Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 187, 9 August 1922, Page 4

The number of engagements at Labour Department Bureaux in the Dominion during the past twelve months was 4989, as against 3364 in the previous year, states the annual report of the Labour Department. The report comments that the number ot factories (14,013) and of factory workers (96,930) registered is now greater than ever previously, the drop during the war having been fully recovered. Accidents in factories totalled 1692 (fatal 12), an increase of 117, only one being due to negligence or defect in machinery. Another interesting reference is a fall in the number of girls for whom certificates of fitness were applied for. It may 'be inferred that, generally speaking, boys and girls are not being employed in factories to the same extent as in the past few years, when young persons were employed very largely in the absence of adult male workers at the war. One Westport paper announced a "scoop recently by declaring that wreckage from the lost steamer Kairaki had been found off Birchfield. Its local contemporary waxed humorous about the alleged sensation, and inserted the following paragraph:—"The mystery solved.—Captain Sawyer, coming from Karamea by the s.s. Nile yesterday steamed close up to the object of curiosity in the sea opposite Birchfield in anticipation of striking a treasure ship with fabulous wealth stored in its hold, but found to his utter disappointment that the mystery -was nothing more or less than a tree above the water." The reply of the other journal was to this effect: "The idea that it is a snag, not a wreck, is absurd, as snags that we have seen have no doors with brass hinges or Baltic timber attached to them. A gentleman who called at this office yesterday stated that the vessel can be plainly seen from the train, and we advise those persons who have snags on the brain to go to the scene and view the wreck." A sale of oil paintings, pastels, and water colours by well known artists,! including Mr. Douglas Perrett, Mr. L. H. Taylor, Mr. H. M. Hay, and Mr. H. ... Kirkwood, will be held at 12.30 p.m. to-morrow at Mr. Leonard Coakley's rooms, Queen Street. The level of Lake Takapuna has remained stationary for upwards of a week, being 6 feet 8 inches above high tide level. The Ancient Order of Foresters branch at Birkenhead held a most enjoyable social evening in the Foresters' Kail last night, the occasion being the anniversary of the Court. After a lapse of about ten days sharp earthquake shocks were felt in Taumarunui early on Mon&y morning. It is reported that following these shocks lifgauruhoe showed considerable activity.