LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 26, 31 January 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The mam roil of municipal electors for the city for the Mayoral, City Council, and Harbour and Hospital Boards elections closed at 4 p.m. to-day. A supplementary roll was then opened, and will close a month before the elections, which are to be held on the last Thursday in April.

The following officers for the ensuing year were elected at yesterday's annual meeting of the New Zealand. Institute: President, Professor Kirk; hon. secretary, Mr, B. C. Aston; hon treasurer, Mr. M. A. Elliott; hon. editor, Mr. J. C. Andersen; hon. librarian, Dr. Cotton.; trustees, Messrs. M. A. Eliott and B. O. Aston.

Plans have been prepared for the Standing Committee of the New Zealand Institute for the building o f an observatory to cost £2000, capable of housing a 12-inch telescope. The dome will cost £730. The building is to "come from the Carter memorial bequest, provided leave can be secured from the Supreme Court to spend £2000 from the funds in hand. An application is to be made to the Court accordingly. A 9-inch telescope" has been offered on loan. •

Recent news from England reports «.-at Bight Rev. Dr. Cteary. who \s undergoing treatment in a Londa-a nospital. is very much improved in health. The Bishop leaves this month for Paris in order to visit Monsignor Ceretti, formerly Apostolic delegate for Australasia, and now Papan Nuncio to the French Government, states the "Auckland Star." He will then go onto Rome in order to present his report of the Auckland diocese to Pope Pius XI., and hopes to leave Italy early in April for Auckland.

"If they start shooting deer at Stewart Island it will be the end of the island- as a bird sanctuary," stated the Hon. G-. M. Thompson at th« meeting of the New Zealand Institute to-day. He said deer were becoming an absolute pest, and the trouble was to fret rid of them. If men were allowed to shoot there they would not be under control, and nonliving thing was safe where there was a man with a gun. The deer were increasing very fast. The meeting decided to obtain further information with a view of the Standing Committee taking action.

A prediction that the New Zealand bands would have to work hard to defeat the Redfeni (Sydney) Band, which is coming to the Dominion coDtest, was made by Mr. P. W. G. M'Leod, of New Plymouth, who returned yesterday from Sydney, after judging band contests in Australia. He,, said an unfortunate state of affairs developed as he was leaving Sydney owing to an adjudicator having to be replaced at the eleventh hour. This caused a great deal of discontent. AH but two- bands withidrew from the B grade and the A grade was expected to japse.

The commander, of the steamer Remuera, which arrived at Auckland from England on Saturday, adopted the practice just before reaching Cojoh, Panama Canal, of giving a lecture to the passengers on th» canal and its history; and just prior to touching at Pitcairn Island he lectured on the mutiny of the Bounty and the colonisation of the island by the mutineers. Captain Cameron, says one of the passengers, is an entertaining speaker, and his lectures make the places visited of far more interest than they otherwise would he. At Pitcaim Island several of the passengers went ashore,' and were very much struck by the simple lifs, and kindly nature of the felanders. The greater part of the funds derived by them from the sale of their produce is given to religious and mission objects.

In the unseasonable weather experienced in Auckland this summer, there have been quite a number of instances when within a short radius heavy rain has fallen, while the *un has been shining brightly at the same time atonother spot not far away, states the "New Zealand Herald." Saturday furnished another illustration in this respect. When the rain came pelting down in the city about 2.30 o'clock, many no doubt thought that those attending the Takapuna races were having an uncomfortable experience. Such, however, was not the case—so far as the weather was concerned—as the rain clouds that came from the west during the afternoon always dispersed before reaching Mount Victoria. As a result, a very large assemblage remained to witness the running off of the whole programme at the North' Shore Meeting.

The Southland Acclimatisation Society's ranger, Mr. C. J. Evans, returned from a trip to the Sounds yesterday morning with photographs of, moose. He cays that a mistake was made in wording Ms telegram, although a notornis, or what was believed to be a notornis, was seen by. two members of the party. It appears that the introduction of Canadian moose into Southland has been quite successful, and that they are now in a very large tract of country. Some of the party approached within two chains of moose at Supper Cove, at the head of Dusky Sound, and secured photographs. Both the moose seen were without antlers, and were about the size of a horse, with immense heads. Regarding the notomw,. Mr. Evans s»id that while the party was at T>usky Sound, a member heard the call of a strange bud. Two of the members went > ashore and saw a bird about the size of a goose and similar in colour and shape to a swamp h«n. The description given and the marks of the bird on tfie beach left him without a doubt that it was a notornis which was seen.

