General News.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 10 August 1932, Page 10

General News.

It is anticipated that the national disputes affecting employees in the engineering trades, and affecting motor mechanics, will be heard in Wellington in the first week in October.

The number of people who travelled to the Riccarton racecourse yesterday by tram was about 200 fewer than on the corresponding day last year. The total yesterday was 788, and a year ago, 968.

The putting in order of the footpath, roadway, and the area in front of the Cook statue, which has been in hand for several days past, was completed yesterday. The area of the reserve in front of the statue has been turfed, and the footpath and roadway have been asphalted.

Conversing on Monday with a reporter, a leading estate agent in Dunedin said that the sunshiny weather of the week-end was not tho only cheering influence in operation, for he sighted a distinct if as yet slight improvement in the tone of business—more enquiries for cottages and sections, indicating an Intention to buy or build as soon as finance becomes a little more Bettled.

The fact that he could neither read nor write was mentioned by a witness in the Auckland Supreme Court. What made the circumstance surprising was the fact that he was 22 years of age, in full possession of his faculties, and now earned his living s a motor driver. "I should imagine there are very few white people of his ago in New Zealand who are illiterate," remarked counsel. The barrister went on to explain why the young man's education had been neglected. At the age of seven years he left school, and went to live in a remote district of the Far North. He had evidently followed an occupation in which ability to read and write was not esssential.

Owing chiefly to the postponement of the trotting races on Saturday last, the tramway traffic returns for the three days of Grand National Week show a decrease of £213, as compared with the corresponding period last year. This year's total is £lO9l, and last year's was £1304. Last Saturday the total Was £393, compared with £6OO on the corresponding day last year; Sunday, this year £247, last year £312; on Monday this year the total was £451, last year £392.

More than 50 winter sports enthusiasts took advantage of the bank holiday yesterday to sample the snowfields on M\ Herbert, most of them travelling to Diamond Harbour by launch, and climbing i'te ridges with their skis and toboggans. The fields were in good order after the frost on Monday night, although waxed skis were too fast on most of the slopes, particularly in the afternoon when the sun dipped low in the sky. The atmosphere was clear and the sun on the snow made conditions almost like summer, the view across the Plains to the Alps being marred only by a bank of clouds hanging low over the land.

"The activities of the Public Works Department i have been severely criticised recently," said Mr T. C. Boss in the course of his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber Of Commerce. "This Department has, during the years 1921-1931 inclusive, spent £60,477,000, or £5,488,000 per annum, which, for a Department originally created as an advisory and supervising body, is a remarkable achievement. With all due respect to its engineering staff, it is very doubtful if it is sound policy to execute practically all large public works through a Department which is not subject to any competition or comparison with ordinary commercial firms, and which is reasonably certain.that once a job has been begun it will be completed regardless of the ultimate cost. When, in addition to this, there is the fact that many works are put in hand, not because ttiey are really called for, but for political considerations, it is small wonder that we groan under the burden of excessive taxation. While the country is being bled financially by this policy capable engineers are leaving it for other lands, where private enterprise can offer them fuller rewards for their talents." .

The (juestion of tho appointment of a bowling coach to the Canterbury Cricket Association, which was to have been discussed at a meetinc of the committee of tho association last evening, was again deferred until a later date. Tho chairman (Mr VV. Simpson), stated that- there was a possibility that the financial position of the association would not be what members expected, and that it \vould be unwise to take any step in the matter until the full position was disclosed. "I might say that in the matter of weddings Taranaki is considered to be the least genorous province in New Zealand—and that is praising it," said the Eev. J. D. Wilson, speaking to the New Plymouth Botary Club ou the subject of marriages. "Ministers of other churches will tell you the samo thing. It was not so long ago that I drew a blank for performing one marriage coremony, and 10s for a double event. People are inclined to look upon their presentations to tho ministers .is gratuities, but as a matter of fact thoro is a legal charge payablo which is not usually enforced." The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr B. S. Black) and Messrs B. Duncan (vicepresident of the Dunedin Manufacturers' Association), A. A. Paape, T. 0. Ross (Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), G. J. Errington (representing tho Otago Expansion League), and Mark Silverstone (Trades and Labour organisations) loft for Wellington last evening, where they will meet the Prime Minister this morning to urge that tho construction of the Dunedin Post Office should be commenced at an early date. One of the largest and finest oak trees in New Zealand is on the farm of Mrs A. M. Hodgson, of Tamahere. The tree is 60ft in height, and its branches have a spread of 84ft. Tho trunk at the ground is 21ft in circumference and the first limb iB 13ft 6in from the ground. An early owner of the property on which the tree stands planted the oak about 75 years ago. Symmetrical in shape, the tree stands on a hill overlooking the Waikato river and an extensive area of flat country, and forms a picturesque landmark. Good supplies of new potatoes are being received at the Auckland city markets from northern districts, and are selling under brisk competition at to 2£d per lb. During the past few weeks from half a ton to four tons have been arriving weekly, and it is expected that supplies will increase rapidly in the next week or two. Consignments are expected from Pukokohe by the middle of next month, and by November the new potato season will be at its height. Supplies are considered to be rather more plentiful than at this time last year. An explanation of the derivation of the term, "God's Own Country," was sought recently by Dr. G. H. Scholefiold, Parliamentary Librarian, Wellington, when ho wrote to "John o' London's Weekly" asking if any of the readers of that paper could indicate the earliest use of the oxpression, as applied to the United States. "It is commonly appropriated hy New Zealanders for New Zealand, or was for some years," wrote Dr. Scholefiold, "but I understand that it was first adopted in America." The i editor of th<> paper has thf following footnote:—"God's Own Country" is usunllv taken to refer to the United Ptates. but with what authority and at what dato we do not know.

