorways is provided in a by-law approved by the Auckland City Council last week. The by-Jaw makes it an offence for apy person to play music in premises facing a road to the annoyance of people in the vicinity. The terms of the new rule are wide enough to embrace similar nuisances in suburban or residential areas. A ripple of merriment went round the House of Representatives when the member for Riccarton (Mr H. S. S. Kyle) gave notice to ask a question regarding a reported statement by the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy). Mr Kyle asked the Minister if his attention had been drawn to a leading article appearing in the "Wyndham Herald" on 26th February, in which the Minister was reported as having stated: "It is the function of my Department to increase the birth rate, decrease the death rate, and make the whole distance from the cradle to the grave longer, happier, and easier." Mr Kyle asked if that was the Minister's policy, would he have it outlined and presented to the House at the earliest possible moment. (Laughter.) A settlement of the dispute between the Hobarfc i'ublic Hospital and the British Medical Association in Hobart has practically been effected, according to an announcement made by Mr .). R. Johnston, chairman of the board of management of the hospital. A motion providing for the full-time appointment of Dr. Patttm at a salary of £2OOO a year, and for the calling of applications tor the services of honorary medical officers, subject to certain provisions, was deferred'' to enable it to be discussed between representatives of the board and the British Medical Association, to ascertain if the proposals were acceptable to the members of the association. The board will meet again as soon as that conference has taken place. For about seven years, members of the British Medical Association have not made general use of the Hobart Public Hospital in consequence of a serious difference of opinion between the medical practitioners and the hospital board, which resulted in the honorary doctors leaving the hospital. A permanent staff of doctors was appointed, and since then members of the association have refused to co-operate fully with the permanent staff of the hospital under existing conditions. In the House of Representatives, Mr R. McKeen (Wellington South) gave notice to ask the Minister of Justice (1) Whether his attention lias been di - awn to the large number of advertisements which have appeared in the Press recently, similar to the following: "Tradesman, 24, own behalf, means, wishes the company of girl 17 to 21, P.O. ignored, genuine, view to matrimony. Write 1352, 'Evening Post'?" (2) Whether he will have a searching inquiry made by the police into the real source of such advertisements, to find whether the .motive of, the advertisers is an honest and conscientious one? (3) .Whether he will take steps to make it compulsory for such advertisers to publish their address, so that the bona fides of such can be investigated if thought necessary? "There is, I believe, ample evidence where middle-aged men express the wish to meet young girls of tender, years', and something should be done "immediately for their protection, otherwise these means may constitute a grave danger to the young womanhood of our ;Dominion," said Mr McKeen.

A bushman, who wishes to remain unnamed, as a disclosure might hurt the English family 'to which he belongs, writes to' the "Star" from the King Countrv to say that . his party lately found buried at the foot of a doomed tree six dozen bottles of beer-and three bottles of whisky. "The windfall," he writes, "revived in the breast of an old soldier working with the gang a pleasant little incident of the South Atncfan War. When the Seventh Regiment were at Hartebeestespruit they had had.a gruelling day with the local commandant's forces, losing several men killed and wounded. The spruit, was dry, there was no vlei in the and the water carts were far in the rear. The tioops advanced to a kaffir kraal. All the natives with the single exception of one old gum-ringed warrior had cleared out when the fighting began. The troops searched the huts and found in the chief's quarters an immense jar. They lifted the cork. 'Beer!' said a corporal. 'Kaffir beer.!' a sergeant. 'The Boers might have poisoned it,' said* a Presbyterian. 'We'll try it on the old kaffir,' exclaimed the sergeant. The old chap was clearly delighted. He drank

copiously. The anxious troops, their throats bricky dry, watched the black Baviaan for signs of coming dissolution. Suddenly he laughed, then lie seized an assegai,"waved it and yelled. Then he sprinted down the lane between the huts laughing joyously. He collapsed, smiling fatuously, against a thorn hedge. 'He's dead drunk !' paid the sergeant. 'Hooray!' said the corporal. 'Let's have a spotV They did." Mi- G. C Black (Motueka) asked the Hon. the Commissioner of State Forests in the House of Representatives (telegraphs "The Mail's" Parliamentary reporter), whether he would immediately set up in the interests of the two in-

