NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1930, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

1 Prolific Pear Tree. Some time ago the "Star" published a pic- ' ture of a pear tree, laden with fruit, growing on the property of Mr. 0. V. Houghton at Gladstone 5 .Road, Parnell. The gardener this year kept a L tally of the fruit'produced, and it reached the [ astonishing total of 6558 pears. One branch, , which broke off on account of the weight of fruit, , had on it 380.pears,' • City Valuations. Only about a hundred cases out of 520 objections to the new valuation list .of the city will ; come before the Assessment Court at its sitting oil Friday. Corn promises have been reached in numerous instances and it is anticipated that other cases will be satisfactorily adjusted within the next few days. The court will sit at the Town Ilall under the presidency of Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M. Rats on the March. A strange sight was witnessed early one morning this week in Auckland. A man who had to be down to business when comparatively few people were about, was astonished to see eight rats climbing up the side of a high building. At the third floor the window was open and it is probable that was the object of the migration of the rodents. Suez Route Popular. Judging from the steamer passenger lists more New Zealundcrs than usual are going to the Old Country by way of Suez this year. It is a very interesting route, nine days being the longest time at sea between ports. About 150 of the passengers booked by the Ulimaroa, which sails on Friday, are joining the Orient liner Oronsay at Sydney en route for England. The people sailing on the Ulimaroa are from various parts of the Dominion. Unemployment Relief. Unemployment relief was discussed at length at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board. Practically every member took part in the debate and the time occupied was over an hour, although the board met for only an hour and a half. The subject of discussion touched on all phases of what was stated to be a "national scandal." It was not so much a question of finding relief for unemployed as it was finding a scheme to supply the finances. One speaker mentioned that applications for relief on account of unemployment had been "pouring in." He quoted official figures which showed that during December there were 50 applications, in January 114, and in February 118. It should be remembered that this was- a time of the year when unemployment should be at its lowest ebb, yet it was almost as bad as last winter. Unruffled Member. Several members of the Auckland Transport Board indulged in bright repartee during a debate on St. Helier's transport yesterday. Mr. F. H. Potter reminded one member that the board acted in a dual capacity, as a licensing or 'judicial body and as an operating authority controlling transport. This opened up the question of public and private ownership, and Mr. Potter dropped the remark that he was not a socialist. "I believe you are," "No, you're a free trader," and other remarks were fired at the speaker across the table and the chairman, Mr. George Baildon, called for order. "You're only worrying him," said the chairman. "No they're not," said Mr. Potter gallantly, and there was a burst of laughter. Mr. Baildon: "Well, you're keeping him going." Mr. Potter: "No, they're not keeping me going, either." To reassure the meeting he added amid further laughter: "I'm going to stop soon." Papatoetoe Water Rates. Water rates to be approved at a special meet, ing of the Papatoetoe Town Board next week were set out in a notice of motion given by Mi". W. J. Nicholson, chairman of the finance committee, at the board's meeting last evening. The rates were based on a minimum charge of 10/ a year for a supply of 5000 gallons to each consumer in the towii district, and 1/6 a 1000 gallons for additional supplies. Other rates were: 1/9 to adjoining local bodies taken in bulk at the. board's .boundary, 1/9 to the Dingwall Orphanage, 2/ to the Postal and Railway Departments, and : 1/6 on non-ratable properties, churches, schools, etc. The motion provided that the rates should ■ come into force on April 1, and the clerk was instructed to make urgent representations to ; the Local Government Loans Board for authority ( to borrow £4000, for which application had been , made, to purchase 500 water meters.

End of St. Helier's Wharf. Except for the presence of the pensive piper •fisher the St. Helier's Bay wharf is a very deserted spot in these ferryless days. Time was when the bay man who got up late and had to gobble a hasty breakfast (if any) used to sprint the quarter mile of wooden decking—and had very little need for any further outdoor exercise if he slept in, say, three times a week. Since the buses took the traffic from the ferries the wharf has lain idle, and like all wooden structures has been deteriorating rapidly, until to-day it is hardly safe. Realising its responsibility the Harbour Board decided some time ago to have the wharf demolished, and wrote to the Marine Department ! for its approval. At yesterday's meeting of the board there was a letter from the Department stating that it had no objection to the wharf being removed, and the work will now be taken in. hand. Probably the same fate will befall the other wharves down that part of the harbour. Some of them are more than shaky, and fully warrant the notice at the head, "This wharf is dangerous." Polluting the Harbour. In spite of official assurances that no pollution of the foreshores is caused by the city drainage which empties into the harbour at Orakei (Auckland's garden suburb), yachtsmen still find the. actual harbour itself an unsavoury area. The Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon had before it a complaint from the _ Yacht Squadron, stating that on March 8 during the progress of yacht i-aces,the smell from the water near the Bastion beacon was so offensive that the squadron would have to consider altering the course of its races in order to avoid the polluted area near the Orakei shore.. The squadron thought it was high time the authorities did something to abate a grave public nuisance. The chairman of the board (Mr. M. H. Wynyard) explained that the Drainage Board's engineer was now abroad inquiring into the most modern and effective ways of dealing with sewage. The local bodies draining into the Waitemata and. the Manukau had been given notice to abate any nuisance as far as present methods would permit, and informed that alterations would have to be canied out in accordance with whatever comprehensive scheme was finally adopted as the result M tie Drainage Boards engineer's j