NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 128, 3 June 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Fine Holiday. As predicted yesterday, the weather for tho King's Birthday turned out to bo a great improvement on that experienced recently: it has been, in fact, a perfect winter's day. It was too cold this morning for holiday crowds to be early astir, but as the day wore on the bright sun attracted many people abroad. Race trains to Otaki carried full complements, as did many a motor-car, and this afternoon a large crowd made its way to Athletic Park to see the • big football match. Others sought their amusements elsewhere, at the Zoo, in.the Botanical Gardens, or at the many picture theatres. At noon the usual Eoyal Salute of 21 guns were fired, the reberberations reminding the populace of the reason for the general hoUdaa- ~,

One Good Turn Per Diem. This morning very early, that is a good three-quarters of an hour early a troup of Boy Scouts, with a strong numerical cub support, gathered on, a suburban railway station. They stayed gathered, supremely pleased with the morning, and with the prospect of a sunny day, for their big rally. Strictly according to time table the train which was to take them to town and the Basin. Reserve whistled from miles up tho line. Loud cheers followed. According to time-table the train pulled up at the platform, and the Boy Scouts stayed gathered, in somewhat anxious formation. Far down the road to tho station, well behind time-table, the Scoutmaster, with the money for the fares, put in an appearance, and the anxious air was somewhat relieved, but the time-table was hopelessly against him. While he was yet a great way off the train pulled out. The Scouts remained gathered. There were no cheers. The Scoutmaster had taken one good turn too many, in bed. Prolongation of Life. An illustration of the success that has been attained in the general endeavour to prolong the life of the individual is shown by the figures of the age-group, 80 years and over, in 1877 and in 1926, states the Government Statistician. Whereas in 1877 only 42 deaths were recorded at ages 80 and over, equal to approximately 1 per cent, of the total, the corresponding figure for 1926 increased to 1749, or 15 per cent, of the total deaths. "Home" for Arbitration Court. A contract has been let to Messrs. Trevor Brothers, Ltd., for the erection of a building adjoining the present Supreme Court Chambers to house the Arbitration Court and officers connected with it, and also to give better accommodation for the Justice Department, which at present occupies somewhat cramped quarters in the Magistrate's Court building., The contract price is just under £11,000. Record of Fair Dealing. It was the Government's endeavour, said the Ttlinister of Education at Fcilding, to administer the affairs of the country fairly and impartially. Of course, Governments would make mistakes, and ho had never met anyone yet who had never made a mistake. Some-people, said Mr. Wright, were disposed to blame the Government for everything, but when the time came for the present Government to go" out of office he believed that it would be able to hand over a record of fair deal ing and sound legislation. Tho Government had been blamed in regard to the operations of the Dairy Control Board, but he was glad to see that in his statement Mr. Goodfellow did not blame the Government. It was one of the bitterest pills the Government had to take when it saw the collapse of the butter market. He was glad, however, to note that the bad times were passing away, and, though the dairy; farmers would not receive the high prices cf the boom period, they would receive prices that would ma!ke their lives more com fortable and more happy. ■■ Low-Level Death Rate. - Although the total number of death's, 11,819, registered in New Zealand during the year 1926 was nearly 800 in excess of the total 'for the previous year, this disparity is not reflected to any great extent in the. death rate, which still maintains its position on an exceedingly low level. Tho death rate of 8.74 per 1000 of mean population was, in fact, an increase of only 5.43 per cent, over the record low rates for. 1925 and 1924, 8.29 in each case.' Tho slight increase which occurred in the death rate was due principally to the epidemics of whooping-cough and influenza during 1926. Favourite Marriage Seasons. Tho Easter and Christmas seasons are apparently regarded as the most suitable for entering tho matrimonial state, remarks the Government Statistician, and, judging by the quarterly figures, Easter would seem to slightly predominate. A perusal of tho figures showing the marriages contracted in each month of the last four years shows that April had the greatest number in threo of the four years, while in the remaining year the figures for April and December were approximately tho same. Wednesday claims three-sevenths of tho total marriages. Sunday marriages are rare, and Friday is evidently regarded as unlucky, as only about 4 per cent, of tho total marriages are celobrated on that day. Some Shark Stories Goats and ostriches havo been known to swallow all manner of queer thiags, but if a yarn that was told in New Zoaland by an English sportsman is believed in the Old Country, neither the 1 goat 3 nor tho ostriches will be able to hold a candle to Now Zealand sharVp, says tho Auckland "Star." During his lecturo'to membors of tho Auckland Institute Mr. L.