LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The work of duplicating the tram tracks in Coutts street is being continued this week. About twenty chains of new line have still to be laid. A great deal of work has also recently been done to the existing tracks in track and bed maintenance and repair work. The TJunedin Chamber t)f Commerce has written to the -Tostmaster-General, reports '."The Post's" Dunedin correspondent, , asking when the work of removal of .the old post office building is likely to be" begun, preparatory to the erection of the new post office, for which £20,000 was placed on' the/Estimates. ' His :nftieth- ascent of Mount Buspehu has been made by "Mr. T. A. .Blyth, and this is said to .be a world's record.' Mr. Blyth reports that the temperature of the crater lake is much lower than "it has been'in recent •years. It-now reg- ■ isters .50 degrees (states the "New Zealand Herald"). - The,2ooft slide on. the southern slope is now in excellent condition. An impudent theft was committed at the Auckland Post Office on Saturday afternoon. While writing a telegram, a man put a parcel .containing a wicker basket at his feet. As soon as he had handed in-the message he looked for his parcel, but it had disappeared. The parcel was later discovered at the left luggage department of the Devonport Ferry Company. The police were informed, with the result tfeat when another man claimed the paroel shortly after 10 -pjn. on .Satu.rday:_he was arrested on a charge of. theft. The ferry steamer Maori ran another excursion to Picton yesterday in perfect weather conditions, which were a pleasant contrast to those experienced during ths trip on New Year's Day. The Maori left Wellington shortly after 8 o'clock" yesterday -morning, carrying 630 passengers. Picton was reached at 11 a:m.,..after an ideal run y with light winds and smooth seas. A thoroughly .enjoyable time was spent on shore ,by the holiday -makers, and the return trip was commenced-at 2.40 p.m. Conditions were again almost perfect, and the Maori-reached :her berth at the Ferry Wharf at 5.30 p.m. Eeports: from different ..parts of the district, .states the "Waikato Times," indicate that the recent rains aided by the subsequent spell of -fine congenial weather, have saved the situation to a -considerable extent, and the countryside has, in fact, taken pn. the aspect of a second spring. The milk production, which it was feared would fall considerably, has been maintained, and even increased. The prospects for the autumn are now considerably brighter, although it would be futile •to expect such ar. abundance of feed as was "experienced during the last two years, when the autumnal rains were preceded by so much rain. The claim that bowls is a peaceable game and does not involve any "risk pi danger to either players or spectators was upset by an amusing incident that happened during the .pairs games on the Canterbury Club!s green on Saturday afternoon (states the "Xyttelton Times"). W. F. Baphael, -a Sumrier skip, with a reputation for terrific drivingyvhen he wants to "burn a head," was responsible for two casualties. The first occurred when'he drove his bowl with great force from the north to the south, end of the green. The bowl missed the "head" it. was intended for, smashed into the ditch, bounced into tho air, landed on the. toe of a spec-, tator, then, bounded into the air again and • landed on "the head of another onlooker. The victim's head soon developed a big lump, but he was /not; badly injured, and regarded the.incident philosophically. — A'unique "Church in the -pines" has been made by the eighty V.M.C.A. boys camping at JKairawi. Services held in the marquee did not satisfy them, so they started to build their own temple in a small cove of amphitheatre shape surrounded by stately pines (states the "Christchurch Press"). • Thick pinebranches supported by stakes have serv T ed to terrace the banks, allowing for over a hundred to- be seated in comfort. The pulpit or desk is the trunk of a pine tree about two feet in diameter, and on "the right are choir seats in rustic work of branches coveced with con«s. The entrance through the valley on tlie left has been arched by the'meeting of two larg_e branches supported by two living pillars. Along side the pulpit is a cross made from two cone-covered branches, in keeping with the surroundings. At the service of dedication chimes from the camp gramophone called the group to ch-irch. . In Saturday's papers a minister in one of our city churclres advertised as his subject for Sunday evening's service, "Shaving with a Hired Razor" (states the "Otago Daily Times"). At the morning service the minister explained that this title so shocked a good Presbyterian elder that he telephoned him that he objected to such subjects, as not being in accordance with Presbyterian teachings. To this complaint the minister replied that it might not be in accordance -with the teachings of Presbyterianism, but that it was in accordance with the teachings of Scripture, and that was what he was most concerned about. If vhis_ good friend the elder would study his Bible and read a chapter in Isaiah he would find mention made of shaving with the hired razor, and ample warrant for the title of the sermon. At the evening service the minister duly carried out his promise, and preached on the advertised subject, to a large and appreciative congregation from Isaiah vii., 20. As a result of the conference between the Minister" of Marine and Mr. F W Furkert (Engineer-in-Chief) and the Gisborne v Harbour Board and its official, 'an agreement was reached yesterday with reference to- problems arising in connection with the proposed modified harbour scheme, states & Press Association message. An essential feature of the alterations is the removal of the present groyne and the construction of a short breakwater running from the end o' the present groyne. What is aimed at by the construction of this outer wall is to enable the seas to sweep, the silt emerging from the diversion away from the harbour mouth, and')' further, to provide a much larger inner basin for wave expansion purposes. The Minister will consult the Crown Law Ofi'ce a^ to whether the proposed modified harbour can be built under existing legislation without further reference to the ratepayers. Before they left England (writes The Post's London correspondent) Mr. Massey and Mr. F. D. Thomson caught the tram for Lincoln, to spend a long-promised week-end at Hartsholnie Hall, the residence of Lord and Lady Liverpool. Colonel the Hon. W E Collins and Mi's. Collins and Lord and Lady Monck (Lady Liverpool's father and -mother) were members of the house party. On Sunday mohung the.'weather was fine, and Lord Liverpool took advantage of this to show Mr. Massey over his farm. They inspected the cattle and sheep, and generally Mr. Massey got an insight into the system of farming in this part of the country. The estate is 3,000 acres in extent, and of this Lord Liverpool farms 1,000 acres. The grounds, which include a fairly large lake, are a beautiful example of ■an English country home. In the afternoon Mr. Massey returned to London.

