NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 61, 14 March 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

He Would Not Dare!

A vote taken among school children in respect to the increase of school holidays would most certainly show an overwhelming preponderance in favour, and yet, strange as it may seem, the Hon. B. A. Wright stated at Lower Hutt on Saturday that he recently had a deputation from a number of school girls of from 12 to 13 years of age, who requested that the school holidays should be reduced. Mr." Wright remarked that he had replied that he dared not attempt to accede to-the request.

Island Fruit Trade.

The Union Steam Ship Company's new cargo steamer Waipahi, which is shortly to be placed in the Cook Islands fruit trade, is being converted into an oil-burner, and, amongst other improvements being carried out in the vessel is the provision of forced air draught in the ship's hold. The vessel will carry from 18,000 to 20,000 eases of oranges or bananas, and will make the run from Rarotonga to Auckland in six days. Under the new arrangement, the fruit should be landed in good order, and it is anticipated that one result will be a lessening of the price of island fruit. b

A Price On His Head.

The perennial subject of destruction of shags was.again before the Auckland Acclimatisation Society on Thursday evening m consequence of a letter from the Marine Department suggesting that tne society at its own expense might concentrate upon reducing the numbers of that particular bird before endeavouring to stock streams with fish. What about us offering a bonus for shags shot on the seashorei" asked one of the members. "It would ruin us," replied a colleague, despite an offer at this stage from two members to each contribute £5 towards the cost. In reminiscent mood, one member said that when a shaggery was wiped out on the banks of the Rangitata River the birds shifted up near Mount Cook and built a new shaggery on a tremendous scale (reports the "Star"). The speaker added that if a shag was buried feathers and all for 24 hours, then exhumed and cooked, the flesh was quite as palatable as shark.

Catches of Salmon.

Several good catches of quinnat salmon have been made at the mouth of the Waitaki River during the past few days (writes a Dunedin correspondent). On Wednesday Mr. Berry, of Glenavy, took the largest fish of the season, which turned the scale at 261b. He also secured two others weighing 201b each. His son, on the previous day, landed a salmon 121b in weight. Early in the week, Mr, C. -H. Swinard, of Oamaru, landed a salmon weighing 161b. It was in excellent condition.

Fuzzy-headed Solomon Islanders,

Three black-^kiuned, fuzzy-headed boys from the Solomon Islands have provoked a good deal of interest since they arrived in Auckland (states the "Star")- They arc boys who have been educated by the Methodist Mission in the Solomons, and are intelligent and ■well-mannered. They were brought to Auckland by the Rev. A. 3T. Goldie, who has completed 25 years' Service in the mission, which he helped to found. Gena, Simioni, and Silas are their names, and very picturesque they look in their lalas ana* white shirts. Two of the lads are to be trained for the Methodist ministry at Wesley College. Two or three years ago Geiia visited New Zealand for the first time, and ho made so many friends that it has since cost Mr' Goldio a small fortune to supply him with postage stamps for the scores of letters which ho writes to peoplo throughout tho Dominion. On Thursday afternoon Gena addressed' tho New Zealand Methodist Conference in Pitt Street Church, speaking in his native language, wliicli the missioner interpreted.

Home for Arbitration Court.

After considerable delay, a definite move is now being made towards providing increased accommodation in the Courthouse block at Wellington so that the Arbitration Court may have a recognised "home." I'or many years the Court has been obliged to hold its sittings in all sorts of places which are unbecoming to dignity; in fact., when rooms at the .Supreme Court building have not been available, the Court virtually has been buffeted around from pillar to post. At last it appears that tins order is about to change. Nearly four years ago Parliament authorised a vote of £3000 for the purpose of adding to tho Supreme Court Buildings, and the sum was re-voted in tho session of 1925-26. No portion of tho amount was expended, and last session tho voto was increased to £8000. Some months ago shafts wero sunk on tho vacant site behind tho Patents and Justice Department buildings to ascertain what solid foundation there was on this reclaimed land, and now tenders are being called for tho erection of a two-storied brick and concrete building. One floor will be occupied by the Court, and there will bo necessary offices for tho Registrar of tho Arbitration Court and private rooms for tho . members of the Court. The other floor may bo used by tho Justice Department, which at present occupies somewhat cramped quarters. A schemo has been under discussion for the building of a new Courthouse block, but that is not- likely to be realised for many years.

