NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1926, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Pictures on Christinas Day.

For the first timo in many, years the picture theatres will be permitted to open for business in Christchurch on Christinas Day. This decision was reached by the City Council last night, telegraphs "The Post's" special correspondent.

Radio Research,

The strides that wireless has made of late and its importance to the community are reflected in the fact that in Australia a radio research board has been set up under the auspices of the Eesearch Council. Dr. E. Marsden, permanent secretary of the Dominion's Scientific and Industrial Research Department, ascertained this on his recent visit to Australia, and he formed the conclusion that Australian broadcasting was very good.

"Better Fanning" Trains. Whilst in' Australia investigating problems in connection with Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. E. Marsden saw the Great Whito Train, an advertising medium which it is proposed 'to introduce into New Zealand. Ho also saw the "better farming" train, which travels to remote places pn the railway, and which endeavours by means of displays and lectures to assist the farmer in adopting the latest scientific methods on his land. Distances from civilisation in Australia are greater than they are in New Zealand, and the farmer in the latter country has more chance of keeping in touch with things. But these "better farming" trains havo been a groat success in Australia, and it may be that the idea will'?;o tried in the Dominion.

Use for Brown Coal,

"Whilst in Australia, Dr. Marsden, permanent secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, took . occasion to visit the Victorian Government's power station.- This is operated by the use of brown coal, being built on tho site of an' open mine containing a seam 150 ft thick. This brown coal was originally reckoned to contain 50 per cent, of moisture, but the figure was subsequently found to bo CO per cent., which caused added difficulties in operation.. But in spite of this, the proposition is expected to pay within a few. years. The brown coal, by simple pressure to expel moisturej and by using no binder, is made into briquettes which are very popular in spite of their high price (£2 10s a ton). They burn well and are clean, and, what is more', enable consumers to be unaffected byicoal strikes in New South Wales. As New Zealand's brown coal contains less moisture than 60 per cent., it may be possible to use it in a similar way, and that is one of the problems which will be tackled by New Zealand's new Department of- Scientific and Industrial Research.

Licanse Wanted,

Though not willing to meet the Bailway Department in its contention that no licenses should be granted under the Motor Omnibus Act, for machines operating in competition with the railway between the' city and Petone and Lower Hutt, the City Council, at a special nieeting held for. the purpose some weeks ago, met the Department in so far as it refused licenses in respect of new lines of buses, though granting renewals of existing licenses. An appeal against the decision not to grant a now license was duly lodged by Harold I^.gham, of Petone, and yesterday a meeting of the Transport Appeal Board was held to .consider that matter. His Honour Mr. Justice- ITrazer presidod, while Messrs. H. A. R. Huggins, W. G. M'Donald, S. G. Nathan, and R. H. P. Ronayne wore also presont. As a result of the meeting the consideration of the appeal was adjourned until day, 20th December. On this date, not only this appeal, but also any other appeals in respect of it, or arising from it, will bo heard, .. ~

Extension of Borough Services.

The question of the supply of borough services to areas outside its borders was reported upon by tho Works Committee of the Lo\ver Hutt Borough Council last evening, when it was stated % that the borough solicitor was of the opinion that the council had power to supply water only to the owners of subdivisions in the country, and that if the owners desired to make use ..-of other borough services it would be necessary for them to petition to be taken into the borough. Councillor Watkins Temarked that he hoped the owners would petition early.

