NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 28 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand beekeepers are to hold their annual conference in ■ "Wellington on June 11th, 12th, and 13th.

Quail are reported to* he increasing tu the Nelson district, , Ihe number oil birds that may be shot in one day is forty.

A Press Association message from tlreymouth states that a man named Patrick Connors is missing from Granville. He left for his work on Halpin’s farm on Sunday. His horse returned late in the afternoon. The river was in high flood, and the worst is feared.

The “Taranaki Herald” ■ states that tv section of land of 130 acres in tho Fairfield Estate, described by a member of a deputation to the Minister for Hinds as “impossible,” was subleased oy a soldier to a local" farmer at 100 per cent, advance on the rental value. On this ‘ area a record oat crop was raised, which will probably show a profit of, about £BOO or more on the transaction.

“What did I fine this offender on a previous occasion?” asked Mr F. Y. Frazer, S.M., of Mr Fox, who represesentedi the Miramar Borough Council during tho hearing of a by-law case yesterday. “The small sum of ten shillings,' 1 replied Mr Fox, “and it pays a man to be fined 10s once a fortnight, as he saves money in the purchase of fodder when chaff costs £8 15s per ton,” t

The annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society states that an effort will be made next season to induce deer-stalkers to_ adopt a form of measurement used in Scotland, in order that a fair test of the improvement or otherwise of the quality of heads taken may be afforded. A<t the close of the 1918 season a fine 21pointer was shot on a closed area, and tho offender brought to book, the head was confiscated by the society, in whoso office it now hangs. A good 19-pointer was taken on country near T© Awaito.

Owing chiefly to the number of soldiers making us© of their free travelling warrants, the Main Trunk line passenger traffic is somewhat heavier than is usual at this time of year. In view of the Auckland races and other attractions for the King’s Birthday, it is expected that there will be a greater demand • for accommodation on the Main Trunk trains, and the department has decided to run an extra express between Wellington and Auckland for a period of -ten days, commencing from Thursday. These trains will leave Wellington at 2 p.m. and Auckland at 7.0 p,m. each day.

“Yon will have noticed that Mr Massey has succeeded in securing for New Zealand one-third interest in the island of Nauru,” observed, the president of the Wellington Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. “The phosphates deposits on this island aro said to bo inexhaustible, and I hope we shall soon be in a position to bring th© raw material direct to New Zealand and manufacture it here, instead of sending it to tho other side of tho world to be dealt with. Mr Massey deserves the gratitude of all landowners for tho able way in which he .has . represented-New Zealand in this as well as’ in many other matters at the great Peace Conference.” Robert Martin, Ltd., proceeded against L. S. Tarrant commercial traveller, before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, to recover the sum of £8 7s Id for signwriting work done and goods supplied to the firm of R. Peek and Company, manufacturers' agents. The firm was, in the first instance, composed of three partners .(Peek, Tarrant, and Evans), and three weeks after its formation in December, 1917, Evans withdrew, while a dissblution of partnership between Peek and Tarrant took place in August, 1918. Tarrant was sued as a partner of the firm, but the defence was that he was nod liable as n partner and was only associated with the firm in respect to a particular agency. Judgment was given for plaintiff foy £4 12s, with £1 16s costs and witnesses’ expenses. Mr H.. Anderson apppeared for tho plaintiff company and P. Levi for the defendant.

Honry Duprey Taylor, a well-known blacksmith and engineer, • was found dead in bed at his residence, .Victoria street, Hawera, yesterday. It was tho deceased’s custom to ; visit his workshop every morning at 7 o’clock, returning homo to breakfast. He was seen in the shop at tho usual hour, and was in good spirits. Ho went home, but failed to put in an appearance later at the shop. His assistant, a lad, went to Taylor’s residence' at 1 o’clock, and found him apparently asleep, but failed to arouse him. The lad tried again at 6 o’clock, without result. He then went tor assistance, when it was' discovered that tho man was foaming at tfho noso and mouth. A bottle containing poison -was found on a table beside the bed. Medical aid was summoned, but tailed to restore vitality. Deceased had been living alone for some weeks, his wife and two young children being on a visit to Sydney.

