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Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 24 December 1912, Page 4

The Auckland "Star" will not be published on Christmas Day, but will appear as usual on Thursday (Boxing Day). During Saturday's visit by the Devonport Borough Council to Rangitoto, Mr. i'raves, of Tniyas Bros., went to considerable trouble iv showing the visitors over the quarries, demonstrating the nature of the stone which exists there, and on the return journey to Auckland, Councillor J. Allen proposed that the thanks of the Council be accorded Mr. Trayes for the manner in which he had entertained the party, and for the useful information he had givem themi. The toast was warmly honoured. Councillor Allen, who has had fifty years' experience of different descriptions of quarrying stone, told a " Star" reporter that he bad been of opinion 'that much of the stone along the track from the steamer jetty would be quite equal to all requirements, but when Air. Trayes tested it with a hammer, it was at once to be seen that it would prove unsuitable to withstand the heavy 'bus traffic at Devonport, such as on the route from the wharf to Cheltenham Beach, or along the coal route from Duvier's wharf. Mr. Alien said he was very disappointed at these facts, and expressed the opinion that by prospecting on Rangitoto. stone suitahle for the purpose indicated might yet be found. "Tn the Waingaro district, of which I have had a great deal of experience." remarked Mr. Allen, " the stone used is almost similar in nature to that found on Rangitoto. and, whereas, in some parts, it would take from £1.000 o £2,000 to repair the roads, in other places, where there is heavy vehicular traffic, the highways are as good as they were twenty years ago."

A rather unique record in school attendance is held by Walter Ritchie, a Newton. East lad, who was admitted at the beginning of 11505 and left at the close of this year with a standard VI. cprti-ficate of proficiency. During the ■whole of that period he *«r__a never ab■eat tad Bgrgg-JLutg.

An amended parcel post regulation, I gazetted last week, is as follows:—Parcels for delivery in New Zealand or in the United States of America may be registered on the same conditions as letters. Parcels directed to places beyond j New Zealand except the United States' lof America, cannot be accepted for registration, but the sender may obtain a certificate of posting on payment of a fee of 3d. Such certificate will include as many parcels as the sender chooses jto enter on a list to be handed in (in duplicate) with the parcels. For an additional fee of 2id for each parcel an acknowledgment of receipt by the addressee will be obtained in any of the Australian States and forwarded by post to the sender. For an additional fee of Id a receipt for parcels delivered within New Zealand may be obtained from the addressee on delivery and forwarded to the sender. Neither a certificate of posting nor registration involves any liability on the part of the department beyond that named in the clauses headed "His Majesty's Liability.'' In tlie event of any damage or loss occurring during transit, His Majesty may, with his own consent, pay compensation to the owner, but not exceeding in any case a greater sum than two pounds sterling in respect of any parcel. No claim for compensation for an inland parcel shall be entertained unless a receipt for the parcel has been pa-id for.

A particularly flagrant case of petty theft from a yacht''Was perpetrated at Devonport on Saturday, the culprits, a nnm'ber of boys, being fortunately caught in the act. Mr. Gilbert Sandfurd. owner of the launch Tempest, was carrying hampers down to the launch in preparation for a week-end cruise, and having left one on the beach, was returning with a second, when he found cix boys going through tbe first one. They took to their heels, but after a stern chase were caught, taken to the police station, and made to disgorge. Not only is this kind of theft common, but a number of bathers report having lost money and valuables from their .■!rit'i'\s. It is evident, therefore, that smr.p r-:irpr. should be taken to put a stop l i lbe.se thieving practices, which an- becoming al-tr-getlier 100 prevalent.

The fallowing letter appears in the Cliristchurr.. " Press":—"To the Editor. sir. My hti .-band was a Waihi miner for sixteen year.-. We had made a very comfortable home there, and he was receiving (roo'l wages. We have a small family. "in<l the children were well educated and everything was going on very satisfactory until *ueh time as Semple and Parry started with their advice to the miner© to strike. What is the result? We are all more or less ruined hy listening to the harangues of these men. My husband, being a men__be_* of tihe union, was obliged to strike, but I am glad to say he took no part in "tdanjring" the •willing workers or opposing the constabulary in carrying out their arduous duties. 1 am thoroughly nehamed to own, but it is the truth, that smne of the women there were the greatest offenders, and their language was of the very lowest and foulest that I have ever heard, and I was bred and •brought ttp in a large mining district in the Old Country. Here we are stranded in Christchurch. My husband has got seme work to do, but not the good wages he earned in Waihi, and I have got some needlework and washing to do to keep our family going, but we have loft our home, furniture and garden, which took us sixteen years to make, all through the meddlesome interference of Semple, Parry and ohhe.ns.— Yours, etc., A Miner's Wife of Waihi."

Tt seemed likely that .the departure of the cable" steamer Iris, for Norfolk Island, would be delayed yesterday afternoon owing to same trouble with the firemen. The usual complement is 20 men, and when they were being signed on on Saturday, the majority of them demanded £1 a day wagee. As the union rates are £10 per month for firemen, and C 8 for trimmers, this was regarded as altogether too much, Captain Sliarpe declining to pay the extra rates. Eventually sufficient firemen were found willing to work at the ordinary rates, and the vessel made her departure practically on time. A good deal of information has been gathered recently by the promoters of the Whau Canal scheme as to the country through which it is proposed to build the canal, and the nature of the tides that will have to he contended with. The chief feature of the scheme is, of course, the shortening of the distances of the steamer routes between Auckland and other ports. The distance between Auckland and Sydney by the present route round North Cape is 1,251 nautical miles, whereas the distance through the proposed canal would be 1,208 miles. Between Auckland and Wellington the distance by the East Cape, allowing for calls at Gisborne and Napier, is 390 miles, as against 314 miles through the Whau canal. Worked out in hours this would mean a saving in time between Auckland and {Sydney of four hours, and a <li-Terence of 21 hours between Auckland and Wellington. The saving of time in the iirst case, although relatively small as compared with the cutting down of the time between Wellington and Auckland, is, nevertheless, of great importance, in view of the fact that, in addition to carrying a large number of passengers, the steamers are used as a means of conveyance for the English and Australian mails. In regard to the Auckland-Wellington journey, it is pointed out that the saving of time would be of great value to the colliers trading between the West Coast of the South Island and Auckland. It is understood that- a bill will probably be introduced into Parliament during the next session asking that the Auckland Harbour Board be empowered to undertake the scheme.

I'pon being questioned about a para graph in a Christchurch paper in reference to the granting of two wholesale licenses by the Waimarino Licensing Committee quite recently, the AttorneyGeneral said that the matter had been dealt with by his office, and that he had given instructions to have the legality of the action of the licensing Committee tested at once. The necessary information is being collected, and as "soon as it comes to hand proceedings will be started. As the courts have closed for the vacation the matter cannot come before a judge until the holidays are over. A fine series of panoramic views has been secured by the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board ("Mr. J. H. I Gunaon). mainly with the idea of show-j ing the contour of the harbour in the, business part of Auckland for purposes of comparison and reference later on when the scheme of harbour improvement works has been completed. Without doubt the whole aspect will be altered during the next few years as a result of the large areas being reclaimed and of the numerous buildings expected to be built thereon. The views arc hung in the chairman's room at the Harbour Board offices, and they are indeed interesting. Even more interesting will they beepmo with the flight of years and attendant j