Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1922, Page 6

Kcrulatiius have !"vn gazetted with regard to private mail-hags, which prescribe that "not more than one family may u-e tbe same private mail-bag. but correspondence addressed to and sent by guests of t'»ie hirer of" a private mail-bag, his employees, and the families of the employee' may be enclosed therein. The hirer shall be responsible for the postage of all unpaid letters enclosed in his hag, and for returning receipts for all those which may be registered."

A deputation from the Xew Zealand Fruitgrowers' Association wailed upon the Minister or' Railways, the lion. D. 11. liuthrie. at Wellington, yesterday, and urged the need for hotter ventilation of vans for the carriage of fruit by rail. 11l reply the Minister stated that the Railway Department was taking measures to alter the existing fruit vans so as to give better ventilation.— Press Association. Tlie Auckland University College Students' Association held its annual graduation hall in honour of tlie graduate.- of tlie year, in the Scots' Hall last. night. The ball was most successful, and opened with the playing of the college hymn, "Gaudenmns." During the evening tlie names of the graduates of tlie year were announced by Mr. \V. A. Leonard, president of the Students' Association. The ball was attended 'by a large number of graduates and their friend*. An amending railway regulation just' issued is as follows:—"Xo person, unless duly authorised or licensed thereto by the General Manager or other railway ollicer appointed in that behalf by tlie General Manager, shall come in or upon any carriage, vehicle, or premises of the railway, for the purpose of rehioving any passenger's luggage, unless .ii'ch person shall have been engaged by such passenger for such purpose; and no person, unless duly licensed or authorised lis aforesaid, shall come in or upon any carriage, vehicle, or .premises of the railway for tbe purpose of touting or solicitin:. '".'si. io or employir-'ii* of any description: an.l no person, while in or upon anj carriage, vehicle, or premises of tbe railway shall, unless duly authorised as aforesaid, tout or solicit custom or employment of any description."

Some sc\ enteen years or so ago(states the Stratford "Evening Post") direct access was given to Makahu -by piercing a hill of papa formation and constructing a timber-lined tunnel. Such a work could never really be considered a permanent one. and eventually when the roof fell in and the tunnel partially collapsed it was not a matter of real surprise. However, all is now well again, I'ot the Public Works Department has recently completed the relining of the tunnel with concrete in a very solid fashion. The tunnel is nine and a-half chains long, and the roof is supported on closely-placed piers let into the papa sides. The expense of the work was borne in proportion agreed upon by the Whangamomona County Council and the Gove-nnfent. Tlie cost was necessarily high by comparison with the cost of such work a few years ago owing to the increased price of cement, but the work was a -really urgent one, and had to 'be carried out.

"This is not a large company, but 'tis one that serves a very useful purpose," said the Hon. E. W. Alison, chairman of directors of the Clevedon Steam Navigation Company, when moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of the company yesterday afternoon. He pointed out that the service assisted a large number of primary producers, and these people should be given encouragement. Ou the directorate they had farmers and practical men who had all joined in an endeavour to make the company a success. The compan- did not give a very large return on the capital invested, but it served the farming community exceedingly well.

The second annual meeting of the South African Veterans' Association was held last night in the hall of the Society of Arts. Between 70 and 80 were present, Major Fraser Vicing in the chair. The evening was cnjoyablv spent in a social manner. The toasts of "The King," Kindred Associations," "Absent Comrades," and "The Press" were honoured. This association, which is entirely self-supporting, has. during the last month or two. heen able to render i assistance to South African Veterans j who were in distressed circumstances.

If you multiply 100 by Ml.'! you will get the number of people carried to Rotorua by the Railway Department each year. This information was furnished to the Rotorua-Taupo Railway Commission this morning by Mr. A. K. Harris, district traffic manager of railways. He was explaining that the greater part of the revenue on the Rotorua line came from passenger traffic and not from goods traffic, and gave the average daily number of people carried into Rotorua by the trains as •being 100. When the caretaker nf the Frinces-i Theatre arrived at 5 o'clock this morning to commence his duties he discovered a considerable volume of water coming from under the door of the Kensington Tea Booms, on the first floor above the theatre. He was unable to locate the source from whence the flood came, so he forced his way in, and found that an overflow in the lavatory was the cause. The service had been blocked, and presumably durinz the night the flush valve had automatically continued to flow. Fully four or five inches of water covered the floor of the tea rooms, and a considerable quantity oozed through the cracks in the concrete floor. Damage to the extent oi" about £50 was done to the stock of Mr. Woollnms, elemist, and a similar amount of damage to the stock of Mrs. Eva Palmer, blouse specialist, both these establishments beinjr diretly underneath the Kensington. The business of the tearooms will be carried on as usual. At a meeting of the trustees of the Blind Institute, a resolution with reference to tbe retirement of the late secretary, Mr. 11. l_es!ie Hunt, was carried as follows:—"That on the retirement of Mr. Leslie Hunt from the position of secretary, which he has held for the past twenty-nine years, the trustees desire to put on record their keen appreciation of the fjood work he has done for the blind people of New Zealand during those many years. They desire to express their deep regret that ill health has compelled him to relinquish his position, and hope that with relief from the cares of oflice lie may be restored to a fuller measure of health and strength, and so be able still to benefi. the institute with bis advice and interest." A further resolution was carried appoint ine Mr. Hunt advisory secretary for the ensuing year.