• On the voyage from Auckland to Gisborne:the Arahura .passed fairly close to where the Port. Elliot is stranded, and the passengers had a .good view of the wreck. The liner "presented t]ie appearance of ; lying at anchor, very close inshore. There ivas nothing to indicate the actual "condition, of the ship. Three .glass signs' to indicate tramway stopping-places have been erected in Qjueen street, Auckland, one on the outward line at the junction of Shortland street, and two on the inward line, at the junction of Wyndham street and at the junction of "Swanson street respectively. They bear the words "Cart Stop "in white betters on a black background. It.is intended to erect a similar sign at each tramway stop.

Several deaths caused-by ilood-poison-ing- have been reported during the past week, -and it ias been suggested that in ai least .two :ca*es injection has been due to the bite-of a mosquito or other insect (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Investigation, 'however, has elicited the information from the doctors concerned that in .both fcases "the trouble loading to the poisoning became virulent from a local condition.

Boys are now offering freely in Dunedin as apprentices to the carpentry trade, but the employers are not very keen about indenturing them, saying thatthe-apjjrenticing conditions imposed by law are "such as to give the masters a considerable amount of trouble, says "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent. One of the:- employers pat the position concisely by saying: "I want apprentices but I.don't see my way to •wet-nurse them." ' . - .

The "joy-Tider," of -whom the motorist lives in something akin to dread, ,is still active in Auckland, and the switchkey is as necessary as ever (remarks the "Star"). Two cars "were "borrowed" last week by some irresponsible persons, but both Were recovered by the police, one slightly damaged. Strange as it may seem, .people are, as a rule, indisposed 'to give the police information when inquiries are being made relative to missing cars. Motorists give every assistance,- •but those "who* 'have never owned a car seem to look upon joy-riding as a sort.of joke, for which offenders should not be-punished. This makes the work of the police difficult.

