NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 125, 23 November 1926, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Technical College Workshop. „ On Wednesday evening, Bth December, the new Technical College workshops at Mount Cook are to be opened by the Hon. R. A. Wright,-Minister of Education. The whole of the college will be thrown opgn for inspection by the public, and those interested in technical education will have an opportunity of seeing tho students at work. Charges for Practice Wickets. The matter of increased charges for practieo wickets at the Basin Reserve, about which the Wellington Cricket Association had received a deputation from clubs last week, was considered again at last night's meeting of the W.C.A. Management Committee. The chairman (Mr. C. G. Wilson) pointed out that while the ehargo was being brought into line with that for practice wickets on other city reserves, tho fees had been raised after the -Tickets had been granted. This was perhaps not quite fair to the clubs concerned. After some discussion, in which suggestions were made that clubs in some cases might readjust their subscriptions and that financial assistance might be obtained in other ways, a decision was made that tho extra charge for practice wickets at the Basin Reserve be not made this season, but that from next season the charge bo £6 per wicket instead of £3, as at present. The National Memorial Project. The proposal to build the National Memorial and National Museum and Art Gallery on the Mount Cook site was the subject of comment by Mr. J. H. Howell, director of tho Wellington Technical College, last evening. "I think it may be well that the attitudo of tho Technical College on this important matter should be made clear," said Mr. Howell. "It is true that tho erection of a big block of buildings on the front of this site would take away .^ll the best of our view, but that is of small importance when the matter is looked at from a. broad standpoint. The Mount Cook site is the centre of tho population of Wellington, and is always Jikely to remain so. If the National Museum and the National Art Gallery are situated on a central site it is obvious that they will be much more used than if placed elsewhere. In this position they.will bo adjacent to what will be three very largo secondary schools and not far from four large primary schools. Our art school, which serves the whole of Wellington Province, will, within a fow yoars at least, bo removed to the -Mount Cook site as a permanent location, nnd.it would clearly be of very great advantage to tho students who are to be I rained there to have such ready access to the treasures which tho Art Gallery and the Museum will contain if a distinctive national art is to be developed in New Zealand. From an educational standpoint therefore it is obvious that tho Mount Cook site is tho most desirable for the homo of tho National Muscim, and Art Gallery." Members generally approved of the proposal, and a resolution was carried, on tho motion of Mr. C. H. Chapman, to the effect that tho Mount Cook site was the best for the project.

Responsibility Not Ended. "It is an extraordinary thing that the moment a man is divorced he scorns to think that his obligations cease, and that he can immediately forget about his children and any responsibilities in- connection with them," said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when a defendant who had obtained a divorce from his wife applied for the recession of an order for maintenance in respect of his children. Allegation of Delay. Delay on tho part of tho Arbitration Court in making an award covering oil storemen in the Wellington district is alleged in a motion carried yesterday at a mass, meeting of storemen employ- I ed in the Hutt road oil stor.es. The resolution is as follows: —"That this meeting of oil storemen strongly protests against tho action of tho Arbitration Court in unreasonably delaying 'the making of an award in the Wellington oil storemen's dispute, in the matter of wages, a3 referred to the Court from the Conciliation Council, and heard by the Court on 10th September, 1920. We also further urge that tho matter be brought under tho I notice qf the Minister of Labour for investigation. It is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that there can be no justifiable reason for such a lengthy delay in making an award. We therefore claim that the award when made should be retrospective from the. date of hearing the case, viz., 16th September, 1926." "Stuff and Nonsense!" There has been in New Zealand a widespread fight between the live trees that bear leaves and the dead trees that blossom forth in insulators. In Hawkes Bay, lovers of tho beautiful are putting up a fight, for the Napier "Daily Telegraph" writes: "For some days past now a rumour has been gathering strength that the Hawkes Bay Electric Power Board, in the course of its operations, would presently be laying axe to the poplars that form tho beautiful avenue at the Pakowhai Bridge. \ln order to ascertain if there was any truth in the rumour, a 'Telegraph' reporter approached Mr. H. H. Wylie, the secretary of the board. 