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Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 224, 20 September 1924, Page 6

A record run from Southampton to Wc'ilington was accomplished by the New Zealand -Shipping Co.'s liner Rotorua, which arrived at Wellington on Wednesday night, the passage occupying only 33 days 6_ hours. The usual time occupied is at least 35 days. The actual steaming' time from London to Wellington was 33 days, giving an average of 14.4 knots. The best day's run was completed on September 1, when the Rotorua covgred 372 knots, an average of la J knots. The Rotorua, formerly the Shropshire, was converted into an oil-fuel burner in 1922. She would have established a record before this had not bad weather militated .against it. but the vessel has already established a reputation for fast passages between England and Wellington. On Thursday there arrived in Wellington by the steamer Rotorua six grouse birds for the Tongariro Park — the first to reach the Dominion alive. There were seven when the steamer left London, but one died during the journey to the Dominion. The birds were hand-reared in England and sent to the R-t. Hon. W. F. iMassey by Lady Liverpool for liberation in the Tongariro Park. If the grouse become acclimatised in -New Zealand the birds will form *an added attraction to the Dominion's already well-stocked resorts for the sportsman, says the "Dominion." The birds from the Rotorua will be taken by Mr. Cullen to the ""Tongariro Park to-day, and there placed in suitable pens. -When they become accustomed to the climate of the park they will be liberated —probably 'in a fortnight's time.

Slight injuries were received by an elderly man, Thomas Keeting, through Lis being knocked down by a Ford car at the corner of Karangahape Road and West Street last evening. He \va3 attended by Dr. Mason and taken to the Hospital. "Town-planning makes or mars a city," declared Mr. F. C. Powell when addressing the Marine Boroughs' Association on the future development of the North Shore. "Auckland is a case in point, the present formation of the city square being a courageous endeavour to remedy the short-sighted policy of the city founders. But the creation of open spaces should not begin and end there. Another square is needed at the top of Symonds Street, through which bottle-neck of a road is jumbled all the traffic leading to Auckland's great southern suburbs of Mt. Eden, Mt. Albert and Dominion Road. Think of the view obtainable from this site. It is the highest spot in the city, and properly arranged would provide a vantage ground from which Auckland's natural beauty could be discerned. But now nobody has time or opportunity to appreciate it, for congested traffic and cramped road conditions make a view impossible." The lecturer pleaded for consideration of the plan of a future city on the northern shore, wherein beaut}* and utility should combine to make "the best of naturally fine surroundings. The new mortuary at the Costlcy Home -was inspected by the members of the ' building committee of the Hospital Board yesterday who reported that the new building is a credit to the institution. The whole structure was designed by and erected under the supervision of Mr. John Rowe, who is chairman of the Costley Home committee, and whose unfailing interest in the welfare of the home is shown by his almost daily attendance at the institution. At the last Board meeting a resolution of appreciation for the work Mr. Kowc has done during recent days was carried very enthusiastically, the -chairman pointing out that Mr. Rowc's practical experience as a -builder and contractor saved the Board a considerable sum each year. A new setting to the old story of the one juryman who did not agree with the decision arrived at by the other eleven jurymen, and who said he had never seen such eleven obstinate men in his life!, was given by the Rev. Evan Harries in an address during the presbytcrial visitation at Devonport last night. "He knew a church," he said, "where one manager disagreed with all the others and was very obstinate in clinging to his opinion. The other managers, however, decided to give in to him and agree with what he said; the man was so overcome with the responsiblity which he had brought upon himself and what might be the consequences of it that he begged the others not to change their views on his account, but that he would agree with their opinion instead. There was nothing like giving a person a little responsibility to bring him to a sense of duty." Complaint is made by a firm that does a large amount of shipping that it has been overcharged in. the matter of wharfage, the overcharge being made by the shipping company concerned, and not by the Harbour Board. It appears that recently the Auckland Harbour Board delegated to the Northern Steamship Company the right to collect wharfage on all goods shipped in the company's steamers, and in consideration of the company thus collecting the dues the Board allows it 7_ per cent commission. Formerly the Board collected these dues itself. The firm that is complaining showed a "Star" reporter a number of accounts in which the overcharges occurred. Although only trifling in themselves —the largest overcharge was 1/6 instead of 1/4 —the firm objects on principle to being overcharged, and also contends that the whole system is wrong. Only one uompany has been singled out, and in the case of the Richardson Company,wc still pay the dues direct to the Harbour Board, said

our informant. With regard to the contention that the shipping company did not profit by the overcharge, the firm pointed out that the shipping company would profit, as it collected 7* per cent on the amount collected. But that waa not the point. The firm's contention was that nothing could justify the action of the Board in farming-out its tuxes. It is understood that negotiations are at present proceeding in Dunedin between hardware merchants and builders with the object of forming an association of recognised builders. It is contended that at present discounts are given too indiscriminately. A man who builds a shed worth £10 is said, for instance, to get as much discount in many cases as a man who builds a house worth £1000. It is said, further, that negotiations, the object of which is to ' make arrangements whereby only recognised builders get trade discount, will be brought to a successful conclusion within a few weeks.