The discussion which has arisen in regard to the relative merits of Southland and Canterbury lamb was carried a step further by Mr. A. Hamilton when he addressed a gathering of farmers in the V.M.C.A. Hall on Friday (states the "Southland News"). He said that as a rule first grade Canterbury lamb commanded approximately one farthing more per pound on the Home market than the Southland product. On the other hand Southland had the advantage ,in weight, the average weight of the / lambs exported for Southland being 371b as against" 35-Jlb for Canterbury lambs. Although Canterbury ' lamb had recently realised one penny farthing more than Southland lamb he considered there was not much difference in the quality. The local product, he also thought, should command a price to within a half-penny 'of Canterbury. Canterbury also had the advantage of an ear^ season and could get its lambs Home on early shipment, so that it reached the market when it was practically bare. North Island lamb, through not as good as Southland lamb, had reached lOd per lb at the beginning of the season because of thU.

A compound fnciu» of the right leg was sustained by Foster Brown,_ aged 25 years, who lives at 56, Todman street, Brooklyn, when the motor-cycle he was riding in Lambton quay about 8 p.m. yesterday collided with a. motor-car opposite Woodward street. The injured man wan taken to hospital.

An unusual incident occurred on the King's Wharf, Auckland, on Saturday morning, when a swarm of bees were seen flying around the Harbour Board's signal tower. After a while the bees flew on board the steamer City of Evansville, moored alongside the wharf, and settled under one of the deck awnings. They were eventually secured by a member of the steamer's crew who put them in a box. ' '

"I was very much struck by tha efficient way in which the advertising in the windows of the New Zealand High Commissioner's office in-London is done," remarked Mr. H. F. yon Haast in the course of some remarks yesterday on his recent visit to England. "They always have an attractive exhibit in the windows, and there is generally such a crowd round it that you have to walk in the street to get by. The show made by New Zealand far surpasses anything of the kind by any of the Australian States."

A Taupo Native named Kepa had a miraculous escape from death d-ii:ug the easterly gale which spring up on Tnorsday. He'was fishing on \be oauern shore of the lake in a 'anie 1 mid was blown off shore. In the heavy sea that was running the canoe drifted helplessly, but by continuous Sialing the Maori managed to'keep his uM fcom" nlling, surf was eventually driven ashore on the west of the lake near Karangahape Cliff. He was rescued on Saturday by a search party, after being 48 hours without food and exposed to the storm.

The progress which the French have made in repairing the ravages of war very much impressed Mr. »H. F. yon Haast on his recent visit to France. On the Somme Battlefield, he sayg, thAre is scarcely a trace left either of trenclfcs or of shell-holes. He noticed some piles of barbed" wire. Looking at the landscape now, one would never suspect that it had been the scene of such carnage as occurred there in recent' years. "On the other hand, the ruins of Amiens bear testimony to the extent to which the town suffered from bombing raids.

When about 30 miles from Lyitelton Heads on Sunday morning, the Canopus struck a huge sea monster, which hung across the stem about 15ft on each bow (states the "Press"): It was rather a ghastly sight, as the stem penetrated the monster's great body. The head appeared to be about sft across, tapering to a sharp-pointed snout, with huge protruding eyes. The captain ordered the helm to starboard and then to port, but the stem was so embedded in the monster that it was impossible to shake it clear. Eventually the ship had to be stopped and backed astern before the bulk slipped down to the depths. ,

