NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

To-night's Eclipse.

There is every prospect of a clear sky-to-night for the total eclipse of the moon. The full moon, which will bo in the eastern sky at the time of the eclipse, will first enter the penumbra at 5.4 p.m. But the ordinary observer will not notice much difference in the light from the moon until that body enters the umbra, or real shadow, at 6.13 p.m. The lunar orb will be totally eclipsed from '7.44 p.m. until just after eight o'clock. It will not be until 9.36 p.m. that the moon leaves the umbra, the eclipse ending at 10.45 p.m., when the moon is finally clear of the penumbra. Speed on Hutt Hoad. "When persons are charged with speeding through Kaiwarra and Kgahauranga," said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, "I do take, into consideration the fact that 30 miles per hour is the speed limit for the greater part of the Hutt road. Motorists, however, are expected to reduco their speed to 15 miles per hour when passing through' Kaiwarra and Ngahauranga." Christchurch Burglaries. "There is no epidemic of breaking and entering in the city at the present time, and there is not the slightest need for the public to feel alarmed," said Inspector A. Cameron (of Christchurch) when a reporter inquired of the recent burglaries indicated that gangs were at work in the city. Mr. Cameron declared that the cases that had been reported were not of a serious character, but were of the kind that happened practically every week. On Friday night four garages were broken into between 7 and 9 o'clock, but very little was taken. A suggestion that possibly some of the burglars who had been operating in Auckland had migrated south on account of the clean-up campaign initiated by Commissioner M'llveney was scouted by Mr. Cameron. "There is nothing to worry about at all," he said. "The cases that have occurred aro just the ordinary variety that are always taking place. It just happened that four places were entered on the one night." Fines Under Apiaries Act. Amendments to the Apiaries Act will be the subject of a Bill to be introduced in the House of Representatives in the coming session by the Minister of Agriculture (tho Hon. O. J. Hawkcn). The Minister informed a deputation from the National Beekeepers' Association yesterday that it was proposed to increase the penalties for breaches of tho regulations. The Director of Horticulture (Mr. ,T. A. Campbell) said it was recommended that tho maximum amount of penalty bo increasod'froin £5 to £20. That would enable Magistrates to inflict higher fines, for they usually imposed fines according to the maximum allowed by the Act. Hospital Finance. At the conclusion of the opening proceedings at the Dominion Conference of hospital matrons yesterday afternoon the Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of Health) said that while it was necessary at the present juncture to exercise rigid economy, there would be no reduction in the amounts that hospital boards were entitled to, even though they showed, by tho process of natural growth, a substantial increase over hist year's claims for Government subsidy. While the present economic crisis through which the country was passing was irievitnble, and was a. position which could not be prevented, it was the duty.of all to face tho facts with determination, and in tho spirit of cooperation help to share each other's burdens, and do their best to tide the country through the present period of trial. He would assure them that while rigid economy would be practised, it would not be at. the expense of efficiency in combating those agencies detrimental to the health of the people. Six Feet of Snow at Hermitage. During the past few days snow has been falling heavily at Mount Cook, and on Monday there was six feet of. snow at the Hermitage, states the Christchurch "Press." The road to the Hermitage was impassable on Monday, and horses and sledges"; were employed cutting a track from the Hermitago to the Rest House, a distance of about eighteen miles. A roadman, J. Smith, took eight hours to reach the Rest House, ploughing through snow which reached to the horse's girth. It was thought that the road to tho Hermitage would be clear by yesterday. A party consisting of Messrs. H. Sperrier, D. F. Bouchop, J. Richards, and W. Eyton left Timaru for Mount Cook by the ordinary service car at midday on Saturday, but ran into the snow storm and were forced to spend the night at Pukaki. "Wo struck the snow at Burkes. Pass," said Mr. Richards, when interviewed by a representative of the "Press" on his return to Timaru. "We stopped at Pukaki on Saturday night, and went oh Sunday morning to within fifteen miles of the Hermitage. There was about fifteen inches of snow there, and as the snow was still falling, we turned back to Pukaki and left for Timaru in the morning." AIU the way back across the Mackenzie Country to Burkes Pass there was from nine to fifteen inches of enow. There was a beaten track from Pukaki to Burkes Pass. Mr. Richards said that the guides with horses had made a track from the Hermitage, and it was hoped to run the cars through on Tuesday.