Value of Camp Life,

That the iirst annual camp of tho Sacred Heart College cadets at Narrow Neck has had a most stimulating effect on the boys, and that tho training received should assist materially in building them up mentally and physically were statements made by Brother Borgia, headmaster of the collogo, on .Friday (reports tho "New Zealand Herald"). "After examining euro Cully the work done by the boys undov the able supervision of Lieutenant .Tmlsaii, V.C., I am convinced that the concentrated training will benefit thorn immensely," said Brother "Borgia. "It means that tho work of tho cadet company will bo carried on not only clUciently but enthusiastically for tho rost of tho year. Tho lessons tho lads aro getting in sclf-disciplino and self-con-trol will prove most helpful in their daily life at tho college." Ono of tho finest things of all in tho camp, Brother Borgia added, was tho opportunity tho senior boys had of exorcising their qualities of leadership by controlling the various sections and by imposing discipline on their subordinates. Ho thought it a good thing for the futuro citizenship of New Zealand that young people should obtain experience in using authority under wiso .restrictions. A little more moral courage and backbone in the country's young men would bo an asset to the community. "There is one further remark I wish to make," concluded Brother Borgia. "Thero is certainly nothing militaristic about tho camp, nothing harsh about tho tono of tlie instructors. Every care seems to be taken for the boys' health and comfort. In fact, they appear to bo thoroughly enjoying life there, and will be eagerly looking forward to another .week a\ \.M arrow; Kieck- Besfc^jtean^ '„'--C

Tikis Cut in Germany.

"The American visitor spends much of his spare time in New Zealand buying curios and mementoes," said Mr. w. Brown at the Wanganui Chamber o± Commerce meeting, when referring to the recent tour of the Americans from the liner Franconia. A number of the visitors had shown him tikis they had bought in various places. The tikis were made of New Zealand greenstone cut in Germany, but he did not enlighten them.

Much in a Name,

It is not generally known that the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, although in Auckland City, is a Dominion institution (states the "Auckland Star 3'). It has been suggested on various occasions that the extent of the work would be more -widely understood were the institute to be known as the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. The matter was discussed at' a meeting of the Board of Trustees, when it was stated that it was often thought in the South that the institute was merely an Auckland concern, interested only in the local blind, whereas the good work being carried out was Dominion-wide. The matter will come up for further discussion at a later meeting.

Inebriate Homes Needed.

Speaking at New Plymouth, Miss B. E. Baughan, New Zealand organiser of the Howard League for Penal Reform, stated that homes for inebriates were required in New Zealand. A woman in Christchurch, she said, had been convicted 200 times for drinking. If the samp preventive tried 200 times had failed, it suggested there was something wrong with the system.

Duke and Bouquet.

A little incident that occurred at Westland at the close of the reception to the Duke of Tork seemed to emphasise a very important part that the Duchess had taken in the tour and the loss of her presence. At the conclusion of the welcoming function a little girl very shyly handed the Duke a bouquet of sweet peas from the Buller Caledonian Society. He smiled and thanked her, then looked round uncertainly, as if saying to himself, "Now, what on earth shall I do with it?" But there were no ladies-in-waiting to relieve him, his staff all seemed to be looking the other way, and he went bravely through the introductions of local dignitaries and their wives holding the bouquet in his left hand and greeting them with the other. Then he suddenly caught the eye of his private secretary, Mr. Hodgson, and smilingly and eagerly thrust the bouquet into his hands.

Submerged Rocks.

