NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 55, 13 September 1928, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Purchase of Fire Hose. For many- years past it has been the custom for the Department of Internal Affairs to indent each year in bulk fire hose for the annual requirements of the various fire boards and brigades in the Dominion. This has, (^ course, meant a very considerable saving to these bodies. The Department lias now decided to discontinue the practice. The Petonc Mro Board decided yesterday to send a remit to tlie next conference of fire boards suggesting that the fire boards themselves should co-operate in the purchase of hose. Workers' Compensation. A feature of the law in regard to workers' compensation.-which is not generally known is remarked upon in the annual report of the Public Trustee. This is the xiro vision which has been made between New Zealand and other countries for reciprocity in the matter of claims under the Workers' Compensation Act. While the Act provides that- dependants of deceased workers may not claim compensation unless they are domiciled or resident in New Zealand, authority is given to the Governor-General in Council by section 59 of the statute, in any cases in which he is satisfied that by the laws of any other country within the dominions of the Crown compensation for accidents is payable to relatives of a deceased worker notwithstanding that they are resident in New Zealand, to declare by Order in Council that relatives resident in that country shall have the same rights and remedies under the Workers' Compensation Act as if resident in New. Zealand. Under this provision dependants resident, in Great Britain, Ireland, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria have been brought within the benefits of the Act. Came Back with Beards. Men of the Royal Navy do not often avail themselves nowadays of their privilege of growing beards, but an attempt to revive, the fashion seemed to be indicated by the magnificent growths to bo seen on the faces of several bluejackets of H.M.S. Dunediu when the warship berthed at Auckland on Monday, states the Auckland "Herald." About a dozen men allowed their beards to grow during the Pacific cruise, and were the objects of much goodnatured chafi". Some of them thought belter of it, and shaved before reaching port, and there is said to bo some speculation whether the others will appear with beards in public.

Poorly-lit Locality. Several witnesses at an inquest this morning on a man who was run over by a taxi behind the tram shelter in Courtenay place on Tuesday evening said that the locality was not properly lit. The driver of the taxi said that that part oi' Courteuay place was as poorly lighted a part as there was in the city. A constable stated that on the plantation side there was no street lamp, the nearest being 108 feet away. Tlie trees in tlio plantation cast shadows on the street, and made the visibility at night anything but good. Photography in Engineering. Sir John Luke, M.P., speaking last night at the opening of the N.Z. Interclub Exhibition of Pictorial Photography, made nn interesting reference to the many diverse uses of photography, instancing the great Sydney bridge, now being built. Photographs of the bridge were taken periodically, said Sir John, and the records sent to ■the head office of the contractors. It whs necessary also for photographs of the work done to be supplied before progress payments were made. What Do Pukekos Eat? A letter from the Undcr-Seeretary of Internal Affairs received by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night, asked that two pukeko be taken monthly by the society from (a) the vicinity of. crops; (b) from swamp lands distant from crops, and the stomachs (full directions for the packing of which were enclosed) sent to the Director of Agriculture. Permission, to bo renewed at intervals for the twelve months, was enclosed in the form of a warrant. It was decided to comply with the request. Principal of Victoria College. Some two years ago the Professorial Board of Victoria College suggested j the appointment of a principal of the college. In a letter to the council of the college the board has renewed the proposal; also, that if a member of the Professorial Board be appointed he be granted such assistance as would free him to some extent from the duties of teaching. At a meeting of the College Council last evening, Professor T. A. Hunter said that the change was approved of when originally made.. The council agreed to ask the Minister of Education to have a clause inserted in what is known as the Washing-up Bill this session giving power to the council to make such an appointment. The Jewish New Year. To-morrow evening, at 5.30 p.m., will begin the Jewish Now Year, the number of which is 5689. The Jewish calendar is dated from the Creation, that event being considered to have taken place 3700 years and three months befoi'c the commencement of the Christian era. The construction of the Jewish calendar is somewhat complicated, many details requiring attention. The Jewish year is luni-solar and, according to whether it is an ordinary or embolismic year, it may consist of cither 35-i or 384 days. One result is that the New Year may commence on any dato between sth September and sth October. Tho name of tho first month of the year is Tisri. Quebracho for New Zealand. A report has been received from Kew to tho effect that a quantity of seeds of tho quebracho tree have been imported from Argentina, and that it is intended to send some of them to New Zealand with a view to testing the possibilities of their growth in North Auckland. The quebracho is an apoeyii.ic.cous tree, which is a native of Chile, although other paits of South America cultivate it. An extract from its bark is almost a sine'qua iion for high-class tanning, and is used to a fairly large extent in tho. Dominion. Hitherto supplies have come from Argentina, but if the quebracho takes kindly to New Zealand soil and climate, in the future perhaps there will be no need for importation. Plumbers' Tools of Trade. Are stocks and dies and vises the tool's of trade of a plumber?' When a tradesman was examined in bankruptcy in New Plymouth this week it was stated that tho deputy-official assignee had been to Waitara and, on the advice of a creditor with export knowledge, had impounded these and other articles, regarding them all as stock, states an exchange. It was pointed out by tho solicitor representing him that bankrupt, unless he had the tools named, could not j obtain a position in Waitara because tho small plumbers there would expect him to be equipped. A creditor contended, however, that in distinguishing tools from stock, tho position should be governed by what the man would nocd were ho to seek employment with a big firm in New Plymouth. They should not consider what tools ho would want to start in business on his own account. Against this, it was argued that without tho implements tho man could not get work with small plumbers. A lawyer's law books and a business man's office would bo regarded as tools of trade. Eventually it was generally agreed that stocks and dies and vises came under this category. Christchurch Finance. No difficulty is anticipated by the City Council in raising the £220,000 loan for roading purposes as the money is required, and already the council has been offered a substantial sum for the purchase of debentures, says the "Lyttelton Times." The rate of interest "on the loan is 5A per cent. Councillor D. G. Sullivan, M.P., chairman of the Finance Committee, stated yesterday that probably it would not be necessary to I raise any of the money for another two !or three months, as it would take a little while to get everything in readiness for the work to be started. He was not personally in favour of going abroad for the money as all that was required could bo raised locally without any difficulty, and the debentures could bo sold as tho need arose. Tho public were usually eager to take up debentures for local body undertakings because they were able to see tho work that was carried out with the money. If the council raised the money in London, it would probably have to pay interest on a largo portion, of it before it was required for expenditure, but by selling debentures only such sums as were needed could be obtained. Future Water Supply. The City Engineer, Mr. G. A. Hart, reported to tho City and Suburban Water Supply Board yesterday that gauging stations had been erected in the Whalcatikei and Little Akatarawa streams, and gaugings of flow were being regularly made. Measurements of tho water daily going to waste in both tho Wainui-o-mata and Orongorongo streams were being taken. AH these streams, together with the Hutt River, were kept under observation during the recent floods. A rain gauge had been established in the Little Akatarawa Basin, which was being read daily by Mr. M'Hugh, who was voluntarily assisting the board- in this matter. Tho Hutt Valley was being explored for suitable pipe-lino routes, and a trial lino was being run from Koi-o Koro up tho Valley. Aii investigation of the conditions of supply and demand was in hand over both the city and suburban areas, taking into consideration tho existing and probable ultimate populations at the varying levels, together witli the existing systems of supply, with a view to obtaining the most economical and efficient ultimate lay-out of mains and reservoirs through the urra.