The Defence Department is about to distribute a handsome King’s Certificate o tf discharge to men of the Expeditionary Force who have been disabled in war service. About thirty thousand New Zealanders are entitled to this document, and eight thousand copies are ready for distribution. Applications arg now invited from tho remaining participants, who can obtain the necessary forms from any Defence Office or from Base Records, Wellington. The certificate is a largo one, printed in two colours, on heavy paper, and will make a handsome picture when famed. The design is by the celebrated “Punch” artist, Bernard Partridge, and depicts Britannia regarding a lino of soldiers represen tative of the forces which made up tho Arniy of Britain and the Empire. On ooluhins at the sides are the names of the countries represented. The certificate sets out the name and rank of the holder, followed by tho sentence; ’■'Served with honour, and was disabled in the Groat War.” The dato of discharge and the lithographed signature of His Majesty tho King follow. It will be seen from the form ol the certificate that it is intended foi men who were discharged disabled. Those who were not disabled will, it is understood, receive a similar certificate differently worded, at a laser date. Officers who were gazetted out of tho forces through wounds or illness will receive the King’s Certificate slightly different from that issued to the runic and file, and supplies will shortly arrive from tho War Office Applications for this certificate arc now being received. These certificates will be distributed in addition to those provided by the Aow Zealand Government, for which competitive designs are now being called.

Tho Hon. A. Myers, Minister for Munitions and Supplies,- in consequence of representations made By Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., has instructed the officer in charge to arrange with the Westport Coal Company to send fifty tons of coal hy the first steamer loading for Wanganui, so ' that the Hospital Board' may have suitable coal to carry it over the winter.

Four acres of orchard and four acres of grass land, situated at tho corner of Barewood and Isleworth roads, Papanui, Christchurch, have been leased by the Agricultural Department from Mr H. Herdman Smith for the purpose of an experimental orchard. A scheme of experiments has Ibeen arranged, and is being put into operation forthwith. The area is to be under the supervision of the district orchard instructor, and a working overseer has been appointed.

A collision between a inotor-’bus and a stock train returning to Christchurch occurred on Monday night at Black street railway crossing, at Kaiapoi. 'the driver of the ’bus had no intimation of the approaching train till just before it reached the crossing. He swerved, and struck the rear portion of the train, the ’Bus being extensively damaged. There were no passengers on the ’bus. The driver (H. ’ Miles) escaped without injury. The Kaiapoi Borough Council recently drew the attention of the Kailway Department to the dangerous na-r ture of the crossing.

An anomaly brought to the attention of tho Minister for Lands hy a Marlborough deputation on Monday was that a returned soldier was not able to obtain as great an advancement on a house ho had built himself as on one ho had purchased. It was pointed out that the Government would advance a man £950 to buy a house already built, even if he had so little as £SO of his own money to put into the investment, but if the man had a section of hia own, worth, say, £250, on which ho wished to build a new house, the most the department would advance was £750. It was urged that el new house would be very much better security for an advance than a house which had been standing for a number of years ; hut, under existing conditions, from the soldiers’ point of view, it would be better for a man to sell h's section and to buy an old house than to t|7 to bilild a new house on a section which was already his own. The Minister promised to give the matter consideration.

