NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 136, 6 December 1926, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Dangerous Railway Crossings. | Like New Zoaland, the United States is engaged in doing away with its dangerous railway crossings. The total number of railway crossing accidents in America in 1924 was 5127; the killed numbered 2149, and the injured 6525. During tho year 1925, 920 crossings had been eliminated. The State of New York alone and tho railway companies in that State spending £60,000,----000 in doing away with this menace to hitman life. Contrast to Usual Experience. "With regard to'agos, the figures of the latest influenza opidemic show that a considerable number of young children were fatally afflicted with the disoase," states the "Government Statistician. "This is in direct contrast t the usual opidomio experience, although in the later ages ruuen of tho same jharactcristics are obsorvod, insofar as tho fatality-rate increases with increasing years, attaining its maximum in old age The death percentages, according to ages, were:—Under 15, 9.1; 15 and under 25, 5.2; 25 and under 45, 20.8; 45 and under 65, 22.4; 65 and over, 42.5." A Dairy Girl's Day. The unremitting toil connected with dairy work spread over a day extending from 3.30 a.m. until 9 p.m. is made plain by the following letter from a Maori girl of 18 years of age to a friend, forwarded by a correspondent: "Now I must tell you about my work. We havo been milking forty cows now, but when they are all in there will bo a hundred. There are three of us, Mr. , his boy, and me. Wo don't have timo to 'spoil' at all. We work at half-past three in tho morning till 12, and from 1 to 8 or 9 at night, but today it's too wet to do any outside work. I don't do the inside work much; I do the outside work most." The girl explains that when milking is done (and it is all done by hand) she works on the farm, but on Friday evenings she goes to a dance. There is not a word of complaint in the letter, but the correspondent, who forwards the letter, hopes that the other'sixty cows will show some consideration in not "coming in" in a bunch, or that there may be more hands to milk them. Last Influenza Epidemic. "Tho indications aro that the last influenza outbreak originated in Wellington provincial district," states tho Government Statistician," "the number of fatal cases recorded therein maintaining a consistently high level until the eighth week is reached, after which normal conditions, are resumed.; Canterbury and Auckland are districts worthy of special note. The former appears to have suffered most in the earlier weeks, and in the fifth week it recorded the maximum number of deaths i (21) for any district throughout the period. Auckland possesses the distinguishing features of having a fairly high number of deaths from influenza from the com-m-v -ement to tho close of the epidemic, and also the greatest sum total of death* registered for any district. When the population of the various districts is taken into consideration, however, an entirely different situation is revealed, as will be seen from a table which shows that Auckland comes fifth in the I percentages.' * I Ply Anglers' Day. Saturday was one of the few days since the opening of the angling season ontiroly- to fishermen's liking, and nearly overybody got fish. Dry-fly men came into their own, and a basket of fifteen nice trout was taken in the upper reaches of the Hutt,.while a limit bag was taken in the Wainui. There is a good deal of feeling amongst fly j | fishermen regarding the use of tho ereoper and worm in streams reserved.! by the Acclimatisation Society for artificial baits. Along the banks of most j streams restricted to fly turned stones attest to an indefatigable search for creeper, the results, of which must have seriously depleted these streams before the season was well under way, and certainly before the weather was suitable for fly,fishing. As the Hutt River (with a small reserved stretch) js open to all baits, bait fishermen have plenty of opportunities there, and anglers consider that an enforcement of the Acclimatisation Society's rules should be insisted upon. A Papa Kainga. In 1920 tho "King Natives" raised £1500 to purchase ten acres of land at Ngaruawahia, which is vested in the Maori "king," To Rata Mahuta, to hold in trust as a papa kainga for all Natives acknowledging his leadership. Costly improvements have been made, water laid on, lighting connected, and sanitary measures taken (states the "New Zoaland Herald"). The work now in hand involves the completion of a hall, approximately 120 ft square, which will contain a refreshment room', an audi '.v'ium, and stage, and a meeting house. Tlie opening has been fixed for 15th March, 1927, and the Prime Minister is to be invited to be present. After the papa kainga'is well established it is intended to start a school to revive among the young men and women of the Native race {he arts of wood-carving and weaving and other useful handicrafts. A Survey of Soil. An extensive soil survey of the pumice lands in the Rotorua district, which i 3 expected to bo of invaluable assistance in the development of these areas, and also in defining the limits where bush sickness' prevails and in ultimately overcoming the complaint, is at present boing carried out on behalf of tho Government (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The first stage in tho survey has been completed by officials of the Department of Agriculture, under tho direction of Mr. B. C. Aston, chief chomis. of the Dopartmout, and president of the New' Zoaland Institute Upwards, of 500.square miles havo been mapped, and the boundaries of the different soil types defined. This survey extends to tho Taurauga county boundary. It is hoped that the scientific officers who are now temporarily stationed in Rotorua, will shortly visit Taurauga and spend a period there, so as to include the Taurauga county in the soil survoy/ Mr. Grimmett is representing the chemical branch of tho Department of Agriculture. Professor Cotton, who is in Rotorua, is reporting on the origin of tho land forms in this area. Another officer, Mr. Grange, Government vulcanologist attached to the geological survey, is studying the Vulcanology and geology of the district for his De_*rtmen_ '_ "" ' '

riucation Board Vacancy. Voting for tho purpose of filling tho extraordinary vacancy on tho Education Board caused by tho death of Mr. F. Pirani, closod to-day. As the Act provides that fifteen days must elapso before the voting paper envelopes are opened, the returning officer will count tho votes on 21st instant. Hotels Well Conducted. "The police report is very satisfactory," said the chairman, Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the quarterly meeting of tho Wellington Licensing Committee to-day. "The whole of the hotels have been well, or fairly well, conducted. In fact, this is tho most satisfactory report that has boon received for some considerable time, and wo desire to congratulate tho licensees on the way they have managed their houses during the last threo months." An Old Complaint. Complaints against tho local authority digging up tho Wellington streets aro not a new fashion. On 29th April, 1843, the following was published in ono of tho Wellington papers:—"Complaint is mado on the subject of parties digging large holos in tho public thoroughfare and leaving them open to the'manifest danger of Borne of the inhabitants breaking their necks." The paragraph goes on to draw special attention to holes in Cuba street and Willis street. "Some Unknown Person." It comes somowhat as a shock to tho present generation to find that the practice of settling disputes by means of tho duel was not unknown in the early history of Wellington. Generally, evon after the challenge had been issued, the parties managed to settle the matter by loss drastic means, but there is on. record at least ono fatal duel. In March, 1844, Messrs. W. V. Brewer and H. Ross, each belonging to the legal profession, had a disputo on a legal matter. A challenge was issued and a duel with pistols was arranged. At the first shot, Mr. Brewer fell wounded, and ho died a few days later. The practice being then quite legal, no blame was attachable to his opponent, but novertholess the vordict at the inquest was that the deceased died from a wound inflicted by some unknown person.