NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10603, 31 May 1920, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

•The wood-cutting season is at its height in the Levin district, and largo quantities are finding their way to tho Wellington market, where there is a big demand. The output from Lovin just now is about, 40 tons per week, providing a good deal of employment for cutters and carriers.

Before Air E. Page, S.M.. on Saturday morning in the -Magistrate’s Court, Reginald Oliver, on a charge of being a rogue- and vagabond in that ho was found at 12.5 o’clock that morning bni thq enclosed premises of Alcssrs Rouse, Black and Son, in Nelson street, was convicted. He was ordered to como up for sentence when called upon within twelve months.

There are plays pleasant and unpleasant. “Sinners Both.” at tho Kmgsway Theatre, London, has been described by tho critics ns “painful,” “sordid.” and “disgusting.” The critic of the “Express” says: ‘There are scenes in ‘Sinners Both’ which could not bo repeated toxtuallv in a newspaper.” Yet it is attracting crowded houses and bids fair to put up a record run. “Damaged Goods” is said to bo a religious work by comparison!

According to the Press Association message from Hawcra tho Haivera Chamber of Commerce and Tradesmen’s Association united about two years ago. Latterly meetings have been poorly attended, and the body has become lifeless. To reorganise it a motion was moved to dissolve; but it was defeated by seven votes to six, after a very lengthy discussion. The president, 'vice-presidents, secretory, and members of the executive present, with pno exception, voluntarily resigned.

It all happened on a, tramcar bound for Kiarori oil Saturday afternoon. The car, as usual on Saturdays, was crowded with hockey -players. When an elderly lady entered the rear cabin ouo of the players courteously made room for her, but to the surprise of nil, a hefty kind pf a ‘'gentleman” made himself comfortable in the offered seat. However, another seat , was found for tho lady. As the man left the tramcar, Jic remarked. “What aro you looking at mo like that for; you look as if you would oat mo.” “Ob, no,” was tho quick reply from tho man who had vacated his seat for tho lady, “that is impossible; you see, I’m a Jew.”

“It has always been felt that the pensions given by! the Stato to disabled soldiers, widows and orphans, were inadequate, and during every war voluntary subscriptions were raised to supplement the. help given by ’ tho State, said General' Richardson at tho meeting of limbless ox-soldicrs. These funds grew in number under various organisations. These funds were utilised to increase pensions, support widows ami orphans, give treatment to disabled soldiers, and found homos and schools for their benefit. Overlapping occurred, and in order to secure their judicious employment'Parliament constituted a permanent committee now called “The Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation.” This committee has- the duty of administering voluntary funds and reporting annually to Parliament. ”

It is said .that a Wairarapa man bought and sold three farms in 12 months, and netted £12,000 on the transactions.

At 10 o’clock this morning tho autograph message of His Koval Highness the Prince of Wales to the chllden of Now Zealand, is to bo read out in all schools throughout the, 'Dominion. Each child is to receive a facsimile copy of the message as a souvenir of the Prince’s visit.

In his will, lately proved, a wellknown English titled sportsman mado the following bequest: ‘‘l bequeath to my brother —(named)—the sum of one shilling to show my appreciation, of his noble .sacrifice to his country in avoiding military service until compelled to join up.” The testator hud served with tho forces.

Negotiations for the purchase of seven thousand acres of the Brancepoth station, to tho east of Masterton, for soldier settlement, have been completed. The estate was offered to tho Government, by Mr H. H. Beetliam in November last, but difficulties arose which required some time to overcome.

hollowing upon the deputation of Kelburn residents to tho Mayor on Friday, Hi s Worship interviewed th.e Hon. O. J. Parr. Minister for Education, on. Saturday morning with regard to the need for additional playground space, in connection with tho Training College and the Normal School. The Minister has arranged to. go with tho Mayor to loot: into the' position on tho spot at 2.30 this afternoon.

An alleged military defaulter, Thomas Ode, of Napier, who has been wanted since 1917, was arrested, hy Constable Satherley at Te Horo, says the Otaki correspondent of the “Times.” The man, on being questioned by the policeman, admitted certain facts, and then “bolted,” but the run- was short, as he was secured and brought to Otaki. He was subsequently handed over to the military nuhoritics at Palmerston North.

The Public Trustee is calling for competitive designs for the erection of-a Public Trust Office building at Napier at the corner of Dalton and Tennyson streets, nearly opposite the Municipal Theatre. The building is to cost £12,000 and the furniture and fittings >£lsoo. Provision is made for a speciallv built strong-room to ho used as a public safe repository. Competition is limited to architects in the Hawke’s Bay district.

When one hears of £l5O per acre being realised for properties on the Pahnorstou-Ashhurst road, says tile bedding- “Star,” it is interesting to read the following extract from a, letter written by the late Mr John T. Stewart, formerly district surveyor: '“ln 1871 Swedish immigrants arrived at F,oxton per ship Goahead, and to each was allotted thirty acres of laud between Palmerston and Ashhurst. Thev were charged £1 per acre which they paid out of their earnings at roadmaking.”

At the opening of the. New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference, the Mayor (Mr J. »P. Luke, M.P.) invited the delegates to attend the civic reception to General Birdwood at the Town Hall on Thursday. The Mayor also offered to place observation cars ,at the disposal of the delegates during any spare time thev might have, so that they might nave an opportunity of viewing the city and suburbs to the best advantage. The president (Dr. Boxer) thanked His Worship for his invitation and his offer.

Up to date (states the annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association) the Repatriation Department has arranged for the training of 4315) men. Of this number 1074 have finished their course, leaving 3245 still being trained in the special soldier classes in technical schools and in the workshops and factories of private employers throughout Hhe Dominion. As a result over 100 trainees are taking positions as “skilled” tradesmen every 'month. Tho amount expended to date for training! facilities and sustenance to trainees is £123,742.

