LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A technical Education Conference will be held in Wellington on May 10, 11, and 12. The conference will be attended by representatives from practically every technical school in the Dominion.

A memorial which has. been erected by the relatives of men from the Frankley Road and Frankleigh Park who fell in the war is to be unveiled on Sunday afternoon, the ceremony commencing at half-past two.

No advice regarding the opening of the oyster season or the prices to be charged has yet been received from Wellington by Auckland officers of the Marine Department. Tt is expected that definite information will be available in the course of a few days. It is considered in Whakatane that the large volumes of steam rising from White Island are due to atmospheric conditions, and that the island is not more active at one time than any other. This contention, however, does jiot dispute the supposition of a new blowhole, which is quite feasible. “The development of hydro-electric-ity is not going to be curtailed as a result of the financial stress through which the Dominion is passing,” said the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates). He stated that whatever should happen this work would be pushed on at all speed.

Members of the Racing Commission, who arrived in New Plymouth on Wednesday night, yesterday morning, accompanied by members of the Taranaki Hunt and Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P.. visited the Kennels at Sentry Hill, and on return to town inspected the Jockey Club’s course and appointments in corqpany with members of the committee. The commission then received deputations from both the Jockey and Trotting Clubs, in regard to the granting of permits. In the afternoon the visitors were motored round the town and were taken to the harbor, and to the hydro-electric works. They return to Wellington to-day, having completed the itinerary, and will prepare a report on the result of their investigations.

As a result of the success attending the second re-union of the officers of the Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F., held at Palmerston North last week, the executive has decided that a re-union of all ranks of the regiment shall take place there on Anzac Day next year. It has been arranged that on that occasion a general memorial to the regiment's fallen, in the shape of a stained glass window, shall be unveiled ’in All Saints’ Church, as well as a marble slab commemorating the engagements and battle honors of the regiment, which, with the regimental colors, will be placed in the memorial corner of the church.

To-morrow at their mart at one o’clock Webster Bros, will sell 162 sacks choice Canterbury table potatoes and 30 sacks prime onions.

An important sale of poultry, produce and furniture is advertised in this issue by Mr. Lamason, of Stratford. In addition to the above some boots of excellent quality will be offered. A very nice range of wool shawls, blankets, rugs and costumes is now showing at Miss Retford’s shop, Currie

A reduction in the price of soap has been made in Auckland.

Spurious half-crowns are at present in circulation in the South Island.

The Greymouth wharves are stacked with timber, 3,250,000 superficial feet being ready for shipping. The Wairarapa Patriotic Association has assets amounting to £70,873 4s 4d. The people of Invercargill and district have voluntarily subscribed nearly £9OOO for the purpose of a soldiers’ memorial.

A number of Huntervilie farmers were fined last week for exposing for sale sheep infected with lice. A large employer of labor informed it Wanganui reporter recently that he has been simply inundated with men looking for work.

A waterside? in Auckland has been sent to gaol for 14 days for the theft of four bottles of emulsion from a steamer which he was assisting in unloading.

“We don’t have much to do with the officers of the ship,” said a ship’s fireman giving evidence at the Magistrate’s Court, at Wanganui, “They haven’t much time for us, and we haven’t much time for them.”

The prison camp near Lake Roto Aira, in the Waimarino district, which was established by the Prisons Administration some few years ago, has been removed to another site at Efua, on the Main Trunk line.

“There will be plenty of wheat next year,” so a Rangitikei delegate assured the executive of the Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union at its recent meeting. He added that a large number of Rangitikei growers were putting in wheat this year, and as a similar condition of affairs would be existing in other parts of the Dominion, the wheat yield next year should be ample.

In discussing the money market, the N.Z. Trade Review says: “In the past twelve months the banks have been called on for twenty millions more in advances, with deposits slightly on the decrease. It will take some months of very rest-rioted importation and increased exports to right the position, but we expect to see some improvement in a few months.”

Strong condemnation of the disloyalty expressed by certain sections of the community was uttered by the Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen in the course of an address at a memorial service held on Monday at St. Matthew’s Church, Auckland. He said there was a great deal of disloyalty in our midst, and those who were preaching sedition and disloyalty were traitors t;o the men who shed their blood on the battlefield. Those who did not feel they could live in a country such as ours, where freedom and liberty had been won for them by the boys” who fought and fell, had far better seek some other country if they could find one, where they could live under happier conditions.

