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Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 222, 18 September 1919, Page 4

The Weather Bureau forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day is as follows: "The indications are for southerly winds, strong to gale, with westerly tendency. The weather will probably prove squally and changeable, with scattered showers. The barometer has a rising tendency. Tides good. Sea rough off shore."

The Prime Minister has intimated that a request of the One Tree Hill Road Board to amend the Rating Act so that school properties would help to swell the income of that body would have earnest consideration. "That is about as satisfactory as we can expect," said the chairman, with a smile. The smile ran right round the table, and all the Board agreed. They had had previous experience of diplomatic Ministerial communications.

In referring to some interesting old memories that are associated with the National Bank block at the corner of Queen and Wyndham Streets, it was mentioned last week that the place was about to be dismantled. The owners say that they have no intention of pulling down the building, and they also correct a report that the property has been sold.

The war record of old memnera of the Boys' Club connected with St. Barnabas' Church is a worthy one, no less than 25 having served their King and country in the great struggle. These young men were welcomed home last night by present members of the club and the Girl-?' Guild at a pleasant social gathering. Canon E. J. McFarland extolled the young men for the fine record they had established.

The vexed question of gaslight came before the One Tree Hill Boad Board again last night, when Mr. H. Dobbie, the chairman, suggested whether it would be practicable to cut out street lamps at a certain season of the lunar month. Reference was made to the recent mectinjr at Mount Eden, when the quality of the gas supplied by the company was criticised, and eventually the Board determined to hold the discussion over pending the result of the deputation to the company and the analysis of a sample of the illuminant supplied.

The exciting sport of pig-hunting may still be indulged in within easy distances of the centres of civilisation in New Zealand (says the "Wyndham Herald"). Mr. Alex. Rankin, who is employed on ■Wyndham station, in odd times within the past eighteen months killed no fewer than 500 pigs by shooting or knifing them. Two other men, from Owaka, were given a contract to Kill 300 at 2/6 per snout, and in a month devoted to the work, fulfilled their contract. It is necessary to keep down the natural increase of pigs, or sheep-farming would be rendered unprofitable in the localities which pigs frequent. The pigs emerge from their cover,-generally at night, and raid the flocks, particularly in the lambing season, thus taking a heavy toll.

The Mount Roskill Road Board decided at its meeting on Tuesday to take steps for the insertion of a clause in the "Washing-up" Bill to amend the law relating to the taking of a poll and loan proposals in the road hoard districts. At present a three-fifths majority is required to carry a loan proposal in a road board district, while the same issue is decided •by a bare majority in cities and boroughs. It is the desire of Mount Roskill Bond Board that all polls in a road board district shall be decided by a bare majority. The Board further decided to ask the Government to insert a clause in the "Washing-up" Bill to invest a property of about four acres, known as Hillsborough Square, in the Mount Roskill Road Board. This property is at present under the control of the Public Trustee, who has consented to the Board's proposal.

As a ecquel to the prosecution of a local company for having imported poison which was insufficiently packed so as to .prevent the danger of the poison contaminating other cargo, the captain of the ship (s.s. Karori) in which the poison was conveyed was charged with breaches of the Poisons Act, in that he had failed to notify the Customs that he had poison aboard the ship, and with having discharged the poison before its position in the cargo had been inspected by a Customs officer. It was stated that the poison in question (arsenic) had in fact been stowed in a safe place, away from other cargo. For defendant it was claimed that .he had never before brought a general cargo to -New Zealand, and was consequently unaware of the restrictions relating to poisons. Beyond that, the ship did not carry a purser, who might have advised him of the regulations. His Worship remarked that it was a necessary thing that the regulations on thei carriage of poisons should be closely observed; defendant would be £ned £5 and costs.