New Malaria Cure,

One of the most important announcements made at the Dusseldorf meeting of the Association of. German Natural Scientists and Physicians was that a synthetic drug similar to quinine had been produced. It was declared to be as effecti - as the remedy for African sleeping sickness, known as Bayer 205, which converts vast areas hitherto plague-stricken/into potential homes for me,n. Quinine, for centuries tho only known specific for malaria and still the standard remedy, does not wholly conquer 'the disease, especially some tropical forms of it. It is quickly fatal to certain of the malarial parasites, but other strains of the parasites resist it. The now r.pmedy, which has been christened "plasmochin," wipes them all out impartially, it is claimed. It is thus rog&rded as a complete cure, in contrast to the merely partial effectiveness of the extract of natural cinchona bark. Physicians say tJu't there ;is now hope of killing off malaria germs until they are as extinct as the dinosaur and the dodo, simply by clearing up the blood of all malaria patients until there are no more of the microbes for the anopheles mosquito to carry. Exactly the same sort of thing has been done in localities with yellow fever, they point out, and that without a specific curative drug with which the physician might help the sanitarian.

Charge for Swimming Baths.

"Has the attention of the chairman of the Bath's Committee been drawn to the swimming notes of the 'Evening Post,' where the allegation is made that this council made an excessive charge for the use of'the baths by the Wellington Swimming Centre?" asked Councillor .' M'Bain at last night's meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council. "Yes," said Councillor Hunt, "and I desire, in reply, to say that, the charge for the baths—2s per cent, of the gross takings—was made entirely at the suggestion o£ the Lower Hutt Swimming Club, and therefore the charge was not fixed by us. It is quite unfair of the Wellington Swimming Centre.to charge us with levying on excessive rate. Before the baths were "erected the Wellington Centre • was shown the plans and given the opportunity of making suggestions. - The centre was good to promise to provide the wholo of the diving apparatus, The centre held a meeting in the baths, and made a fair profit but is now charging, against the expenses of the meeting, tho cost of the diving apparatus they promised to give us. In other words, they are expecting ns to pay; for the gift they, made us."

Dunedin's Record.

Of the four chief 'Centres, Dunedin continues to hold pride of position in respect to the number of persons adjudged bankrupt. The bankruptcies recorded in the four cities for the ten months ending 31gt October, wero:— Dunodin 45, Christchurch 98, Wellington 198, Auckland 249.

Building in Lower Hutt.

During November building permits wore issued in Lower Hutt for wooden dwellings to the value of £13,300, brick and concroto dwellings £8800, garages £1060, and »hops £5300. The total value of buildings erected was £32,135, for whicu £95 10a was collected hi building permit fee's.

The People's Bank.

The total amount to the credit of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank at 31st March last was £47,911,323. Since that date, and- up to the end of October, the to.tal amount o* deposits was £17,854,159, and withdrawals £17,975,548, showing an excess of withdrawals of £121,389.

Building Activity.

The building activity in the larger towns and suburban districts for the month of October is indicated by the values of the permits issuod for new buildings. The figures were: Auckland* * 233,785, Wellington £130,985, Christchurch £72,250, Dunedin £87,750.

Ramped Road in Lower Hutt

The Works Committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council roporteil last evening that the Public Works Department had requested the council to take over the northern Cuba street ramp, over the railway lino, on Ist January, and to commence immediately to pay for the lighting of four lamps on the ramp. The council decided to pay for the lights of the lamps., but not to take over the ramped road until the engineer was satisfied with its condition. The council also decided to ask the Railway Department to maintain the grassed sides of the ramp.

A Noisy rire Siren.

Residents of Lower Hutt, it appears, will have to boar with the "music" of the Fire Brigade's siren for Some time ypt. The Fire Prevention Committee reported last evening: "Your committee regrets the dolay that has been occasioned in reporting on gongs in firemen's houses, but an important piece of mechanism was not procurable in the Dominion, and the Power Board, which was providing the quotation, had to make inquiries in Australia. The alarm system proposed is similar to an exchange • call system, using a motordriven bell ringer and alarm bells similar to telephono bells. This system elminates batteries, and will be installod so that when a fire call is made from a"'street box this same call starts up the motor-driven ringer, and the firornen receive the call at the same time as the main station. The. estimated cost of the installation of -the fourteen bells, ringer, and wiring will bo approximately £150, and if run in conjunction with tho alarm box system it may come out cheaper.