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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 252, 23 September 1929, Page 6

At 7.30 p.m. on Saturday -'the Fire Brigade received a false alarm call. “You can never make men righteous or even happy by passing by-laws or levying taxes, however wisely you ma-t' spend the proceeds,” stated Rev. G. T. Brown during the course of Ills sermon at St. Andrew’s Church yesterday morning.

“Sooner or later all these people shake hands with a saw,” said Mr Justice Blair in the Arbitration Court at Hamilton. The comment arose from a case in which compensation w.as claimed for injuries sustained in an accident with a circular saw.

Efforts are being made by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to have repealed certain sections in the Board of Trade Act inserted during the war by the Coalition Government These contain drastic provisions for the interference of the Government in private enterprise. In a letter received by the council the Prime Minister stated that the repeal of the objectionable sections was being considered carefully. It was, however, impossible to say yet whether amending legislation would be proceeded with during the present session. '

A woman .appeared at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court recently to answer a charge of having allowed her cows to stray on the public road at Takapuna. The inspector gave evidence in support of the charge, and then his chief stepped forward before a fine could be imposed and said: “Your Worship,. this woman is fighting a hard battle. Her husband is suffering from war disabilities, and she is keeping the home going. The cows were on the road, and we have to do our duty.” Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., said: “Under such circumstances I will only ask her to pay the costs.”

So keen was one objector in the Assessment Court in Christchurch the other day to substantiate his claims for a reduction for depreciation that he brought with him a quantity of powdery wood, afflicted with the borer, as “Exhibit A” in Iris case. Some unpleasant possibilities occurred to one or two of those present, for the Court was sitting in the Provincial Council Chamber, which suffers enough already from the hand of time without the assistance of this timber scourge. The clerk of the Court mildly suggested to the objector that, in .addition to removing his bits of porous timber, he should also sweep away the borer dust that he had left on the table. The objector did this, remarking that nobody respected the. Provincial building more than he did.

The causes of the diminution of native bird life were discussed by the council of the Stratford Acclimatisation Society, when a letter was received from the Otago Society in defence of the opossum. It was somewhat concerned, the Otago Society stated, at statements in the press relative to the supposed damage done by opossums in forests, some writers claiming that the eating of green shoots tended toward a decrease of native birds. Acclimatisation societies, on. the other hand, stated that the chief bird enemies were stoats, rats,. ferrets, wild cats and such other vermin. With a view to obtaining evidence on the matter the association had circularised trappers asking for an expression of opinion. Seventyfour replies had been received. Of that number 55 gave opinions as to the cause of the diminution of _ bird life. The stoat was mentioned in 17 letters, the ferret in 20, the cat in 18, the grey owl in 15, the rat in eight, and the hawk in two. Thirty-eight arsons had caught 218 stoats in the traps this season, and seven trappers—who -ave approximate figures only—--113. Thirteen had caught 42 ferrets and 34 wild cats, while 18 had caught 58 rats.

A business man who was present at a social gathering in Wellington on Saturday night said that he was vice-presi-dent of 39 clubs, cricket, tennis, basketball, football, hockey, etc.

An unusual accident occurred when A. Osten, a machinist, was using a planing machine in the Kilbirnie tramway workshops, Wellington, at 10.41) on Saturday morning. Evidently a knot or hardness in the piece of planking he was manipulating caught in the machine, and the timber struck him violently in the •stomach. He was taken to hospital suffering from internal injuries which are not serious.

“It was a Saturday afternoon and it was absolutely impossible to get any nearer the kerb,” stated a defendant in the Magistrate’s Court, this morning, when charged with having parked his motor-car more than 10 feet from the kerbing in front of a grocer’s store in the Square. “It never is possible there on Saturday and you, with others, will have to park your ears somewhere else,” rejoined the Magistrate.

Arrangements were made on Saturday for the release at Auckland of the Maui Pomare’s shipment of Norfolk Island potatoes, following the result of an examination for disease conducted on samples by the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. G. W. Forbes) announced that he had received advice that the analysis revealed a condition justifying the release of the shipment. The hope that Hamilton would be the future home of the clock which for so many years has stood as a landmark at the' intersection of High and Manchester Streets, Christchurch, was expressed at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council, i Mr A. J. Denz said he had read the report that the old clock tower was to bo dismantled, and lie would move that negotiations be made with the object of securing the clock for Hamilton. The motion was carried.

To-day is the 22nd anniversary of New Zealand having been raised to the status of a Dominion. Until 1841 New Zealand was a dependancy of New South Wales, but was created a separate colony by Royal Charter on November 16, 1840. It was not until Mav 3. 1841, however, that the ehange was effected. In 1907 New Zealand was declared to be a Dominion. Todav was observed by all banks as a holiday, but the Government departments were not affected.

Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., mentioned at a meeting of the Unemployed Committee this morning that the authorities of radio station 2YA Wellington, had expressed their preparedness to relay a concert programme from their studio for the benefit of the local unemployment fund. The Choral and Orpheus Societies had also offered their assistance, added Mr Nash, while endeavours were being made to secure the services of the Bridges trio, well-known Wanganui musicians. It is anticipated; that the function will be presented in about a month’s time.