NEWS OP THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 8

NEWS OP THE DAY

Engine-drivers' Suspension. A new sub-clause has been added to the Inspection of Machinery Bill by the Labour Bills Committee of the j Legislative Council providing that where an engine-driver's certificate has been suspended or cancelled, the Minister may in his discretion reduce the period of suspension, or.may direct the issue of a new certificate without examination to the former holder of the cancelled certificate. Eucalyptus and Tobacco. The Vice-Consul for Brazil has been notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce in Rio de Janeiro, that the importation into that country of eucalyptus seed and cuttings, from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, is now prohibited. The tobacco industry is progressing very favourably in Brazil, and it holds, the third place among the countries producing tobacco, from January to March this year the value of that exported was £187,000, as against £168,----000 during the corresponding period last year. It has been found in some countries that the leaf of the tobacco plant is seriously affected where the eucalyptus growa, and it is apparent ' that the Government of Brazil is not desirous of taking any risks in that direction. Fall on to Cow's Head. During the stock sale at Kaitaia this week, Mr. Edward Panther, a wellknown farmer of Victoria Valley, had a narrow escape from death, states the "New Zealand Herald." He was standing on the rails of a cattle pen when a rail collapsed and he foil on to the horns of a cow in the pen. The frightened animal tossed its head violently and a horn was driven bctweon the unfortunate man's ribs, narrowly missing the heart. Mr. Panther was removed to the Kaitaia Hospital, and his condition j waß reported to be satisfactory, , -

In Use Again. This morning, for the first time since tho wash-out, both tracks of the Hutt railway were in commission again. In view of the extra traffic to be coped with to-day, trains to Trentham to see the airmen land and trains to the trots at Hutt Park, every endeavour has been made during the last few days to expedite repairs so as to make this possible. The wall on the sea side where it had been washed away has been rebuilt, but as yet no attempt has been made to cement the rubble together with concrete, that being a work of the future.. Maori Jurors. The complete Maori jury panel for the New Plymouth district, comprising those eligible Natives within a radius of ten miles of tho Court, numbers 35 jurors, says the "Taranaki Daily News." A glance at the occupations of the jurors is interesting, for it shows that with the exception of one interpreter and one taxi-driver, all are farmers and labourers. There are 15 farmers and 18 labourers. When a jury was being empanelled in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth recently, three of the farmers were exempted from service, two on account of hardship, and one on account of deafness. The jury chose the interpreter* as foreman. "Only a Second Offender." "I see she has been divorced before," said Mr. Justice Eeed in the Supremo Court at Auckland on Thursday, when examining the papers of a wife who was petitioning for divorce (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). "Has anyone reached the third stage here? Tho papers do not show " Mr. Matthews said his client had been divorced but once, adding, "She is only a second offender." "I wonder if they will get into the American figures here in divorce," remarked his Honour. A little later he commented on the fact that another wife seeking divorce had also been previously divorced, and the point was further emphasised when it appeared that a woman who claimed damages for breach of promise of marriage was divorced. Commercialised Sport. "You will want to know my impressions of New Zealand," said tho Rev. Hector M'Lean, of the United Church of Canada, speaking at the Christchurch Presbytery •on Tuesday. "Well, I find it a land where every prospect pleases." The laughter of the members of the Presbytery was an indication they knew the conclusion of the quotation. "You know," continued the Canadian visitor, "I feel like tho Apostle Paul at Athens. Hia spirit was sore within him when hi saw the city given over to idolatry. The situation is bad enough in Canada, the Lord knows, but it is my impression honestly (it doesn't make any difference to me) that New: Zealand is given over body, and soul to commercialised sport. Now, I believe in clean and legitimate sport, but when sport becomes an obsession and an over-ruling passion, God help us, and' God help the country. It is time to call a halt, and time to do something." Asked to "Put It In Strong." "Each rider in the Timaru to Christchurch road race seems to have seven or eight trainers," ironically remarked Mr. P. Power, when refreshments at the finish at the Show Grounds were mentioned at Wednesday night's meeting of the North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union (states the "Lyttelton Times"). The official in charge of the refreshment room last year wrote drawing attention to trouble he had had. "When the riders came in, the best of the foodstuffs had been eaten by their friends," stated the writer. "We had enough food in the ordinary case, but had to order more. Please ask thei Press to put it in strong abont robbing the riders when they come in hungry, as we become short and have to, cut them down." It was decided to restrict entry to the refreshment room to riders only.