- T. Griffin mentioned that when cut open a large tiger shark had been found to contain two largo crayfish, a small blue penguin, and a whole fully-grown collio dog. Ho had seen the shark opened, and could vouch for the truth of the story. But lie had also heard the story retold by an English angler who had beon visiting Russell at the time tho catch was made; and for tho retolling' of tho yarn ho could not be responsible. According to tho enthusiastic visitor, this huge shark had swallowed two "crays," "a pengnin, a wholo collio dog, a policeman's helmet, and a sewing machine" Glory of Southern Alps. "New Zealand has. more charms to tho square mile than any other country in the world, but New Zealanders do not always realise that fact," said Professor E. M. Algie in tho course of an address on "Mountaineering," which he gave at Auckland (reports tho "Now Zealand Herald"). In this, respect the mountain scenery of the Dominion was excelled by that of no other' country. Directing his remarks mainly to the attractions of tho Southern Alps, Professor Algie said it was gratifying to know that all the big peaks of that system had ben conquered in the first' place by Now Zealanders, who had learned mountaineering in their own country. In saying that, he was not belittling English climbers with Swiss guides, who had dono remarkably well. Early Wanganui. ' Somo interesting reminders of early days in Wanganui were recently unearthed by the superintendent of the Wanganui Gaol, Mr. Ching. Ho recalled that some twenty-five years ago ho had been told that relics of the Rutland Stockade were stored in the gaol loft, and on investigating ho found four sets of leg-irons, two old lamps that used to hang over the doors of the stockade, somo padlocks, and a few bolts and odds and ends. Permission was granted by the Con-troller-General of Prisons to hand over tho articles \to the Museum, and they will be placed among the interesting exhibits associated with the early history of .the town. There is also at the gaol a small building which originally came from the old stockade. Marriage Rate. During tho year 1926, states the "Abstract of Statistics " just issued, the number of marriages celebrated in New Zealand was 10,680, equal to a rate of 7.90 per 1000 of population. Tho number celebrated was 261 more than in tho previous year, while the rate shows an improvement of 0.06 per 1000 of population. Although the number of marriages in 1926 was the second highest figure ever recorded, the rate was still low when compared with the average rate ruling for the years prior to 1914. The number of marriages for the last four years were:' 1923, 10,070:. 0924, 10fi5Qi 1925, 10.419; 1926, 10,680.

A New Scout Troop. The Dominion Chief Scout (MajorGeneral Sir Alfred Eobin) visited Treiitham recently in order to meet parents and others interested in forming a scout troop in the district. A meeting was held, over which Mr. A. J. M' Curdy presided, and Mr. Nelson, the district j scoutmaster, and Mr. Bugg, the district ■ cubmaster, were also present. Addresses were given by the visitors, and | a provisional local executive was set up consisting of Mesdames Boult and Moran and Messrs. Boult, Moran, Eulwer, and M'Curdy, with Mr. J. Boult j as secretary. Another meeting is to be I held in St. John's Hall to enrol boys as scouts and cubs, and to elect a permanent committee for the Trentham scout district. Votes of thanks were passed to Sir Alfred for attending, and also to the chairman and Messrs. Nelson and Bugg. Befreshinents were provided by Mrs. Boult. A Brighter Picture. The complete*figures in respect of the clothing industry for the year ended 31st March, 1920, present a brighter picture of this industry than has been seen for a number of years. Notwithstanding the huge volume of articles of clothing brought into the Dominion, and the keenness of the competition •among local manufacturers, the statistics afford ample evidence of a general expansion in the clothing industry as a whole. In quite a few instances manufacturers reported "flourishing conditions," while "improved conditions" was quite a common remark. In a consideration of the conditions of this industry it should be borne in mind that sudden changes in fashion, competition from abroad, and the relatively large number of factories are factors that would generally ensure erratic states of business as between various factories from time to time. Relatively more complaints from manufacturers anent the conditions of the industry are therefore a more or. less permanent feature of tho clothing industry, as compared with other industries. Highest Yet Recorded. Altogether materials costing £ 1,----346,685 were worked upon in the clothing industry during the year ended 31st March, 1926, to produce articles of a total value of £2,515,280. The actual value added to the materials operated upon in tho manufacturing processes was therefore £ 1,168,595. This figure, which is generally referred to in connection with statistics as ttie "added value," affords a very good basis upon which to judge the progress of an industry. The figures for the clothing industry for 1925-26, £1,168,595, is the highest yet recorded for this industry. .Compared with the figure for 1924-25, it shows an incraese of £ 79,----827, or 8 per cent. '.