NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 53, 31 August 1926, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Greatford Motor Fatality,

Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) asked in the House of Eepresentatives last night if inquiries would be made at once as to whether there was any negligence in connection witli the recent' serious crossing accident at Greatford. In the absence of the Minister of Kailways, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart said he would draw the attention of the Minister of Eailways to tho matter with a view to having inquiries made.

The Art of Printing.

The Dominion welcomes the man with a family who conies to try his luck in this fair country, but never until today has she been able to extend the hand of welcome to a family of 72—and only then if one can believe the purser's list. In black and white is set down the .arrival of Mr. and Mrs. So-and-So and 72 children. Such a phenomenon caused inquiries to be made by "The Post" representative meeting the vessel; here presumably was a fit subject for a civic welcome at least. But a wrongly hit 'key of the typewriter was responsible for the huge family—it really numbered but two, "7" having been misprinted for "&."

Progress of Suva,

Some idea of the progress which Suva has made during the past few years is given by Mr. J. Douglas Perrott, the Auckland artist, who recently returned from a six weeks' visit there. The roads are now in good order, much money having been spent on them. Nearly all the transportation is done by moans of motor vehicle's. There are 300 of these registered in Suva, and many of the Indians own and drive cars both for private use and for hire. The Tourist Bureau at Suva is a very live body, and makes extensive arrangements for motor drives around the island, and also for trips by water to all places of interest about the islands. The managor of the bureau, Mr. J. Herrick, has asked Mr. Perrett to give information to persons inquiring about Suva. While at Suva, Mr. Perrett painted a number of scenes, mostly of the harbour and its surroundings. Illiese paintings were on exhibition at the rooms of,the Tourist Bureau, and the people appeared much impressod by them. -

Protest Against "Blind" Streets.

On the motion of Councillor C. P. Brockelbank (Deputy Mayor), the Petone Borough Council last evening decided to enter an emphatic protest against tho. making of Bouverie street a "blind" road. Mr. Brockolbank stated that it had como to his knowledge that tho Lands Department intended that this street should not be -a through thoroughfare. The street was an important one-at present, giving access from Cuba street to two of tho big industrial concerns lately established, and it had been intended that the street should run in a westerly direction till it joined either John street or Udy street. He now understood that there wore proposals to alter this, and the council should protest. Petone had examplos enough of the ovil of dead-ends in streets. The Government, which had passed a Town Planning Bill, should be the.last to make such a proposal. He believed the action of tho council would havo tho sanction of not only the owners of property in this street but of all tho ratepayers.

A College Hoax.

Great amusement was caused at the reunion of secondary schools old boys held at Christ's College on Saturday night, by a neatly executed hoax (states the "Lyttelton Times"). It was announced that, in the unavoidable absence of Dr. D, Anderson, who was to give an item, the services of "Herr Backhaus" had been secured, and at great expense the great pianist had consented to como along during the interval and play to the gathering. Then followed a period of suspense for the thought'of Backhaus coming into their midst had put a momentary hush on the laughter and merriment of those present. Then the great pianist appeared; but it was not the Backhaus of the' posters. He wore a mask and a flowing wig. Up to tho piano walked, the impersonator and played to an. audience that gasped for breath between laughs. The unnuisking revealed Dr. Anderson.

Wonderful Clocks,

Two clocks that are adjusted for the next 50 years, to register the time, day of the month, and year, when fire alarms are reported, are part of the equipment of the Wajiganui and Castlecliff Fire Stations, says the "Chronicle." An endless tapo passes beneath stamping dies under the clocks, and when an alarm comes, the time and date are automatically recorded, along with a code of perforations which indicates the locality of ttic outbreak. And the dclicato mechanism of the clocks functions year after year, even making automatic allowance for the occurrence of leap years.

Busy Corridors,

One of tho eommiUoo-roomu hi the Town Hull is a )uiny ofllco during t.he Wellington Competition Bociety's annual festival each year. j.' Irom about 9.30 a.m. onwards tho secretary and liin assistant have plenty to do. Tho door swings backwards and J'orwanlM with visits from competitors, teachers, and parents. Various caniii itro required by tho competitors, and tlion there arc some who desire stage pauses. Tho assistant attends to theso wants. During competition time tho corridors in tho Town Hall aro used, perhaps, more than at any other period of tho year. It is in thoso corridors that test pieces aro often scanned for the last timo, and youthful aspirants for honours receive their final words of advice from fond parents.

Traffic Eesumes.

