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Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 4, 6 January 1922, Page 4

Some anxiety is evinced for the safety of Mr. H. S. Rose, an insurance coUeetor, residing at 110. Newton Road. He left his home yesterday morning about 10 o'clock on a cycle, and no tidings have since been heard of him. Mr. Rose is a man of about sft 9in in height, 47 years of age, and was dressed in a dark grey suit and soft felt hat.

Evidently a lively interest was taken •in the result of the world's sculling championship rowed yesterday. The telephones at the - _tar" office were kept busy throughout the afternoon after 3.30 answering the question "Who won the Sculling Championship?" When the reply went back that Hadfield won easily by ten lengths there were varied of delight, in which mingled some notes of frank eurprise. One questioner, when extended tha courtesy and privilege of the rnforma•Oion, adjled "I* that absolutely correct?" and was politely aeked not to ring the "Star" if he had any doubts about the authenticity or reliability of favours given by this office. Many of the communications came from members of the fair sex, who were noticeably exultant with the news that Had-, field had won so decisive!v.

The children of Waiuku took priority over the majority of their parents yesterday afternoon in that they wer« privileged to ride on the first train that ran over the new line from Paerata, to Waiuku. After the Premier had driven the engine into the terminus and the townfolk had assembled to hear their Prime Minister and member discuss topics of the day. it wae announced that 350 of the younger generation eoukl enjoy a run down the line. This was naturally a much more inviting prospect than sitting in the sun listening to the bouquet throwing that is inevitable at auci functions. It was a real novelty to the children, many of whom had never been en a train, and the treat probably impressed them as much as it did their' forbears, who have waited for several decades for the completion of tbatji—g promised line.

It is very early in the New Tear aad yet it was found necessary to hold a meeting of the Relief Committee of the Hospital Board yesterday, to deal with urgent cases that needed attention. There are still many able-bodied men in the city who say they cannot get regular work, and, as is generally the case at this season of the year, there are many wife desertions and many women with young children have been left in a ha: way by their erring husbands. The lawyers' offices are still closed, and the Courts do not deal with so many cases when there is not a lawyer to direct the Farmers are not so keen to take on city dwellers for special work required to be done at this season of the year. There are so many strong, trained men willing to take the jobs that it is harder to get work in the country this season than ever before, was the general statement made by many who seemed really anxious to take on any work offering One carter, who said that for many years he had gone to the country to put in the summer at farm work, so that he could earn good money, found, when he went to look for a job this seaeon that the farmers were helping one another, and doing their own work. He even saw one obi retired farmer over 70 years of age, driving a team of three horses with a load of cheese from tbe factory. The first time he had done such work for 15 years, because he was not able to pay a driver because of the slump.

Regarding the fears expressed in a Thames message on Saturday for the safety of a launch owned by Mr. Campbell, of Paeroa, from which place it departed on December 23 for the Bay of Islands, word has been received at the "Star" office that the vessel has been sheltering from the heavy easterly gale at Little Omaha and all on boaru are quite well. These include Mrs. Campbell and four children, Misses Cross and Neil and Mr. Pennell. It may be mentioned that the gale is responsible' for the holding up of quite a large number of Auckland's holiday craft— launches and yachts—in all parts of the gulf.

Reuben Brehert Swarm, accountant of Christchurch, who <wae arrested at Auckland on a charge of theft, is a married man with two children, .says the "New Zealand Times." He left <nirist-' church on December Bth, and it is believed that he has been to Sydney in the meantime. During his absence, his business has ibeen carried on by (Mr. H. Rhodes, who stated, in an interview, that he was previously anticipating al partnership with Swarm. He has found the affairs of tbe latter in a particularly, 'tangled state, and it is likely that the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy will mwe a considerable share in the final settlement.

"Nogey Parker" contributes to the 'T.Z. Times," in Wellington, a number of "pointers," many of which have general application. Amongst them are the following queries:—(When will penny tram sections be restored? When will newspaper postage come back to a halfpenny? When will a penny stamp suffice for a money receipt? When will the sovereign come into its own? If milk is 4d a quart in Pahnereton North, why is it 4d a pint in Wellington? When will penny postage be restored? How long is the amusement tax to last? When will tram concession tickets again tie accepted on Sundays?

