General News.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19451, 26 October 1928, Page 10

General News.

Some large investments in the debentures of the Christchurch Drainage Board -are reported; One man has bought £50.000 worth of the debentures for the Board's big sewerage loan, while another parcel of over £20,000 worth has been purchased by a group of investors. "New Zealand has the largest timber trees in,the world," said Mr E. Morrison in a lectitre on "New Zealand Timbers," before the Institute of Horticulture at Auckland. He said it had been clearly shown that New Zealand's trees were not jof slow growth compared with, the best timber trees of other countries. Before leaving New Zealand Tom Heeney sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister: ''Kia Ora to you and New Zealand.—Tom Heeney." The Prime Minister yesterday sent the following radio in acknowledgment: "Many thanks for message. Bon voyage to you and Mrs Heeney. New Zea<.land wishes you good future. Press Service. Traffic on the north line was delayed yesterday through a hook on a buffer on the early goods train from Christchurch to Culverden breaking on the Ashley Gorge bridge, causing an airpipe between two waggons to part and the brakes throughout the train to operate. After repairs had been effected, the train was shunted back to Rangiora, where the passenger train for Parnassus was held up for twenty minutes. The goods train from Culverden was delayed for a similar period' at Sefton. The Canterbury Progress League has received a cablegram from Mr T. H. McWilliams, who was the wireless operator on the Southern Cross, advising that he will leave Sydney for Wellington on November Ist. It is presumed that he is returning for the purpose of resuming his duties with the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr P. R. Climie, secretary of the League, has made arrangements for the forwarding of Mr McWilliams's effects left- in Christchurch to Wellington, and his proportion of the monetary presentation made to the aviators by the City of Christchurch. A letter has been reoeived in Wellington from Mr Zane Grey, stating that he will arrive in New Zealand by the Makura in December. He states that the fishing is good in Tahiti, but no record fish have been taken. On arriving in New Zealand he will first go to Mercury Bay and Tauranga, and then to the Great Barrier. His son, Mr Rorner Grey, will arrive in \ T ew Zealand nest month, and intends to fish in the rivers of the_South Island. At Otehei Bay, on the island of tJrapuknpuka, in the Bay of Islands, all is now ready for the deep-sea anglers. A wharf has been built, together with a derrick and a weighing machine to deal with the big catches that are anticipated. It is probable that as the result of the visit to New Zealand of the Danish scientific ship Dana early in December, the Dominion will learn much about the habitat of the swordfish. and about the possibility of encouraging its cultivation. In addition, this country unquestionably will benefit by the exchange of scientific views generally upon marine research._ The steamer Dana, which is undertaking the first investigation of the marine life of the Pacific, carries six of the most skilled of Danish scientists, and is due to arrive in Auckland on December Ist. The voyage is a momentous one from a scientific viewpoint, equalling in importance snly the Challenger expedition sent out by the British Government in the 'seventies. It represents, moreover, a serious attempt on the part of Denmark to grapple with the fishery and general m&rino problems facing the world.

After a considerable spell of dry weather, a heavy, soaking rain commenced to fall shortly after 9 o'clock last evening. It was accompanied by a cold sou'-wester. Rain lias been threatening for several days, and farmers and gardeners have' been anxiously studying the weather forecasts. All gardens in the City and the suburbs nave suffered considerably through lack of rain. The summer whaling season is now in full swing in the north. The whaler, Hananui 11., under the command of Captain Cook, commenced operations last month, and up to the present has caught seven whales. They were all captured near Cape Brett. Whaling in the north is divided into two seasons—summer and winter The winter period extends from May to August, and the summer season from September to November.— Press Service. In preparation for the opening of the boating season to-morrow, a dam is being made across the lower end of the rowing course with four rows of bags, filled with (j<l rth. Already the surface of the water has been raised by nearly a foot, and rowing enthusiasts expect the depth to be two feet above normal at the lower end and a foot above norma] near the Fitzgerald avenue bridge. The bags, which are being filled from the river-bank near the mile peg, at the point where the weir, which was a failure, was erected, are being held in place by wire-netting, the whole being reinforced by a row of posts. The shallowest part of the rowing course is now on the northern side of the bend immediately above the Stanmore road bridge. "The pedestrian will actuallv defy the motorist in Wellington if he thinks fit," stated Mr A. E. Batt, at the last meeting of the executive of the North Island Motor Union, at Wellington. Something is needed to educate the pedestrian to the fact that he has no right to the road except to cross it." Other members pointed out that the Magistrate in Christchurch had recently decided that'the pedestrian had .just as much right to the road as the motorist, this being Common Law. It was pointed out, too, that in American cities and elsewhere it had been found necessary to make drastic regulations regarding pedestrians, and it was decided to request the Minister to have the law_ modernised in the interests of pedestrians and motorists alike.

