Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 244, 12 October 1917, Page 4

The Auckland City Council wrote to the Waitemata Comity Council, at its meeting to-day, declining to contribute towards the cost of re-erecting the Brooklyn bridge in the Titirangi riding, denying that its destruction was due to the aebris from the Nihotupu reservoir works piling up against the bridge during the Mood. The City Council also dei lined an alternative proposal that it should vote a stun of money towards the construction of tbe road between the bridge and Cornwallis Park, which is its property. The Council decided to reply stating that the Council's explanation was contrary to facts. The work of Dr. Truliy King and the I'liinkel Nurse Society was reviewed briefly by Dr. P. M. lieattie at a public meeting held in the Town Hall yesterday. He said the lily ~f Auckland alone, by Dr. King and tiie Society, was being saved efiOOO a year. This he arrived at hy putting a value of i'.'lOO on the life of each of 20 infants the Society was saving. In reality there can be no monetary measure of such service- as this, as the value of the life of a citizen to any community is incalculable. During the week from Novemher 2."i to December 1 there will be a. " Baby Week " appeal for funds to allow the Society to carry on its work. On the 12th of October, ISO;?, the ship Ganges arrived in the Waitemata harbour with a large number of settlers for Auckland district, many of whom were afterwards located at Awhitu, while others belonged to the Port Albert Nonconformist settlers There are still left a number of those who arrived by the Ganges, but naturally the adults who came in that, ship are now not numerous. The descendants of the Ganges' passengers are, however, to be found scattered well over the Auckland district, and not a few of the grandsons are now doing their duty at the front. For some years past Germany monopolised the buying, cutting, and retailing of the gems produced in Queensland. Since the war the gems have been going to Groat Britain and France, and efforts are being made to open up a market in tbe I'nited States. There has been quite a revival of the sapphire mining on the Amakic field, as there is I now a ready sale. .

A communication has been received by the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson) from the Hon. A. M. Myers, in reference to the agreement recently made between the City Council, the Oii£-tree Hill Road Board, and the Mnnukap Water Supply Board, for the dissolution of the lastnamed body and the taking over of its assets and liabilities by the two former bodies. The communication state* that the Hon. G. W. Russell has approved of a validating clause being inserted in the Washing-up Bill. Tbe agreement, therefore, is likely to be validated this session, in which ease the new arrangement will come into force on November 30 next. The three school libraries installed by tho City Council at the Parnell. Napier Street, and Grey Lynn Schools are being extensively used hy the pupils, and altogether are proving very successful. There are about 300 volumes in each.of. these schools, a number of which have already had to be replaced, not because of misuse, but because of legitimate -wear, which shows to what extent the books are appreciated hy the children. A fourth library is at present being installed at Newton East, and it is the intention of the City Council .to extend the work as funds become available. Reporting to the 'Waitemata County Council to-day the engineer (Mr. G. A. Jackson) said that under instructions from the chairman be appeared before the Military Appeal Board on behalf ot Allen Shanks, of Ivaukupakapa. The appeal was adjourned sine die. There was no question about the fact that this man's services were essential at the present lime, still he was of the opinion that the Council should not appeal for anyone,- and he recommended that a resolution be passed forbidding any appeals in future on behalf of the Council. The recommendation was adopted. A letter from the Dominion secretary of the Fanners' Union, suggesting that the union should urge the reinstatement of tin; Requisitions Committee, or demand that the producers should haven voice in the matter, was read at the meeting of the Auckland Provincial Executive v!" the Farmers' Union yesterday. Mr. A. A. Ross urged that action ho Liken, as there was a danger of the whole business getting into the hands of officials who did not. possess expert knowledge, and producers' interests would stiller. lie moved that should the Requisitions Committee be not reinstated there should be iv connection with the Imperial' Supplies Department an advisory committee, consisting of men representative of the producers. with full expert knowledge of the work of the department. The motion was inrried. lhe chairman and engineer reported at todays meeting of the Waitemata County Council that they hud waited upon the Mayor of Auckland with reference to the alleged threats against motor car owner-, registering with the City Council. Tiie Mayor assured them that there was nothing in the allegation.-, and instanced cases where the County Council had submitted the name- of people who had been threatened, and who repudiated everything. The chairman said he was not quite satisfied, however, and it was derided to advertise that the County Council was legally entitled to register cars: the fee to be the same as that charged by the City Council. 