Optimistic Counsel. An optimistic note was struck by counsel in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, when appearing for a driver of a motor-car charged with failing to keep to the correct side of the street. Counsel had applied for an adjournment, and was waiting for a ropl3'. "How long is this case likely to tako?" asked the Magistrate (Mr J. H. Salmon). "From my point of view," replied counsel, amidst laughter, "it ought to be dismissed in a few minutes, sir." "Oh, we won't be unduly optimistic about it," said Mr. Salmon. "Say about ah hour. I shall adjourn the case until Tuesday morning next. 71 "Thank you, sir," and tho optimistic counsel withdrew. Harbinger of Spring. A pipiwharuuroa, or shining black cuckoo, was seen in suburban Auckland on Sunday (states the "Star"). The old Maoris called the pipiwharauroa tho harbinger of spring. Both pipiwhaniuroa and koheperoa (the longtailed cuckoo)) arc migratory. On the approach of the New Zealand winter they go to Samoa and other of the South Sea islands, usually returning to Now Zealand in the early part of the spring, their appearance generally being first noted in the far north, although as the season extends they spread all over the island. Of lato years it has been noted that an occasional pipiwharauroa ,does not make the Islands trip, and apparently some of the birds are content to spend all the year in New Zealand. Now Cathedral Organ. In the opinion of Dr. J. C. .Bradshaw, who, for the past 25 years, has been organist and choirmaster at the Christchurch Cathedral, the reconstructed organ, which was dedicated on Sunday, is probably the finest, although not the largest, organ in the Southern Hemisphere. Dr. Bradshaw told a representative of the Christchurch "Press" that it was a really first-class instrument, and capable of producing very fine results. The latest system of electro-pneumatic action is used, the main action, main couplers, and shutter controls being all electric. The console is detached and placed on. a gallory on the south side of the, choir, being connected by a cable, about 100 feet long, to the organ on the north side. The wind is supplied by a blower of 16 horse-power, supplying pressures up to 20 inches on the tubamirabilis. The electric current for action is sup-, plied by a generator working off the main blowing plant. Blower and generator are controlled from the console by a push button starter, combined with an automatic switch in the blowing chamber. The pitch of the organ is 517 vib. at 598. ; Care of Concrete Roads. There is likely to be much subsequent trouble if the fine concrete roads round Auckland are not closely watched (states the "Auckland Star"). It is the boast of the champions of this excellent surface that it reduces upkeep to a minimum, but all the same it requires more attention than it is getting' in some quarters. A motoring reader of the "Star" points out that even in the city parts of the roadway are already showing signs Of wear. He specially points to the stretch of road in Patterson street, Freeman's Bay, running along in front of Victoria Park. Driving along there in a motor one feels' a distinct bump at the joints between tho sections of concrete, and the edges are also beginning to show signs of wear. "All that is needed," says the motorist, "is that the interstices be filled up with bitumen. When these roads are first laid down the bitumen filling is always put in, but after some months' use it seems to work further down and leaves the top of the interstice bare. This should be attended to from time to time, otherwise excellent roads will soon become cracked, and, in addition to being uncomfortable to ride on, will cause much expense." Infectious Diseases. - Scarlet fever continues to bo somewhat prevalent in Wellington, and tho adjoining districts. There arc at present about sixty patients in; the fever wards of the Hospital suffering from this disease. The Department of Health has received the' fallowing notifications of infectious diseases in the hospital districts -of the Wellington health district for the past week (the figures for the previous week being given in parentheses):—Wanganui-Ho-rowhenua: Scarlet fever, 9'(3); diphtheria, 1 (2); erysipelas, 1 (0); pneumonia, 1 (1); puerperal fever, 2 (0); tuberculosis, 0 (1). Wairarapa-East Cape: Scarlet fever, 15 (13); diphtheria, 7 (4); pneumonia, 5 (0); tuberculosis, 0 (1); erysipelas, 0 (1); puerperal' fever, 0 (1). Central Wellington: Scarlet fever, 13 (19); diphtheria, 1 (2); pneumonia, 2 (0); enteric fever, 0 (1); puerperal fever, 0 (2). NelsonMarlborougn: Tuberculosis, 1 (0); scarlet fever, 0 (2); pneumonia, 0 (1); puerperal fever, 0 (1). ! The New Zealand Cross. One of the fourteen. New Zealand Crosses awarded has been handed over to the New Plymouth Museum by Captain 3j\ J. Mace (of Oakura), who won this decoration for bravery in the Tarunaki wars more than half a century ago. Tho cross, which has boon placed in the old colonists' room at the museum, is Malteso in shape and made of silver. Surmounting it is a gold crown, upon each arm, a gold star, and in the centre gold laurel wreaths encircling, the words "New Zealand." Inscribed on tho other side is "Captain Francis Joseph Mace, Taranaki Militia." The ribbon is crimson in colour, Bimilnr to that of the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant-Col. Carey, C.8., Deputy-Adjutant-General, in an uceount of the earlier Maori wars, published in London in 1863, refers to tho fine performances put up by the company in which Captain Mace served, and to Captain Mace himself as "an excellent rider and the pluckiest fellow I ever met."