Canadians and New Zealanders may be brothers under tho skin, but in some things, at least, they aro still as i'ar apart as the distance across a street, says tho "Toronto Globe." Just at the rush hour one d.ay Mr. J. W. Collins, Commissioner of Industry and Commerce for New Zealand, who was in Toronto arranging for tho New Zealand Government's display at tho Canadian National Exhibition, drove a motor-car up to the intersection of King and Yongc streets. Trained in his native land —where traffic still keeps to tho left —ho swung over and proceeded, but not very far, up tho loft-hand side of Yongo street. Brake bands screeched as excited Canadians came to an emergency stop. A traffic whistle shrilled. Over to Mr. Collins came the irate officer on point duty. Then the visitor remembered. "I'm from New Zealand," he explained. "Right," said tho officer. The traffic proceeded.

A Wonderful Change,

Mr. John E. West, Labour member for East Sydney in the Federal Parliament, who is renewing his acquaintance with Auckland West, has recollections of Auckland in the early seventies, for he arrived in a sailing ship in 1874, telegraphs "The Post's" Auckland correspondent. He remained a year, and then went to Sydney. "This is tho first time I have seen Auckland since I left over 50 years ago," ho said. "It is needless to say there has been a wonderful change. When I was here, there was only the Queen's Wharf. Now the port looks as busy as Sydney."

Flaying Area for Khandallah,

A deputation representing the Khandallah Progressive Associatioa waited upon the Reserves Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon .to urge that something should be done without delay to improve Naimville Park, a reserve of about 11 acres, purchased by the Corporation some years ago. There is an asphalt cricket pitch in tho reserve, but for the most part it ia too uneven to be of use as a serious football or cricket area. The chairman of the association, Mr. M. Galloway, pointed out that there were no formed- grounds in the district, and consequently local players had to go to town for their games, one Tesult of which was that city playing grounds wore unnecessarily congested. Nairnville Park, he maintained, could be made into an excellent recreation area at no very great expense. The chairman of the Reserves Committee, Councillor W. J. Thompson, said that he agreed that the park was very suitable for improvement into a fine playing area, and he promised that a sum sufficient to cover the cost of the work would be submitted to the council, and, if approved, would be placed on the schedule of the proposed new loan.

Better Than It Seemed,

A previous resolution which had the effect of reducing the basic wages of the Petone Borough Council's employees by a penny an hour came under review last night, and was thrown out as the product of an error of anticipation. The men .affected have now the satisfaction of knowing that in its place is another which, instead of reducing their pay, adds a penny an hour. Councillor Campbell moved pursuant to notice: —"That the following motion passed on tho 21st June, 1926, be now rescinded: 'That all men on the £4 4s 4d wage receive, as a basic wage, the amount fixed by the Arbitration Court, now under consideration.' " The amount fixed by the Arbitration Court, stated tho mover, was Is lOd per hour, and tho amount the council was paying now was Is lid, so that under this resolution tho wages of the men would be reduced. He believed that such a reduction was in the minds of councillors who had moved the resolution. This statement raised a vigorous protest from councillors, who said that nothing was further from their minds. They had anticipated that the council's employees would benefit by the resolution, and were surprised when the Court's announcement was made. Councillor Campbell was then understood to withdraw his allegation. The motion was carried unanimously, and a further motion that the basic wage for council employees be raised to 2s per hour was also carried.

Carlton Gore on a Small Scale,

During an inspection of certain works and proposed works in tho Kelburn and Botanical Gardens areas yesterday, the Works Committee of the City Council made a stop at Glasgow street, just above Kelburn parade, whero a considerable widening must sooner or later bo carried out. As far as road reservation is concerned there appears to be ample width, but as the outer bank falls steeply, a simple widening cannot be carried out. Probably concrete walling somewhat similar to that placed along Carlton Gore road, but on a smaller scale, will be necessary to make a successful job. Tho cutting away of the "old clay patch" in front of Victoria College is already well in hand, the work being carried out by the Corporation by arrangement with the college authorities, and the spoil so obtained is being used in the widening of Salamanca road. There will not be sufficient to make anything like a complete job of it, but every little helps. As the cutting is at present, it can scarcely be claimed that visibility of the very bad turn from Salamanca road to Kelburn parade is much improved, but a proposal has been made that an island shall be set well out in tho roadway at the corner to separate up and down traffic in a definite way, and so reduce collision risks. Probably, representations will 1)0 made that the apex of the college land should be cut back by fifteen or twenty feet to improve vision, and to give a better sweep for drivers. Those people of Kelburn who have for long past complained of bad road access should look kindly upon the buses, for there is no doußt that bus traffic needs have resulted in a speeding-up of long overdue Toad improvements.

There are at present some 800 young men undergoing training in camp at Trentham. A big percentage obtained leave to come into Wellington on Sunday, and so that they could be suitably entertained, arrangements were made by the local V.M.C.A. to fill in a pleasant hour. Under the aegis of Mr. E. M. Ryan, the local secretary, and Mr. M'Eldowney, of Wanganui, somo 300 lads sat down to tea and enjoyed music, song, and story. The boys were loud in their praises of the V.M.C.A. in providing this relaxation to fill in the tim^ prior to their return to camp.