The keenness shown by the residents at the Costley Home in their weekly picture show is evidenced by the fact that the pictures are now shown on Wednesday instead of Saturdays, so that the star pictures shown in the city picture theatres, may be seen at the Home three days sooner than if Saturdays had been adhered to. Through the courtesy of the" New Zealand Picture i Supply" Corporation, of which Mr. Phil Hayward is managing-director, the best pictures are screened at the Home, and the large dining room is always full on picture show night. The change of night also enables concert parties and other entertainers to entertain tho old • people ou Saturdays when the performers have more time to spare for the . purpose than on any other night. Much • appreciation is shown of the efforts of ■ those who do their best to provide sweet i music and healthful amusement to those i who enjoy it so much. Mr. Eastgate, i junior, still acts as operator at the picl ture show. A now industry is probable in Tara- • naki. Mr. C. J. Hawker, chairman of Metis Dairy, points out that the • carcase of a newly-born calf contains : a very much higher percentage of gela- - tine than that of older animals, and . from that fact arises the possibility of • a subsidiary industry to dairying being ) established. Mr. Hawker said that i recently a representative of an English ; firm visited South Taranaki with the • object of inquiring into the opportuni- > ties offerin;. for the establishment of a I gelatine-making business from the dairy 1 fanners' surplus calves. i At a meeting of the Morrinsville school • committee it was decided that a comi mundcation be sent to the Primary i Schools Committees Association asking 1 that steps be taken to urge upon the Govi ernment to supply stationery to schopls I in order to relieve the burden of tht ; cost to the parents, this cost being con 5 sidered to toe too great to the average .parent.

In a ease heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, application was made that a husband should foe allowed the use of the sum of £230 which was tied •up in connection with a maintenance order. Counsel on one side alleged that if the money were released there would be no guarantee of the payment of the wife's maintenance, as the man drank to excess and had dissipated nearly two hundred pounds in this manner. "If he doesn"t pay up, I'll send him to gaol for six months," said Mr. Hunt, S.M. On the other hand 'it was stated that the man was separated from his wife solely through the interference of her relations, and that if she were left to herself she would return to her husband. The money, it was explained, was required p'oy the husband for the purchase of a milkround, out of which he expected to make £10 a week. "As long as it is not for the purchase of a beer round, it will be all right," said the magistrate. "The man has the money and I think he should l>e allowed to go into business with it if he wants to."' The application was granted, Mr. Hall Skclton, for the husband, undertaking that the money would he paid out only for the purchase of the business. Times are apparently bard for some people, says the Hunterville "Express." On Monday a man and his wife and two children walked into Hunterville and said they had come from Porewa that day and intended walking on to, Taihape, where they had friends who would 2!ve the man a job. The man only had 4/ in his pocket. On hearing this, Mr. A. T. Gatrell, of the Argyle Hotel, promptly invited them to dinner and handed the man a pound note. The Patriotic Society was communicated with, and their worldly wealth further augmented. A commercial traveller, Mr. C. Davidson, promptly offered them a ride through to Taihape, and times seemed much brighter for the quartet. The liner Rotorua, from and Southampton, which arrived at Wellington on Wednesday night brought 6S first-class and S4 third-class passengers. Among the, latter were IGI assisted immigrants. There were 29 boys, orphans of men who had lost their lives at sea during the Great War. They were bound for the Flock House Estate, near Palmerston North, and came out under the scheme of the New Zealand Sheep Owners' Acknowledgment of i)ebt to British Seamen Fund. They were under the guardianship of Mr. H. Gunn, of the Y.'M.CA., of Great Britain. A party of 14 English public schoo: boys also arrived under the auspices of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. By order in the "Gazette" Hanmer Springs Prison is declared to ba no longer a prison. A similar order applies to Kaingaroa, Waipa, and Wa'pa Valley prisons.