'Stuff and nonsense,' was Mr. Wylie's caustic comment. 'The board has no intention of touching any of tho trees in the avenue. Anyone with the slightest grain of common-sense would realise that such a beautiful setting of frees would have to remain intact at any price. I may say, however,' he continued, 'that the board has gone to no little expense in deviating its linos somewhat so as leave these trees as they are.' " Duplication of Pacific Cable. The duplication of tho Pacific cable was completed at tho week-end, according to an announcement by the Pacific Cable Board. The last splico iv tho section from Panning Island to Suva was made early on Saturday afternoon, and the last in the Bamfield-Fanning Island section on Sunday afternoon. Both cables are reported to be testing satisfactorily. The work has been delayed on account of exceptionally unfavourable .weather at both Fanning Island and Suva. Tho cables will remain in the contractors' hands for a further thirty days, and if they continue to tost electrically perfect for that period of submersion, they will then be taken over by the board for the transmission of traffic. Direction-Finders and Fog Signals. Although votes were made by Parliament last session for the installation at Poncarrow Head and Godley Head of radio direction-finding stations similar to that at Capo Maria van Diemen, which is to operate as from Ist December, it may bo some time before the plant is .bought and the stations are I put into working order. Tho farine Department is anxious to see to what extent vessels make use of the Northern station before it proceeds with the other installations. The value to navigation of radio beacons is widely acknowledged, but in order that vessels at soa may benefit by the transmitting apparatus ashore it is necessary for them to bo equipped with a complementary instrument, and the completion of tho beacon programme at Wellington and Lyttelton will probably depend upon tho number of steamers which are so equipped. A diaphone fog-signal apparatus for use in thick weather is now., being erected at Poncarrow, in tho vicinity of the lighthouse. Excavation work is also in progress on the cliffs at Godley Head with a view to the installation of a similar warning device there. Technical Education. Comparison between tho ■.amount spent on technical education in New Zealand with that spent in Victoria was made by tho director of tho Technical College last evening. "The annual report on technical education shows that the expenditure on this branch of the service in 1925 was £209,000, an increase of £15,000 as compared with the previous year," stated Mr. Howell. "Tho greater part of the increased expenditure is due to the natural increase in salaries, and allowances caused by the expansion of the work, the expenditure on buildings and equipment being £37,----000, as compared with £31,000 in 1924. Wo hear a good deal about our large expenditure on education; but in the State of Victoria, with a population of only 15 per cent, greater than that of Now Zealand, ,the expenditure on technical education was £342,000." Lower Hutt Projects. The Estates Committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, of which Councillor E. W. Hunt is chairman, submitted to the Council last evening two important proposals which the council unanimously approved. The first relates to the provision of office accommodation. In tho last proposals submitted to tho ratepayers was one for the erection of a block of buildings, on the site known as Feist's corner, to comprise a town hall and concert chamber, borough offices, and a number of shops and offices. The present proposal eliminates the two halls, making provision for shops and offices to let and borough offices, but so planned that the town hall may be added at a future date upon the approval of the ratepayers. The suggestion was critically examined by the council, and on tho Mayor's assurance that the venture should be self-supporting was approved. The second proposal relates to the widening of various narrow streets. The •Estates Committee proposed that the council should seek authority from the | ratepayers to raise a loan of up to £20,1100 for investing in lands adjoining narrow streets, so that they could be widened, and the balance -of the land resold. It was pointed out that it was not proposed to raise the whole sum at once, but each street would bo dealt with when reported upon. By this method the council would receive tho enhanced value of tho land adjoining the widened streets.

Economy in Pumping. Tho change-over from the method of pumping its water with a suction gas plant to an electrically-driven plant has proved very beneficial to tho Lower Hutt Borough Council. The engineer reports that tho cost of tho two systems was: Suction gas, l|d per 1000 jalbns; and electricity, jj-d per 1000 gallons. During tho last fortnight 0,917,660 gallons were pumped. The pumping of tho sewage by electricity has effected a saving of 300,000 gallons of water per week, previously used by the hydraulic pumps. Tho council, on the recommendation of the engineer, has decided to install a Venturi meter at its waterworks.

New Hutt Bridge. The borough solicitor of the Lower Hutt Borough Council asked the council last night to fix the proportion of contributions it considered should be paid by adjacent local bodies to the proposed now bridge. The Mayor proposed that the matter be first referred to the Finance Committee to report to a special meeting of the council. The council should give the matter careful consideration in order that the local bodies would- be prepared to accept the decision of the council without the Betting up of a commission. His suggestion was adopted. Building Zones in Hamilton. The opinion that the time had arrived when tho Hamilton Borough Council should pursue a'more progressive policy in respect of tho buildings erected in the town was expressed at a council meeting by Councillor Pinfold, who suggested the creation of building zones with a view to preventing the erection of unsuitable premises in certain areas. It was resolved to set up a committee to consider the establishment of definite building zones for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes with a view to restricting the building of unsightly and unsuitable places of business in areas where they were not wanted. Under the provisions suggested no permits would be issued for buildings which did not come within the classifications or conform with requirements. Awaiting Developments. Comment has frequently been made by visitors to Lower Hutt upon the fact that the council has allowed the portion of tarred macadam in Riverbank street and in the business portion of the town to remain while less important parts of the main road have been paved with hot-mix. The streets in question were taken over by the Highways Board some time ago, and the only reason why they have not received attention is that the council was not in a position to give tho now levels until the height of the approaches to the proposed new bridge at the end of Railway avenue had been ascertained. Other reasons are that the erection of the proposed bridge will make Riverbank street a side road, and that the council desires to rearrange the sewage and storm water drainage in the main road immediately north of tho present bridge. The council last evening, therefore, decided to bear half the cost of the Highways Board in putting the streets into a good state of repair and to undertake the responsibility of repairs until the paving can be gone on with. A Civic Display. The Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. W. T. Strand) was last evening, as representing the council, presented by Councillor L. T. Watkins, in his capacity of president of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society, with a Royal Horticultural Society's bronze medal, awarded to the council for its magnificent display of cut flowers, from Riddiford Park, shown at the recent Hutt Valley Rose Show. The Mayor, in thanking the society for its award, said that credit for the idea of showing the flowers was duo to Councillor Grierson, and the credit for growing the flowers should be given to Mr. G. A. Chapman, who had done such excellent service in. connection with the park. •The council had in the past and would in the future endeavour to increase the open spaces for children, which were so necessary to-day in order that children might be kept from tho dangers of tho busy streets. The thanks of tho council were also due to Councillor Mitchell, who had done such good work in planting the various reserves.

Standard Streets. The Lower Hutt'Borough Council last evening approved a set of specifications for the construction of all future streets and .footpaths in the borough. Tho specifications provide for grass berms on the streets, and for the keeping of all services, save cross services, clear of the metalled x>ortions of tho roads and footpaths. World of Commerce. Matters of importance in the world |of commerce will bo discussed at the ! annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, to be opened in the Council Chamber at the Town I Hall to-morrow morning. Delegates numbering about fifty will bo welcomed by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood), and then consideration will be given to a long list of remits. It is expected that the deliberations will extend over two days. On Wednesday night there will be a theatre party at the Grand Opera House. On Thursday night visiting delegates will bo entertained privately by members of the local chamber. On Friday the delegates will be taken for a motor drive to the Hutt Valley. They will call in at some of tho industrial works ' at Potone, after which they will proceed to Day's Bay, where luncheon will bo served at the pavilion. After luncheon the party will be picked up by the Harbour Board's steamer, and taken for a trip round the harbour. Utilisation of New Zealand CoaL The question of the utilisation of New Zealand coal iv larger quantities for the manufacture of gas was discussed by the Under-Secretary of Mines (Mr. A. H. Kimbell) while on a visit to the West Coast. Mr. Kimbell said that during the past few weeks he had personally visited all the gas works in the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts, tho works at Aucklands, Mirauiar, and Timaru, in order to obtain as much knowledge as possible of the troubles experienced in the carbonisation of coal. Tho results obtained indicated that a greater quantity .of Now Zealand, coal would be used by some of the gas works in the future. One of the troubles experienced by some of the gas works which had been recently installed was due to the fact that the New Zealand coal swelled in the retorts more than Australian coal. It was jileasing to note, added the Under-Secretary, that practically all gas works managers were in sympathy with using greater quantities of New Zealand coal provided that it was kept free of stones and other impurities. "Competition in the coal business is more acute to-day than it has been for a very long time," Mr. Kimbell remarked, "and, as is the case in other commodities, quality is the factor that very often determines the measures of business obtained. This cannot be too strongly emphasised." Amalgamation of Boroughs. Councillor Hobbs last evening strongly advocated that members of Lower Hutt Borough Council who had pledged themselyes to investigate the question of amalgamation with tho Petono Borough should soo that those pledges were kept, and take sonic definite steps iv that direction during the next eighteen months. The question of providing borough offices, ho added, might well be held over until a decision was arrived at with regard to amalgamation.