'We will probably go on for ten years," said the Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr A. E. Hefford) in referring to the endeavour to stock the Wanganui river with Atlantic salmon. He mentioned that the .spawning season for Atlantic salmon in the .South Island had been fairly satisfactory, and that another consignment of ova was to be sent to the hatchery on the headwaters of the Wanganui. In mentioning that the fish had not as yet run in the Wanganui, he said that fears had been expressed that there was too much deleterious matter finding its way into the water in the lower reaches. Pollution was, however, a matter of degree, and in a big volume of water it was possible that the_ fish would thrive when making their way back to spawn. Among the many reforms urged by Mr S. C. G. Lye, Liberal-Labour candidate for the Hamilton seat, was decent provision for accused, persons on remand. At present, said Mr' Lye, persons without financial means suspected of crime were placed in the lockup and treated like dangerous criminals. Many poor people were unable to find bail, and had to remain in confinement indefinitely. The attitude of the police toward such persons was not all that could bo desired. It should be remembered that the law provided that a person was innocent until proved guilty, and in view of this such persons should be treated like human beings. Applause greeted the conclusion of Mr Lye's remarks on the subject. "Less Council in business" was the policy advocated by Cr. F. Campbell at the last meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council. The question arose out of a recommendation of the Bvlaws Committee that the Council should purphase and retail rubbish receptacles. Cr. Campbell' said: "I do not agree with municipal bodies entering into trading. The fairest way would be to allow firms in the town td submit prices to the Council at which they are prepared to supply receptacles to the public. The business firms pay rates, and then the Council enters into competition with them. It j.3 not fair." Cr. Hobbs said the Council bought in quantity, and could afford to supply at about 2s less than private enterprise. The residents should be given the benefit of this reduction. Cr. Carver supported Cr. Hobbs's view. The Mayor srtid that if private enterprise could supply at the same rate as the Council, the Council should keep out of the business. "New Zealand's genuine preference for English goods is very much appreciated at Home," said Mr W. H. Bosworth, who arrived at Auckland by the Maheno from Sydney. Mr Bosworth, who is a director of the Lancashire Dynamo and Motor Co., London, states that_ the electrical engineering business is very busy in England at the -present time, but prices are bad. This, despite the fact that the industry is busier than any other trade. "Last year, England led the world in the export of electrical engineering goods," he continued. "England is very much alive to business. I don't care what part of the world one goes to, every ship will be filled with representatives of English firms. There is not a market in the world where competition among the manufacturers is not keen. One of the finest things is to know that English goods are still preferred everywhere, and that they live up to their reputation." Mr Bosvvorth is on a tour of the world, calling on the. representatives and agencies of his company. He has already been through the East and Australia,'and will return to England via South Africa. "It is very satisfactory to know," remarked tlio president of the New Zealand Co&l-mine Owners' Association (Colonel W. D. Holgate) at the annual meeting of the Association in Wellington, "that the Railway Department is now using over 90 per cent, of New Zealand coal, and judging from a statement made by the general manager, Mr Sterling, which was published a few weeks ago in tho Press, the Railway Department has made a-saving by using local coals. The result must be very gratifying to Mr Coates, who is solely responsible for the Railway Department again using local coals. Apart from economical results to the Railway Department, it is in the interests of the wholo country that the whole of the coal required for use on the railways should be drawn from our New Zealand mines, thus keeping the money in the country, finding more employment for our miners, supporting coal companies who are large contributors to the railway revenue in the payment of freights, and the industry generally." Hav machinery of all kinds is a leading line with us. We will have a comprehensive display at the Christcliurch Show,-and it is to your interest, and our's, to inspect same. Knowledge is power, and it costs nothing to learn all about the latest _ and best in Farm Machinery. Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd. 06