NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 85, 10 April 1926, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Grave of Captain Hobson.

The grave of Captain William Hobsou, E.N., the first Governor of New Zealand, who died on 10th September, 1842, and wa3 buried in the Symonds Street Cemetery, is to be marked by a suitable memorial, states a Press Association message from Auckland. The grave is at present marked by an ordinary headstone. The Department of Internal Affairs has decided to call tenders for the erection on the grave of an obelisk monument which will form a much more fitting memorial to a man who holds an honoured position in the history of New Zealand.

"Private Shooting."

■ A protest against the liberation of pheasants on the, properties of persons who did not allow the public to shoot over their land was made by a mem-, ber of the Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society on Thursday even-' ing (reports '' The Post's Auckland ' correspondent). The speaker stated that birds, were liberate ed by the society, and then the owners shut out tjie public and kept the shooting for themselves and their friends. The birds, it was urged, should be liberated on waste lands, where the public could get at them. The chairman (Mr. C. A. Whitney) remarked that it was sometimes an advantage to the society for the owners of land to exclude the public. In one such instance the birds had spread over the surrounding d-:trict, and had multiplied, with the result that in* the following year the shooting was excellent.

The Pioneering Days.

For the safe keeping of the, many papers, books, documents, etc., which form the nucleus of the library 1 of the Wellington Early Settlers' and Historical Association, a strongroom is about to be built into the society's hall in Abel Smith street. Thi secretary (Mr. W. A. Edwards) remarked at a gathering of members on Wednesday evening that when it becomes known that there is a safe place for the preservation of th« association's valuable historical records, i..<tn;> books, papers, and other things would no doubt be added to tho collection. Beferring to the need for accurate information about tho early days of settlement in the Dominion, and for correcting misleading statements, Mr. Edwards instanced statements to the t effect that people born about 1843 were among the first white children born in Wellington. Although there appeared to be no statistics of birth in the earlier days of colonisation, records were available of some 200 baptisms before the middle of 1843, and no doubt the actual -imber of christenings must be greater than that number. Members should, help to correct such little mistakes and" Ibok a little more into the association 'a early records. •

A Pacific Menace.

The. Levuana. moth promised a little while ago to become a great menace to the coconut planters of the Western Pacific. The Government of Fiji was thoroughly aroused, and entered with great gusto into what is known as the Levuana campaign with a committee headed by Dr. Tothill, a noted scientist from Canada. Among other methods taken to obliterate the moth was the introduction of a parasitical fly called Pytehomia, from Malaya. The fly has been a huge success, but the latest development calls for special notice (writes a Suva correspondent). The doctor, on a recent trip, to his surprise found the fly many miles away from where any colony had been, planted. Whether the fly has flown across eight miles of open sea or has travelled along some 30 miles of coast remains yet to be proven, but it has doae on or the other, and either shows how aggressive and successful the fly has become. Another very interesting fact in connection with the campaign is that the fly has been settled on tho island of Moturiki before the pest has done much damage, and according to the last report the fly promises to control the moth before it can do much harm. This was an unproved point and one which will have a considerable influence in subduing the pest. As the moth mignt easily have reached any other island in the West Pacific, its control is of paramount importance to the copra industry. The fly is evidently quite abV to hold it in check, if not to wholly abolish it in time.

For the Blind.

A long-cherished dream of the boaKl of trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind—the provision of better living quarters for the male inmates—is about to come true, for a flue two-story building in brick, beautiful in design, and replete with all the latest archii tectural features, is now within a week of completion, and will be officially opened by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, on 20". April (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The new building, the contract price of whieh^was £14,785, marks the completion of the first of three stages in the board's building programme. The building of a retail shop for the display and disposal of'wares made by the inmates is now in progress, and in the near future it is hoped to complete the programme by building up-to-date workshops. The whole scheme involves an expenditure of about £40,000. For many years the male inmates hr.vo been housed in old wooden cottages, the accommodation of which has been unduly taxed. The aim constantly before the board of trustees has been to roplaco all the wooden buildings. In 1909 the present main building in brick was erected, This contains the sleeping quarters for the women, children and staff, the school, the adniinistrativ > offices, the library, and the music room. With this building completed, the bosjrd l.lanned to erect another as sleeping quarters for the men, and, in addition, new workshops. This has now been clone.

