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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 6

Mumps are very prevalent in Auckland. The epidemic is most noticeable in schools. A number of cases are reported among cadets on the Philomel.

The French war sloop Cassiopee, which was in New Zealand waters last January, is due at Auckland again next Wednesday. After a stay of eight days she goes to Dunedin, and thence to Australia.

Some twenty-five young giants are now undergoing three months’ training at the central depot, Wellington, for the police force. Their average height is 6ft. lin. and average weight fourteen stone. They are the first of three batches to augment the force.

A protest against the Defence Department taking boys away from their work for a nine days’ camp was made at the annual meeting last night of the Manawatu Employers’ Association. Strong comment was passed about the country being governed by order-in-council, under which, it was understood, the new drill arrangements were made.

A reminder is given of the public meeting to be held in the Municipal Hall this evening at S o’clock to form a Civic League and consider the proposed sewerage loan. ' For the beach, tennis, bowls, croquet and even running shoes, the C. M. Ross Co., Ltd., can outfit all sports and holidaymakers with the moat comfy sports shoes at the lowest prices. \Vomen’s j crepe soles, 5s lid; men’s 6s lid. Women’s, white rubber, 4s lid; men’s, 5s 6d. Try them for real foot comfort.—Advt.

Several cases of breaking and entering have been reported lately (states a Christchurch telegram). On Wednesday afternoon the dwelling of Mr J. A. Beattie, of Iticcarton, was entered and the sum of £4 and a watch valued at £5 taken, but the intruder overlooked a sum of £25 in anolher part of the house.

About a quarter to 11 o’clock last night the fire brigade received a call to the Government Buildings, Lambton Quay, On arrival the brigadesmen found no trace of fire, and the men on duty in “the”largest wooden building in the world” were surprised by the appearance of the motor-reel, states a Wellington exchange. Owing to a misunderstanding on the town clerk’s part Auckland picture theatres have been prevented from opening in the last two Christmases, states a Press Association message, but this year they will be open on the 25th from 2.30 p.m., subject to approval of the programme. “Has someone been censuring you, too?-” asked Mr Justice Frazer of Mr A. Murray, secretary for the Wellington Metal Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers, in the Arbitration Court yesterday in Wellington. “Yes, but I don’t lose any sleep over it,” was the reply. “I don’t either,” remarked His Honour, smilingly. The number of bankruptcies dealt with by the Official Assignee at Auckland this year already exceeds the total number for last year. The figures for 1925 show a noticeable decline in comparison with those for 1924, but it appears probable that this year’s total will be approximately the same as that of 1924.

The habit of the modern school pupil of riding to and from school in trams in preference to walking was criticised by Dr E. Robertson at a meeting of the Auckland Grammar Schools Board yesterday. “There are a great many children using the trams who ought to travel on foot as we had to in our young days,” said Dr Robertson. “Nowadays children seem to avoid all kind of effort and prefer to crowd trams even for short distances.”

Land tax constitutes a heavy burden on the Flock House trustees—a levy which, in view of the purposes of the Sheepowners’ Fund, they deem unjustified. The annual report of the fund mentions that efforts to secure a refund of £34,998 9s 7d, deducted by the Government from the amount originally subscribed to the fund, have been unsuccessful although some relief in other directions affecting taxation was afforded during the year. Further representations are to be made to the Government on the matter.

Mr R. Lloyd, of Palmerston North, reported to the Wellington Acclimatisation Society this week on the proposals of the Palmerston North subcommittee for making a new fish pond, with the assistance of the municipality. It was decided to refer the matter to Mr Miller for a report, after which the society will consider assisting financially. The pond is to form part of the gardens and will be fed by a fountain in the centre. It is anticipated that the new pond will considerably increase the number of yearlings which the Palmerston North sub-committee will have for distribution.

Many Dunedin boys have earned a little silver money for Christmas by capturing hedgehogs and taking them to the Government office, where half-a-crown per head was paid, states an exchange. The officers of the entomological division of the Agricultural Department wanted hedgehogs for the purposes of experiment. One hundred and sixty were delivered, and the entomologist has released them to an Alexandra orchard to fight down the earwigs. It is not yet certain whether the introduction of hedgehogs will absolutely control this pest, but the department has sufficient knowledge of the subject to warrant a trial.

The Navua and Atua; the wellknown Union Company steamers, (have been sold. They were commissioned at Port Chalmers yesterday and were to sail to-day for Westport for bunkers. Thence the ships will go to an Australian port to load for Egypt. The Khediv al Mail Steamship and Graving Dock Company, Ltd,, of London, has purchased the vessels. The company owns about twelve steamers, which are employed between London, the Mediterranean ports and Egypt. Shortly the Navua and Atua will be employed carrying pilgrims from the principal ports in the Mediterranean to Egypt. No less than 198 boys, having completed their initial training at Flock House, have, says the annual report of the trustees of the Sheepowners’ Fund, been sent to employment as follows: —Auckland 4, East Coast and Poverty Bay 32, North Taranaki 7, Wanganui 11, Hawke’s Bay 61, Wairarapa 21, Manawatu-Wellington 34, Marlborough and 'Nelson 15, Canterbury 13. Fifteen are in employment as follows: East Coast and Poverty Bay 8, Hawke’s*"Bay 3, Welling-ton-Manawatu 2, Wairarapa 2. In every case where a girl has a brother, it has been found possible to place her in satisfactory employment either on the same farm as her brother or on a nearby farm or station. Writing to the Government Publicity. Officer (Mr A. H. Messenger) from Mosman, Sydney, Mr Alfred Hill, the well-known composer, states that during his recent trip abroad Ito found that the Americans were especially interested in New Zealand and the Maoris. “Many were the inquiries about Maoriland,” adds the writer. “It is a pity the country has no representative in the United States of America, since the people there would visit it in greater numbers did they know more about it. There is no doubt that both in the United States of America and England, the Maoris are a great asset to New Zealand. I lectured tq the Seven Arts Club in San Francisco on Maori music; also in Minneapolis and St. Paul to the Lion’s Club to fifty university professors and others. While in England I visited Bournemouth and conducted Godfrey’s Orchestra in my Maori orchestral pieces, and in London had several gramophone records made.”