Italy was the last country visited by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault in his European tour la«t year. At Rome he was given a se_ii-piib_<e audience with his Holiness the Pope. When asked by a "Christchnrc- Press" reporter as to the economic condition of Italy, the Dean said he gathered that it was in a bad way. He could exchange £ 1 Tor 90 Hre, and before the war the equivalent value was 25 to onr sovereign. There is a good deal ef unrest on account of insufficient industries and _ie incapacity of the country to give agricultural occupation. There is an eflvx of emigrants, and on the Omar, on which Dean Regnault returned to New Zealand, there was a fairly large number of Italians, mostly booked for Brisbane. "But they did not impress mc as mating plucky settlers like the British or the French people," observed the Dean.

j Why New Zealand, rich in coalfields and haying great possibilities for kydroelectricity, is so expensive in run ding power for factories and other places of ! industry, is a question which pnsjcles Mr. W. McMaeter, a large Canadian manufacturer. "Why is your coal so 4ea; V" h-> asked a C_rißtclrarcli Press reporter. He said that the Dominion (Canada! Coal Company sent coal by boat to Montreal for 1000 miles, and in that eft/ its cost was only 25/ a ton. Thic coal was bituminous, and, while not as good as Westport, was quite suitable for the furnaces. Mr. MoM_ster, speaking with regard to hydro-electric power, said he had not seen anywhere in Europe or America a country with gueh potentialities, and he waa surprised that New Zealand bad net gone further in harnessing its water power, which was now *_nning to waste. The current from the Canadian elertri.i works on the Niagara was carried to tov.ns and farms up to 200 mites away.

An interesting presentation recently made at Tauranga wae carried out by tfhe Mayor, on behalf of the GovernorGeneral, when Mr. J. A. McKenzie, a retiring line foreman of the Post and Telegraph Department, was the recipient of the Imperial Service Medal in recognition of long and meritorious service. In this Ch-der provision is made for the choosing of medalliete who have given lengthy service in a non-clerical capacity. Mr. McKenzie, -who ie the father of Mr. J. H. McKenzie, President of the Post and Telegraph Association, in returning thanks for the honour and for congratulations received from welliknown residents present, eaid he joined the department in Auckland in 187.7, when line construction was very difficult and dangerous work, especially in the Maori dietricte, where they had to carry ttieir swags and equipment under disadvantage's. He wae engaged subsequently on the line from Xew Plymouth to Wattara, and later on that from the West Coaet (Strath Island) to Chrietchurca, via Bealey. The overhauling of the line from Wellington to Opotiki, via Rotorua, necessitated carrying a ladder all the way. as every insulator had tj be examined. The laying of tbe line from Taupo was another big "work, after which he was stationed at Masterton. Being in ill-health, be wae cent to Tanranga to die, and that was 26 years ago: ilx. McKenzie did 42 years service, and served an additional two years during the war period. Stop coughing. Take a bottle of Bon nington's Irish Mow home to-night. Free from harmful narcotics, it win soothe the irritation, break up the cough, and leave the cheat strong and healthy 1/6 and •2/6.—(Ad.) * " Nomads of the North."—Roaring rivers and Hre-girt forests, real men and splendid women, besets of play and beaste of prey. They startle and delight you at the Strand Theatre, week commencing to-night.—(Ad->

What is claimed to be an Australian and New Zcah—id record in sheep-shear-ing is reported to have been established at Mr. Moore's shed, in the Wanganui district, by Mr. W. Higgins, Waitotara, who (says an exchange) put through 372 sheep on December 23 in eight hours 25 minutes. The performance was carried out in ihe presence of a number of spectators. Mr. Higgins, who is * young man, used one machine, and changed his own cutters. There was no picking of the sheep, which were large ewes, and no lambs were included in the mob. The previous record was 361 for a day's work.