The Cause of Fires,

Fully 90 per cent, of the fires which occur in New Zealand are directly' clue to carelessness or, in other words, to 'causes that could- be removed if the general public gave thought to tho prevention of tho heavy fire loss imposed upou the Dominion each year. This is the considered opinion of Mr. W. L. Wilson, superintendent of the Auckland Fire Brigndo under the Auckland Fire I3fiard (states tho "New Zealand Herald"''). In discussing this vital question, Mr. Wilson niado every allowance for the fact that New Zealand is largely a country of woodeii buildings in which the fire hazard is great, but this did not alter his view tlTat fires were occurring much too frequently. /..._.

In Quest of Bis Game.

An excursion in quest of big game in Central Africa has been planned by two Waikato farmers, Mr. W. Livingstone, of Matamata, and Mr. D. Livingstone, of Tuhikaramea. They will leave in May for Durban, and will visit Northern Ehode3ia and Lake Tanganyika. Messrs. Livingstone expect to be away about eight months.

A Record in Traffic Fees.

A new record in revenue received, established by the Auckland City traffic department, was outlined in a report submitted to the City Council by the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr. G. B. Hogan). Eeporting on the operations for the year ended 31st March. Mr. Hogan said that the total Tevenue for the year amounted to £42,534, but if the Court fines for b-eaches of bylaws and regulations, amounting to £981, were included, the total would be £43,515. The total revenue for the previous year was £21,102 (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). A comparative table attached to the report showed that the licenses issued during the year totalled 26,646, as against 18,427 for the previous year. Police Court prosecutions to the number of 1068 had. been successfully conducted by the department, as compared with 470. the year before.. Diseased and stray dogs to a total of 1003 had been destroyed by the ranger at the city kennels during the twelve months.

Eight Years in the Post,

A post-card which has been, on an adventurous journey to the Arctic, and i.which' has taken, almost eight years to reach its destination from. Christiania, the capital of Norway (since renamed Oslo) was received in Auckland this week (states "The Post's" correspondent). It was address id by the-firm of Mustad and Son to Messrs. H. E. Partridge and Company, Ltd., but was received by their successors, Messrs. Malcolm, Wiseman,; Ltd. It was posted on 25th Juno, 1918, with instructions that.it should awak at the lonely northern port of Polhavet the coming of Amundsen's ship Maud when he set out on his projected journey to the North Pole. Amundsen's attempt was long delayed, and it was not until 4th August, 1924, that the letter was reposted at Polhavet, after having been, carried by the Maud to the most northerly point reached by her. The journey back to civilisation has been a slow one, but the card arrived safely at its destination.

Winter at Euapehu.

Tho popularity of the Tongariro National Park as a winter sports playground seems to be increasing (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Accommodation at the three Whakapapa cottages has already been fully booked for the latter part of August, which is recognised as the best time of the year to see the park under winter conditions. Hie Euapehn Ski Club will hojd its annual sports gathering during this period, and th« club has reserved all available accommodation at Whakapapa from 21st August to 31st August. This means that nearly 50 members w MI be visiting Euapehu. There have also been inquiries from other sources for available dates about the same time. The Ohakune cottage will also be in : habited during August, and the fact that these bookings have been made so many months ahead indicates that additional accommodation would be readily occupied were it available. A large number of people visited the park at Easter. More visitors can be accommodated in the summer as the National Park Board erects floored 'tents for those who are crowded out of the cottages, ' Winter conditions, however, prevent the use of tents at a time when, more accommodation would be welcomed.

Cuba street, Petone.

About the paving of Cuba street, Petone, much wordy warfare has been waged. The City and Suburban Highways Board did not in the first place consider that the northern length of this street need be included in its paving schedule,, but the Mayor of Petone did, and various exchanges of lengths were proposed, the Mayor of Lower Hutt also agreeing that Cuba street, as a bus traffic street, should be surfaced, even if other lengths had to be passed by in the meantime. At the last meeting of the board, Cuba street was again to the fore, and it was suggested that it could 100 paved by the board if the surfacing of the Day's Bay road were held up while that work was in progress. The motorists' representative was not present at that meeting, and the views of motorists as to the slowing up of paving to Day's Bay were not expressed, but the chairman of the Hutt County Council, under whose jurisdiction the Day's Bay road is, made it very evident that his council was not in favour of any exchange in which the Day's Bay foreshore road was affected, and consequently hot-mix paving for Cuba street was as. far away as ever. The Petone Borough Council has stuck to its guns, however, that Cuba street must be surfaced, and has, a "Post" reporter was told to-day, entered into a contract for the paving of the length with a cold laid bituminous treatment, in two courses, with a total depth of two and a half inches. - The price per yard, it was stated, is considerably below the cost of laying Hotmix of the standard depth adopted for "Wellington suburban roads. A length of this type of bitumious pavement is to be laid at Invereargill at the request of a majority of the councillors there, and another length is to be put down on the Paremata foreshore road by tho Public Works Department shortly.