At tho fortnightly meeting of the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which took place at tho secretary’s office. Customhouse quay, last evening, the president (Mr if. Meadowcroft) was in the chair. Tho inspector’s report dealt with threa horses destroyed, two with sores, three lame, two overloading, two poor condition, one dog and one oat destroyed. Two cases of cruelty are to be brought before tho court; ;A letter relative to the shooting of'wild-geese was received and forwarded to the Auckland S.P.O.A. for ‘their remarks. Subscriptions" received amounted to £l4 6s, in--eluding £1 Is each from Messrs A. da B. Brandon, P. Macassey, and Dominion Laboratory staff, and £1 from “A Mere Woman.” A letter complaining of tho steep grades of now roads now being formed, with special mention of tho road near Hataitai tunnel,- was received : from.' “A' Mere Woman.” It was. decided to dra w tho attention of the City Council to the matter, V ~

Referring to game-shooting, - the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation. Society states that “it is difficult to estimate . the prospects for 1919, as, conditions vary in parts, hut from reports the season has a healthy look. Advice comos from Palmerston North of 160 ducks taken on May Ist by one party, 103 by: a second, and 60 by a third.” The season of 1913 furnished fairly good sport* in portions of the society’s district; in other places game was hard to find. ‘Op the whole, black swans were not so numerous as of old in the Wairarapa. Grey, ducks were harder to reach, but some good bags , were made. Pheasants are steadily increasing in the north-west-ern part of the district. Hares were plentiful, while quailare not now found in open country! The heavy drop in sales of game-shooting licenses anticipated for Various reasons, notably the- high price of cartridges, tho absence of many sportsmen, and the limited -scope of sport expected, did not eventuate, as the number of licenses issued was only 10 less than for 1917, being 241 against 251. Under the Animals’ Protection Act Amendment Act, the year 1910 and every third year thereafter is automatically a close sea-son for native and imported game throughout the Dominion, power being given to any acclimatisation society to petition the Department of Internal Affairs for an open season for tlie whole period set out in tho Act, or for any part thereof, and for imported game, native game, or both. Tho council of the society petitioned for an open season for both imported and native ’ game from May Ist to July 31st, 1919, and the open season recommended has been gazetted-

Action was taken by E. A. Orr, carrier, in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, to recover the sum of £25 from P. J. Fanning, agent, and T. P. Lyons, carrier, being the deposit on the purchase of a house. Tho plaintiff said that he had to leave the premises ho had occupied, as the owner wanted them for his own purposes. Being unable to rent a house, ho paid a deposit of £25 to Fanning, the agent for Lyons, for the purchase of one in Adelaide road. A condition of the purchase was that ho was to have immediate possession. He scab his furniture to the premises, but was unable to enter, and for some days ho was unable to get possession of the furniture again. The property was a native leasehold; the deposit asked for the purchase was £IOJ, and the full purchase-money was 1|335. A contract was not signed, and plaintiff said he was prepared to pay the balance of the £IOO deposit when the money was demanded, but a demand was not made. Tho defence was that tho defendants wore u niting for the contract to be signed, and, the balance of the deposit'to be paid before giving possession to the plaintiff. The defendants counter-claimed for £so’ for breach or contract, and Mr C. T. Tanner, who appeared for tho plaintiff, submitted that tho defendants had no right of claim, as there was no contract. Fanning, who acted as ageht, not being liable, his name as a defendant was withdrawn. Ho said that iho plaintiff was to pay the balance of the deposit before being given possession, but .he refused to complete the contract-. The plaintiff had judgment given against,him on the claim, and tliq counter-claim ■ was withdrawn. Mr B. O’Donnell appeared for Lyons,

The following vessels will bo within wireless range of Wellington this evening:—Maori, Mararoa, Pateena, Moana, Tofus, and Pakeha.

A -wireless message received last night from the R.M.S. Moana, en route from San Francisco,- reports that the vessel will not arrive in the stream at Wellington until 8 o’clock to-morrow morning.

A soldier coming down the gangway of a returning transport was heard to say: “Thank God I have returned to New Zealand single.” Then, after a pause, “And I have been in Scotland, too.”

“One-third of Parliament goes out every three years,” tjie Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald remarked at the farmers’ banquet last evening. At every election, he explained, there' were always changes to the extent of one-third by death and rejection.

