NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1927, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Newspapermen to Meet. Newspapermen throughout the Dominion will assemble in Wellington next week for the purpose of holding the annual meetings of their various organisations. These will include the annual meetings of the United Press Association, the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, and of tLe New Zealand section of the Empire Press Union. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Master Printers' Association will commence at Accountants' Chambers, Johnston street, to-morrow morning. Stimulating Demand. The political correspondent of the "Daily Mail," London, wrote recently:—"When the Dominion Premiers were discussing, in London, the lines along which the Empire Marketing Board should work, in an endeavour to stimulate the sale of Empire goods by advertising and research, it was emphasised that the first essential was that there should be adequate supplies of goods to meet the new demand. Already, in the case of one or two classes of goods, the fears which underlay this exhortation have proved well founded. The advertising campaign, although far from fully developed, has produced a demand in excess of supplies available at the moment, but it is hoped that the shortage will soon be made good." Unfair? That gas concerns are unfairly penalised by Customs duties was alleged by Mr. M. J. Kennedy when addressing the Gas Institute of Now Zealand. Higher duties, he said, had to be paid on gas cookers, engines, and pipes than the corresponding electrical goods. The time had come, it was suggested, to make very strnog representations on the subject to the Government by means of a deputation. The present conditions were hard on smaller concerns, who found it hard to pay their way and at the same time to give the public the service demanded. Accountancy Classes. A letter from the Director of Technical Education was received by the Victoria University College Council last night stating that accountancy lectures were at present being given at the Technical College, but that as it -was not the function of technical colleges to prepare students in accountancy for University degrees it was suggested that classes should be conducted at Victoria College in the same way as at Christchureh and Dunedin. The matter was referred to the Professorial Board for a report. Students' Hostel. For some time past it has been felt that a hostel should be provided to meet the needs of students attending Victoria College. On the recommendation of the Finance and Business Committee the Victoria College Council decided last night to set up a committee consisting of the chairman, the vicechairman, Professors Hunter and Florance, and Dr. Duncan Stout, and Messrs. J. H. Howell and C. Watson to confer with the architect regarding plans for the erection of a students' hostel on the Salamanca road site and to report to the council. A Silver Ship. A naval correspondent sent to the "Daily Mail," London, a description of the special mascot for the Duchess of York's table on the Benown. It is a salver ship sailing on a silver sea. An exquisite sample of the British silversmiths' work, it has a historic interest, and makes *a strong appeal to patriotic sentiment. The ship is a'beautifully wrought model of Captain Cook's ship, H.M.S. Endeavour, shown with all sails set and ensign flying. Fifteen years ago this lovely piece of "mess-plate" was presented by tho people of Australia to the battleship Commonwealth, which was herself a gift from Australia to the Boyal Navy. Accompanying the centrepiece wore shields for gunnery trophies, various other articles of plate, and a silken ensign. As long as the Commonwealth continued in the service all these articles remained in her. But after the war the vessel was scrapped. Her mess-plate was thereupon, stowed away until another Commonwealth appears in the Navy, j for these gifts are the property in perpetuity of -warships bearing this name. For the Duke and Duchess of York's voyage the plate has been lent to the Eenown. It vrill be used by Their Eoyal Highnesses during the trip, and will be shown to visitors while the vessel is in port. Police Statements. During the hearing of a civil case in the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. P. S. K\ Macassey, counsel for the defendant in an action for damages arising out of a motor-car accident, asked the Judge, Mr. Justice Ostler, to give a di■reetion that a police statement should be produced. After crossexamining one of the plaintiff's witnesses, Mr. Macassey stated that the witness had made a statement to the police after the accident, and counsel said he thought the statement should be produced in the interests of justice. Mr, O. A. L. Treadwell, counsel for the plaintiff, said he had no objection to Mr. Macassoy's application. Mr. Macassey pointed out that the ease was different from one relating to the commission of a crime. He- considered that when a man went into the box and made a different statement to that -which he had made to the police, counsel was entitled to confront tho man with that statement. His Honour 3aid he thought that it was in the interests of justice that the statement should be produced, and he saw no good reason why in a civil case statements taken by tho police should be refused. Taupo Trout Record. A record catch of trout for T^aupo was taken last Sunday morning &l)y a party of four, headed by Mr. T. Eickit, of Taupo (states tho "Auckland Star"). Fishing in Whakaipo Bay, about eight miles from the Taupo township, on the northern shores of the lake, not far from the mouth of {he Mapara Stream, the party caught 69otrout in an hour and a half. The fish averaged seven pounds, and the largest was twelve pounds. All were in excellent condition. On Saturday last Captain E. T. E.. Carlyon, of Hawkes Bay, caught 22 trout, averaging seven pounds, at Waitahanui for a few hours' fishing. Tourist traffic to tho district is reported to be easily double that of last season, showing tho great need of further accommodation. At Whakaipo Bay a new resort is being established, and, during the past two or three weeks, thoro has been an average of three or four launchfuls of interested visitors daily. Motor Omnibus District Abolished. Following the recent decision of the Supreme Court disqualifying the Takapuna Borough Council (Auckland) from acting as the licensing authority for that borough under the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, formal notification in ac-' cordance with the Court's decision will appear in the "Gazette" .this week. Uader the Act the Takapuna Borough Council was constituted the No. 2 lieonsing district; the borough is now to bo incorporated in the No. 1 licensing district, which includes the city of Auckland and other North Shoreboroughs besides Takapuna. Tho new licensing authority so far as Takapuna. is concerned thus becomes tho Auckland City Council, which, the ActinjjPrimo Minister (the Hon. W. Downin Stewart) points out, had no local interest in the recent dispute, and can be relied on to act fairljr and equitably.

Borer in Heart of Kauri.

That borer will not attack heart of kauri is an assertion sometimes made by building experts, but it is true to a limited extent only, since the destructive insectj will riddle the stoutest boams after a number of years (states the "Auckland Star"). Eeeently the Sunday school building belonging to the Grafton Eoad Methodist Church was demolished, and it was found that more than half of the heart of kauri was riddled with borer. For eighty years portions of this building had withstood tho ravages of time, apparently without detriment, but when the linings had been stripped the inroads which the borer had made were revealed. What looked like thick beams, good for many more years of service, were in some cases only varnished shells. A largo portion of the kauri timber could only be sold as firewood, and very little was sound enough to be of use for structural purposes.