The Fruitgrowers' Conference decided that next year a representative should lie appointed by the federation to thoroughly investigate the position in New Zealand, and then proceed to Ixndon. It was also resolved that the Government be approached to consider the advisability of formulating an insurance policy to cover all risks in connection with the export of fruit, and to g laran-t-oe a return to growers of a penny per pound net, the federation to submit a scheme of Government insurance and advances to cover deteriorat'on and losses, including bad markets, up to a penny per pound net on the whole of the growers' export of fruit. It was decided to ask the Government to continue its guarantee of one penny per pound on exported fruit.

A most, beautifully-bound and illuminated address has been prepared by flic Auckland City Council for presentation to Mr. Henry Shaw iv recognition of his gifts and services to the Auckland Public Library. The address states that the Auckland City Council, having learned with regret that Mr. Shaw had recently removed his place of residence froni Auckland, desired, on behalf of its members and the citizens, to record its appreciation of his worth as a citizen for over half a century, of his term of office as a councillor in which capacity he rendered loyal and efficient service.'especially in the financial and library interests, and to tbe splendid benefactions he made to the citizens in the presentation of his valuable and beautiful collection of books and manuscripts to the Auckland Library. The council also wished to convey to him its best thanks for the constant interest he had shown in the work of the Public Library, and for the material assistance he had given to it during the last eight years. The address bears the signatures of the Mayor, councillors and town c-lerk and after being exhibited in Queen street will be forwarded to .Mr. .Shaw who now resides at Hawke's Bay.

A claim against the estate of the late •J. L. Grace for taxi hire was made at the Magistrate's Court by R. McLeod. taxi proprietor, who sued for £27 15/3 alleged to have been incurred by Mr. Grace during his last days in taxi hire and waiting. It was admitted by W. H. Armstrong, as executor of the estate, that the plaintiff had spent a lot of time in attending to Mr. Grace, and £7 was paid into court in consideration of such service, but it was contended that much of the attention had been given as that of a friend, and that the charges now claimed, without particulars, were excessive. Plaintiff, represented by Mr. .1. J Sullivan, stated that Mr. Grace was a very sick man, and had frequently kept him waiting with his car for hours at a time, and had paid him amounts on account, saying that he would be paid in full out of the estate. After having heard evidence on both sides Mr. Poynton, S.M., held that much of the attention accorded Mr. Grace by plaintiff had been in the nature of friendly ministration, for which he was not now entitled to charge, and he gave judgment for £5 in addition to the amount paid into court.

The Government has withdrawn the regulation of February, IHI9, prohibiting the importation into Xew Zealand of tungsten and its alloys and compounds, also tungsten ores.

It is announced in this week's "Gazette" that chickenpox (varicella) has been withdrawn from the list of notifiable infectious diseases.

Yesterday afternoon the members of "The Maid of the Mountains"-Company visited the children's ward at the Auckland Hospital and handed out swets and toys to the little inmates. This is jiot the firet occasion on which the members of this company have visited the hospital during their season here. At eacli matinee given seats were reserved for those children at the Hospital who were able to leave the ward to see the successful comic opera. The action of the players in helping to add a little sunshine was much appreciated by the children, and also by the medical superintendent.

The decision to plant trees in Hauraki Street. Birkenhead, led Mr. E. C. Walton to suggest to the borough council last night thait the co-operation of the Birkenhead Progressive League and the Birkdale Fruitgrowers' Association be sought for the beautiiication of the borough, and that trees be planted in streets to be agreed upon. This was adopted. The council also approved of the work in Hinemoa Park suggested by the league, and agreed to defray the cost. £43 14/. of making a path through the park, which is situated close to the wharf.

When the schooner Huantii passed White Island this week, the island was showing considerable activity. Great volumes of steam were rising and Captain Stephens observed a second large vent on the island. Tlie Huanui was only about two miles off the hland ; and by the aid of his glasses Captain Stephens was able to distinctly sec the new vent.

The Government Statistu. ; an reports that during the month of May the totai births registered for the four principal urban areas amounted to 809, as against 603 in April—an increase of 146. The deaths in May were 362—an increase of 20 as compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 177. females 185. Forty-four of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 15.44 per cent of the whole number. Thirty-two of these were under one year of age. The returns of births and deaths per 1000 of population is as follows: —Auckland L'rban Area, births 1.76, deaths. 0.03: Wellington L'rban Area. 2.08, 0.60: Christchurch Crban Area. 1.84. 0.90; Duncdin Urban Area, 1.58, 0.76. A lecture on "Scottish Wit and Humour" will be given by- Mr. J. W. Shaw. M.A., at the Leys Institute. Ponsonby, on Tuesday next. Mr. Shaw's well-known accomplishments as a public speaker and as an exponent of Scottish characteristics and literature ensure a very attractive address. The committee appointed to deal with the purch? •' a site for a sanatorium for consum, .yes in the South Island lias acquired 1150 acres of land on Hamilton's Slope, near Waipiata. in Central Otago. at an altitude of 1550 ft. A baronet is reported by the "Manawatu Times" to be among the manual workers at the Mangahao hydro-electric works.