LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 13, 16 July 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Mr. Ayson. left for Taumarunui to-day to supervise the erection of a hatchery for Atlantic salmon on the main branch of the Wanganui River, some distance above Taumarunui. The manager of the Government salmon hatchery at Hakataramea is at the present' time collecting Atlantic salmon eggs in the streams iiowing into Te Anau Lake. To date, about a quarter of a million eggs have been gathered. These eggs are now being " eyed " out at the Te Anau hatchery. This is the first occasion on which. Atlantic salmon eggs have been collected in quantities. AH the young fish hatched this year will bo liberated in the upper reaches of the Wanganui River.

It is stated that those who have pro* perties adjoining the Wairarapa Lake, 100,000 acres of which are under water six months of the year, have had -surveyors engaged with the object of evolving a scheme ta drain the lake. 'An elderly settlor stated that he expected {a liva t-° see the land now under water containing modern homes and kitchen gardens.

At St. John's Presbyterian Church yesterday forenoon a memorial window in honour of the late Mr. John G. W.Aitken was unveiled. The ceremony was performed by Miss Aitken and Mrs. Day (nieces of the late Mr. Aitken) and Messrs. W. Hopkirk, M. D. Men'elaiis, and George A. Troup, ■ members of the Kirk Session. In his address at the dedication service, the Rev. Dr. Gibb said that the window was the gift of the congregation to the memory of one who possessed many fine qualities, the highest of all being his abounding charity. The theme of the painting of the Window, "The Good Samaritan," was in the speaker's opinion peculiarly appropriate, for Mr. Aitken's life was one characterised by beneficence. The memorial service was very impressive!

Pupils of the Auckland Boys' Grammar School were treated oh Thursday to an unique entertainment, in the form of a, wireless concert given during the luncheon hour, under the auspices of Radio. Limited. A motor-car, fitted with aerials and a receiving set, drove'into the playground at midday, its mission fittingly announced by a large placard on the side, "Get your music from the air!" The car was at once surrounded by several hundred boys, who listened with keenesi interest to an introductory speech and a number of gramophone items transmitted fgoin Scots Hall. The items were given through the medium of an amplifier with excellent results, every word being distinctly audible at a distance of.fully SO yards (states the "New ZeaLiiid Her* aid").

The phenomenal increase in the use of motor vehicles in and around the city cf Auckland was brought under the notice of the Auckland City Council test week by the city traffic inspector, who reported that the motor, registration was now approaching the 11,000 mark,. and it would bo necessary to obtain authority from the Department of Internal Affairs for additional numerals. He mentioned that the distinguishing numbers allotted to the Auckland City Council were increased to i 2,000 in January,' 1922, but in view of the abnormal registration of motor vehicles anticipated in the near future, he recommended that authority bo obtained for distinguishing letters and numerals of from 1 to 20,000. On the recommendation of the Finance and Legal Committee it was-decided to make application for authority to increase the numbers from 12,000-to 20,000.

Faulty steering gear was responsible for a mishap-to the United Company's cargo steamer Whangape In the lower portion of Otago Harbour on Thursday afternoons The vessel was on her Way in from Sydney and Hobart via Bluff, and when steaming up the Lower Harbour • she suddenly swerved from the channel course and ran aground at Dowling Bay, north of . Pulling Point. The Harbour Board's tug was immediately dispatched from Port Chalmers to her assistance. Tow lines were passed on "board the tug, which then commenced to pull under her full power, but without avail.. The ebb tide leaving the stranded steamer more immovably embedded on tha sandbank, the tug suspended her towing and returned to Port Chalmers in the evening, as it was evident that further efforts would be futile until the tide began to make after midnight. Captain J. .Mac Lean, harbourmaster, went to Port Chaltaere to supervise the tug's towing on the flood tide, states the "Stai." The Whangape, uftder the efforts of the tug and her own power, floated off shortly after midnight. The mishap was .caused through tha steering gear becoming jammed.

The atmosphere of the Dunedin Police Court has been sombre, not to say sordid, for.some time past, says'the "Star." Therefore it is a relief when something happens to raise a genuine laugh. On Friday it was Sub-Inspector Eceles who caused the gloom to be dissipated for a moment, though his humour was unconscious .It was during the hearing of a maintenance case, the defendant in which was a' very - deaf man. Consequently .the sub-inspector had to convey progress reports in very loud tones. Finally the Magistrate said: "You might tell him he is sentenced to three months' imprisonment." "¥es, sir," said the sub., and, putting his mouth close to the defendant's ear, he shouted: "Are you there?" Everyone in Court, including the Magistrate, laughed heartily, arid the siib.'s collar was in danger of ignition from the heat of his blushes. But he, too, smiled, knowing that his lapse would be widely understood. Flu may come and flu may go, but telephone troubles are with us for ever, and. after all, the query, "Are you there?" is one that not infrequently falls on deaf ears.