A Waimate .grower of raspberries doing business with a Wyndham firm wroje recently to say that he cannot fill :an order, not -having a berry left (states the " Otagb Daily Times "). i""There was a rice little picking for today (14th),- but -all day -yesterday we had a most awful nor'-wester gale. It blew every .berry oft -the bushes. . . . We have lost everything, after all our year's "labour and -expense.. • We only picked off this'season as much fruit as we have .picked in one day in other seasons. Everyone is the same in 'Waimate. All orchards are stripped, grain threshed out. Cows are Unsaleable—no feed—^everything burnt up. We have had>-six weeks of nor'-westers, und 'hardly a drop of rain. Perhaps your customers may, pity instead of blamiag. us. We have lost all." . . '

The Christchurch Tramway Board on Monday reached its majority, that day ' being the twenty-first anniversary of its •foundation, says the "Press." My. Sykes, -at a meeting, of the board, said'that the 'first loan of £250,000^ had been raised in Jnne, 1903, 'and during the |tvjenty-on*. years which had passed since' 'then the capital expenditure (to March ' last) was £1,230,000. Mr. Ci. Pearce was the drily member wTio Tiad Bat on the board continuously! since its iriception. ilr. Pearce said he vas pleased the system "Established twentyone years.ago had been' successful. It was 011$ a matter of time when all the extensions would be paying. Mr. G. T. Booth said that a- business man, \who»e judgment rauld be considered sound, had told him-before the creation of the board that the system was-a good thing, But would never pay. That prognostication had been very wide o£ the mark. The chairman (Mr. A. S. Taylor) said the citizens of ChristchurcU had every reason to be .proud of their tramway system, which was the equal of any in the world.

.A. few day* ago two men Were seen in the neighbourhood of yhere Bowling and Lower High streets, Dunedin. join busily shovelling from open sewer tanks a i collection of rubbish typical of tho stuff which after a swim along the gutter finds its way down the gratings to tha mysterious depths below, says tho "Otago Daily Times." As it was romoved each shovelful, was turned over, "chopped up," and carefully scanned. Tho search was for* two first-class singlo railway tickets to Auckland, \vhich. among other contents of a purse, had been stolen by a couple-of boys, who, when 'they "were apprehended," stated that they had thrown the tickets down, a grating. ; One of tile tickets wan found, in a very sodden state, but still enough bf a ticket- to save the owner tho £5 which represented its value!

During the next few months there will be a record homing flight oh the part of New Zealanders eager to visit the Empire Exhibition, which will _open iv May (states the ".New Zealand Herald"). It js estimated by one-authority, closely in touch yitji Ettipping conditions, that there will be .an exodus of nearly 10,000 people from the Dominion during stho next few months. Every boat on every route, timed to leave between February and May, will have a full passenger list, and bookings are already so heavy tjhsA those who intend to England for the Exhibition and have not yet arranged their passages are advised 'to do so at the earliest possible moment. March, April, and May are always busy months in respect to overseas travel, but this year the demand for accommodation will probably establish a record. The bookings/ althpugh heavy, are n&t-yet greatly in advance of; those of last year, but they are very much ahead of time. As far back as last Auugst, intending jassengers pencilled their bookings' for March and April, thus obtaining the best of the accommodation. A certain amount of accommodation is still available by most of the lines, but those who leave the booking of passages until the last moment are courting disappointment. A representative of the firm of T. Cook and Sons stated yesterday that a large number of New Zealanders are booking not merely for England, but for Nile and Palestine lours en route.- The Con-; tinental tour will, also be taken by many on their y-'ay to England, the favourite' route being from Marseilles, through the Riviera, Monte Carlo, Naples, and Venice, thence via Switzerland to Paris and London.: