General News

“Bidding and Bargaining” “I regret very much that figures should have to be mentioned to the jury in such, j aSe these ” said Mr Justice Northcroft, addressing the jury after evidence on a claim for damages suffered in a street accident had been heard in the Supreme Court yesterday. It has become the custom lor parties to assess what they might get or might have to pay, and juries may be led to believe that the right figure lies between the two,” he said. “This line of thought savours somewhat of bidding, bargaining, and splitting of the difference. That is> not the manner in which compensation should be assessed. I ask you to approach the matter as if you had not heard figures at all.” The King’s Tree Although the best time of the year for seeing the Christchurch Botanic Gardens is well past, one tree there has a particular interest at the present time. Away from the other trees planted by Royalty on the front lawn, there is a single oak tree at the north-west corner of the pond round the fountain on the archery lawn. It bears this inscription: “Planted by His Majesty King George VI (then H.R.H. the Duke of York) during his visit to this Dominion in 1927.” ' Many Patients Visited Many visits to homes were made last month, said the monthly report presented to a meeting of the committee of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association yesterday. A total of 1121 visits to 100 homes had been made and 219 visits were made to the homes of 71 outpatients. Calls answered numbered 407. New Zealand’s Population Unless the Dominion increased its population, New Zealanders would not be able to hold their country, said General Sir Andrew Russell at a function of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, held in the Jellicoe Hall last night. New Zealand would, he said, reach its maximum population in four or five years, and from then on the position would grow worse, not better: and it would be doubtful whether New Zealanders would be able to keep from their shores uninvited people whom they had no desire to welcome in their midst. Nor would they be able to “keep down the weeds” in their own country, concluded the speaker. Punch as Prophet One of the quaintest features of the Punch exhibition, which was opened in the Art Gallery last week at Auckland, is a series of pages showing how the paper, through its artists, especially Du Maurier, predicted some of the chief modern inventions half a century and more ago. Among these mechanical developments are broadcasting, television, gramophones, air mails to India and China (1843), underground railways (1846). and “tin hares.” There are also forecasts of pillion-riding and mixed bathing in the Serpentine, Hyde Park, now known as “Lansbury’s Lido,” after Mr George Lansbury, who brought the change about during Labour’s political regime. King’s Birthday Observance A definite indication that the Government’s decision to have the King’s Birthday observed officially on June 9 applied to this year’s observance only was given in a letter received by the Christchurch City Council last evening from the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. The council wrote to the Minister recently, suggesting that in future the observance should be on a fixed date. The Minister said in his reply that the council’s representations would be noted for consideration when the question was being discussed for future years. Ocean Cruise in Yacht Another ocean cruise was commenced from Auckland last evening, when the 26ft keel yacht Roxane sailed for Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Great Banker Reef. The owners of the yacht, Messrs R. Wellington and K. Dawson, were in charge of the vessel, and were accompanied by Mr L. O’Brien. Constructed about three years ago, the Roxane is a sturdily-built craft, having a length of 26ft Sin, with an Bft beam and a draught of 4ft. She carries a Bermuda rig and is fitted with an auxiliary engine, which gives her a speed of about six knots in favourable weather.—Press Association.

New City Streets Two new streets came into existence officially last evening, when the Christchurch City Council granted several subdivision permits. One will be named Bounty street, perpetuating with Bligh’s road (which runs at right bangles to it) a famous naval mutiny. Another new street, between Strickland street and Selwyn street, will be named Penrith street. The council also approved of the suggestion of the by-laws committee to rename part of Chester street, at the western end from the river Avon to Park terrace. This portion will in future be known as Chester street west; the portion of the street east of Colombo street will be known as Chester street east. A subdivision which was approved provides for an extension by 6£ chains of Church lane, in Merivale. Articles by Rugby Players and Officials The New Zealand Rugby Union has issued a circular stating that there is an increasing tendency for players and officials of unions to write articles for newspapers, and drawing the attention of unions to the rule of the Rugby Football Union (England) which deals with the matter. The rule prohibits officials, referees, and players, unless engaged solely in the profession of journalism, from giving information or interviews for the newspapers, or broadcasts on current Rugby football, for remuneration. Excessive Loads on Bicycles Several cautions have been issued by the City Council’s traffic department to messenger boys carrying excessive loads on bicycles, but any other restrictive action is limited because there is no regulation or by-law setting out the load that may be carried on a bicycle. Reporting to the council last night, the traffic committee said that offenders could only be charged with riding dangerously, where the load interfered with the control of the machine. The committee had, however, written to the Minister for Labour drawing his attention to the question of boys employed by business firms carrying excessive loads on their bicycles. First Visit to City For the first time in her life, a resident of lonely Pitcairn Island, Mrs E. Brown, saw the wonder of a large city on her arrival in Auckland by the Tamaroa last evening. Although several Pitcairn natives have recently visited the Dominion, the isolated comrputiity of about 200 people still regards such a journey with keen interest, and in spite of several journeys made by Mrs Brown to Tahiti and other islands, she was enthralled by Auckland’s myriads of lights as the Tamaroa drew to her berth. “There is no time for loneliness on Pitcairn,” said Mrs Brown, in an interview. Tending the garden and land in an almost selfcontained community, the day ‘was full from morning until dark. Leaving her husband and four children on the island, Mrs Brown was picked up from an open boat by the Tamaroa to undergo a surgical operation in New Zealand. She left Auckland by the Limited express last evening for Wellington, where she will be admitted to hospital.—Press Association. Speed Over Intersections Motorists are not restricted to a speed of 15 miles an hour over city intersections, according to a report presented to the City Council last night by the traffic committee. The committee reported that attention had been drawn to motorists crossing city intersections at a greater speed than 15 miles an hour; but the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr J. Bruorton) stated th»re was no fixed speed-limit over intersections. The regulation showed that vehicles could be driven at 30 miles an hour over intersections, this being the maximum speed allowed in built-up areas when the road ahead was clear. This did not give an absolute right, however, to a speed of 30 miles an hour over intersections, for motorists must drive so as not to put other users of the road in peril.