NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Britain More Confident.

"Britain to-day is more confident of prosperity than she has been for many years and the sum of happiness is greater than ever it was," declared Mr. L. B. Beals; British Trade Commissioner, in an address to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday- (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). The new order of things was noticeable in the conditions under which the factory workers lived. There was a vast decrease in the amount of poverty, so prevalent at Diie tim». It was true there had been mu.ch misery as a result" of the coal strike/and that unemployment existed. But there was a generous measure of unemployment relief and the social conditions weru greatly improved. . . .' ■

Upkeep of Main Highways. i From.time. to time the Main Highways Board has impressed upon those in control of highways the paramount necessity for proper maintenance, and at the meeting of the board this week the free issue to local bodies was authorised of a bulletin on highway maintenance, which has been prepared by the engineer to the board. This pamphlet has been prepared with a view of assisting and educating those responsible for the upkeep of the highways and the board hopes its issue will go a long way towards attaining its objective of giving better service to'the travelling public. The bulletin will be on saleat a nominal price to any other interested" parties.

Site iofp^ Given to Crown. At a sitting; of the Native Land Court, presided over by Judge J. "W. Browne, the two owners of the Koru Pa reserve, Kehu Moepuke and her niece (a minor),' took the. necessary legal steps to hand over the pa site to the Crown as a gift (writes a New Plymouth correspondent). The site is to be set'aside for, all time as a scenic and historic reserve for the benefit and use of the public, subject to the usual restrictions to preserve it from damage For many years - Koru Pa was presorved m practically its originalcondi- ! tion. It is the "show" pa of midTaranaki. The original wish and intention of Kehu Moepuko was to present the area on which the pa stands, about throe and a quarter acres, to Mr. W.H. Skinner, who . was instrumental some' years ago in having it fenced off and protected from stock. Mr. Skinner however, couia not see his way to accept a personal gift of such a nature, and it was suggested to Kohu Moepuko that .the gift be made to the Minister of Lands, on behalf of the Crown. Shearing Record.

The shearing rocord put up by six men at Kototahi Station, when 1673 sheep wero' shorn in nine hours, has been oasily beaten by Mr. N. Harrison's gang at Huiarua Station, says the ''Poverty Bay Herald." Sis mon in thu gang put through no fewor than 187b sheep in eight hours !i5 minutes the individual tallies of the six men Harrison, 325; H. Harrison, 319; W. King, 313; H. Fox, 307; W. Pokai, 306; and J. Dennis, 300. The gang consisted of fourteen shearers including two learners, and in one day put through 3729 sheep. These were four-tooth ewes clipping big fleeces and all were well shorn. Several other good tallies were also put up by the same gang, including 3580. 3549. and 3481 for different days. ', - ■

Soldiers Who Live Long. At the annual meeting of the King's Empire Veterans at Auckland, Captain J. Stichbury reported that 011 31st October, 192G, there were only 394 men in the whole of New Zealand receiving pensions for the Maori War. He also stated in regard to their particular association that the deaths during the past twelve months totalled eleven, their ages being 96, 91, 89, two at 80, and then down to 73 years. :

New University Council. The names of the four' Government nominees on the Council of the University of New Zealand, as newly constituted by the Act passed last session, were announced yesterday as follows:— Mr. T. H. Fleming, M.A., ,LL.B., ex-, senior inspector under the' Wellington Education Board; the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.L.C., who has b,een a member of the University Senate for a number of years; Mi-. T. H. Maelty, cue of the principals .of- Macky, Logr.n, Caldwoll, ■litfl.f and Mr. W. B. Montgomery, C.8.E., at one time Collector of Customs' at Wellington. They are to hold office for a term of three years. The Minister of Education (the Hon. E. A. Wright), in making the announcement' expressed the belief that the Government representatives on the ' council were men who would prove tlieir worth m a very little time, and be' of great assistance to th.c . council. - The announcement of the result of the election of the five graduates' representatives is expected shortly. ■ '

