NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Locomotive Men's Claims,

The discussions between the Grand Council of the Locomotive Enginedrivers', Piremen, and Cleaners' Association and the Railway Board concerning tho association's claims for increases dbx wages have been adjourned until Saturday to enable the Grand Council to consider further proposals. Dangerous Fireworks. Boys who aye looking forward to celebrating the Fifth of November would be wise to note that the law does not allow fireworks to be thrown about in public places in such a way that passers-by are either endangered, frightened, or annoyed. At the Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. E. Page, S.M., Ronald Dolaney and lan Hobman were each convicted of this offence and ordered to pay the coats. Mr. Elsdon Best's Work. In a review, published in the "Journal of the Polynesian Society," of Mr. Elsdon Best's book, "Maori Agriculture," the writer, "A.T.N.," says:— "The student of Polynesian ethnology should be told that Mr. Best has written for the Dominion Museum one manual, six monographs, and seven bulletins, covering an immense range of subjects, and concentrating in those publications most of our present knowlodgo of the life, usages, activities, mentality, and spiritual concepts of the Maori —rich stores of information gathered during a life-time of devoted and unselfish labour." Hope Misplaced. An anecdote concerning juries wa3 related by Mr. Justice Alpers yesterday. His Honour recalled a case in which he had been engaged, and stated that counsel fpr the plaintiff had strenuously argued that the case should bo heard before a jury. When the jury retired, his Honour said he made a note of the amount of tho damages that ho would have awarded, and was very surprised when the jury awarded exactly half the amount. "Juries are not always what they are hoped to bo," ho remarked. - Railways Requiem. "Within ten years there will not be more than ten lines of electric railway in Canada which will be able to operate and show a profit," was the radical prediction made by Mr. S. L. Squire, Deputy Minister of Highways for Ontario, in an address before tile Canadian Good Roads Association's annual convention at Edmondton on 28th September. Mr. Squire stated that automobiles and motor trucks are gradually supplanting railways and radial lines in meeting Canada's transportation needs. In this connection there should be, ho thought, a very thorough survey of districts in which new railway lines are projected, with a view to determining whether automobiles and auto trucks could not serve the people just as -well. An adequate fee for trucks operating on the public highways also was urged. More than.j £175,000,000 is invested in automobiles in. Canada to-day, Mr. Squires ! pointed out, while £162,500,000 has been spent on the construction of motor highways. Eoad Tunnel to Lyttolton. The scheme for a tunnel road to Lyttolton and the modernised port received the hearty support of tho Tunnel Committee of the City Council, which was addressed last night by the members of the Port and City Committee, reports "The Post's" Christchurch correspondent. Tho following motion was carried, with only one dissentient:— "That this committee, having considered tho present severe disabilities of Lyttelton and Christchurch in regard to wharfage and portage facilities, and having considered the various proposals for improvement, acting on the facts and figures at its disposal, heartily approves of the scheme for tho tunnel road and the modernised port put forward by the Port and City Committee, I and further requests tho City Council to call a conference of all local bodies, commercial and industrial associations, etc., in Canterbury, north of the Bakaia river, with a view to considering the proposal and, if it is approved, to devise ways and means of financing it." New Traffic Control. The decision of tho Auckland City Council to take over tho control of all vehicle traffic at tho principal city intersections was put into effect on Monday. This duty has been carriod out ''by officers of the Police Department for j the past thirteen years, but police control ceased on Sunday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). In order to undertake these duties tho. City Council recently appointed an additional twelve traffic officers, bringing the strength up to 25. The city officers took over the main traffic points at 8 o'clock on Monday morning, and maintained continuous supervision until 6 p.m. This system will be continued daily with control of more important intersections in the evenings when traffic is heavy. One feature of the new order was tho introduction of the manual system of signalling. Generally tho new system appeared to work very well, .and there wore indications that tho use of uniform signals throughout the whole city area will make it easier for motorists to follow the directions of tho points officers. It is the intention of the City Council to mark all intersections with white lines indicating the limits to which vehicles may advance when stopped by the pointsmen. In each case the line for motor and horse vehicles will be 20 feet from tho intersection, and that for tramcars 26 feet from the intersection. The effect of these lines will be that whon a stream of traffic is halted tho vehicles will be clear of tho footpaths, enabling pedestrians to cross while, traffic, is held up. i