The popularity of the electric trains and their economy in working has been established beyond doubt in Victoria. The St. Kilda line was electrically operated for the first time under tne full electric time-table on Sunday week, which provides for an average speed of 21 miles an hour, as against 16 miles by steam trains, and reduces the through journey from 12 minutes to nine. The St. Kilda trains demonstrated what the whole of the suburban service will eventually be like. In a report to the commissioners on the working it is stated that 100 per cent more people patronised this line than in normal times. Under steam traffic eight engines and six trains were required on the St. Kilda line for heavy traffic, and the train crews numbered 22 men in all. With the electric service five trains will meet all requirements, even in the busiest portions of the day, and they will need only 10 operatives. On the basis of calculation made for the Sandringham■Essendon line the consumption of coal will be reduced by half under the electric system.

In these hard times the One-Tree Hill Road Board snaps disdainful fingers at such circumstances as dimmed gaslights. Its major illuminations last night were half a dozen candles, each one stuck between three nails on a wooden block seven or eight inches square by about three deep. Quite a ceremonious appearance was lent to the Board table by two stately pillars of wax, one on each side of the chairman, and the other lights were scattered down the middle of the table, alternating between the pitchers of water and the tumblers for refreshment to tthroats parched by talking, the pens and inkstands and all the other accessories typical of a municipality meeting place.

A very old resident of Auckland, speaking of the very high prices ruling I for house property at the present time,' related the story of what took place with regard to the same kind of invest] ment ju6t on thirty years ago when' things reached a very low ebb. A friend of his had bought just outside of the city proper six quarter-acre sections of! land, and wishing to make use of them erected six houses, each house having six rooms. Just after the houses were ■finished the slump caused by the maritime strike of 1891 overtook the country, and through the houses being a little way out of town they remained unlet for two years. The owner, finding them lying heavily on his hands, decided to put them up to auction, and they were sold, land and all, for less than £250 each, and at that price he was glad to get rid of them. The houses had been built of the very best timber, and were now even in better order than more recently-built residences, but the point of the story is this, said the old gentleman, "that through the rise that has taken place in house property lately, these very six house have been sold within the last two months, even although they are nearly thirty years old, for sums of not less than £1000 each!"

Through being isolated on Herring Rock, at Sumner, near Christchureh, by the incoming tide, two young girls had an unpleasant experience. The girls had been sitting reading on the rock, and had not noticed that they were being cut off by the tide till they rose to go. Efforts to rescue them were made by a number of lads, who secured a long plank and sought to make a passage across to the rock, but the effort was unsuccessful. In the meantime a very heavy sea had risen and the rock was surrounded by a dangerous wash. It was not considered advisable to attempt to rescue by means of a boat, and the isolated girls were forced to await the falling of the tide, their position being rendered more unpleasant on account of the cold easterly wind to which they were exposed. Eventually they were rescued by Mr. W. J. Sergison, of the Sumner Life Saving Society, the tide having fallen by then, and Mr. Sergison was able to wade out to the rock and carry the girls ashore. They were in an exhausted condition, but after receiving attention from residents were able to proceed to their homes.

A young person who has collected quite an appreciable quantity of pennies from faultify adjusted slot telephones at one time and another confessed to a "Star" reporter to-day that only a day or two ago she had taken three succes-j sive coppers from the .slot 'phone just outside the old Post Office. At the first; ring- the number had been engaged, andi she had two pennies returned into the| tray. She rang again immediately, and received two more. A few minutes later | she returned to the little box, and there | was another penny lying in the tray! waiting for somebody to pick it up. It] would appear that many folk have re-i ceived unearned profits in the shape of; occasional pennies from these machines; at various times, for it is a fact that the i public telephones that are distributed; about the street cornet- often give upi more coppers than the strict letter of the | law provides. j

In some suggestions from tlhe Canterbury Automobile Association for the better control of road traffic is one to make the rule of the footpath the same as tihe rule of the road. Men who have served in Egypt and France would probably suggest that if any change is to be made the rule of the road should be brought into line, with that of the pavement. In botlh the countries mentioned you keep to the right, and most men who 'have had any practice in driving under that rule will agree that it seems much more natural, and is more ihandy than the custom followed in Great Britain and the colonies. Standardisation is in the air, and now that someone is moving to do away with the hoary old anomaly in traffic regulations, it is quite possible that someone will be found to start on the ponderous and confusing system of weights and measures, we labour under. Here again the returned men should be of much help in bringing about a. much needed change, as their experience of the metric system must have impressed them with its undoubted advantages.