Registration of "Vets." Regulations have been drafted hy the Department of Agriculture for the administration of the Veterinary Surgeons' Act of last session—providing tor the registration of veterinary surgeons, and.after they have been <<gazetted" the Veterinary-Surgeons? Board will be constituted. The regulations which will bo published shortly will prescribe the forms of'application for registration, and also the registration ; fees, and -will provide for the appoint- 1 ment of assessors and the condue 1: of ■appeals. The board is to consist of the registrar, to be appointed by the Gov-ernor-General from among the veterinary _ surgeons of the Department of Agriculture; one member appointed on the recommendation of the Ministe- of Agriculture; and two veterinary surgeons appointed oiv the recommend-' tion of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. Persons who have practised as veterinary surgeons in New Zealand for not less than ten years immediately ■prior to the commencement.of the Act (which came into force on Ist January) whether they are qualified or not, may continue in practice and designate themselves veterinary practitioners if •they lodge their names with tho Minister of Agriculture- not later than twelve months after tho commencement of the Act, and satisfy him. that they are of good character and repute. ''

Canoe With a History. A Maori canoe, known as TTrukaraka which was launched on thq Wain-aimi Kiver in the eighteenth century, before the amval of Captain Cook, was remanned last year after lying idle for -over a quarter of a century. At the last Wanganui regatta it upheld its reputation by beating all-comers in the Maori events. Under a new nare, Kaiwhaiki, it will again compete.with the canoes of the other Native settlements on the Wanganui River. Urukaraka is not a very big canoe, as war canoes went m the days when it was built but much work had to bo put into it before it was ready to go into the water. It figured in many tribal wars, bprno swiftly along by the strong arms or its dusky, orew of warriors. ■' Hewn out of heart of totara, this sturdy shell" saw years of service, and.many a valiant fighting man was taken to the scene of grim battle in it (writes a correspondent). When other canoes were sunk, loat, or captured, Urukaraka remained with the tribe, sharing its victories audits reverses, a useful unit of the river .fleet. And so, some 70 years ago, it was at Baorikia. That is as far back as its present owners can in dotail, tracp its history. Forty years ago _it passnd into the possession of the Natives at Kaiwhaiki.

Chased by a Bull. Two young ladies, one of whom was a visitor, from Christchureh, had an unpleasant experience at Little Eiver over a paddock when: a Jersey bull caught.sight; of them, and immediately gave chase. They sprinted to a tree and ■w S d«.'*' th 6 bul] ' which was hard behind them, pawing up the earth in its ijige at being baffled (states the Press » After a while the animal, evidently growing tired of waiting, disappeared, and the ladies descended trom their uncomfortable perch. The ™i *i Ot y6t done-with, however, and. suddenly reappearing again, chased them. Fortunately the padddek: was situated on a slope, and when the infuriated animal charged them they were able to dodge, him successfully several times. In that' .mariner they eventually got out of the danger zone without a scratch. It is understood that the bull was subsequently killed.

Cream Grading Regulations. The recent regulations governing the grading of cream formed the subject of an address given at the conference of dairr managers yesterday afternoon by the Director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture (Mr W M. Singleton). :Mr. Singleton expressed me view that the opinion of the P maj«. 7 £? a lndustry was that gradine should be general; and that there should be differential payments according to grade. If was only right that the supplier of "finest. cream should receive a greater return than tho supplier of a lower-grade article. . Attention had been given to the question of uniformly of grading, and attempts had been made to spread the idea that almost insurmountable difficulties must follow the classification of grades of cream. Fronvthe point of view, of officers of the Department that idea was purely one of thb imagination. There were no grounds for it. , Mr. Singleton said that ho trusted that the suggestions that the certificated grader would grade the I supplier rather than the cream would prove unfounded. ;;If such practices were ■ allowed the compulsory grading of cream would be of little use. In the regulations there were ample safeguards against anything that was dishonest It was recognised, however, that the majority of certificated cream graders were men' of honour and probity, and would not stoop to wrong practices. • Cadet Units Course.

On Monday a special course of instruction will begin at Trentham for officers and non-commissioned officers of all cadet units in the Central Command. The course of • instruction, which will be a comprehensive ono, will last until 29th January.

The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's issue that the duo date of paj'ment of the income tax is on Tuesday, the Sth day of February, 1927. Additional tax will accrue if the tax is not paid on or before Ist March 1927. The demands will be posted from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes on or about 31st January, 1927. Demands must be presented with all payments, and if a demand has not been received the Commissioner should bo communicated with. ■

Bathers —We have just received from ,the manufacturers a shipment of the famous Macintosh Swimming Rings, the cheapest and safest swimming instructor in the world. Price, 13s 6d each. Kirkcaldie and Stains, hti. —Advt.