dustries a Committee representative of the fruitgrowers, the sawmillers, and the timber workers, to consider whether or not there are insuperable difficulties in the way of the production of a New Zealand' fruit case suitable in grade, price, and appearance to that of the Canadian article. The position, he said, was a difficult one as pointed out in a recent comparative review by the State Forest Service. It ' hqfd 'been authoritatively stated by the. London market that New Zealand fruit obtained n premium over Australian fruit owing to its being placed on the market in high-grade imported cases, whereas the Australian fruit was shipped in poorly manufactured hardwood containers. He had received a telegram from the Motueka Box Millers' Association stating that I local box factories would be compelled to close down after next week, thereby throwing nil married and single men out ' tif employment. The position called for innnediiite investigation. The Hon; W. R. Taverner replied that just how the State Forest Service, had assisted the position was a little difficult at the moment. Tie would confer with the Minister of Industries and Commerce on the matter. He had been'in touch with representatives of the sawmillers and representatives of the timber workers, and also with the Fruitgrowers' Federation. He realised that something was necessary. Last year some 700,000 fruit cases were imnorfod, and it was only right that trade should be kept in the Dominion if at all possible. He would eo into the nuo?tion carefully, and if he' (hniighl it necessary that a Select Committee should be set up he would recommend it to the Prime Minister. fi"iinish Shawls verv smart and useful fa- evening wear. A fine assortment hero a I Sal" prices. ITsuallv 45s to 755. Now 35* <n 555. McKay's Sale.* UV-i G.'iH nn important ii f"r>n of new nod second-hand harness, ■•■nrldins, oic. to l>e sold hv auction at Ihe :no7Tis on Friday ne\". 19th inst. ,A(, MeKnv's Sn ] e ! Fresh bargains I 'failv iti all departments.*

At a dinner, given in his honour at Eltham last week, Mr C. J. .Belcher related some of his early experiences in Taranaki. Taking up a section about five miles .out of Eltham in 1895, he spentthree winters in felling the bush before lie deemed it wise to settle on the spot witli his wite and family. He wo>e dungarees and a singlet in the bush, and generally was wet through all day. On one occasion a passerby gave his mate and himself the news that their camp was on fire. All they could rescue was well-roasted potatoes, and after eating some of these they walked into Ellhum—a sorry-looking pair. Mr Wilkiipon was Mr Belchers only friend in the village, and he proved a good friend, procuring clothes for him and lending him money. Mr Belcher went ten Wangauui by train, by the steamer Storm bird to Wellington—the roughest trip he ever had—and by train to his home in. the Wairarapa. Later he established his family in Taranaki. on the property wherejhc still lives. Mr R. L. Wigley, managing director of the Mount Cook Motor, Co., and Mr D. Standage, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Timaru, have returned to Christchurch from a visit to Westl.ind, where they have been going into the question of organising a chain of hotels for tourists from Picton to Copland river on the West Coast side of the Southern Alps. They have returned favourably impressed with the prospects of PXteiidihg the sphere of the company's operations to the West Coast of this Island, and the proposition will receive the early consideration of the directors.

