MEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 27, 26 October 1940, Page 13

MEWS IN BRIEF

Wellington Mayoralty

Arrangements are being made for a deputation of citizens to wait upon Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, mayor of Wellington, with the request that be should again offer himself for the office of mayor. Mr. illslop has now held the office since 1931, a record in the history of the AVellington municipality. River Mouth Shifting.

The mouth of the AVaimakariri River is reported to be moving south again. After the big flood last year, the river cut a new mouth for itself near Kairaki and there were hopes that the mouth would become stabilized at this position. However, after the recent flood the mouth of the river is again reported to be on the move south. Sale of Petrol. Some confusion apparently exists among motorists as to whether petrol resellers will be open on Labour Day (Monday), but it was stated officially yesterday that normal weekday hours of trading will be observed. Petrol stations will therefore be open from 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. as usual.

Giant Petrels at Auckland Zoo. Recently washed up on AVaihi Beach in an exhausted condition and sent to the Auckland Zoo for care, two giant petrels are thoroughly content in their new home. They are now fully recovered and spend a great deal of their time on a small pond near the elephant house. The birds are free to fly away, but, though they make short flights, they always return to the zoo.

Collided With Whale. A passenger liner struck a whale in the Tasman Sea recently. The whale became fast on the bows of the ship, which had to go astern to free the carcase. The collision with the whale did not cause a noticeable jar, but members of the crew who were working on the bows saw the whale just below the surface. They reported to the ship’s officers, who considered that the huge carcase would impede the vessel’s progress. Accordingly they decided to go astern. The same vessel hit a whale in the Tasman Sea about, two years ago.

First-Aid in Schools. Many hundreds of children in the Auckland metropolitan area have received instruction in first-aid and home nursing, and the methods adopted by St. John Ambulance Association instructors have been commended by school committees. This week the association received a letter from the Parnell school committee asking that the courses for boy and girl pupils in their final year at school should continue. Already more than 100 pupils at Parnell have received certificates in one or both of the first-aid and home nursing subjects.

Berlin “War Cry.” The Berlin “AVar Cry” reports campaigns by the acting-territorial commander, Colonel Busing, and the general secretary, Lieut.-Colonel Gruner, as well as of such veterans as Colonel Rothstein (R.). Numerous conversions are reported. Corps reports speak of Mothers’ Day meetings, Young People’s demonstrations, army weddings aud funerals, officers’ farewells aud welcomes. Reference is made to appointments taken by officers’ wives, their husbands being on military service. The reports are very much as in normal times, with a fine Salvationist ring about them, says the “Now Zealand AVar Cry.”

Compulsory Loan. The fact that Gazette 105 constituted notice to all persons concerned with the compulsory internal loan of £8,000,000 is made clear by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, in a telegram received by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in response to inquiries. “Any person who does not by November 8 either take up his correct quota of the present loan or lodge an appeal commits an offence against the regulations,” the Minister’s reply states. “In such cases notices will be sent and other appropriate action taken. Appeals are to the Minister of Finance and should be addressed care of the Secretary to the Treasury.”

Wonderful Lake Titicaca. Mr. Walter Herron, of toe Bolivian Indian Mission, now in AVellington, tells of the comfort of steamer travel across Lake Titicaca, in Peru (on the route from the Peruvian coast to Bolivia). This is the most marvellous lake in the world, for the surface of the lake is 12.370 feet above the level of the sea. It is 165 miles in length, and from 70 to 80 miles in breadth. Even at that height, where newcomers find it somewhat laborious to breathe normally, there are Indian villages, ami their inhabitants are numbered among the strongest in the country. Steamers built on the Clyde and taken out in sections ply upon the lake from Puna to Guaqui, which is the lake port of entry for La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia —the highest in the world. The Old Bethel.

Extensive alterations arc being made to the old Bethel building, a former place of worship, which stands at the corner of Bert and Edward Streets, Wellington. This building must be nearly 70 years old. The builders engaged on the alterations say that the square-shaped, hand-made, wrought iron “youbang” nails they have discovered in the premises have not been used for well over 60 years. The square-headed floor brads found all over the old floors, too, have not been in use for more than half a century. The Bethel, which is being turned into a showroom and factory for a radio manufacturing company, was conducted for many years by the late Mr. Samuel Costall (formerly Government Printer). It was said to have been in existence when the Wesleyan Methodist Church occupied a site in Manners Street opposite the present Regent Theatre.

Import Restrictions. "While restrictions of imports, and control of currency seem to have been adopted throughout the countries of the world with increasing tendency, there must be serious thought whether, in the new economic order which it is expected will arise at the conclusion of hostilities, such methods will be accepted. or perhaps tolerated.” states a clause in the annual report of the Now Zealand Importers’ Federation. “It may be that there will lie a sweeping away of all the artificial barriers to trade which have been raised higher in recent years, and the nations of the world will realize that one of the surest ways to promote peace is to promote international trade. Nations will sell what they can best produce and buy what they cannot economically produce —in place of the present forcing by artificial methods of production of goods which can be better and more cheaply produed elsewhere. This may lie a vain hope. but it must appear to all thinking people that a lasting peace cannot be built on foundations of rivalry and jealousy of which one example is the prevention of exchange of goods between countries.”