'lln- Auckland provincial executive of the Partners' Union yesterday dealt with a letter from the llnwkc's Bay Provincial I'nion. which suppested that protests should be made against the preference alleged to be shown to Wellington in re-peet to shipping space, and that the I lovornnii.it bo urged to appoint three men on the Overseas Board who were lint directly connected with shipping. Major Lusk said that statistics went to show that Wellington received preference in shipping sintce. The Overseas Board was obviously not properly constituted to gi\e consideration to fanners' interests. There were also grounds for suspecting that shipping was mure or less controlled l,y the Meat Trust. Mr Boss said it had previously been agreed that space should be allocated on the quantity of stock in each district, but when in Wellington lie was impressed with the idea that something not right was going on both as regards the companies supposed to be under the control of the Me.it Trust and also to the port of Wellington. He also acreed with Major Lusk's contention thnt the Board was nut constituted to give consideration to farmers' interests. It was decided to write for further information with a view to taking definite action. A peculiar accident ls reported from Pirongiu, which emphasises the great need of care by those who are handling supplies nf benzine. On Friday Mr. T. Dent went into his shed to attend to his motor car, including the iilling of the. cistern with benzine. Nearly four feet away from the cistern was a lighted lamp, fully and it might reasonably have been supposed there was little, if any, risk. The unexpected happened, and tiie fumes of the benzine reached the flume of the lamp and there a slight explosion, followed by an outbreak of fire. A child was iv the shed at the time, and it was with some difficulty that Mr. Dent succeeded in removing her to a place nf safety, and he received very painful burns about the hands and arms. 'i\ lien the fire was extinguished, it was found that the car had only suffered minor damage, but the mishap, whilst fortunately attended with no more serious' consequences, gives a still further illus t t rat ion of the need to exercise great cure in the handling of benzine. The Norfolk Island notes in the "Southern Cross Log," referring tn the Bishop nf Melanesia's visit there, says: "The Bishop remarked upon tho many occasions—sometimes two in a year—on which our ve-sel lias encountered shipwrecked crews, and been able to give help to them. As he truly said, it makes] one realise bow many men and boats must in the wide Pacific thus disappear and he heard of no more. lie gratefully recorded lhe wonderful kindness shown to our missionaries in Katra hy Mr. Kilmer, the representative there of whati> known as the "Church of Christ." His! generosity and eagerness tn help 'n every way gives us cause for sincere thankfulness, not only for the value ofj his assistance, but even more for the proof of Christian love making impos-| sible all thought of rivalry or opprsi- j tion." A poll of the ratepayers of the Prank- ! ton special rating district, re the raising of a £2,000 loan for the purpose of expanding the present electrical system, resulted in the proposal being endorsed, the polling being twenty-one for and none against. The Dairy Produce Committee fixed the wholesale prices of butter and eggs for the week ending October IS as fofiows:—Farmers' butter, first grade. 1/ per lb: fresh eggs, lid dozen. The retail price of eggs i_ 1/3 per dozen. j

i A decision to organise the North was i agreed upon by the Auckland Provincial 3 Executive of the Farmers' Union yesteri day. The union's organiser, Mr. Tancred 1 Cooper, is at present engaged in the King ,- Country, where he has opened about - fifteen new- branches. He had advised , the Standing Committee of the executive . that his work in the King Country would ■ probably be completed about the middle : of next month, and the committee reconi- , mended that he should then pay his attentions to the North. When the mat- '' ter was discussed yesterday Major Lusk ~ j expressed the view that the work of, j organising the .North would probably ex- | tend to about six months. A plea was 'put forward on behalf of the Moi'rinsville ■district, but the recommendation was .'adopted. ' The ways of the pakeha are evidently ' I still strange to some of the old Maori residents of the district, judging by the ' following story, the accuracy of which . has been vouched for: —Coming into i Gisborne recently an old patriarch drew . a somewhat substantial cheque as the i result of his interest in a certain native land transaction. Depositing il 1000 in • the bank he set off on a new career, i seeking to enjoy to the full the benefits -of civilisation. His first cheque on his . account was one for £500 for a motor car. Cheques on his account followed for sums of £50, £30, and various " fivers." Eventually, having "over-run the constable," one of his cheque" was returned with the endorsement "N.S.F." Proceeding to obtain the advice of a gentleman connected with native matters, he bitterly complained that he was being " had." The old man indignantly scorned the explanation that his funds were exhausted, insisting that he was being beaten. The cheque book w.s produced, and a tally taken to