General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21940, 14 November 1936, Page 14

General News

Special Coronation Hotel Tariffs That the Imperial Government’s determination to prevent exploitation' of the sale of seating accommodation along the route of the King’s progress on the day of his Coronation does not extend to the more essential accommodation of visitors, has been impressed upon a Dunedin citizen. Making arrangements well in advance for his visit to London next year, he wrote to an hotel near Leicester Square, enquiring about lodging and tariffs. He has now received a courteous reply saying that he can receive a bed and breakfast for 9s 6d a day. There is one proviso, however, and that is that if he desires to be accommodated during the 10 days of the Coronation celebrations, he will find the charge at this hotel increased to seven and a half guineas a day.—“ Press” Service. Not by Appearances Several jurymen called in a civil action in the Auckland Supreme Court hesitated before taking their seats, as if in doubt whether they would be challenged. “These gentlemen of the bar do not judge you by your personal appearance,” remarked Mr Justice Callan to the remainder of the panel. “They have been making all kinds of enquiries about you for days past. You need not delay the proceedings by waiting to see what they will do.” Jurors called thereafter walked briskly forward, and after several challenges the vacant seats were soon filled. Stalactite Broken in Waitomo Caves Vandalism in one of the three Waitomo Caves was the subject of an action in the Magistrate’s Court at Te Kuiti, when a visitor from Christchurch was charged with damaging a stalactite in the Ruakuri Cave. The guide, who had taken a party which included defendant through the cave, said defendant started criticising the scenery, and then complained when witness would not permit him to take a dog through the cave. This was against the regulations, but defendant said it was because he had not paid 4s for the dog. When the party reached the part of the caves known as the Bridal Chamber, defendant broke away a portion of a stalactite, after being warned of the heavy penalty, witness added. Black Duck Eggs At a country home near Pahiatua there is an ordinary black and white duck which has laid black eggs for the last three seasons. At first it was thought that the bird had gathered charcoal from a'smithy nearby, but this has proved incorrect, because the bird still continues to lay blacks eggs after the smithy has been removed. The eggs are of perfect size, the yolk and ■■"hite being normal. A strange thing is that the eggs as the season goes on become lighter in colour. ' Public Worship In a plea for reform in public worship at the gathering at Hamilton the Rev. R. R. Grant Sutherland said that John Calvin had conferred more benefit upon the Roman Catholic than on the Protestant Churches. The aim of the great reformer had been to revive the dignified services of the early church, which had fallen into desuetude, the priests doing all, the people taking no part; the revival of the weekly Communion service was also a plank in Calvin’s crusade. These, largely through Calvin’s advocacy, had been restored in the Roman Catholic, but they were still unobserved in Protestant churches. There was a decided movement in the Church of Scotland to revert to the old liturgies, by which the services were greatly enriched, and there was no doubt that the movement would in time extend to the Dominions, where he hoped it would be welcomed. Pigs Exterminated “It is gratifying to be able to announce that the pigs on one of the Poor Knights islands, which are sanctuaries, have now been exterminated, the result of an organised hunt made by the Department of Internal Affairs, headed by Captain Yerex,” said the current issue of “Forest and Bird.” “These pigs have for a long time been playing havoc with the flora and with nesting seabirds. Several unsuccessful efforts were made to eliminate the trespassing animals. This successful ending of the pig nuisance demonstrates the value of systematic hunting fay trained hunters.” Sugar Works Plant Reference to the extension of nlant necessary at the Chelsea works of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd., at Auckland, brought about by the introduction of a 40-hour week in New Zealand, was made by the chairman of directors, Mr E. R. Knox, at the half-yearly meeting in Sydney. “The demand for refined products both in Australia and in New Zealand continues to improve,” said Mr Knox. “The refineries are capable of handling the extra requirements except at Chelsea, New Zealand, where it has been found necessary to spend substantial capital sums to increase the capacity of the refinery becftuse of the shorter working week of 40 hours.” # Dutch as Colonisers The opinion that people who laugh over Americans’ mistakes about 'New Zealand are probably as ignorant of many parts of the world themselves has been formed by Mr C. J. Lovegrove, of Auckland, after a tour of the East. He was amused to hear an American lady, for instance, say that New Zealand was a very big town and the capital of Australia, but in his turn he was amazed to learn that the Dutch East Indies had a population of 60,000,000. Both the Malays and the native inhabitants seemed contented under Dutch rule, he said, and he gained the impression that after the Eng-lish-speaking people the Dutch were the best colonising nation. They were carrying on their task most efficiently. “Belisha Beacons” Two “Belisha Beacons,” familiar to English road-users, will be erected to indicate clearly to motorists and pedestrians the position of a new pedestrian crossing in Broadway, Newmarket. Auckland. The beacons will be presented to the council by the Automobile Association for demonstration purposes. The beacons consist of orange-coloured glass globes on the top of steel standards about 6ft high. Skull Found at Waiheke The unusual interest attached a skull recently found on the Onetangi Beach, Waiheke Island, by a resident of Onetangi, has been dispelled by the director of the Auckland Institute and Museum, Mr Gilbert Archey, who has examined it. From the condition of the teeth, the skull is that of an old Maori, according to Mr Archey. The teeth, especially the molars, are badly worn down, particularly on the outside, owing to the Maori habit of eating fern root. The skull is fairly thick, being typical of those found around Auckland, and the eyebrow ridges are rather prominent. As the skull is neither “long head.ed” nor “broad headed,” but intermediate in type, Mr Archey said it could not be classed as distinctly negroid or later Maori. Contrast in Japanese Life That although the Japanese have adopted the Western business methods they have retained their old domestic life was commented on by Mr C. J. Lovegrove, of Auckland, who has just returned from a visit to Japan. Factories were run most efficiently on modern lines, hotels and trains were up-to-date and comfortable, and the smallest village had its electricity supply, yet the home life of even the business leaders was little changed. Rice remained the staple diet and the people preferred to sit on mats. He visited one prominent business man, who had a floor of his home fitted in European style, but he lived on the other floor furnished m the traditional Japanese manner. Anzac Service ih London “Although it is very much the same service as is held in Dunedin, in the matter of routine, the Anzac Day service in St. Clement Dane s Church, London, was very much more impressive,” said Mr A. Watson, who has just returned from a trip to England. Participating in the service were Mr Stanley Bruce (High Commissioner for Australia), Sir James Parr (High Commissioner for New Zealand), Bishop Crotty, formerly of Bathurst, and Miss Merle Miller, of Christchurch, who sang a delightful solo. Mr Watson also paid a tribute to the staff of New, Zealand House, who did everything possible to add to the enjoyment of his holiday.