NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Burden Lightened. \'" > V 1' You . will, all .be- glad.' to see that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has reduced 4ts estimates," said Councillor D.,-Ri ;Hoggard, chairman',of the Hutt County Council," at,, the -monthly meeting last; evening. : It- frill involve. a reduction in the: charge' upon. ratepayers', who. can ill-afford; to pay .the rate'as, it is. .One can, see1 that the :Hospital Board .will ;:have its .difficulties during the year;';but:,sq -willI; "eyeryotie, and the financial' position of the'; Dominion warrants drastic economy on every side.'.'/ The''amount .to be paid by Hutt, County, is £3301 15s6d, as compared with' '£4050 Bs':for last year. ,'' Incorporated : !" . , ;", ;■ V ■ : .■'. "I am beginning to':thinkthat, under the. shelter of a certificate of incorporation of a. private company .dishonesty frequently flourishes; Severalinstances have come .under my, notice''lately,'.' said Mr. Justice':Herdman,dn/.the A;uck-. land Supreme, Court on .when "sentencing, a ■on a series of charges of obtaining ; money; by false, pretences, 5 the ■; '''New' Zealand Herald." ,v . His Honour said 'that in these company, cases: personal responsibility, was reduced to a minimum, and. the path of the- swindler "was made, easy. '■■ . \ ■-. ■" •" ■' : ■', '[ ;■; '' . Horses ahd Hard Times. ; . j /' [ lt is 'distressing to; : ,see. ,so" many cases of : working, in,: harness old and decrepit horses,'' said '.' the Rev. H. Northcote, at ia meeting of the Canterbury Society for:: the Prevention ' of Cruelty, to Animals, when, the society's inspector, reported that in,five of these cases the horses had had to be destroyed. The inspector explained that at this time of the year'horses were in generally poor condition. Many of the offences occurred among hawkers of. apples and. potatoes, which work had been taken up by a number of the unemployed.'. "We have ,to allow a little latitude where thepeople concerned are in'financial,straits,'' stated ;the chairman,- Mr. J.O.Jameson. .'- j Alpine, Sports Club. , v ' :j .-""" : : ' ' A, motion moved 'by Mr. S. M.t Griffin that the subscription to the Auckland Alpine Sports Club .be reduced in view of the fact that it is highen than that of any similar club in New. Zealand .was1 defeated by a substantial .majority .at the second.annual meeting^of the club, held on Thursday :eS rening,! reports. the: "New Zealand-.Herald," .A general expansionof the, activities, of the club was mentioned in '■■;the report, showed a, satisfactory, financial position, there being;/ a credit' .'balance of £87. A : donation, of £10 10s': had been made to. the earthquake; fund/ and one of a similar ■ arnou'nt to. ■■■ the '.Tasman Memorial Hut. There ha'dibeei. a 'steady increase. in membership, the present figuresibemg.lsl ordina!ry:members, and 14, country members. ■ /Two extended tours. to To'ngarirb- National Park; and one to Eaglan had been well supported, and1 week-end camping,-trips,.had proved popular.. ;■: •■' .' .■..-. ' '~.'■ Rdtorua lake Froiit. ;:.,.:/. '-.;■. The question of reclaiming the lake front was brought lip as an urgent matter at the meeting of; the Sotorua Borough Council held oil Wednesday evening, for ;the installation of the Mayor, Mr.: ,T., Jaeksonj; who said per-mission-was being sought to reclaim portion.' of .the lake bed ■ under ' the Botorua Borough Reclamation Empowering. Bill, states a local correspondent. The proposal was. to reclaim, an area of about' 11 acres. There, was danger to motorists driving- along the main road;'when passing ' Qhinemutu, caused by floods- of steam arising from the overflow of the Lobster Pool obscuring the road. Members of the council said the danger was great, as drivers of. cars.with powerful .headlights could not see sis feet ahead. The matter was referred to the "Works Committee. ..■■•' ■ . I ■■'"■■ Wild Pigs and Goats. '■■■•'., Means of destroying wild pigs and goats, which have been responsible for: depredations in the Moehau district, at the end of Coromandel Peninsula, are to be considered ,by the 'Auckland Acclimatisation Society, states the "New Zealand Herald." - At a meeting on Thursday/evening, the council of the society.received from Mr. Gilbert Arehey, director of the. War .Memorial Museum, a report by Miss L. Cranwell^ of the museum, staff, concerning the ravages, of the animals.- Damage was being done, not 7only'to crops, but also to .'native-: fauna, and' flora. Kiwis and' wekas were'now practically non-exist-ent in .the district, and the; settlers at Port Charles were experiencing considerable trouble. . The native bush was being" menaced because , the animals were denuding- the. forest, floor. Mr. H. C. Savage said there were sufficient evidences of- Miss Cranwell's . contentions, and the "settlers in the' district' were prepared to form a gun,club to carry on an organised campaign against pigs and. goats.- ■',It seemed, that the society should show a.nxiety concerning the safety of native; birds and plants.- A motion to authorise the furtherance by. the society of the formation of a gun club at Moehau and the offering of prizes for. the largest numbors of goats and pigs, shot was brought, forward by. Dr. H. Chatfield, who said there was no ; doubt that action was needed. The meeting, referred the question of formulating a campaign to the rangers' committee of the society, and decided to allow an'*expenditure, of not more than £10 on ammunition, for the members of the proposed club.