The question of what steps should bo taken to handle. Dominion products on the British markets was thrashed out at tho Farmers’ Conference, A remit suggesting that tho Government ho asked to establish stores and shops in England to handle all our export produce, or that the Farmers’ Union organise a concern to handle same,” had to give, wav to an amendment, .which provided for tho producers of the Dominion taking action in conjunction with tho Now Zealand and Imperial Government and the co-perativo companies at Horae if necessary to handle Now Zealand products qjj tho British markets.

Dr Sharp’s fine large Sunbeam car his been totally destroyed by fire (writes the Oiaiti correspondent of tho ‘‘Times”). Tho doctor, after attending patients at his private hospital, about 11 p.m., was in tho act of lighting tho lamps, when there was an explosion and in a moment tho car was on fire. Efforts were made to save it, but the flames had too strong a holdIt is thought that .someone, during the doctor’s absence, had interfered with tho benzine tap, as it was fairly evident that tho ground was well saturated. Unfortunately, there was only a small ius.uranco, and tho doctor will bd a heavy loser.

There are at present (states the annual report of the New Zealand -Returned Soldiers’ Association) _77,4y'J names on the register of the Repatriation Department. Over 50,000 men have returned to the Dominion since ■the inception of the department 14 montlis figo, and it is a matter for congratulation that bo little difficulty has been experience! in absorbing such a very large number of demobilised men. This happy result is due (1) to the attitude of the discharged soldiers, who in many cases have resumed their prewar occupations or obtained suitable positions for themselves; (2) to tho support, rendered by the community, and, (0) to tho general prosperity of New Zealand.

An application on behalf of tho Lodge Sparking Railway Company, Ltd., for leave to proceed with tho registration of the word “lodge” as applicable to the lodge sparking plug, ns a trade mark under section 64 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, was brought before His Honour Sir John Salmond at the Supremo Court on Saturday, Mr C. H. Treadwell appeared for the applicants, while Mr J. Ptendevillc, of tho Crown Law Office, represented tho Registrar of Patents. In support of the ’application, counsel said that if, was based on the ground of use in Now Zealand over a. period of 10 years. Ho said that a sparking ping was the invention of Sir Oliver Lodge and the manufacturers and vendors were 'Hie Lodee Sparking Plug Company, Ltd., Mr Premlcville intimated that tho department did not oppose the application. Decision was reserved.

Subscriptions left at the “Times” office for the Sampson Benefit Fund: Previously acknowledged, £3 Is; Hard up, Is; A.J., 2s; 2s; E.H., 2s; total, £3 Bs.

The correspondent of the “Times” at Otaki writes:—“As a. result of the sale of Jersey stock on behalf of the estate of Mr It. D. Harknese at To Hero, a sum of over £oooo was realised.

According to a review. of the British labour situation by the London “Economist,” the peak of unemployment in England was reached in May, 1919, when the total of idle persons was reported as 1,093,400.

In illustration of tho enormous growth of the demand ior motor-cars, tho San Francisco Chamber of Commerce announces that the maker of a cheap but famous type is now turning out 3000 per day, just three times as many as a year ago.

The Government has i granted a compassionate allowance of £9OO to Mr W. H. Tilbury, who suffered serious injuries, and whose wifo was killed when his motor-car was run into by a train at Mosgiel railway crossing in January last.

A poll wao held at Te Puke on tho proposal to raise a loan of £9OOO for an electric light scheme. The voting was: For tho loan 194, against 1. It is expected that electric light will be available in the township in six weeks’ time.

The "Mercantile Gazette” records tho registration of the new company of Charles J. Ward, Ltd., a private company, capital £25,000 in 25,000 shares of £1 each. Subscribers, Wellington: Charles J. Ward, 24,499; Jane. E. Ward, 500: A. W- Blair, 1. Objects: Boot and shoe manufacturers.

In Trentham Camp orders it is stated that owing to the difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of stationery from the Government Printer, officers commanding units are requested to use strict economy in the use of paper (plain and printed) and other articles of stationery.

“Bolshevism at Work” was the* subject of an address delivered by Mr P. Fraser. M.P., at the Alcnandra Hall last night) under the auspices of the Wellington Social Democratic party. The lecture was ’a resume and. l review of Principal W .T. Goodie’s on Bol•shevism.

A high-class entertainment under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. was given by a number of Cesaroni pupils and under the direction, of Mr Ankiter, to the boys at Trentham Military Hospital. The boys enjoyed the entertainment thoroughly and showed their appreciation by loud and hearty applause.

Three Royal birthdays will be celebrated during the visit of the Prince of Wales to Australia. The day of in's arrival in Melbourne, May 26th, was the fifty-third birthday of Queen Mary; June 3rd is the King’s fiftyfifth birthday. On June 23rd the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Prince’s own birthday, he will arrive in Launceston.

A reply to i representations made to the Prime Minister re the alleged do struction of tarpaulins was read at the Auckland , Farmers’ Conference by the president. It was to the effect that the matter was 1> eing’ inquired into. Farmers state that the tarpaulins would bo pirticularly acceptable, and would be found of great use on farms, _ particularly in the winter, and that instead of destroying them they should be sold to those 'who require them at a reasenable rate.

The Rotorua .Tourist League has written to Mr Massey, as Minister fot Railways, urging the resumption of week-end excursions to Rotorua, the tickets issued, on Saturday to bo available for return until the follow, ina Thursday. The League has also written to the General Manager of the Tourist Department suggesting that the Government should subsidise the League funds to assist in carry, tug. out a scheme of advertising Roto* r,ua.