The mystery of the sea has never been more strikingly evidenced than by the testimony which was given at the Northumberland inquiry at Auckland, reports the '' Star. '' It will come as a surprise to a landsman to learn that a rock can exist for years in a navigable channel without anyone being aware of it. Such was the case with the Kaipara Rock in Rangitoto Channel, a crag near Tiri, the Omapere Rock in Doubtful Sound, and the rock which the Union Company's steamer Waikare struck in Dusky Sound. Most famous is the Avocet Rdck, a slender submerged pinnacle rising from the floor of the Red Sea, right in the track of shipping. Two steamers were wrecked on tho Avocet Rock, sinking with their bottoms literally torn out. A search by the Admiralty rev.ealed nothing, but during another search a seaman languidly throwing a heaving lead landed it unexpectedly right on top of -the obstruction. Duiing the inquiry Captain Clifton-Mogg, who was master of the steamer Pakeha, which struck a rock in Bluff Harbour, said that although bearings- were taken most carefully it was not until twelve months later than the obstruction was found. It was exactly where it had been noted, and the bearings were correct. Tho rock—it was really a cluster of rocks—had been there all the time.

Maori Ornaments.

The present shortage^ of genuine Maori mats and greenstone ornaments and implements, as well as other similar curios, has made itself increasingly manifest of late, states a Wanganui correspondent. This is unfortunately quite a feature as far as the west coast of the North Island is concerned, and on an occasion when such are required, whether for purposes of ceremonial or in the case of presentation to some distinguished visitor, quito a search is involved in order to procure tho article. The making of such things requires infinite patience, which ia scarcely to bo found among the Maoris of tho present age. Tho better class mats are seldom attompted theso days. In the caso of tho magnificent kiwi mats there is a distinct want of the necessary feathers now that the kiwis are few and far between, and theso mats are becoming as rare as tin bird. The gifts made on tho occasion of the Duke's visit to Wanganui were no small sacrifice as far as the.givers wore concerned. Native houses, the walls of which -were in days past decorated with mats and piupius, now in most cases aro depleted. Now that a demand has set in by tourists for curios it may once again encourage the commercial spirit among tho Maoris. In Wanganui there is an undoubted movement to restoro Maori arts and crafts.

Public Speaking.

"One of you boys may bo a future Prime Minister of Now Zealand; and some of you girls may become women barristers, and many of you will need to master tho art of- public speaking. In this respect I have a complaint to make about the children of to-day, and that is the need of clear enunciation," said Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., at Lower Hutfon Saturday.* "Public speaking is easy if care is taken to enunciate each syllable clearly. Don't bo like the children who sang, 'We can sing, full though wo be,' which was afterwards interpreted to mean 'Weak and sinful though we be.' "

Interesting Ship's Log.

An interesting log-book has been bequeathed to the Methodist Theological College, through tho will of the late Rev. 6. Smales, who made a. life-long study of early Ne.w Zealand (says an Auckland correspondent)). This is the log of tho brigantine Triton, which arrived at Kawhia in 1840, after a seven months' voyage from England. Tho arrival of the Triton, a vessel of 199 tons, marked an important stage in tho development of Methodist mission work in tho_ colony, for beWo Mr. Smales, tho nliip carried several ministers, including (ho How T. Buddie, G. Buttle, W. Kirk, and .T. Aldred. Although the jounioy was broken at tho Capo of Good Hopo, tho progress to the mission liold, us recorded in the old log, must havo boon vory slow. Paded entries kliow that tho Triton never covered moro thmi 170 miles in any particular twont.y-.four hours, while on one day tho vessel only travelled four'miles, the nvcrago being six. Its equipment for such a long voyage was very crude, and tho ship's wntor supply was contained in two tanks of n total capacity of 100 gallons. 'On arrival at Kawhia the vessel grounded on tho bar, but was refloated. After nbout ten year's service as a mission ship sho was sold and replaced by tho John Wesley, which carried out, mission work in the Southern Pacific for many voars.