General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21975, 26 December 1936, Page 10

General News

South Westland Mail Contract The contract between the Government and Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., for the carriage of mails in South Westland, which will expire on December 28, has been renewed for another year. In making this announcement last evening the managing director of the company, Mr J. C. Mercer, said that the weekly mail load has continued to show a steady increase. Last week a record was established when the company’s aeroplanes carried 11501b south. This week that record was beaten, the load comprising 28 bags containing 11801b of mail. The return load was also a record —3501b. Passenger traffic was also heavy this week as many Public Works employees leaving the camps for the Christmas holidays travelled to Hokitika by air. With the tourist traffic to South Westland now approaching its zenith the company’s aeroplanes are likely to be particularly busy for some months. Distribution from Bequest It is announced from Dunedin that out of the income derived from the Theomin bequest, the trustees have decided to distribute £SO each to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, the New Zealand Nurses Memorial Fund, the Plunket Society, and the Patients’ and Prisoners’ Aid Society.—“ The Press” Special Service. Counterfeit Banknotes About a dozen counterfeit £5 notes were passed in Auckland on Christmas Eve. The notes were a good imitation of the genuine Reserve Bank note, except that the word “governor” was omitted after the signature “L. Lefeaux.” The number on the notes was K809329. The first counterfeit note was discovered by the teller of a city bank soon after 5 o’clock. The police were notified that a suspicious note had been paid in, and when examination had shown it definitely to be a false note prompt steps were taken to warn business people of the danger. As many business premises as possible were warned by telephone, and later circulars were issued. A warning was also broadcast over the radio. Most of the notes were passed in Queen street. As far as can be ascertained, the person or persons concerned stopped operating early in the evening. In at least one case a shopkeeper recognised a counterfeit note and refused to accept it.—Press Association. The Moving Population The terminus of both rail and steamer services, Christchurch has a big floating population during any holiday season, but the peak is always at Christmas. Yesterday morning 1000 passengers arrived by the Rangatira from Wellington, and last night about 900 went north on the vessel. Two expresses arrived at Christchurch last evening from Dunedin, the first; of 12 carriages carrying 340 passengers, and the second of 15 carriages carrying 320. The first train to Lyttelton for the steamer express comprised no fewer than 19 carriages, and three carriages were added to the second Dunedin express before it left for Lyttelton. Balloon as Indicator When the temperature in the city rose yesterday the slight breeze of early morning died and the air seemed absolutely calm. Someone at Brighton with a meteorological turn of mind decided to find out exactly the cause of the rise in temperature and released an ordinary toy balloon filled with coal gas. Before it reached 100 feet it had travelled some distance inland on the slight sea breeze. But, still rising, it was caught in a north-west current and travelled very fast upward and outward over the sea. When it was almost lost to the sight of those following its course through binoculars it burst. Arbitration Court Criticised Allegations that the present Arbitration Court was adopting “an anti-working class attitude” were made at a meeting of the executive of the West Coast Dredge Workers’ Union recently. After discussion it was decided to write to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and the Minister for Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, protesting against this attitude and asking for the removal of Mr Justice Page from the court. Mine Ventilation Surprising results were being obtained from the research in mine ventilation, and mine disasters from the explosion of gas at great depths were on the way to being entirely eliminated through the adoption of scientific ventilation, said Mr Noel Hunt, who passed through Auckland in the Niagara on his way to Australia. The progress made by the operators of the deep mines in Johannesburg was amazing, said Mr Hunt. They claimed that the life of the mines had been increased by 100 years because they could now go deeper and still have reasonable living conditions for the men. Whereas earlier one mine was unable to work its men more than half an hour a day, because of the heat of the earth, it was now able, through the use of plant for controlling air humidity and temperature, to work a day* of eight hours. .Similar experiences were evident in some Australian mines, where the workable depth had been increasea enormously. Police Officer Sued The senior-sergeant of police at Hamilton, G. H. Lambert, appeared in the unusual role of defendant in the Hamilton Police Court this week, when a complaint was made by Alfred Henry O’Meara, labourer, Gordonton, calling on defendant to show cause why a motor-driver’s license should not be restored to him. The senior-sergeant said he did not know why he should have been cited as defendant, as he was only concerned with the administration of the law. O’Meara gave evidence that on July 21 he was convicted and fined £5 fc.- being intoxicated while in charge of a car, and his driver’s license was suspended for six months. He was leaving the Public Works Department on Tuesday, and he wanted the use of his car so that he coul 1 look for haymaking work. Under the court’s order he would not be able to get his license back until after January 21. Without calling on the senior-sergeant to reply or to question O’Meara, the magistrate, Mr S. L. Paterson, said that no grounds had been shown for the removal of the suspension. The complaint was dismissed. Climber Misses Track Losing the track in an attempt to break the tramping record round the mountain huts from North Egmont hostel through Kahui, Dawson Falls, Stratford and back, an alpinist had an unenviable experience a few days ago. Heavy mist, almost impenetrable, made it very difficult to sight landmarks, and after a trying struggle the climber returned to Nori ,i Egmont, having covered 25 miles in about seven hours—excellent time in the circumstahces. On the journey from North Egmont past Kahui hut the climber was unable, through the mist, to locate Skeet’s Ledge, which is the most practicable way of crossing the Okahu gorge, and after a difficult search he finally crossed the gorge by climbing a steep snow gully at about 6500 feet. In bitterly cold conditions the alpinist continued but feund that it was impossible t'. find Bob’s Bluff, a well-known and practically the only landmark on the little traversed region between . jhui and Fantham’s Peak. Raf.er than continue under such adverse conditions the alpinist then decided to stop and to return over the route he had previously taken. Maori Fishing Grounds At the instance of the executive of the MaoriPakeha Federation special reports are to be prepared on the encroachment of commercial fishing interests on Maori fishing grounds, with the object of making representations to the Government on the matter. At a meeting of the executive recently, several instances were ment.oned of fishing areas used by the natives on the coast for generations, which they did their best to conserve, being fished by commercial interests. The result, it was stated, was that the Maoris were unable to procure a sufficient supply of fish for their needs, and, as fish is a very important item of the native diet, considerable hardship was being suffered. One case particularly mentioned was that of Ohiwa Harbour, near Opotiki, which for generations had been recognised as the main fishing ground for the Maoris living in that district. By not taking fish at certain periods of the year every effort was made by the Maoris to conserve the supply, but fishermen from other districts, it was stated’ had even torn up and destroyed traps ancLuets “