demonstrate the state of his account, but figures or no figures the Maori was obdurate. Pointing to the unused cheque forms the old man declared he had twelve or fourteen more cheques left, and while they . remained he failed to see why they could not, be used. It was only after a lengthy '. and somewhat heated argument the ' veteran was convinced on the point. , Referring to the paragraph which , appeared in our "Returned Soldiers' I Column" relating to the no-confidence . yon- in the A.R.S.A. Committee, Mr. P. f Aiigustti- Hillary writes: "Sir,—May I t through tour columns state the facts in _ connection with the above, about which a paragraph appeared in your issue of ; Wednesday. A special general meeting j of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association was called for the purpose of considering three matters—alteration of 1 rules, the petition calling the meeting. muiul the election of two members to I vacancies on the committee Ito be taken . ill thin order). The first business being • dealt with, the petition was considered iin three clauses. After the first clause had been dealt with, a vote of no-confi-dence in tho committee was moved, and was defeated by a large majority. The second clause of the petition was dealt with, and the meeting was adjourned for one week. At the adjourned meeting, with a greatly reduced attendance, the third clause of the petition was considered and disposed of. Then the next, and last, business of the meeting was taken, effectually closing the matter of and contained in the petition. After the ballot for the two new committeemen, and whilst waiting to hear the result, the meeting was surprised to have the 110----con.'idence motion moved again. The chairman ruled it out of order. A little later the chairman informed the mover that he would accept the "no-confidence in the committee" motion on the grounds ! oi considering the business of the peti- : tion as a whole. This led to the motion being put and carried. Trusting that the i forejoinjr statement .id! explain the posi- • tion ; and leaving the legality or otherwise of the proceedings to the judgment ■ of your readers."' The Auckland Provincial Executive of ' the Farmers' Union yesterday favourably considered an appeal from Mr. 11. 11. - Evans, of Alderley Koad. Mount Eden, ou behalf of the effort being made to raise funds to purchase two or more phonographs for the use and entertainment of patients in the General Hospital. Mr. Evans referred to a report on the subject' Which appeared in the '-Star." and suggested that the union as a representative body might assist on behalf of the fa lining community. Further correspondence in respect thereto from Dr. C. Magtiire, medical superintendent at the hospital, stated that Mr. Evans was anxious to get a phonograph for each block of buildings. The executive unanimously decided to present a phonograph, I together with record-. | At a meeting ot the Waikato R-gby i Union the surplus funds on the season's operations were stated to be C2ti .">'. As it had been agreed at the commencement of the season to devote the profits to patriotic purposes, it was agreed to distribute the amount as follows: Returned Soldiers' Club. £10 10/ : Red Cross Fund. £4 47: Women's Patriotic League CO 3/: St. John Ambulance Association, C 3 •'!/: Soldiers' Parcel Fund. XI 2/; Wellington Rugby Union, £3 3. Crayfish (writes our Wanganui correspondent) have been very plentiful alontr the West Coast, and lately some great hauls have been recorded. At Opunake, on Saturday last, a party fishing from a boat in the Opunake Bay, lifted 340 in about three hours. There is no difficulty in disposing of the fish, and along the coast between Xew Plymouth and \YanSianui big sales are recorded at satisfactory prices. In Wanganui Auckland smoked fish is bringing 1/ per lb. Recently a deputation waited on the Waitemata County Council in regard to |'lea ring the Kaipara River of sunken ftimber, etc.. to minimise flooding, and (the Council decided to ask the Minister of Public Works lor a subsidy for this work. A letter was received from the Minister at to-day's meeting of the Council notifying that he was obtaining a report on ihe matter. An interesting lecture, "Paris to Brussels," illustrated by magic lantern views, was given in the Northcote Parish Hall last night by Mr F. E. Powell, C.E., in 'aid of the wool fund of the Women's Patriotic League. There was a good attendance, nnd the lecture was greatly appreciated. The Northcote district roll of honour I will be unveiled in the Northcote Borough I Chambers at 7 p.m. on Saturday, 20th inst., by Mrs M. Nicholson, who heads the list for the greatest number of sons j enlisting from one family in the district. The Commissioner of Taxes draws at- ! tention by an advertisement in this issue to the necessity of lodging claims i for the additional exemption and deduc- | tion for income-tax purposes provided ; for by the Finance Act, 1917. Claimforms may be obtained at any postal money-order oflice, or will be posted to - taxpayers on receipt of a request accom- j panied by a stamped addressed enve- ! lope. ! The Minister of Internal Affairs has I' advised the Waitemata County Council;that the Governor-General is not pre- i • pared to constitute the proposed Waikumetc Town District, as the report of the commission set up to investigate the | I matter was unfavourable. ;,