When the covers were taken off a consignment of bananas which arrived in Masterton the vther day (says the "Post"), a large rat escaped from one of the cases. The railway hands immediately gave chase and capture- the rodent, which was summarily killed. The bananas came from Fiji, but the rat may possibly have got into the case at Auckland. In any event it shows how rats may scatter the germs of plague all over the country, even far from the seaboard. A buTloek team attached to a aleh/h took fright at a flock of cheep which it encountered on the road at Huia yesterdaj morning, and, in panic upset tbe sleigh, severely injuring the driver, Mr. Robert Gordon M. Smith. He wa* takei. by launch to Onehunga, and reached the hospital early in the evening, when it was found that he had sueUvoeo. severe injuries to hie right hip.

j The latest report of the Horticultural Department, Auckland, ooncerning fireblight is that the disease is still prevalent in districts where local bodies bar* failed to declare hawthorn a nosioue weed. In general respects, however, the blight ie under control. It has not affected well-conducted orchards, but there are reports that some owners ot private fruit gardens could give, with ' advantage, much more attention towards suppressing traces of the blight.

Pastor Ries, of Dannevirke, met with a painful accident on Thursday, ihe result of a practical joke. He had left his horse tied up in front of Dr. Dawson's, and on his return he got into his gig and the horse started off and left the vehicle, which tipped forward, tfrrowing the pastor heavily to the ground, and severely bruising him.

While Wellington has been getting * good deal too much rain during the holiday season, a Wellington gentleman who has just returned from a v_.it to the •South Island informed a "__nes" reporter that the farmers of Canterbury district, where rain has been wanted for the wheat crops, were complaining of tbe lack of rain there.

A bachelor gumdigger who lately applied for relief after spending a long period on the gum—elds, was asked by the chairman of the Relief Committee why he had not saved enough to keep him in his old age without requiring help? "We just existed on the gumfields," was his reply, " it was a way we; had. Nearly all my old mates are dead, but I never knew a bachelor gumdigger j who, when his tnrn came to go West,; had left any money after his funeral; expenses were paid, even if he had that much. There was never any hustle on the gumfielde, and in nay old age, I don't feel like hustling now." __c man was helped and told to look after himself. "I believe I'd hava been better if I'd been married," he aided, as he left the room. " It's hard to say," was the murmured response from a member who had in his mind's eye some of the matrimonial tangles that the committee had previously been trying to straighten out.

Railway building is euch a snail's pace business in New Zealand that it makes time seem longer than It really is. Mr. Massey, speaking yesterday at the Waiuku luncheon celebrating the opening of the 12 mile branch to that township, mentioned that there was present the first general-manager of the Auckland Provincial railways, who had witnessed the opening of the first line out of Auckland—the short stretch that ran to Onehunga. This statement at first struck the hearer as going back into very ancient history, and you thought of this original manager as a sort of centenarian. But one is apt to forget that it wasn't -until the end of 1873 that the Auckland-Onehunga service wae opened. ' Work was begun on the line a good many years before, but they didn't eeem to have any better luck with their railways in those days than we do in our time. The gentleman referred te by Mr. Massey was Mr. William Jones Smith, who still has in his possession a photograph showing the first little train drawn up alongside the cliff under Fort Britomart, the spot being just about the present junction of Beach Road and Ansae Avenue. When Mr. Maasey mentioned Mr. Smith's presence the guests at the lunch insisted »n the veteran railwayman standing up and saying a few words. Mr. Smith waa in the employ of the London and North western Railway Company as a lad, and when he came out to New Zealand be naturally attached himself to the infant railway service of tin? colony. There is a good story told of the first engine of which Auckland boasted. This engine had a wheel base of 10 feet 5 inches— about as big as a modern motor-car and it 8 driving wheels were only three feet in diameter. Apparently tbe engine arrived from England before tbe Parnell tunnel was finished, and it had to be taken out to Newmarket by road. Captain Casey, a well-known Irish steamer skipper of marked characteristics, was the man who undertook the job of getting tbe monster overland. Two items in the bill which was suhmitted to the Provincial Government were a bugler to precede the trolley, and the other was for 120 quarts of beer used in lubricating the throats of the workmen who helped tbe volatile sailer on the trip. Beth items were "tagged" by the Government auditor.

There were 21 bankruptcies in Wellington during the past year, as against nine only for 1930; and, Whereas there was but one ibanknrptey in Wellington during December 1920, there were four in December last.

Don't go away on your holidays without taking a bottle of Naao_ Good for coughs, coldc, sore throats, etc.—(Ad.)

A silk bargain.—See the window «f black and white check and striped taffeta silks, 36in, selling at 9/11 yard, at Ashley'* A.BXT. Stores, Karangahape Road.—(Ad.)