An Ocean Battle. During the voyage of tho steamer Wairnii From Auckland to Gisbovne, says a Press Association telegram from Gisborno, tho passengers witnessed a iicrco combat between a whale, swordfish, and a thresher shark, near East Cape. Tho fight continued for a considerable time, and the whalo, which was slowly making its way in the samo direction as the steamer, was virtually overcome. A Maritime Visitor. A playful seal emerged on. Sunday from the sea between Brighton and Taieri Mouth, and, making its way up a culvert, found itself in a paddock among quite a few horses (states the "Dunedin Star"). It seems that the horses were not scared by the sight of so unusual a guest in their domain, and the seal was not perturbed. It stayed I a while in the paddock, and was then observed by some people, who after a ; time gently got it back to tho sea. It is said that as the seal took the water it glanced back and waved a swarthy flapper in such friendly fashion that those on the shore almost thought ho was trying to express thanks for the trouble they had gone to. Health Week Forgotten? Tho attention of a "Post" representative, was drawn this morning to a practice on the part of tho City Council which seems to indicato that the lessons .of Health Week have already been forgotten. In the middle of the morning men with long-handled shovels wero engaged in Featherston street in removing semi-liquid filth from stormwater drains aloug the sido of the street. The odour from this accumulated refuse, which is dumped on the side of the street to await the collecting cart, does not remind one of a rose garden, and the wind ensures its wide distribution. "Why," our informant wants to know, "should this work be done in the principal business thoroughfares during the busiest times of day?" He suggests that in tho interests of health it should bo done at night or in tho early morning. Solid Gold in Clay Rsef. "I had the distinction," said Mr. Moses Ensor, the aged veteran miner, of Auckland, on Monday, in talking over his goldfiold recollections, "of taking out of the ground tho biggest lump of gold ever found at the Thames —a lump of pure metal weighing 31b Coz." This happened when Mr. Ensor was working in the old Golden Calf mine, situated on the Moanataiari Creek, between tho Caledonia and Moanataiari mines. Mr. Ensor and one "Jerry" Black, who had originally pegged out both the Golden Calf and Kelly's claims, were working together for the Golden Calf Company, at the 200 ft level, on a reef of clayey formation—so clayey that thoy had to use chisel-pointed picks—when they struck something hard in. tho clay (states the "Now Zealand Herald"). On being dug out, it proved to bo this lump of solid gold, without any of the usual accompanying quartz. In shape, it was something like a saucer, slightly flattened. Before tho shift ended, other pieces of similar formation were unearthed—enough to All a candle-box. The reef was about 3ft thick, consisting of clay intermixed with quartz. Right through it ran a vertical white streak, and it was in this streak that the nuggets wore found. Convocation Endowment I'und. With a view to assisting to establish the finances of, the Auckland University College on a firm basis tho Auckland District Court of Convocation decided on Monday to take steps to form an endowment fund for the college, to be known as tho Convocation Endowment Fund. In moving the resolution, the president, Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, said there wero on tho roll of tho Court of Convocation over 1000 graduates, and if each agreed to give only 5s a year this would produce £250, which, with the Government subsidy, would make £500 (reports tho "Now Zealand Herald"). An endowment fund was essential to the welfare of the college. The upkeep of the building and grounds involved expense, the college was understaffed, the. library was very meagre and unworthy of such an institution, and a larger number of full-time students was required. The most feasible suggestion for securing more students was the establishment of soi::< form of bursary. The college should uo in a position to assist worthy, capable, and talented students, and this could be done only by au endowment fund. Mr. Mahon said tho college council could be requested to reserve the ■money in a special,fund and the court could make recommendations from time to time regarding tho disposal of the income from the fund. It was decided to establish a fund and circularise all graduates asking them to contribute a sun annually. Big Order for British Contractor. Tho Auckland Electric Power Board has placed an unusually large order with Messrs. Siemens Brothers, of London, whoso Now Zealand agents are Messrs. Cory-Wright and Salmon, for twenty-eight miles of 22,000-volt underground electric cablo for the sum of £65,000. The cable is to convey Arapuni power from Pcnroso sub-station to Auckland City, and will bo laid underground in quadruple for a distance of seven miles from the sub-station to King's Wharf power station, which will then bo converted into a sub-station to step down tho power for city reticulation. Tho four cables will bo of the latest .25 sq. in, 3-core kind, and will be laid coupled in pairs. There will also be a 12-eore pilot cable for protection, making five cables in all with a total length of 35 miles. The cables will be laid 4ft underground on a scoria bed, and will be covered by a concrete slab over j the entire length, and are so designed that any two of the main cables may, if necessary, carry the entire load that will be needed by Auckland. The main cable is known commercially as "H" type, and is a distinct advance on anything previously uaed. Briefly, the individual cores of the cable are protected by an outer sheath of metallised paper which, apart from considerably reducing the amount of insulation nee-' essary—and consequently both the prime and laying costs —also renders the cable practically immune from internal sparking, which is generally the cause of a breakdown. This latter feature of Siemens "H" type cable has a general appeal, for, although breakdowns in high yoltago cables are fortunately not an everyday occurrence, they are peculiarly unpleasant things and are apt to create quite a volcanic disturbance in the affected area. Island Scourges Reduced. The prediction that the next generation of Samoans will be more healthy and more virilo than the present one was made by Dr. L. C. Mail, medical oflicer at Samoa, who arrived by tho Tofua at Auckland on Moiday evening. Dr. Mail said marvellous medical work was being done in Samoa, and yaws and hookworm, diseases which had taken their toll among the natives for years past,! were now under control. Dr. Mail said the birth rate was increasing rapidly and ho believed the figures would disclose a record for the past nine months (states the "New Zealand Herald"). • Valuable ante-natal and child welfare work was being carried on under the direction of Dr. Mabel Christie, and the result of this work was already having its effect. They were reducing infant mortality, and fine, healthy children were being reared. The natives recognised that the ante-natal and child welfare work was beneficial [to them.

■■ General Godley Pleased. Writing from Government House, Salisbury, England, General Sir Alexander Godley acknowledges the receipt of a copy of a New Zealand paper containing the postings to the New Zealand Military Forces. He added: "I have been Much interested to see it an 4am delighted to hear that th» system •.•hic.h we had bc'fofe the war is still working, and that the military spirit of New Zealand is still so flourishing." Nothing for the Ambulance. A motor accident occurred at Penrose shortly befone 11 o'clock last evening, telegraphs "The Post's" Auckland correspondent. It appears that a demonstration car was being driven towards the city when it crashed into a rock wall and overturned. One of the passengers was pinned underneath and, as it was thought ho was injured, a St. John Ambulance was called. In the meantime an army of helpers arrived from a nearby billiard saloon, and managed to extricate the man. When the ambulance arrived the overturned car was still there, bu'; all the four occupants, two men and two women, had disappeared. A Kara" Bird. A rare migratory bird, the long-tailed cucko.o, a native of 'the islands in the South Pacific, was found dead on the verandah of a, house in on Saturday afternoon, says the "Daily Telegraph." Its decease is probably to be accounted for by the fact that the house cat was sitting beside it, with a self-satisfied air. The bird was about the size of the Now Zealand tui, but had a much stronger bill and a larger head. It was barred and streaked with a beautiful brown plumage above, and below had white feathers streaked with brown-, ish-black. Its habits are migratory, but it visits both the New Zealand islands about October and November. It is said to breed in this country, but the grey warbler performs the task of rearing the young. These cuckoos leave this country in late autumn, and return in early October. Mr. H. Hill, of Napier, identified the bird, and stated that it was 25 years since he had seen a long-tailed cuckoo in Napier. A New Hostel. A hostel containing 66 bedrooms is to be erected jn the Auckland Mental Hospital property at Avondale to accommodate the resident nursing staff. Tenders for the work are being called by the Public Works Department, and it is conditional that the structure should be ready for occupation within six months. The site is on a large vacant area to the south of the existing hospital laundry, and access will be from Gladstone road, which borders the eastern 3ide of the section. The building is to be a single story wooden structure of three parallel wings 40 feet apart. Two of the wings will be about 150 feet long, and 24 feet wide, and these will be devoted exclusively to bedroom accommodation. Otira Tunnel Traffic. October 13th was the best single day the Bailway Department has had 'in traffic through the Otira tunnel since the opening, the tonnage hauled being 2230, says the "Press." The average for tlio month was about 1500 tens daily. Five goods trains were required daily for the haulage of the waggons, whereas the Department has been required to provide on occasions ns many as eight. October was a good month in aggregate tonnage, the total being 40,958 tons, as compared with 41,268 tons in September. Since the tunnel was opened the figures for October have been as follows :r-1923, 20,558; 1924, 28,165; 1925, 27,234.