A Morrinsville Native, who was in Kawhia last week, says The Settler, gave an interesting account of the doings of Piatana, the Maori miracle man. He stated that the faith-healer treated about 500 cases during his seven days’ stay in Morrinsville, and affected some wonderful cures, particularly of cripples and those afflicted with muscular or nervous complaints. Ratana’s teachings are essentially of a religipus nature, but he has added a considerable amount of practical social advice. He is endeavoring to dissuade his people from selling the balance of their land, and from indulging in some of the vices of the pakeha, especially drinking and gambling—in these matters of moral health, our informant states, Ratana is hardly as successful as he has been with their physical welfare. Decision was given yesterday by the Magistrate (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey), in the case against Robert Fairweather, hotelkeeper of Waitara, who was charged at a recent sitting of the court with selling twelve cases of whisky to F. Volker, of Awakino, and, the liquor being intended for a no-license area, failing to send a statement of the nature and quantity of the liquor to the clerk of the court at Te Kuiti. The information arose out of the fact that the police detected the transport of the whisky into the King Country, and it was confiscated. In regard to the vendor of the liquor, his Worship held that the onus was on the licensee to make proper inquiries in all cases where he had the least suspicion. In this case the fact that there was such a large quantity of the liquor, should in itself have been a warning. The onus on the licensee was not discharged by merely asking if the liquor was going into a proclaimed area, and being satisfied with the reply in the negative. Defendent would be convicted. Mr. A. Bennett, counsel for defendent, asked to be given an opportunity for appeal, and His Worship announced that the fine would be £6, court costs, 7*s. A. charge of failing to keep a record of the transaction was withdrawn. Inspector Hutton appeared for the prosecution.

An interesting discovery was mentioned at the annual meeting of parishioners of St. Paul’s Church at Wellington. The vicar stated that set high under one of the windows of the church was a brass tablet, which until recently had not been cleaned for very Many years. An examination had revealed the following inscription: “This window is erected by members of the Wellington Veterans’ Corps No. 1 Wellington Rifles and Porirua and Patea Rifle Companies, in memory of Captain George Buck and Lieutenant Henry Charles Holland, Hastings, late of the Wellington Veterans’ Corps, who fell while gallantly serving with the colonial forces in the attack on Ngutu-o-te-manu on the 7th of September, 1868.” Te Ngutu-o-te-manu is in South Taranaki.

So much nonsense is penned concerning the marvellous acumen of the American detective, or “sleuth” as the sensationalist loves to call him, that it is refreshing to hear that New York is sending some responsible detectives to England to take a course of “Yard” methods (says a London correspondent). The British “C.1.D.” man does not advertise, carry a “gun” or practice the method of bullying known as “the third degree.” Nevertheless he runs the criminal to earth; and there never was a time when crime was more scientifically controlled than now, so far as this country is concerned. On the other hand, crime is rampant in New York, and the police admit that the crooks and gunmen are getting matters their own way. So it has been decided that, perhaps after all, poor old England might be able to show a wrinkle or two in police organisation and crime detection. At the present time five French detectives are picking up hints in the Metropolis, under the guidance of a “Yard” representative.'

Travellers by sea from New Zealand are now required to fill in a form for the Customs when booking passages. The forms contain questions which the Customs require answered. Among them are “conjugal condition (married or single),” and an intending passenger filled in the answer this question “Good.” There is also the question, “Length of residence in New Zealand.” A passenger promptly replied “16ft by 32ft ” “It costs £96,0(10 per year to live a bare existence in Russia to-day,” was the statement of Mr. Henry Ball, of Lloyds Bank, one of the British representatives at the recent financial conference in Brussels, speaking at the National Liberal Club. Other Russian prices by Mr. Ball were: Glass of milk £36, loaf of bread £4OO. The Russians were issuing freely 25,000 and 50,000 rouble notes.

The latest invention for the prevention of car-thieving is something entirely new and rather ingenious. It consists of a very powerful long-range hooter with a peculiar- note. This hooter is secreted in the car, and put in or out of action by means of a Yale lock. It is claimed that the slightest vibration, movement, or shaking of the car-even the removal of a rug—will set the horn in action calling attention by the public that something is wrt>ig. Scotland Yard have expressed approval of the device.

Some remarkable examples of the provision made by the thrifty housewife against the proverbial “rainy day” have been brought to light by the present financial stringency, says the Southland Times. Now that times are hard and money is scarce, the little nest-egg which was carefully stowed away when the times were more prosperous, has been called into requisition with the result that banknotes which have been out of issue for fifteen or sixteen years are again being circulated. During the last few days one of the local banks has received notes issued as far back as 1884, some of which are as clean and as crisp as when they were first put into circulation. A proud possessor of a Queen’s Jubilee £fJ piece also called at the same bank to ascertain if it was the real thing, and stated that it had been tendered to him in payment of a debt.

Madame Emily Briggs has at last promised to bring “one of her entertainments” to Eltham. This means a firstclass musical treat is assured, together with high-class humorous work, etc., for Madame’s entertainments are wellknown. Following a big patrioic entertainment, the Herald says: “From opening chorus to the closing item there was not a dull moment, and hearty and continuous applause was the order of the evening, a genuine tribute to the programme submitted.” In fact, by special request, the entertainment was repeated the next night, as many could not gain admission the first night. Particulars are advertised.