The proposal of the Department of Health that the North Island Hospital Boards should jointly take over the control and maintenance of the Pukeora and Otaki sanatoria formed the subject of several letters from, kindred bodies read at a meeting of the Pahnerston North Hospital Board, over which Sir James Wilson presided. A report presented to the meeting said that the Palmerston North Hospital Board had an interest in Otaki Hospital, and at present the hospital and sanatorium were run as a joint concern. The board would be ill-advised to take over the hospital with grounds as at present. If the Department would not continue to administer the hospital, then the board should either abolish the hospital or take over the hospital building and a small portion of the grounds. There were complications here which necessitated careful handling. The supplies should be kept strictly separate from the sanatorium. As the whole concern originally belonged to Wellington and the buildings still appeared- in the Wellington balancesheets, the position did not need to be emphasised. The Director-General.sug-gested that Wellington pay no capital expenditure until the value of the building equalled any. payments Wellington should make. At the present time the board was not losing as much money on Utaki as if it administered the hospital bew patients paid at Otaki. but the board only paid 3s per day for persons treated, wnen the cost must be close upon 17s per day. The question of the maintenance of Otaki and PuUeora sanatoria will be considered at a conference ol Uie Deijartment of Health and representatives of North Island Hospital Boards, to be held i n Wellington on Thursday nest.

The Wellington Cricket Association made the following payments to the Wellington City Council during the past season :—Rent, Basin Reserve, £200 • wickots, city reserves. £303; 15 per cent commission gates, £iOS 16s; extra-la-bour in wickets, £20; total, £928 16s

The Poßtal authorities have received advice from Sydney that the Manuka Jett at noon on the 13th inst for Welo'r'l 1?"' Sh. e cal;ries for the dominion 268 bags of mail from ■ Australia, 448 from beyond, which includes 13 from the East, 3 from Africa, and 392 parcel receptacles. . ■

With tl, e advent of the new pavilion •it the Basm Reserve, when the game can be enjoyed under comfortable conditions, and provision made for reservation ot seats, a campaign could with advantage b e made for increasing the number or members and so place the funds of the association on a more stable baste," states the treasurer of the Wellington U-icket Association in his report upon the financial ■ position. Hon. members' subscriptions last season totalled " £91

ilho matter of hlaking the children's playgrounds in the Auckland city parks available for use on Sundays was brought under the notice of , the Auckland City Council last week by the Amalgamated bociety of .Carpenters and Joiners: The council was asked to amend the regulations governing the control of these playgrounds to permit of the grounds and appliances being available for use by children on Sundays as on wtek days. The matter .was referred to the Parks Committee. . ,-

" About £300 is now available for investment," states the report of the Wellington Cricket Association's treasurer. " Four per cent, can be earned at deposit at the bank for twelve months. In this connection the committee might consider the question of incorporating the association under the Unclassified Societies Act, the effect, of which would be that it could act as a legal entity and not as at present, only through indiviiidal officers,- and investments could be made in the name of the association on.firstclass securities bearing 6j or 7 per cent."

California is not the only land of big trees. One of the.biggest'red pine trees ever handled on the West Coast is lying on the logging bank' at' Messrs. Warren and Feeney's mill at Hari Hari (writes a Greymouth correspondent). The measurements are as follow:—Length 36ft, diameter at the butt 7ft, diameter at. the top 6ft. It contains approximately 9000 ft of timber, log measurement. In order to get the. monster out of the bush, it was found necessary to cut it into 12ft lengths. It is estimated that the tree will yield about 7000 ft of timber i and the major part of this will be clean heart. Although ;this mill is equipped with twin saws on the breaking-down, bench, difficulty wijl be experienced in the breakingdown process.

The Clyde correspondent of the Dunedin "Star" wired oni Thursday mdrnihg :—Rigorous winter weather continues, and the severest frost since 1903 is being experienced. Water' is very scarce, and carting f i-oni the MolyiieuX River has been resorted to by inarty. Lemonade and soda ■ wfcter bottles are frozen, while many bottles have burst. The Central train spent forty minutes here in a'futile attempt to thaw the valves of the railway tanks. Further progress of the train seemed impossible, as similar conditions existed down to Wedderburn. The fire brigade, however, Came to the rescue at .Alexandra, iind the journey was commenced about J ail h6ur- late.' Following the hard frost of last night, it is now snowing heavily.

An uncommon incident occurred at the Magistrate's. Court at Auckland oh' Friday, when the plaintiff in an affiliation cii-se was a young woman who was a deaf mute, and in the absence of the man concerned it fell on her to prove her unfortunate story (states the "Auckland Star"). Luckily she had previously written out her evidence, and on. being sworn. (br writing) she had merely to write down, in reply to a question' pufc in writing, that such story was true. In this manner the evidence was put before the Magistrate, without loss of time. The Court was also assisted by the fact that the'man had made admissions to a witness whose speech was unimpaired, and the witness was able to corroborate the,girl's evidence^ An order of 20s a, week was made, the amount bein? more than usual because the girl's physical disabilities decreased her earning opportunities. \

Live pigeon shooting was condemned at a meeting of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, following on a report by Inspector Webster on the recent meeting of the Ellerslie Gun Club. The inspector stated that no fefvver than 2000 birds T/ei'e shot down at this meeting. Men- and boys were posted at various 'points to bring, in and destroy wounded birds, but lie noticed several birds felf behind a hedge, and no one was sent to look after them until he protested. Such a practice was gross cruelty. " Pigeon- shooting,", said the inspector, '.' is not a nice thing to wateh.j It is hot si sport,,ior the birds are' merely liberated from traps, and they only rißs a f«w yards befwe^ they are shattered by a ' good ' shot/ After the chairman and others had spoken, the former observing that the pigeons never get a chance, it was decided to bring the matter under the attention of Parliament during the present session.

