NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wellington's Pine Harbour. A very fine map of the Wellington Harbour, measuring 12ft by Bft, has been prepared by Mr. G. N. Sturtevant, under instructions from 'the general manager of the Harbour Board. The map, which members saw—and admired —at last evening's meeting for the first time, shows the depths at the various points of the harbour, and also, by means of dots, the populations of the several suburbs. It is a very faithful and painstaking piece of work. Drawing the attention of the members of the board to the map, the chairman, Mr. J. G. Cobbe, said that there were in tho harbour 20,000 acres of water, of an average depth of 40ft. "I don't know whether the people of Wellington fully realise what a splendid asset they have in their harbour," lie said.

Voice From A Distance. . The Hinemoa, on her tour of the South Sea Islands, is taking to the leper island for Makogni a five-valve ■wireless set made in ' Auckland to the order of the Combined Retail Soft Goods Charity Club, reports the "New Zealand Herald." The set has been named "He Rco Tawhiti," meaning "Voice" from a distance,." and when tested the other day easily brought in all New Zealand and Australian stations on four valves, while the use of the fifth afforded clear reception of American broad--1 casting. The cost was in tho region of £70. .. Oil in Navigable Waters. The pollution by oil in navigable waters was referred to in the report of a preliminary conference- held at Washington in June, 1926, an account of which was tabled at last evening's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board. The report suggested that the Governments concerned should provide for a system of prescribed areas in waters off their coasts beyond territorial limits; . . . that such areas should extend from 50 to 150 nautical miles . . . ; and that tho discharge of oil or oily mixtures exceeding .05 of 1 per cent, should be prohibited within that radius. Foot and Mouth Disease.

That thero was no immediate danger of the introduction into New Zealand of foot and mouth disease was a reassuring statement mado to tho Farmers' Union Conference yesterday by Dr. C. J. Eeakes, Director of Agriculture. Ho said that the farmers need not be afraid that tho precautions would be relaxed, although it had been found impossiblo to carry out tho regulations fully. It had been agreed between the authorities here and at Homo to carry out efficient and satisfactory sterilisation of all straw and hay used for packing. Tho same precautions were taken with regard to materials from other European countries, many of which were now using substitutes. There \v:is no danger from infected seed, and as a whole tho position in England was bettor now than it had been for some time past.

Contract Which Failed. Representing that ho has been ruined through no fault of his own, William Forrest, of Western Springs road, Auckland, who in 1913 had tho contract for tho construction of tho Okahukura tunnel for tho Public Works Departmont, for tho sum of £96,000, is petitioning Parliament claiming that as tho Public Works funds havo benefited by his losses to tho extent of about £.11,----000, as his personal books will show, he should be given fair and equi:ablo compensation. Petitioner states that ho successfully carried on the contracts until February, 1915, when, owing to adverse conditions brought about by tho Groat War, ho was compellod to surrender his contract to tho Department. It was arranged that petitioner should recoivo back his working plan, and a fixed sharo of tho profits, if any, on completion of tho contract by a syndicate, which took over tho work. * The syndicato in turn was forced to surrender tho contract, aud petitioner lost some thousands of pounds and did not receive any consideration or rofunds either from the Government or the syndicate, losing his all in the contract. Ho subsequently served in the Imperial Forcos in the war for four and a half years, being discharged permanently medically unfit with a pension. Petitioner was granted £100 in 1923 in view of his losses, but he submits that that was totally inadoquato to moot the circumstances and leaves him in an unjust position. He petitioned in 1924 and 1926 and was recommended, but recoived nothing. The syndicate which took over tho contract, he says, was composed of wealthy men, and they were- compensated by the Government so that they lost nothing, while petitioner lost tho fruits of a lifetimo 's industry.

Power Board Kates. Dissatisfaction with the present method of levying electric power rates is reported to be general throughout Southland. At a recent meeting convened by the Southland Provincial Executivo of the Farmers' Union, it was resolved to send a deputation to Wellington to make "strenuous endeavours" to obtain financial relief from tho Government either by obtaining a grant of £.650,000 or otherwise. One speaker said that they might not even got the interest on that sum, but there was no harm in asking. He suggested they should be prepared to forego Government grants for roads and so forth, which could bo made to do in tho meantime. "Roads," he said, "will not put us off our farms, but the Power Board rates will. Wo have been misled with promises of cheap power. Although the Government may bo suspicious, a scheme could be devised by which the capital value may bo withheld for some years without paying it. The postponement of payments would always be something." Tho effect of tho resolutions carried by the meeting is that relief will bo sought for both the reticulated and the non-reticulated payers of Power Board rates.

"Seven Per Cent." "You know that the usual rate of interest for second mortgages is 9 per cent, don't you?" asked counsel of a witness in a Supreme Court case yesterday afternoon. "Yes," replied the witness, "but I have had it at 7 per cent. I can get it at 7 per cent, now." "Now, Mr. ," protested counsel, "do you say that in all seriousness that you have had second mortgage money at 7 per cent" Witness: "Yes, I do. I had it from your own firm, from one of your own clierits." (Laughter.) Counsel did not press the point. Deep Sea Fishing. Information has been received in Auckland that Mr. Zane Grey and party are planning another fishing trip to New Zealand towards the end of the present year, when it is intended to exploit a much wider area, reports the "Star." On tho occasion of the last trip reports were received of big fish in the neighbourhood of the North Cape and the Three Kings, a locality that has as yet not been explored by deep sea anglers. During the past few months the Zane Grey party has been investigating the prospects of deep sea fishing among the South Pacific islands, although a great deal of success has not been met with.