• \ . ' ' Visiting Oarsmen. . . ' There is a prospect that next season ai. eight-oared crew from New South Wales may visit New Zealand. Speaking at the annual smoke concert of the Petone Bowing Club last evening, Mr. A. D. Bayfeild, lion, secretary of the New Zealand' Amateur Bowing Association, stated that New South Wales was desirous of sending an eight in March or April next. He also said that the I Australian Henley Committee had invited W. Stevenson, New Zealand amateur sculjer,: to compete, at the Henley-on-Yarra regatta in October, which it was hoped would be attended by sculling champions of Canada and England. The committee had. also invited a four to attend the regatta, and in all probability a crew would make the trip. Loan for Belief Works. Formal resolutions in respect of the raising of a loan of £10,000 for the relief of unemployment, in Wellington w.ere passed at a special meeting of the City Council yesterday afternoon. Security for the, loan is to be given by a special rate of l-84d.in tho £ on unimproved value. Tha Mayor,- Mr: l>. A. Troup, stated that about fifty men wore at present employed in gorse cutting on various parts of the Town Belt, and thirty to forty would bo given employment in B class work on the Eongotai sandhill area on Monday morning. It was hoped that it would bo possible to make a start with tho widening of Grafton road about tho middle or tho end of next week with a small number .oi men, which number would be increased a littlo later. In reply to Councillor Semple, Mr. Troup said.that the suggestion that tho Government should subsidise, £ for &, road improvement work on tho Point Halswell road, had not been so far carried further, but ho was hoping to hear that the Government would do something in the matter. Tho council had also to consider from what source it could obtain its part of the finance, amounting to several thousands of pounds, for at present it had no funds for that work. The council decided that the rates of pay on relief work should be tho same as last year, i.e., 14s per day for A class men and 12s for B classmen. "Backbone of the Country." No ono would begrudge the money spent on backblocks schools, which ncedod attention very badly, declared the Minister of Education (the Hon. B. A. Wright) at Palmerston North. Mr. Wright said he had visited the schools himsolf, and had seen the existing conditions. Tho towns and cities in the past had been well treated by the Ministers of Education, and the back blocks' schools had suffered. Ho hoped to visit them still more, as they, the backbone of the country, must not be neglected. Tho correspondence course for backblock children twolve months ago had been limited to 500 children, but ho had withdrawn the limit until to-day all tho children were being reached by correspondence. The- system was working splendidly and was doing a vast amount of good. How Pish Yarns Grow. Two largo crayfish, a small blue penguin, and a collie dog were found by Mr. L. T. Griffin, of tho Auckland Museum, in a 544-pound tiger shark caught by an Adelaide doctor at the Bay of Islands (states an exchange). Referring to it in a recent address, Mr. Griffin said it gave him a good example of the "fish yarns" told in tho north nowadays. A little while after the catch ho met a man who, not knowing that he had had anything to do with it, assured him that tho shark had contained not only two crayfish, a penguin, and a collio dog, but also a policeman's helmet and a sewing machine. Royal Visit Subsidy. The Mayor of Christchurch has received a letter from Mr. James Hislop, ljnder-Secretary for tho Department of j Internal Affairs, to the effect that there is a further subsidy coming to the Chri3tchureh City Council in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. The letter states: "I have to advise you that the question of 'paying a subsidy to your committee on the expenditure incurred during the recent Eoyal visit has been referred to tho Controller and Auditor-General, and in his opinion a further amount of £141 7s 3d is payable. This figure has been arrived at as follows:—Claimed to have been the net expenditure by the local auditor, £2149 14s 7d; local bodies' subscriptions (excluding tho Christchurch City Council), £658 4s 8d; public subscriptions, £ 254 11s; profits from race meeting,' £175 8s 4d. Expenditure as above; dednct subscriptions as above, leaving a balance of £1001 10s 7d; City Council's proportion, £530 15s 4d; Government's proportion, £530 15s 3d; paid by Government on account, £389 8s; balance due £141 7s 3d." '