Auckland v. Tho Rest!.

"The groat forward movement • in tho Dominion seems to be felt more particularly in tho Auckland provincial district, and the increase in all matters affecting the Dominion shows an average of 30 per cent., or, in other words, the provincial district of Auckland is on a 30 per cent, basis in everything pertaining to the general welfare of New Zealand," states a report prepared by Mr. P. Ej Chcal, chairman of tfie Auckland Bail ways and Development League. Mr. Cheal has forwarded copies of the report to members of the league, and it is his intention to mention several of the matters contained therein at the annual meeting. In population, production, exports, settlement, education and value of land, buildings, plants, and manufactures, Auckland has an averago of over 30 per cent. o£ the Dominion totals. Mr. Cheal claims that the figures which ho has prepared should be an incentive to keep going ahead till the provincial district has reached a 50-50 basis.

"Like Trawling for Kahawai."

"They know they are quite safe. They cannot be shot out. There are none there," said a member of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society on Thursday when a protost was made against the Government's action in. declaring an open season for the shooting of pukeko in the Rotorua district (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). Mr. C. A. Whitney said he wished to emphasise strongly iho unjustness of this decision. The society had endeavoured to persuade the Minister of Internal Affairs to declare an open season for pukeko in tho Auckland district., but the Minister had merely agreed that if in any place the settlers could show that tne virus were doing harm an open season would be declared for the month of May. At Rotorua, where the birds had been practicalty exterminated, shooting was to be allowed duriug the whole season, but in. Auckland, whore they were a nuisance, they were not to be shot. "Anyhow, thoy are only vermin. They are no sport. Shooting them is like trawling for kahawai," remarked another member, i

Unemployment in the South,

The secretary of the General Labour Union, when asked about the yo 'tion in regard to unemployment in Dunedin, said there was a fair amount; and during the past month it had increased, despite the fact that butter and cheese factories and slaughtering works had not yet closed, and harvesting was not finished (states "The Post's" correspondent). He doubted whether the public works so far announced would absorb all the men now in. want of work, along with those who might be expected to be out of work within the next month or two. He was anxious concerning the next three" months, and the difficulties were intensified by immigrants being brought out on the nomination of persons who had no employment to take them to when; they arrived.

Zane Grey's Expenses,

In connection with Mr. Zane Grey's visit to New Zealand an impression appears to have gained currency that the Government is meeting the expense of Mr. Grey's fishing activities at the Bay of Islands and Taupo. It is only fair to Mr. Grey and to the Government Publicity Department that the facts should tbe made known (writes a Taupo correspondent). The Government has granted Mr. Grey travelling facilities on the railways, and has placed the Government launch at Taupo at his disposal during his stay there. Other than this all the expenses of the visit are borne by Mr. Grey himself. A Publicity Department cinematographer has been attached to the party since its arrival in New Zealand, and the film taken of big game fishing at Eussell and trout fishing at Taupo will be invaluable to the Department.for the purpose of advertising the Dominion's fishing attractions. In return for the facilities given by Mr. Grey for the taking of the film he will have a copy, and this_ will form part of a film he is preparing, dealing with big game fishing in the seven seas, while the-Publicity Department will have copies of all photographs taken. The expense that the small facilities accorded Mr. Gray will total is infinitesimal compared with the advertisement that New Zealand fishing resorts will obtain.

Northland Tunnel,

The Northland Tunnel Commission is still sitting, and it may yet be some: time before its finding can be made known to the council, and through the council to the citizens. Further "field'? work has been carried out in the tunnel itself by the erection of staging at several points along its length, and the drilling of the walling to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of certain statements which were made to the Commissioners by witnesses in regard to alleged inadequacy of depth of concrete and consequent weakening of the tunnel, arch. Whether the drilling has confirmed or refuted the statements made cannot be stated at present. Other i,' field" work has included the careful measurement of _ the arch at many points along its length, arch sections then being drawn to exact scale upon the basis of those neasurements for comparison ,with the-theoretical arch. Over a: part of the tunnel the actual measurements and the theoretical measurements do not coincide. Whether the Commissioners will concern themselves about the cost of tin work, tunnel and approach, will, depend upon their reading of the very wide order of reference; it is, •of course, already known that the estimate'has been far exceeded, without taking into account the expenditure still necessary to strengthen the faulty length as sug-gested-by the-Public Works Department. The original estimate was for £17,000, to which £4000 was added to give the tunnel an additional foot of width, but if the proposals of the Public Works Department are given effect to, and an inner ring of concrete is placed in position to give greater strength, the benefit of the extra foot will be almost wholly lost and the benefit ol the extra £4000 lost.