The felson Amateur Operatic Society i« producing the musical farce "Going Up" at the Majestic Theatre for a three nights season commencing on Tuesday, 30th July. The society has very generously agreed to give the net proceeds to the earthquake relief fund, and it is to be hoped that the public will show its appreciation by supplying three bumper houses. "Going Up" is being produced by Mrs Hulme (formerly Miss Eva Moore, of Pollard's Opera Co.) who is very pleased with the standard of performer she has at her disposal. Mr J. B. Lemmer has charge of the musical side of the play. A brief reference, to the rearrangement of the Wellington railway station yard was made by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) in,the House of Representatives. Mr Taverner said that the estimated cost of the work was £1,075,000, and up to 31st March last there had been expendad £425,000. Tin's amount had been expended almost entirely on work in connection with the reclamation and the construction .of the retaining walls. An orchestra for blind girls is to be organised by the trustees of the Jubilee Institute, who have been encouraged in making this innovation by the success following the formation of the band for blind states the ".New Zealand Herald." A "start will be made with fourteen girls, who have already some musical training and whose ability and love of music has been proved. To start the orchestra it will be necessary to obtain eight violins, one 'cello, one viola, one clarinet, one cornet, one flute, and one drum. Before purchasing these instruments it was decided at' a recent nieeting of the trustees that the chairman, Mr A. J. Hutchinson, be authorised to invite the public to donate any spare musical instruments to the institute. Any class of nvisical instrument is wanted. Instructors have been engaged, and are now transcribing the first lessons into Braille. The girls are all looking forward with great pleasure to the day when the first lesson will be readv and tuition started.

Advice has been received by Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, from the. Minister of Lands (the Hon. G; W. Forbes), in reply to a point raised in connection with a settler in his electorate, that the Minister intends to bring before Parliament this session legislation providing for th e establishment of a developing fund from which improvement advances may be -made to those holding or taking up unimproved Crown, lands (telegranhs "The Mail's" Parliamentary reporter). It is'not proposed, however, to make advances for the purchase of stock, and therefore settlers will be required to make their own' arrangements in that connection. "If the motorists of the city would really learn to drive it would not be necessary to give them so much assistance," said the Mayor of Christchurch, the Rev. J. K. Archer, in corr.fnenting on the proposal to introduce the fourdome system of traffic regulation at street intersections (reports the "Lyttelton Times"). Mr 4xcher, who lias been driving a car for about two years, said that he was opposed to the* idea. "What's the use of having four things to go round instead of one," he added. "It seems to me, that the provision of four domes will lead to fnor e confusion rather than" less,'and that it will tend to increase speeding and the dangers at intersections. One dome, in my opinion, is quite enough. The 'curious thing is that while some drivers ought to be made to slow down, others should be made to get a move on. Indeed, it does seem- sometimes that the biggest nuisance on the streets is the driver who travels too slowly. He's in everybody's wav."

In pointing out certain anomalies in the Pensions Act to the Hon. W. A. Veitch, a deputation, of which Mr W Wallace (Auckland) was the leader, stated the case of a woman, who, on the death of her husband, obtained a pension in respect of herself and her two children, hut on the death of her second husband was unable to have the pension reinstated so far as it related to the children of her first marriage. Another instance of an anomaly was that in which a pension was granted to the wife of a man who was committed to a mental hospital, but which was cancelled as from the day of the patient's escape from hospital. The deputation asked that such anomalies should he' adjusted, and that 'the benefits of the Act should he extended to wives and dependents who lost their breadwinners when the latter became i chronic invalids. Mr Wallace went so' far as to suggest that in such cases the j -Minister should have discretionary 1 power. Mr Veitch promised to consider the suggestions, and, where neees- ] sary, to confer with Cabinet". ' | A conference of delegates, to the As-' social ion of Kindred Clubs (comprising Savage and Orphan clubs) was held in (. hnstehurch on Saturday.. Delegates were present from all over New Zealand. Officers were elected as follows--1 resident, Mr C. E. Jones; vice-presi-dents. Messrs R. C. T. Evans (Duncdin). F; *T l ? aJr i ( Gisbol ' no ). and T. Garland (Auckland); honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr A. E.'l.ooch; honorarv auditor. Mr A. R. Sherriss. It was decided that the 1931 conference be held at Palmerston North. The annual report slated that affiliated clubs totalled forty, with a membership of 8000.—Press As-', sociation. j The Kveringham millions are the lat-' est great fortune to come into notoriety. ' The estate is in Chancery and is estimated at £11,000,000, which will fall to the British Government in ten years not claimed. One descendant is in Wellington, and he says continued at-' tempts are to he made to prove claims by about 100 descendants in Australia and New Zealand. A similar attempt was made once before but the lawyer who went To England died suddenly and ' was suspected to be a victim of foul play. After that nothing more was done. —Press Association.