The scars of the April floods upon railway works in Otago are not.yet healed, and cannot be for another month or two, though tho engineering- staff is doing all it can to make things right, remarks the Dunedin "Star." Mr. Charles Beiizoni, district engineer, said on Frjday, in answer to a question on the subject, that the big culvert at Mihiwaka and the smaller one at Carey Bay have now renewed, and the men are now starting to fill in the temporary bridge that carries the line at Mihiwaka. Several'culverts that were broken on the Lawrence line have been : made good. The restoration work on the Catlins line is a more tedious job, and though progress ■ has been made, the position so far as-appear-ances go is practically much the same as it -was a month back; that is to say, the work train, sometimes termed the muck train, i s steadily at work in clearin" fcway the debris from the numerous isups. The wet weather has delayed these operations. The task now in hand will probably last another month, and then tho temporary bridges have to be taken out.

That the study of the German language is practically essential in the case of medical students was urged on- the ■Marlborough College Beard of Gover?S rai-rL-I te ks- fc me6i™S by Mr. J. J. W. White, who stated that he was in receipt of a letter from an old student ot the college at present pursuing his studies m London to the' effect that medical students there were under a great handicap in having no knowledge of the German language, and urging him to impress on the board the desirableness of ensuring that a study, of the language was embraced in the course for .the medical' preliminary.. Mr. H'Callum said German was already an optional subject, but was not-in favour at the present time. He believed that of the 800 odd students iv the University of New Zealand, only one was taking German just now. MiWhite took the opportunity to assure the board that he .had no sympathy for anything German, but said that he considered it his duty to. bring the suggestion forward. The board took no action iv the matter.

The new. boiler for the ferry steamer Duchess, weighing nearly.. 53 tons, was safely landed from the Cumberland at the Jervois.Quay Wharf this irior*Uig.

Business in fruit hawkers' stands is not as. brisk-as it used to be, nor is the interest in the sale of favoured ixisitions in the'city streets as keen as hitherto. A sum of £140 7s 6d was realised at a sale of sixteen hawkers' stands held last week, as compared with £141 7s Gd for a sale conducted four months ago, and £251 2s 6d for a'sale.held in July, 1922. The large drop in revenue to the City Corporation this quarter, as compared with the takings at this time last year, is, no doubt, largely, due to unemployment affecting the fruit business. Apparently the Hindus are not making fronts sufficiently high to justify their bidding up to the prices realised at previous sales.- The most ■ coveted ■ stand is that at Jjainbton quay, which was knocked down at £28 ss. The Bowen street stand realised £24. Others were sold afc prices ranging dowir to £4 10s

In a letter to Mr. <J. A. Young, M.P., the Prime Minister states that, in his view, there is very good reason for continuing to use the existing.roll for unlmpioved values until economic conditions have become more settled. On behalf of the Waikato County Council Mr Young sought a, revaluation of all' m o l perties in the county. . "Similar re . quests have been made by several local authorities throughout. tft Dominion" states Mr. Massey. '"After careful consideration, it was decided not to accede lo them, on the ground that, as practically all the rural districts in the Dominion have been revalued since 1914 in accordance with the standard'of;-un-improved value fixed by the Valuation Department for that year, andi as periods of boom and slump in land values have occurred since the termination of the war,, any attempt to establish now a- new basis of unimproved value at a time of unstable prices v for products would certainly result in a gre^eTnsk of error than the basis now in use."

Reference to the fact that women are rendering service to injured players at football matches is made by a corra spondent ("A.S."), who also recalls tto Mr. Chapman, at- a meeting of the HospiUl Board, was reported to hay* saidLtnat the St. John Ambulance wal Ending its light, under a, bushel." On f^ rf X' aft f ern°°" th* correspondent attended the football match at the Basin Reserve, and, when.-players ■ were ■ hurt endeavoured to ascertain, who (would at! tend to the. injured-players! It was found that a woman member of the St John Ambulance-Association was in attendance.- ■ "Is it: fair to ask the" noble women to come out week by week when so many young-men attend the«e o"wi, d'f y A° Uld give attention, to their own sex? the correspondent• asks The suggestion is made by the' writer that the St. John Ambulance authorities should urge members of-men', clubs to go through a course of training to enable them to help and not be "useless onlookers." rJL Enthusiasts at the Basin Reserve on' Saturday, speak in hi e h praise of the untiring • efforts of the lady who attended to the injured players