The total amount standing to the credit of all open accounts in the Post Office Savings Bank, inclusive of accrued interest, on December 31 last, was £33,418,125. The totil nominal value of the securities standing in the name of the Postmaster-General on account of the Post Office Savings Bank Fund on the same date was £31,900,936, the cost price having been £31,878,951. The securities include a few small parcels of overseas Dominion securities, and some local government securities, but most of the millions are invested in Jfew Zealand Government debentures and stock.

The delegation of the Thames Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company is meeting with enthusiastic audiences in its campaign to increase capital for extending its business, including trading and the erection of warehouses at Whakatane and elsewhere. A meeting at Whakatane last night, and one at Tc Puke on the previous day promised strong support.-—Press Association.

Mr. Aunger, Federal expert on artificial limb-making, states that he has come across an arm made in the bush in Western Australia by a young Anzae for himself. He advises the inventor of the limb to protect his rights by patent. The socket of the limb is of galvanised iron. A bicycle hub has been used for controlling the finger mechanism, and fencing wire and iron nails have been used in its general construction. Mr. Aunger says the limb is light, and in efficiency compares well with the best-known mechanical arms.

Important road works are to be carried out in the Pukekawa and Whangape ridings of the Raglan county now that the ratepayers have approved of the raising of a loan of £21,000. At the poll taken a few days ago 163 valid votes were recorded, and the total number in favour of the loan was 122.

Mr. Justice Cooper will sit in Chambers at the Supreme Court at 10 a.m tomorrow to fix the order of civil cases to be heard next week and later.

Uyttelton Gaol, as a general prison, will be cosed within two months. Some prisoners will be removed to Paparoa Prison Farm and others to Auckland

a»^——■■M—^—_■■■---_■—_ According to an answer to a question put by Mr. McKell to the Premier in the N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, 100,000 pairs of boots are included in the overseas order secured by the Government for New South Wales manufacturers. The manufacturers who have agreed to make the hoots are J. Vickery and Co., E. A. Matthews, Gillespie and Co., and the Australian Boot Company. The pattern is the same as that used by the Australian Expeditionary Forces. The price arranged is 20/9 per -pair, subject to a revision of the rate every three months, based on the ruling prices of leather and wages. The examination of the boots is to be arranged by the Stores Supply Department. No examiners have yet been appointed.

The danger that Is likely to result from the continued use by the Auckland City Council during the summer months of the rubbish tip in Garnet Road, Grey Lynn, more especially in respect to the children attending the Richmond West School, was brought under the notice of a party, including an official of the Health Department, which made an inspection of the tip yesterday at the invitation of the chairman of the Grey Lynn Schools' Committee. Objection is being taken to crude household refuse being deposited on the tip, the smell from which, at times, is said to be extremely offensive, reaching the Richmond West School, only a quarter of a mile away. These facts were verified by the inspection.

Says the Sydney "Morning Herald": The industrial agreement between the clerks and the councils is at length complete. Quite naturally it forms at present the main topic of discussion among all the councils. Councils with a total revenue of less than £1500 per annum are entirely exempt from the agreement. The rate of salary is based entirely upon revenue. The salaries to be paid are as follow: Where the revenue is from £1500 to £3000 the clerk is to receive £275 a year; then to £4000 revenue, £295; to £5000, £315; to £6000, £325; to £7000, £340; to £8000, £350; to £9000, £365; to £10,000, £380; to £12,000, £395; to £14,000, £405; to £16,000, £415; to £18,000, £430; to £20,000, £450; to £24,000, £465; to £28,000, £480; to £32,000, £495; to £36,000, £510; to £40,000, £525; to £44,000, £540; to £48,000, £555; to £52,000, £570; to £66,000, £600. Places with a revenue of under £3000 may pay a less scale if they employ the clerk only part of the time. If a clerk only workfour days or lees each week and has the remainder of the week to himself it is to be considered as a part-time job. The rate of salary then is: From £1500 to £2000, £182 per annum; to £2500, £20S; to £3000, £234.

