NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 4 May 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Railway Bookstall Leases. It is announced by the Minister of Railways that the Railway Department does not intend to niter the existing arrangements in regard to the leasing of railway bookstalls. It had been previously reported that the Department proposed to take over the bookstalls when the leaso expired. When the leases run out tenders for their renewal will bo invited as usual. The Hon. W. B. T?.verner said that the proposal not to call for further tenders would have meant that the Department was entering into a line of business, a practice contrary to the general policy of the Government., The Oldest Inhabitant. Cablo news every now and again gives particulars of some ancient man or woman found living far beyond, the usual span of life, and the question is sometimes asked, who is the oldest inhabitant in New Zealand? In 1920, when the last Census was taken, the oldest European recorded himself as 108 years old. But a Maori went one better, claiming to be 125, "which," the Government Statistician remarks, "is undorstood to bo easily the greatest age ever returned at any Census in New Zealand." This gentleman, it' still alive and if his memory is still good must now be 128 years old, and it is interesting to think that ho was in his prime when New Zealand first became a British colony. Soccer in Schools. Association football in the schools was still a difficult problem, said Mr. P. Campbell, chairman of the executive of the Now Zealand Football Association, when moving f.he adoption, of the annual report last night. It was difficult to understand the attitude of certain headmasters and teachers against the code. Although steady progress was being made, particularly'in certain districts, a. little help from various schools and colleges would cause tho ganio to advanco considerably. Tho council was doing all it could in that direction, and had received from the Education Department an assurance that it was not tho Department's wish that the ganio should be excluded from the schools. He urged that any definite evidence of hindering the code by headmasters or teachers be forwarded to the council so that action could be takcir.

Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is impossible for anyone- who lias not seen the work to comprehend tho stuturc of tho Sydney Harbour bridge, the stupendous work now being carried out, says a Gisborno resident who has just returned from -Sydney. The approaches to tho main structure are partially completed, and the main archway is in tho initial stages, but from tho extreme height of the steel structure, a good idea is obtainable of the nature of the engineers' task. Sydney - sidors have become accustomed to the spectacle presented by the huge beginnings of the bridge, but visitors from all over tho world finding their way.to tho New South Wales capital show extreme intorest in tho work ami a desire to inspect it at closer quarters. In consequence of tho rush of visitors, the contractors have prohibited tho issue of cards to any but those possessing engineering credentials. "Strewn Along the Seashore." Strewn along the beach at Port Y/aikato, in tho vicinity of the wharf, this week have been goods of many descriptions (says the "Now Zealand Herald")- Bags of chaff and flour sodden with water, tinned goods, and miscellaneous goods littered high-water mark. They were there as the result of the swamping of one of the Eoose shipping Company's cargo barges. On Sunday night this barge, loaded with about 100 tons of cargo from tho steamer Progress, was made fast between tho steamer and tho wharf. Tho night was stormy, and although at, 11 p.m. everything appeared to bo in order m tho morning tho barge wa* found nearly .submerged. Tho heavy cargo liad gone to the bottom, while other cargo had been carired by wind and title to tho shore. A certain amount, of salvage- was possible, but the. loss was considerable. The cargo had been brought from southern ports.

Are Companies Liable? During the past lire year there were 39 cable iircs similar to that which occurred in Queen street, Auckland <>„ Wednesday evening (says (Ue <<New ■Zeuinnd Herald"). Tlio'damage in some eases has been negligible, but in others it has been very considerable. Owners of premises damaged as the result of an explosion of the kind have 110 legal claim on insurance companies Insurance- companies, under an ordinary cover, make provision only for an explosion which can be attributed to coal gas. Nor have owners of premises any claim against tho Auckland Eiretrie Power Board, unless it can be [proved that the installation was a faulty one. There are, of course, cases o± insurance companies which ■ lake ex gratia, payments. The cable which caused tho trouble on Wednesday was opened four months ago, and was then in excellent condition. Yesterday undamaged cable alongside tho burnt socluui was examined, and was found to be m good order. Tho policy of the Power Board is to replaco faulty lengths of cable with armoured cable Power Board officials stated that practically all the trouble experienced wis centred m tho earlier mains laid by the city electricity department The main winch caused the trouble was -i bitumen-lined one, but these are gradually being eliminated by tho board. They are being replaced by mains of the insulated armoured type, laid direct in tho ground.

Bananas from Samoa. Tho Maui Pouiare, which arrived at Lyttelton yesterday, brought 8500 cases of bananas, which are in excellent condition. "Shoddy" Furniture. Reference was recently made in Auckland to a statement "that a Chesterfield suite, had been discovered stuffed^ with old and dilapidated clothing. After holding a special meeting the Auckland Furniture Trades' Association issued a statement pointing out that no member of the association had anything to do with the manufacture of the suite, which was probably made at some factory conducted by the owner himself. The association points out that a certain standard of material is required to bo used, and in tho instance referred to has asked the Health Department to investigate.