Auckland Hospital Full. There is a record number of cases in the Auckland District Hospital. Last week there were 604 cases, but the number has gradually increased until the number of ]j^,'s occupied in the institution has nou reached 620. Interviewed by a "Star" reporter, Dr. C. E. Maguire said that there was no particular reason to which the increase could be attributed, except that it was probably due to the weather and the prevalence of colds. There was a fair number of diphtheria eases at present in the hospital. Accommodation was fully taxed, and it was exceedingly difficult to find beds for those seeking admission. Boom had always to be found for urgent and accident cases. The staff was at present working at high pressure. Daylight Saving.

Expressing disagreement with Mr. Sidey's Summer Time Bill, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, told the Farmers' Union yesterday that he was afraid that the measuro would become law this session. A delegate asked the Minister to suggest some method by which farmers might block the Bill. The Minister answered that it was a matter for the Legislative Council, but the farmer should certainly have some voice in the matter A voice from the back of the room said that at any rate at tho next election they would have the opportunity of turning them out.

Life-saving- Work. The secretary of the Now Zealand Council of the Boyal Life-saving Society, Mr P. J. Lawrence Scott* has received tho following letter from tho chief secretary of the society in London: I have much pleasure in sending you a copy of a letter received by our president, Lord Desborough, and signed by Sir Frederick Ponsonby, which I hope you will kindly convey to all who have promoted the work in which our society is engaged." The enclosure is as follows: "I have laid before the iang the annual report of the Royal Life-saving Society, and His Majesty, who has always watched with the keenest interest tho work done by the members all over the Empire, has learnt with satisfaction of its continuous growth and present sound position. His Majesty was much impressed with the tact that the number of awards increased last year, to nearly 38,600, which shows the excellence of the instruction provided, as -the gallant and successful deeds, performed by those who have acquired tho knowledge, are a practical demonstration of its value. I am to ask you to bo good enough to convey to all who have worked so well for tho promotion of tho objects of tho society His Majesty's congratulations on the results achieved."

An Eel Trade? Tho. possibility of Now Zealand developing an export trade in eels is outlined m a report received by the oKccr an charge of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Christchureh (Mr D. Colquhoun), from the High Commissioner in London, who states that there is a big market in England for eels. Suppliers can obtain from Is 2d to Is (id per lb for fresh cols, and from Sd to 0d per lb for frozen. Great quantities, generally shipped .-dive, are scut from Europe. The report, which considers that a trial shipment from New Zealand would bo justified, deals thoroughly with tho question from the Dominion's point of view. Further informat I s. *ortllcoining from a large firm °f . BiU'ngsgatc fishmongers, which states: "Speaking generally, wo think that, properly worked, there would be a fair opening for good quality, mediumsized trozen eels from New Zealand Being a new article, it would need a certain amount of pushing at tho beginmng, but there would bo a good chance tradl »mg aU establisued and regular , Main Highways Finance. Tentativo figures in connection with tho annual estimates, submitted at the monthly meeting of tho Main Hiehways Board, indicate, states the official report, that a considerable reduction will have to be mado in the amounts applied tor by local authorities for expenditure during tho forthcoming year on construction works. The toHl cash availablo for construction purposes this year will bo in tho vicinity of £550,000, and even this sum can only bo obtained by transferring £350 - 000 from the revenue fund, while applications have already been received tor a sum of over £900,000 The Act requires district highway councils and, m turn, tho board, to make an annual roview of main highways and in terms of the Act a total of 975 additional miles of main highway were recommended by district highway councils for declaration. Estimates of future income and expenditure indicate that the excess of expenditure over income, added to transfer from revenue fund referred to above, will probably extinguish the credit balance in the board's revenue fund very soon. This added to the fact that there are already heavy commitments against the capital funds annually availablo to the board, will not permit the board taking on any substantial additional responsibilities, and accordingly only a very small percentage of the new roads recommended to be brought within tho scope of the board's operations are to be accepted.

The Other Side. Advertisement hoardings so frequently exhort one to buy New Zea-land-made goods that it came quite as a shock to some members of the Farmers' Union yesterday to hoar the other side of the question put quite forcibly. To buy New Zealand-made goods, it was said, was simply to put money into the manufacturers' pocketto buy imported goods was to contribute substantially to the national exchequer. Often to buy New Zealandmade goods was to buy in the dearest market, which was most unbusinesslike, and in fact, one of the causes of the present unemployment. Trade was but an jntorchange of commodities, and the balance of trado righted itself in the long run wherever the money went. Ships could not bo expected to conic empty to New Zealand to tako away our products. A remit urging the purchase of New Zealand-made goods and preference to British ones where this was impracticable, was withdrawn after a discussion which one delegate characterised as quite a little storm.