LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Christchurch is faced with a shortage of water for domestic purposes as the result of a ‘protracted period of dry weather.

“The common law of England when properly expounded is the embodiment of common sense,” said Judge Crawford at Edmonton County Court. “During the war my husband wanted me to go home to Scotland to buy machinery in connection with his business,” said' a witness in the Wellington Supreme Court. “I think he desired me to go Home in the hope that I might be submarined.”

Arnold O. Sturrock was brought up on remand at the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. H. R. Cattley, J.P., on a charge of committing an unnatural offence at New Plymouth. On the application of the police a further remand to January 4 was granted. The Ponsonby Boys’ Band, numbering about 30 players, and accompanied by members of the committee, arrived in New Plymouth by the mail trajn last night. 'Some of the band were billeted among friends, but owing to the shortage of accommodation at present the remainder were made colnfor | tble in railway carriages. The band will play a programme of music at Kawaroa Park to-night.

Mr. J. J. Dougall. of Chris .church, was impressed in the United States with Labor’s desire to speed-up. “They don’t go slow at an,” he said. “The trades unions there go for speed and high wages, and piece-work is quite common. The unions seem to take a direction diametrically opposite to that taken by trades unions in the British Empire. The workers there are much, faster thaiv workers here, but that may be the result of superior methods and greater organisation.” A stolen reicelpt for £5OOO was put to use by a woman in Melbourne recently (states the Argus). The receipt was part of the proceeds of a robbery in Camberwell. A woman visited a cityshop, selected one expensive costume, and ordered that it be charged to her husband. The salesman was doubtful until the woman showed him the receipt for £5OOO. This convinced him, and he allowed the woman io leave with the costume. Investigation showed that the salesman had been defrauded.

The ease of the Sydney bridegroom who disappeared has been cleared up, and a disappointed bride-to-be has learned that her finance was in gaol on the day he should have appeared to marry 'her. Details of the postponed wedding have already been published the New Zealand papers. The girl left her fiance on the day before the wedding and shortly after this he was arrested on numerous charges of burglary. But news of this fact did not reach the fiance and her family, and they appeared at the church next day fully prepared for the ceremony. The bridegroom did not arrive and the ceremony was postponed. When no news came to hand within five days the police were eommunifeated with, and it was found that the man had been in the Long Bay Gaol for the time that had expired since his fiance last saw him.

“We lose more in our country by the existence of 2,000.000 unemployed than “e Sever get in value from German Reparations ov“er a period of 30 years” said Mr. Reginald McKenna, chairman the London Joint City and Midland Bank, and former Chancellor of the Lx chequer, in an address at the C Commercial Club on October 2o Wien we see these tilings we really begin to doubt whether it is for the benefit ot the United Kingdom that reparations should be paid, and whether the debts of the Allies to us, if paid, might not wove rather a curse than a blessing. Mr McKenna added that Germany was called on to pay a minimum amount annually, which was possible only by exporting goods in excess of imports. As fast a we endeavor to reduce our prices to meet foreign demand more marks are issued and sold abroad, and down goes the external value of the mark. The consequence is that the German undersells us and you. He pays reparations, but at what a cost!” Mr. McKenna said the war debt due to Great Britain was exact!v what Great Britain owed the United States, and added: “As .to the amount due to the United Kingdom, I am not only sanguine of receiving it, but if it were within my power I would cancel it. I do not say the same of the American debts. These must be accepted in the form of commodities, as that is the only way in which foreign debts can be paid if they are to be received at all.” Bathing caps, all sizes and prices. Waterwings for swimming or floating at H. J. Abram, the “MAIL ORDER” New Plymouth.