NEW OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 8

NEW OF THE DAY

Trans-Pacific Plight. The desire of tho people of Wellington for Captain Kingsford Smith and his colleagues to visit the Dominion was further shown when this matter came up before tho council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at its meeting this week. Expression was given to tho hope that the1 Capital might bo mado the first landing place if the' flight from the Commonwealth to tho Dominion is made. It was decided to send a message to Captain Kingsford Smith congratulating him upon tho notable achievement of his transpacific flight, and at tho same tini'e an invitation will be extended to him and his colleagues in the flight to address the members when they reach Wellington. Insurance and Mountaineering. Commenting on tho fact that tho insurance companies asked for an' increased premium on policies in which mountaineering was ono of tho risks, several members of the Tararua Tramping Club, at the annual meeting last evoning, considered the Government should be asked to help in cases where trampcrs wero engaged in searching for missing people. "I think there will be some difficulty in defining mountaineering," obsorved tho chairman (Mr. F. W. Vosseler). "Personally I don't call climbing tho Tararuas mountaineering, although sometimes conditions really mako it so." A member: "Tho insurance companies call it mountaineering." (Laughter.)

Sea Scouts. Becentl'y the question of sea-train-ing for boys has boon before the Associated New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, and in this, matter the' Wcl: lington District Sea Scouts Committee has brought to the notice of the coun,cil of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the work it is doing in making good citizens of the boys and giving them some elementary sea training. Voluntary helpers undertake this training, and many of the boys have as a consequenco adopted seafaring as a profession. The local unit of Sea Scouts in less than, a year has grown from two troops, with a total of about 45 boys, to at present five troops, with about 250 boys, all with the utmost enthusiasm in their duties. The council decided to give publicity to the, work of" this commendable organisation. '' Seeing New Zealand." ', j A copy of a booklet entitled "Seeing New Zealand" has reached the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from the Government Publicity Office, and the j council- of the chamber, in reviewing! this publication along with many others, .appreciated these evidences of the commendablo work of the Govern- j ment in publicity, and decided to send a letter congratulating the Government Publicity Office upon its increased activities in this direction and upon the fine standard set in the class of literature now being produced, which, in the opinion of the council, compares most favourably with that of other countries. ' "Take a Compass." The absolute- necessity of carrying compasses oil tramping trips" into thorough country round about Wellington was .stressed by Mr. I\ W. Vosseler at the annual meeting of the Tararua Tramping Club last evening. "I can't understand those who do not think it necessary to carry ■ compasses with them," he said. "I can assure you, and I think most of you will agree, that it is necessary. Whenever you go into tho rough country round- about Wellington, it is absolutely' essential to have a compass: It may not bo necessary nine times out of ten, 'but on tho tenth occasion it will bo found invaluable. Make it a hard and fast rule ,to take a compass! Have a map of tho district with you, and you aro very likely to save- yourselves considerable tronblo. I do hope that any member who does think these things , unnecessary will not have to learn from bitter experience) tho necessity of them." sßeauty or Utility? ' Private efforts at'street beautification do not always meet with City Council support. A case in point was referred to by the chairman of the Dominion Farmers' 'Institute, Ltd. (Sir James Wilson)- At tho recent annual meeting of the company, Sir James expressed resentment at the action of the City Council in permitting destruction1 of the reservo at the corner of "Feathorston and Ballance streets. This reserve -the Farmers-Institute, at a cost of £1500, had, dedicated to the city.l Instead of replacing i£ after building operations on .tho spot had ceased, the council, had paved the area with flagstones.. Several shareholders expressed strong indignation at", tho failure to. reinstate ' this-little beauty spot, and urged .tho management to mako a demand on the council to have it restored immediately. Mountain Tramping Risks. The hope that familiarity would not breed contempt for . the dangers existing in tramping in the Tararua Ranges was expressed by Mr. IV W. Vosseler at the annual meeting of the Tararua Tramping Club last evening. After roferring to the club's freedom from mishaps in which its own members had been involved, ho said that when conditions wero bad in the mountains things could becomo very serious. In winter crossings, which were now much more popular than a few years ago, there was always a great danger that a party would bo caught. Sometimes conditions were ideal when leaving a hut like Alpha or 'a. point like West Peak, and it was very pleasant to dawdle along tho track. Then the snow might warm up and become soft, and sooner or later n party would get into difficulties and havo trouble iii either going ahead or retracing its steps. That was a possibility which was likely to bo overlooked and which should bo watched for. Sharp Salesmanship. ■ "I know of ono instance where a vendor of a knife-sharpening compound used to demonstrate- his wares by ostentatiously producing an 18in snickersnee and putting a keen edge oil it in the presence of tho approhensivo housewife," said tho Mayor of Devonport, when tho council wero discussing tho licensing of itinerant .hawkers (states ■tho "Auckland Star"). "That's what you call sharp salesmanship," interjected a member. All present agreed with this opinion, and. with the strict supervision of such merchants, but not with such keenness on the salesman's part. The matter arose through a communication received by the council from the Auckland Chamber of, Commerce concerning the licensing of itinerant hawkers and pedlars. The chamber forwarded a request from the Hikufangi Chamber of Commerce, which,. asked support for a proposal that the licensing of all "pack merchants" should be undertaken by the Department of Internal Affairs, instead of by individual local authorities. A report by the Town CJerk was in favour of continuance of tho present system, which ensured police supervision of each licensee. A reply was authorised giving a decision against any alteration in the present system, as it' was foil; that sympathetic consideration should be extended to all honest attempts to earn a livelihood. Fire Alarm Systems. ' ' A deputation from the United Firo Brigades' Association of New Zealand waited on the Post and Telegraph Department yesterday in reference to the charges for installing and maintaining the fire alarm systems throughout the Dominion. Attention was drawn to the fact that freo services are rendered by j the brigades to tho Department in all direction^, and the deputation' claimed that this warranted a concession from the Department in the way of reduced charges for-installing and maintaining lire alarm systems, and also a reduction in charges for telephones. At present, it was stated, the Department was charging the full cost of installing and maintaining the fire alarms and lines, and full rates for the telephones, yet it made no contribution either through the rates or -direct to the fire brigades for the maintenance of the brigades. Tho association considered that the time had arrived for a more equitable arrangement to be made. The second assistant secretary of the Department (Mr. M. B. Esson), who received the deputation, promised that the matter would be looked into, and a definite reply given in a few days. Appreciation. Eulogistic reference to the- services rendered by Mr. and Mrs. C. Burdan, of Wainui-o-Mata, towards the tramjjors who assisted in tho search, in the Orongorohgo country for tho late Mr. M. Hodgkinson, was mado at the an•nual meeting of the Tararua Tramp? ing Club last evening. "I think it was very fine tho way they treated those who took part in tho search," said the chairman (Mr! F. W. Vosselor). "When the men/wcro tired and wet and hungry, they woro met with lavish luxury and wero shown every possible consideration." Several other members expressed their appreciation of tho kindness shown by Mr. and Mrs. C. Burdan, and a motion that a lottcr of thanks bo sent to them was carried unanimously.