NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1928, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

» 4' Thespian ' Memories. " The second article by Mr. H. E. Nichells on "Thespian Memories" is printed, on page 7 of this issue. Moisture for Tourists. The Far North of New Zealand must bo a very moist place. "Up there," said Colonel Allen Bell (Bay of Islands) in his speech in the House of Bepresentatives last night, "we measure the rainfall not .in. inches, but in feet." Towards the conclusion of his speech Colonel Bell appealed to the Government to do more in the way of attracting tourists to '' the winterless North, where the Prime Minister and I come from." Mr. D. W. Lysnar (Gisborne): "That won't wash." (Laughter.) A Protracted Case. Further reference to tho Christchurch case of Wright and Morgan was made in tho Court of Appeal yesterday afternoon, when Douglas George Wright appealed from an order mado by Mr. Justice Sim. Tho respondents were Florcnco Jenny Myna Morgan and others. Mr. F. D. Sargent, who appeared for the' appellant, stated that the.case.was a protracted piece of litigation. "As Mr. Justice Sim said in Christchurch, I have been in the case only five minutes," ho said. Mr. A. T. Donnelly (counsel for respondents): "I have been in tho case five years." Mr. Sargent: "Some of the parties have been in it six years, and it has been suggested that there has boon a considerable amount of money wasted in costs, but as a legal man I suggest that it has been absorbed." The appeal was made against the basis on which Mr. Justice Sim had ordered the taking of documents. Tire respondents claimed that the accounts in respect of '' Surrey Hills" and "Windermere" should be taken on the basis of the Government valuations from time to time, and tho appellant claimed that the valuations should be based on valuations made not later than 1909. The Court reserved decision. An Old Claim. For some years John James Meiklo, of Auckland, has been petitioning Parliament for relief, and he has received favourable recommendations from the Public Petitions Committee on five occasions—l92l, 1922, 1924', 1926, and 1927. In 1921 and^l922 it was recommended that the petitioner should receivo a pension of £4 a week for tho rest of his life. Meikle, who is now 85 years of ago, is petitioning Parliamont again this year with the request that tho previous recommendations of tho Committee should be given effect. The case originated with a claim against tho Government for £10,000 for alleged wrongful imprisonment, and it occupied the attention of the Courts for some time. * "Not At Present Advisable." An adverse report regarding' the Auckland proposal to establish a through service between northern and southern cities connecting via Picton was presented by the Transport Committee at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.- The committee stated: "It does not seem probable that through passengers from Auckland to Dunedin and from Dunedin to Auckland will be very numerous, and it is certain that travellers from Wellington to the South Island and from the South Island to Wellington would prefer the present ferry service. Then the business men of Canterbury find the ferry service for communication with the North Island all that is to bo desired. There is also the question of cost. Th© through fare from Auckland to Dunedin, including the motor trip between the railheads, must of necessity be greater than at present. It is more than probable that the/fleet of cars necessary for tho communication would cost much morft than the revenue from them would warrant. From the consideration of these points, this committee considers that tho proposed reorganisation of tho through service between the northern and southern cities of this Dominion is not at present advisablo, as it would result in disorganising of present services, detrimentally; affecting residents in Canterbury, Marlborough, and Nelson, as well as necessitating an unnecessary expenditure of doubtful revenue-producing value. "nThe report was adopted. White Island Normal. , There are no signs of unusual activity at White Island, and an engineer who visited the island at the end of last week io investigate reports of thermal disturbances found nothing to suggest th?,t abnormal action had occurred. White Island has been uninhabited during the last two months, and work will not be resumed until 23rd July (states tho "New Zealand Herald"). Mr. H. Welsh, manager .of White Island Pioduets, Limited, stated yetserday it was customary to suspend operations during May, June, and July. A wrong impression had been created by ,the statement that nothing had been heard by wireless for somo days. The engineer had made the trip from Opotilci by launch, and had returned satisfied. Tho rumours of activity had caused some concern to people who were not awaro that the island was uninhabitated.

Remembrance and Gratitude. A laurel wreath from the seventy Hew Zealand maimed soldiers wlio were re-educated at Wolverhampton during the war, was placed on the' war memorial at Wolverhampton on 28th May by Captain Richards, who was officer commanding the New Zealand Mechanical Transport during the war, and was responsible for the training of the stricken men with various firms. The wreath bore the New Zealand colours, and the motto "Onward" was picked out in bluo delphiniums. Captain Richards was accompanied by the Mayor of Wolverharnptou (Mr. A. E. Wood). School for Miramar Central. Tho tender of Mr. M. Bennie for the erection of a new school at Central Miramar has been aeeepted by tho Wollingtou Education Board. There will bo seven rooms in the new building, which will occupy the northern part of tho site, half ■of which lias recently been acquired by the City Council. The school will relievo the Worser Bay and South Miramar Ohools. At present soveral overflow classes are being held in rented rooms. Building is going on very rapidly all over the Miramar area, especially in the cast and middle portions, and the new school will undoubtedly be welcomed. The Worser Bay School is to be connected with the city drainage, the tender for this work having been let to Mr. E. G. Glennie. Children on I'raras. A year or so ago the City Council brought in a quite ineffective rule that tram conductors should bo inatructed to request children occupying seats on fully-loaded cars to vacate them for adults. The rule definitely did not work. Later the Tramway Department had printed upon all school children's concession tickets a condition that they did not entitle the holder to a seat while adults were standing—the' option being the ordinary fare. That rule worked so and so, until the continued non-compliance on1 the part of many children was brought to tho notice of the school authorities. Now there is a very marked' improvement, and the youngster who sticks tight to his seat while adults stand is decidedly the exception. Perhaps it is rough ou the youngster to have to stand day after day, but there is consolation —for the adult takes the seat —in the thought that it is all very good for tho youngster's soul, and there- is still more consolation in tho thought that until the rule was brought in the youngster did most of the sitting. Cassocks in Synod. An objection to the use of cassocks by clergy in synod was expressed by Mr. G. C. Stevenson, of Uruti, at tho opening of tho Waikato Diocesan Synod on Tuesday afternoon (states a Hamilton correspondent). Mr. Stevenson moved "that in the opinion of synod it is not desirable that clergy should wear cassocks in synod." Bishop Cherrington ruled the motion out of order. Mr. Stevenson questioned the bishop's ruling, and said he had good reasons for moving the motion, if he had the opportuniyt. He added he had been to previous synods, and it had not been the custom for the clery to wear cassocks. Archdeacon E. M. Cowie said years ago at was suggested at the Auckland Synod that the clergy should wear gowns. Many clergy did not have gowns. When Bishop Cherrington eaflie to the Waikato he asked the clergy to wear cassocks at synod. The archdeacon quoted an old authority to show that tli© wearing of cassocks by clergy outside the church was quite legal. It was quite in order for clergy to wear cassocks at synod, and it seemed to him that synod -would bo wanting in courtesy to the bishop to press the motion. The wearing' of cassocks, lie said, made for uniformity. 'The subject was deferred. ■ •' •