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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 253, 24 September 1929, Page 6

. Present indications point to a plentiful yield of good quality strawberries in Auckland in tne coming season, which will commence toward the end of next month. The recent spring weather has been ideal for the plants, which are well forward and thriving. The Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society has been successful in obtaining the libretto and band parts for the musical comedy, “High Jinks,” which it is proposed to produce next month. Rehearsals have’ been most successful and a • provisional cast will be drafted shortly. In a lecture in Christchurch on “The Colonising Work of Edward Gibbon Wakefield” Mr George Harper said: “We, in Canterbury, who attribute all the honour of founding the province to those who came out in the first four ships in 1850, should not forget those who worked in Canterbury 10 years before that. Most of these people were living on the Peninsula, and did great work as pioneers. There were the Havs, the Rhodeses, the Prices, the Sinclairs, the Gebbies and some more well-known families whose descendants are with us yet.” Included in the cargo of the Port Melbourne, which arrived at Auckland last week from London, were four aeroplanes. Two were Fairey 111 E machines for the Hobsonville Air Base, and two were Gipsy Moths, for the Auckland Aero Club and the Air Survey and Transport Company. Special attention has been attracted by the Faireys, because they are the best tvpe yet imported into New Zealand. The undercarriages are convertible for land or water use, and the engine is the Napior Lion type, with a capacity of 530 horse-power. The machines have a speed maximum of about 160 miles an hour. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, first aid for coughs, colds, influenza.—Advt.

The Ulimaroa arrived at Sydney this morning from Wellington. The condition of Hubert Sydney Corry, who was seriously injured in a motor accident near Ashhurst on Friday evening, is unchanged, according to the hospital report to-day. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that the net amount available for the earthquake relief fund as the result of the benefit trotting meeting is expected to be £4250.

Nearly 200 early settlers and their descendants met in the Eearly Settlers’ Hall at Wellington yesterdav afternoon to celebrate Dominion Day and were addressed by the GovernorGeneral (Sir Charles Fergusson). The inquiry which a special committee is conducting into the conditions of the employment of Maori girls in Chinese market gardens has been extended to include investigations in the Otaki and Wanganui ' districts. Evidence has already been heard in the Auckland district.

People .are not so proud of the honour of New Zealand having'been elevated to the distinction of a “Dominion” as might be expected with a day set apart to mark the event, which happened 22 years ago (says the Auckland Star). It is one of those holidays which we could very well afford to miss out of the calendar. An overheated bearing in mixing machinery at Messrs Meadly and Gardener’s bakehouse in Limbrick Street last night was lesponsible for an outbreak of fire. At 6 p.m. everything was in order, but a baker returning at about half-past seven discovered the fire and gave the alarm. Slight damage was done to the building only. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) entertained members of the United Party and the Dominion Executive in his rooms at Parliament rlouse, Wellington, last night. Before the gathering dispersed the Prime Minister was congratulated on his restoration to health, and a resolution was passed expressing appreciation at the evening’s reception and also complimenting him on the progress made with the session’s work.

The order of reference for the pro; posed inquiry into the provision of such work for partially disabled returned soldiers as will render the payment of economic pensions unnecessary has been practically determined. In reply to a question yesterday, the Minister in charge of the War Pensions Department (Hon. T. M. Wiiford) said that he had considered the matter with representatives of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and that a form of order of reference had been agree-d. upon. This bo submitted to Cabinet at an early date

By arrangement between the Palmerston North Hospital Board and the Health Department, Dr F. Myers, of Wellington, a specialist in radiology, visited the Hospital yesterday and inspected the x-ray department and equipment. The board, it is understood, will be considering improvements to its x-ray plant in the near future and Dr Myers is to furnish a report on its present condition, together with suggestions. Dr Myers was met by Mr J. K. Hornblow, chairman of the board, and inspected the plant in company with, Dr W. R. Stowe, radiologist at the Hospital, and Dr F. Ward, medical superintendent.

During the past few days a strong rumour has been current that there was robbery by an outside person prior to the Himatangi tragedy. This conclusion was based on the fact that two gold watches, the property of Mr and Mrs Wright, were not found among the ashes of the fire. However, the police have now ascertained that the two watches, in addition to other trinkets owned by the Wright family, were left in a box of goods placed in the care of a friend in Palmerston North. The police have investigated numerous theories, but it is understood that the mystery is still as complete as ever and that nothing has been discovered that definitely establishes any motive for murder, if murder was done.

When the Borough Council assembled last evening, at a special meeting to discuss the water supply question, representatives of the Press were not in their seats, no intimation having been given to the local newspapers of the intention to meet, and messages had to be sent out immediately informing them that the meeting was in progress. Cr Eliott enquired the reason for the late arrival of the pressmen. Had they been notified of the meeting, he asked. The Mayor replied that he had told the representative of one paper himself. Cr Eliott deserves the thanks of the ratepayers in calling attention to the omission to fully notify the Press of the meeting referred to. The “Standard” had no intimation of it and but for the fact that a reporter could be communicated with by telephone we would not have been able to give such a full report to our readers as appears on page 2. It is to be hoped the Borough Council will give ample notification to the Press when special meetings are to be held in the future.