LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3642, 1 December 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sir Matthew Nathan, the new Governor of Queensland, has arrived ar Brisbane.

A sum. approaching £ 14,000, including promises, has been collected ror the erection of war memorials in Christchurch.

The “Black and Tans,” frequently mentioned in the cables concerning Ireland, are ex-service men recently recruited by the Royal Irish Constabulary.

It is reported that Mr “Billy” Sunday, the well-known evangelist, who was at one time a noted baseball player, recently declined an offer of £200,000 to act for the films.

A cablegram from London states that ths Times sharply critices the Government’s methods of disposal or the surplus war material, as revealed

in an additional report, by the committee on national expenditure, especially the sale of the St. Omer dump to the Leyland Motor Company for £500,000, while a higher offer was ignored. During the previous discussion of the transaction in the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law upheld the Disposals Board and condemned the committee’s findings, and -the Ministry of Munitions issued a report characterising the findings as untrue. The committeei’s additional report reveals that the Board persisted in selling the dump for £500,000 despite the higher offer of £600,000 communicated the same day. The previous report, without unfavourable comment, described as unfortunate the fact that Colonel Spurrier, a Bpard official, was a former director of Leylands, and two of his brothers were still directors.

An impounding notice appears in this issue. A host wheel carrier from car is advertised for and a reward offered for return of same. Mr P. O’Keefe, surgeon 'dentist has resumed practice in his old rooms in Finch’s Buildings. Messrs Thomas and Co. announce that a discount of 10 per cent, will be allowed on. all purchases made during the month of December, particulars of* which are given in an advertisement in this issue.

It cost the Dominion £6500 to charter the s.s. Prinzpssin for the conveyance to Wellington of the stranded New Zealanders- at Sydney last year, owing to the seamen’s strike at that port.

It may seem incredible (states an exchange), but it is nevertheless a fact that the boy who lias securecr the highest marks in the proficiency examinations at the Masterton schools this year, is a full-blooded Chinese student.

On Saturday next Messrs F. Ward and Co. will sell/ without reserve at 11 a.m., about £4OO worth of drapery, etc., including blouses in voile, crepe, silk, etc., costume lengths dress materials, camisoles, singlets* men’s -trousers, flannel, shirts and ladles and children’s underclothing, etc. etc.

The exclusion of Asiatics from the benefits of their award is cing sought by the Wellington Saddlers’ Union in the claims recently filed with the Registrer of the Arbitration Court. Appended to the customary preference clause appears the stipulation; "Asiatics shall not be employed in this industry.’)’ t

“May I call evidence, your Wor ; ship,” asked counsel at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court “to prove that 10/ per week is not enough to maintain a child at the present high cost of living.” ■ Mr B, C. Outten,'CS.M., replied in a 'sad voice: “There is not the slightest need to prove so obvious a fact in these 'times.’i’

“People are short of houses, yet very extravagant houses are demanded, and with extravagant houses there goes extravagant finance,” said a delegate at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Builders’ Association at Christchurch last week. “I am afraid that a financial crisis is coming and that prices will’ come down as quickly as they went up., That must spell ruin to many who have bought properties they cannot afford, 1 ”

Advertisement in an Invercargill paper: Borough of Riverton: Applications, accompanied by testimonials arc invited for the combined positions of Surfaceman, Gas Manager, Corporation Carter, Niglitsoil Removal Contractor, Sexton, Poundkeoper, Inspector of Nuisances and Dog Tax Collector. Applicant to state remuneration required.” Mr Massey must really have to look to his laurels (says an exchange). It would ho interesting to know when the official is expected to sleep and cat; also why, when he is about it, he should not be the superintendent of the Fire Brigade, Librarian, and Town Clerk.