The Bylaws Committee recommended the Christchurch City Council last night to .make a bylaw^ requiring persons riding bicycles. to. have them registered. An offer to supply 20,000 red reflectors with the words, "Christchurch City Council" stamped on the back had been received from the council's buyers in London, and it was proposed to give one to each person when registering his bicycle. It was also proposed to jcharge a license fee, which wilL include the cost of the reflector. Labour members of the council protested against a proposal "to tax the working man's means of transportation," as the bicycle was in Christchurch. To ta* bicycles, they said,, would-.,result in a lot'of expense being imposed on men who could not afford it. The Mayor 'supported- the proposal, and said that such a bylaw would tend towards the safety of bicycles from the ravages of the cycle thief. The bylaw was adopted by twelve votes to six. I After an enjoyable^hpliday epent in Dnnedin, the Chatham Wand school children returned to Christchurch on Monday evening. They looked happy and excited. They had added/another memorable experience to the wonderful time they have had on the mainland. Just as in Christchurch, the people of Dunedin laid themselves out to. entertain the young visitors, states the "Sun." They were shown through factories and sawmills, and they thoroughly explored the harbour in launches. Moreover, they were shown over the countryside in motor-cars,,and they spent a joyous time with lemonade and cakes, and all manner of eatables, at a social function arranged by the Otago School Committees' Association. When they left Dunedin, a large crowd gathered to see them off, and cheers were given as the train drew away. At Palmerston South, and again at Oamaru, the civic authorities officially welcomed them in brief ceremonies held on the station platforms.. They were welcomed back to Christchurch by a big party of friends. Soon their less fortunate friends on the island will be regaled with wonderful tales, for the children will return to their -homes as soon as the Rama is ready to sail. This should be within a few days.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie is a trustee with Mr.-F. F. Hockly, M.P., and'Mr, A. Simpson, of the estate of tho iHte'.Nr. Robert Bruce, who was a member of the House of Representatives and one of the most devoted lovers of Nature in this country. Mr. Bruce bequeathed his estate at Ngaruru, on the Turakina River, to be used for the preservation of the native natural beauty of New Zealand. Sir Thomas Mackenzie stated to a "Lyttelton Times" reporter on Saturday that the trustees, in accordance with Mr. Bruce's wishes, have bought, for sanctuary purposes, thirty-eight acres of native forest at Silverhope, about two miles from Hunterville. The plants on the area repreSBnt many sections of New Zealand's flora, and include splendid totaras, white pines, red pines, black pmes, and other forest giants. Tie ne'v sanctuary will be officially opened in March. Sir Thomas, as soon as Parliament meets, intends to consult other members as to the establishment of a bird-protection society, in which he is deeply interested. ■ /

Dorm* hu recent visit to Europe, Mr. a *Yon Haa»t. of "Wellington, went to St. Monti for the alpine winter sports. They are sports," he says, '*to which New Zealanders ought to take very kindly, and there should be facilities provided for such healthy recreation both at the Tonjfanro National Park and in the Southern Alps."

The steamer Kemuera, which arrived at Auckland from England, via Pan.ama CanaVon Saturday, is' the first of the New Zealand Shipping Company's fleei coming to these waters to use oil fuel Passengers state that it was a wekomo change from the use of coal as iuel for there are no smuts falling' from the funnels, and the ship is much cleaner than steamers using coal fuel.

The following awards were made' at, jesterday's meeting of the New Zealand Institute:—Hector Memorial Research Fund Prize, Mr. F. V. Hudson for research in zoology (including animal physiology); Hutton Memorial Medal, Dr. Allan Thomson, for his work in palaeontology; Hamilton Prize, Mr. J. J. Myers (Biological branch of Agricul: tural Department), for original pure scientific research (first time awaided).

That she and her husband lived in an old fowlhouse because they wanted to pay off a »debt ■ was ,the remarkable statement' made by a witness in the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth on Thursday. They now desired possession of the cottage, which they had rented to defendant, they said. Their present place of abode had no flooring or lining, and the only means of ventila^ tion was the door.

When in France recently, Mr. H. 7?.; yon Haast, in company with Mr. Hurst Seager, went to the northern battlefields, and also to see the ;New Zealand war memorials at Le Quesnoy and Longneval. "No one," he says, "who has not been m close touch with the work cau realise the tremendous amount of cara and-trouble that has been given by. Mr. Seager to these memorials. The memoi> ials have received very'high praise from all the authorities—both French and British—for their artistic nature."

The Chnstchurch City Council' was told by Dr. Thacker last night that ho would not stand for the mayoralty at the April elections, but it was quita possible that, he would come forward again at a later date. '-'As a matter of fact Dr. Thacker said; "this city is too slow for me." He said he intended to take a trip to the United States, where the cities were about fifteen years ahead of Christchurch. He would keep his eyes open for suggestions to improve CJmstchurch, and would send them on for the benefit of the city. Before the dose of the meeting of the Christchurch City Council on lHonday night, the -Mayor mentioned that the question of whether the new council should consist of sixteen members or more was entirely in the hands of tho present. council to decide. Seeing the number of new districts that had come into the city since the last election, he believed that the representation should be increased, and he hoped the By-laws and Finance Committee would give tho matter consideration. The' number could be extended from sixteen to twenty