Cook Islands Fruit.

As from Ist April, 1926, no person in the Cook Islands (except the Island of Niue) is to buy fruit intended for export unless he holds a license. Dishonesty is to be a disqualification, from holding a license. . Where application for a license is refused an appeal may be made to the High Court of' ,the Cook Islands. Thanks to the keen interest displayed by the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare (Minister in Charge of the Cook Islands), tomato growing has for some years been an important industry in the Cook Group, and island-grown tomatoes are popular in New Zealand during the winter, when, of course, it is impossible to got supplies of New Zealand tomatoes. Regulations are gazetted designed to protect the Cook Island tomato industry. These provide that all tomato plants must be raised from the 1 seed in boxes, and all plants found to have been raised in beds may be destroyed by order of an inspector. All tomato plants must be trained to stakes, or other suitable support, and as soon as the crop has been harvested the land is to be ploughed in order to prevent disease. Unless this is done the. inspector may forbid the use of the same land for the growing of tomatoes during the next succeeding season.

Electricity in New Zealand.'

"Electrical Progress in New Zealand" is the subject of a v>.ry useful article by the local correspondent of "The Electrical Be view." The writer gives up-to-date information regarding the progress of the Auckland Electric Power Board, and of the work that is progressing in both islands. The total length of power lines in the Dominion is now 6200 miles, an increase of 215 por cent, sinewy 1921, while of the 90,000 k.w. supplied, water and steam, account for 94 per cent., gas 4 per cent., and oil 2 per cent. The increase in the supply available has risen by 24 per cent., and the farming community is increasingly utilising hydro-electric energy. A return shows that the number of milking machined in the Dominion has increased by over 5000 during the year, bringing the total in use up to nearly 20,000. In one power board dstrict alone there are over 1000 milking machines—a figure which approximates one machine to every three consumers in. the district. Electric cooking is also becoming increasingly popular; the increase in the number of cooking ranges installed last year was 1526 in the Mangahao district alone, or threo to every hundred persons. In some other districts the figure is as high as five per hundred. This figure would have been higher in all probability had it not been for the shortage of material .on the market caused by the shipping hold-up. * ■

The Quest for Oil.

The erection of the "rig" in connection with oil-boring operations is now proceeding at Euatorea, the locality of the first well to be sunk in Poverty Bay by the Gisborne Oil Proprietary, ivlrieh ia a subsidiary company to the Taranaki Oilfields. More than 300 tons ol' material were taken from Auckland to Tokomaru Bay by speciallychartered vessels, and the whole of the heavy drilling plant was transported by road to the site of the well. Carpenters in the district have been kept busy lately erecting accommodation houses for employees. Owing to the nature of the roads between Tokomaru Bay and Euatorea it was imporativ/s that the whole of the machinery should bo carted to tho site boforo the fine weather broke, and lorries have been working night and day for over a month. It is expected that the building of the rig ' will be completed in about another month and drilling operations should bo started soon after that.

Canning the Pineapple,

The canning of pineapples in Suva is becoming a matter for immediate interest. The Government is in close touch almost daily with the Canadian Canners, Ltd., with whom they have an agreement to can all the pines from 100 acres, the building and fruit to be pro-vided-by the Fiji Government, while the canners will provide and install all the necessary machinery, and send the staff of experts to can the fruit. They will also find a market for the canned goods (writes a Suva correspondent). The Government has decided to use ths old Customshouse at the old wharf for the housing of the plant, and the latter is expected to arrive shortly. The local crop will be ready for canning in November and the fruit will come from two Government plots, aggregating 30 acres, while some 60 or 70 acres planted by private people will be treated also. The price to be paid will be £5 per ton, at the factory. The experiment will be purely for the purpose of showing what will be the cost and return on the Fiji article, and the probable result to the grower. .Of course, when packing is established on a commercial basis the factory will be. erected alongside the growing fruit, as only by such organisation will canning pay all concerned.