According to latest advices received by Mr Prank Thompson, goneral manager of the tramways, from America, the most recent idea in street transport being considered by traffic authorities in the United States is that of moving sidewalks. The sidewalks are divided into three separate platforms, one stationary, the second a "local," and the third an "express." The "local" platform stops every fifty yards to pick up passengers from the stationary one; the "express" does not stop, but passengers will be able to transfer from the "local" to the "express" at fifty seconds intervals when both are moving at the rate of soventeen miles an hour. The operation will be so timed that the stopping and transfer intervals will be automatic.

Separated from a sweetheart of his boyhood days for twenty years, a young Dalmatian resident of Auckland met her again yesterday Rs his wife. The bride, now in her twenty-eighth year, is a native of Podgoria, Yugoslavia, and her marriage with Clem Melish took place by proxy in August of last year in her home town. TII9 brido came out with two of her countrywomen. The Customs officers hud some difficulty in checking the passports of the parties; but Mr M. A. Ferri, the Dalmatian interpreter, quickly recognised the marriage certificate, and explained that no further formalities or church coremonies would be necessary. Husband and wife started their honeymoon tour hand-in-hand as they walked down the gangway.—Pkbss Service.

"In addition to overhauling and reducing government Departments there is ample scope for enquiry into our local bodies' expenditure," said the president (Mr T. C. Boss), in the course of his address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. These bodies numbered 717, equal to one for every 2077 inhabitants of the Dominion, and had a net* indebtedness of £61,595,000, to which it has grown from £28,138,000 in 1021, the present annual charge being £3 2s lid per head of population. It was interesting to note that the Government, instead of appointing a Royal Commission to enquire into the possibilities of economies in this direction proposed to do so itself. But in the light of past history, and human nature being what it was, one foared that the universal opposition to tho neeessarv reforms would bo stronger than a popularly elected Government would faco. For these reasons it would appear that an independent commission would be necessary, and if Rueh a commission wore appointed and its recommendations carried out its cost would be a mere drop in a bucket compared with the saving effected.

Racegoers beware and note that it will only cost you 2s 6d to Addington and 6a to Riccarton. for a party of five by 'phoning for a Gold Band Taxi this' is half tho price of others and cheaper than trams, so save your money and have another bet. Thank you. —1

John Johnston. Ltd., merchants, established 1863. Direct importers of British and American hardware and Rangiora. —'

Mr P. D. Morrow, of Montalto, Mayfield, writing to P. and D. Duncan. Limited, states: "I have subjected the Duncan Stiff Tooth Cultivator to a very severe trial in the roughest conditioned country. 1 have pleasure in saying that it is the finest Cultivator 1 have ever seen. Owners of similar Cultivators of other makes declare that they would hesitate to undertake tho same work with their machines In design and construction it is everything that could be desired and the powerful frame and efficient drawbar tend to make the perfect machine. It is undoubtedly the best and strongest si iff -tooth cultivator inspected by me before purchasing. P and D Duncan, Limited, 196 Tuam street, Christchurch, and at A3hburton. —6

Round the Bays in a Gold Band Taxi will only cost you 15s for a party of five, this is half the price of others and a beautiful trip to take your friends during National Week, but be sure you 'phone for a Gold Band Taxi, which in everybody's favourite. Thank you —2