Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 1 March 1923, Page 4

The Government Tourist Agent at Dunedin has just receiveu from Mr. Maloney, of Hamilton, an interesting Maori relic in the form of a greenstone battle axe("toke") with a partly-formed tiki on the face. The specimen is undoubtedly genuine, and appears to be of South Island workmanship, states the "Otago Daily Times." In presenting the greenstone, .Mr. Maloney states that it was found under the remains of a Maori woman, and its history is known. The relic has been placed "amonp the collection at the Government Tourist Office.

The Mayor of Waihi, Mr. D. Donaldson, has received a communication from the Prime Ministei intimating that on his return to Wellington he will give full consideration to the representations of Waihi Borough regarding its application for remission of a portion of the gold duty impounded by the -Public Works Department on account of the rivers improvement scheme, which deductions have crippled the borough from a financial standpoint.

One of the old motor buses in use on the Devonport roads met with a mish»p yesterday, when a wheel came off. Fortunately the vehicle did not overturn. At the borough council meeting it was mentioned that the license for that particular bus would expire in a month. Complaint was made by Councillor E. H. Little that some of the buses in use were too heavy and were bound to damage the roads.

Recent criticism of Mr. 11. S. W. King, Mayor of Devonport, was mentioned at the council meeting last evening, when Mr. C. L. Stevenson protested against what he terms as unfair criticism by Mr. W. J. Napier in the "Star of February 23. Mr. King said that kind of criticism did not hurt him. As a matter of fact he considered he had been paid a compliment in being likened to Buddha, one of the greatest philosophers in the world.

Owing to the difficulty of finding accommodation in Hamilton being greatly relieved, the Girls' Friendly Society Hostel, which was opened when many girls had difficulty in getting board and lodging, is now to he closed, as the lack of patronage renders it a nonpayable proposition.

Whakatane has been declared a port of entry by the Customs Department. The Whakatane Harbourmaster, Captain Wheelock, is the officer in charge.

Representations are being made for the establishment of an infant school at Wiri, from where young children, going a long distance to the nearest school, are endangered by the motor traffic _nd also have to pass mobs ot cattle en route to Westficld, abattoirs or freezing works. An ol'ricial of the Auckland Education Board has heard the complaints of parents. Certain road formation is now proceeding in the district and it is felt that as Wiri will shortly line a suburban railway station, the localit v. ipart from other considerations i.'_'r- for the school, is developing -ulliciently to warrant the institution requested.

A keen bit of repartee took place on the Auckland bowling green yesterday when a team of bowlers whose surnames commenced with "H" from the Stanley Bay Club met a team picked by a reverend gentleman whose surname also commenced with "II." "Now 'I!' is a very important letter." said one of the visitors, "and according to theology it either means up or down, and two different aspects of thought are represented Ivy it. Which side arc we to take?'' "Oh, I'll give you your choice." cam» the ouick reply. '"but perhaps it will be. better to wait till the end of the game and then we can see which team will be up or down." As it happened the visiting team of "lIV went down.

"What is the inference?" asked a member of the Devonport Borough Council last evening when the Mayor. Mr. 11. S. W. King, announced that a collector's book, used to record contributions made in February. 1022, for a shelter shed at Windsor Reserve, was now at the Council Chambers. The Mayor explained that there was no inference to be drawn, and that the book was merely in the office for the inspection of those who had contributed. The money had been collected in the streets with the council's permission. A sum of £US 5/ had been collected and it was proposed that a public meeting he called to consider what \va,s to be done.

How at least one person escaped death in a motor accident which occurred in Victoria Square, Chrietchurch, on Saturday evening, is little short of miraculous,' remarks the "Star." It appears that a motor car was being driven along Victoria Street, and another along the same street going towards Papanui, whilst a third car was proceeding rtlong Oxford Terrace. The three cars reached a point just about the intersection of Victoria Street and the terrace about the same mcAient. In order to avoid colliding with the car coming along ths terrace the driver of the car coming townwards had to swerve suddenly, and in doing so he knocked a cyclist off his bicycle and ran right over a perambulator which was being wheeled by a woman, and which contained a young child. The car was not pulled up until it had crossed the gutter and had reached the green near the band rotunda. The cycle was badly damaged, and the rider received cuts on the back and side of his head. The perambulator was smashed to pieces, and how the little child escaped death is regarded by witnesses as being a miracle. The woman was knocked over, and, with the child, suffered from bruises and shock.

In regard to the seizure at Dunedin of the Wellington Watersiders' Band instruments on an order made by the Court against Wellington Watersiders' Union of £1000 damages for what was termed victimisation of members who had not paid a levy, one of the officials explained to a "Star" reporter that the band has not been out to make money, and has always assisted at all public functions in Wellington and elsewhqre. The annual income of the band has always been utilised for its own purposes, but the band is answerable to the Watersiders' Union to a certain extent, inasmuch as it is an asset of the union. The position now, he said, is that we are a band without instruments, and the question is whether the band can carry on or whether it will go out of existence. The Watersiders' Union has not sufficient, funds to assist or re-establish the band, but it is to be hoped that the citizens of Wellington will rise to the occasion and assist us out of our present difficulty. The official stated that the present value of the full set of instruments now impounded is about £600.

The Ruatoki Natives held a large gathering yesterday to celebrate the opening of the first section of the Rua-toki-Ruatahuna road. Some three miles of this road is now ready for traffic. To mark the importance of tn e occasion the Natives invited all the Europeans in the county to attend. Leaving Ruatoki this road will run for forty miles through dense bush up the valley of the Whakatane River and will connect with the Ruatahuna-Waikare-mo-ina Road at a place called Matatua, which is situted in the very heart of the T'rcwera Country. A small township is sure to spring up at this junction. As a tourist route this road will equal the Waimana-Waikaremoana Road, which is being formed up the valley of the Waimana River.

The. Health Department appears to have undertaken a crusade against flies. A circular has been sent to various local bodies by Dr. T. J. Hughes, who recommends that in houses various poisonous solutions should be used such as formalin added to milk in saucers, chemical preparations or fly-papers. The securing of windows and doors to prevent ingress of flics was also suggested. It was stressed, however, that so long as st.ibles were unsatisfactorily dealt with the chief source of flies would continue. Arsenical sprays should be used at least once a week. The Takapuna Council decided last night to enforce the department's requirements so far as stables are concerned.

A resolution was passed at the meeting of representatives of social organisations last Tuesday evening, regretting the possibility of Mr. H. Stebbing having to vacate his position on the Young Citizens' League, ami the "'Young Citizen" paper, in order to retain his position in the Civil Service, and to get his rights of superannuation. The opinion of the meeting was that the value of this work was so important that the Public Service Commissioner should, be asked to grant Mr. Stebbing further leave of absence in the department so that the really valuable work of the league might be kept going efficiently.

The biennial contests of the United Fire Brigades Association commence in Dunedin to-day, and it is expected that about COO firemen from all parts of New Zealand will take part. The Auckland brigades represented are: Newmarket, Devonport, Mount Albert, 'Onehunga, <ireenlane, and Avondale. Whangarei, Dargaville, Waihi, and Tauranga have also sent teams.

At the veterans bowling match against the champion teams of the l'onsonby Club on the Auckland green yesterday, it was mentioned that while the first Auckland Club had celebrated its diamond jubilee, the New Plymouth Club which was considered a very old one had only been established for 37 years, and the Wellington Club had just been in existence 36 yeari. ' '*'■ *'■'