In reference to the visit of Lord Jellicoe, Sir James Allen stated in Christchurch yesterday that he did not think the Government could subsidise moneys granted by local bodies for the entertainment of the visitors.—Press Association-

“Despite anything you may occasionally hear to the contrary, I don’t think any Government ever worked so harmoniously in the interests of the people as the National Government.” —The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, at

the farmers’ banquet last evening.

The Hon, G, W. Bussell, Minister for Internal Affairs, stated yesterday that the papers read before the Townplanning Conference by Mr Newton, of the Internal Affairs Department, and Mr Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, are to be published by the department, as separate town-planning bulletins, and circulated to_ all local bodies throughout the Dominion.

“The New Zealand farmer made the finest infantry soldier in the world.” This opinion, brought back by a New Zealand doctor, was related at the farmers’ banquet last evening, “They lacked the dash of the Australians, but they 'had a tenacity peculiar to themselves. During the years they were in Franco they never lost a yard of , trench, a record no one else could claim.”

A about the official work which is being done to repatriate soldiers was said at the farmers' banquet last evening by the chairman-of the ' Wellington Repatriation Board (Mr T. S. r ’Weston). Some of the criticism of the board, Mi Weston thought, was very unjust; It had been said that there should be a single Minister for Repatriation.. His experience was that the four-Ministor control had not in 'any way interfered with the working of the Act.

The Manuka, which arrived in the stream at Wellington at 8.40 o’clock last night from Sydney,, sent, a wireless message for medical’ aid. owing ;.to a member of the crew having been injured. The port health officer wont out to the vessel by the tug Natone shortly before IX pi.m. and found that a trimmer, named Lionel Walters, had been knocko'd unconscious by a fall of coal while working in the hunkers at 7 o’clock last evening. ,Tlie man was regaining consciousness when the doctor arrived, but the exact nature of the injuries could not be. ascertained. The port, health officer remained, on ..board the Manuka for the"uightr ' I"- -

Complaints have been received regarding intoxicating liquor on troop trains, especially with regard to returning troops, Consequently'the Defence Department has specially directed the attention of its officers to the War Regulations, 'under which it was made an offence to bring intoxicating liquor on to a troop train. Clause 14 of the War Regulations of, November 16th, 1915, not only-makes-it an offence to have intoxicating liquor on a troop train, but also to supply liquor to any person being carried on a troop train. The Crown Law Office advises that the expression “being carried on a troop train” must read as applicable not .only to those men who, for the time being, are actually on board the train, hut also to men who, .during the course of their journey, may be at any time temporarily off the train. The term “troop ifairi” : 'defined in the regulations and includes not only a train wholly reserved for purposes of the Defence Forces, hut also a carriage on an ordinary train wholly or chiefly used by those forces. The greatest efforts are to he made to secure convictions against civilians who supply liquor to troops on troop trains.

Good sport -was obtained by anglers in the Hutt rival- last season. The annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society shows that the 1918-19 fishing season was 'interfered with during the concluding months of last year by constant rain rendering the largest rivers unfishable on account of high current and clouded water, and during January and February -by boisterous weather conditions. During "March and April, however, everything tended to jnovido ideal sport. The large rivers, with the notable expeption of the Hutt, failed to produce good fishing. The largest and heaviest fish'known to have been landed during the past season was a brown trout taken with a minnow from just below the big bridge over tiio , Hutt river by a lad whoso age gave a year for every pound. The fish weighed 1-4 Jib, and the struggle lasted one and a halt hours. A Wellington angler, fishing within a length of water covered by a quarter of a mile above the same bridge to half a mile below, took the following;—October 07, November 88, December 59, January 72, February 63, March 29, April 20; total, 433. r roin South Karon, Wainui, and Upper Akatarawa he secured 67. Another local angler, who has ‘fished all over the society’s district (often at Waikanae), took 600 fish during the . season. The cold and boisterous season resulted in the Bale of licenses falling from £793 3s 6d last season to £699 15s 6d for the season just closed.