There is great waste in the use of coastal and oversea shipping, according jto Mr. Albert Spencer, president of the : Auckland Provincial Employers' Association. In his address at the annual meeting yesterday afternoon Mr. Spencer condemned the unnecessary shipping of | locally manufactured goods between Dominion main ports. As an example he cited the shipping of Auckland-made envelopes and stationery to Dunedin, and vice versa. He also mentioned the wasteful course taken by the Government in having its Australian wheat cargoes unloaded in the South, when by shipping supplies direct from Australia to Auckland it could have gaved the coastal shipping space needed to bring Southern wheat to this port. The present system of loading cargo at three or four ports for as many destinations wasted fully one-third of the effective shipping capacity through lose of time. Ship-owners might consider the advantages of concentrating the coastal steamers on servicebetween a single port of loading and a single port of discharge. Two years ago (said Mr. Spencer) he had mentioned the matter of Home vessels wandering round the Dominion picking up a little cargo here and there, instead of filling up at one port. He believed that this evil had been checked to a large extent by the Imperial Government, but the shipping companies would do well to give the matter their serious consideration.

-lembere of the deputation that recently waited on the Auckland Education Board with reference to the overcrowding in the -Ellerslie school (reported in the ''Star" on September 3), point out that the statement that the inspector's report was not favourable applied to the infant school only, and that the application for a probation teacher was for that department, not the main school. The correction is intended to show that the report casts no reflection on the teaching staff, hut on the inefficiency due to overcrowding.

South Africa produces the best tobacco he has ever smoked, thinks an Auckland professional man who has had opportunities of sampling the soothing powers of My Lady Nicotine as she is cultivated and matured in the land of the sjambok and the veldt. This gentleman also speaks very highly of the cigars made and sold over there, thinking they compare more than favourably" with most others. There is many an opportunity too, for an ambitious spirit to make more than a living by tobacco growing in Boerland.

Mr. B. I. Clark told his confreres of the One-tree Hill Road Board last evening that trucks of timber coming- to Auckland were visible at many Main Trunk railway sidings during the past fortnight or so. He thought it was a shame that while necessary municipal supplies were refused all this timber should be carried to go out of the country, as to his own certain knowledge one boat was now loading timber for forei<Tl parts, and he had been told another was also taking a wooden cargo. The remark was made apropos of the refusal of the railway authorities to allow space for transport of certain road metal required in the district, and the Board resolved to protest against what it was inclined to call the "fish and flesh" methods of the Department.

With a view to extensive road improvements in the Otamatea County, it has been decided to take a poll of ratePayers on the proposal to raise £8000 for the purpose of metalling and general improvements to the roads of the Kaia ion rt R _ ding " ° f this am °umt a sum of ±.1200 has been earmarked for metalline and forming the Mangawai-Waipu Coast Koad, £800 for the same work to the Katwaka-Oneriri Road, and £700 for the Kaiwaka-Maungaturoto Road. The period of the proposed loan is for thirtvsix years and a half, and a special rate of one penny in the pound will be levied on all ratable property in the Kaiwaka Riding.

At the Empire Cleaning and Dyeing Works last night the employees made a presentation to Mr. Bernard Goodman, who is leaving for a business and pleasure trip to Australia and America by the Atua.

Tenders for inland mail services close at the Chief Post Office, Auckland, at noon on Monday, the 22nd instant.

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