NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Bite of the Eatipo,

Beferrihg to the recent incident at Blind Channel, when a holiday-maker was bitten by a katipo spider, a correspondent of the "Auckland Star" remarks that this poisonous insect .is as dangerous as some of Australia's venomous snakes. It is usually found near rotting logs on beaches near high-water mark, but any sun-dried bush rubbish may shelter it. The action of tho poison of tho spider's bite is almost immediate. The part bitton, and later the whole body of tho victim, swells. There is great pain, restlessness, and exhaustion, and before recovery (which may take from twelve to twenty-four hours) there is profuse sweating. A doctor who has treated a case successfully says that he- gave doses of ammonia and strychnine,. followed by an aperient. The treatment was aimed at the alarming exhaustion, and not at the poison itself, and no direct antidote to this was known; The spider has a small, bright, red mark upon his back, and can hy this be identified."

Australian Tourist Conference.

The Government Tourist Department has received the following advice from Mr. H. J. Manson, New Zealand Government representative in Melbourne, in regard to transport, publicity;, etc., in Australia: "At to-day's luncheon of the Travel Promotion League, which was recently formed by representatives of travel organisations in Australia, with the object of furthering travel generally, over twenty leading transport executives attended. Mr. 11. J. "Manson, New Zealand Government representative; president of the league, presided, and welcomed Mr. Harold Clapp, chairman of the Victorian Railway Commissioners, and others. Mr.. Clapp stressed the necessity for more active tourist publicity for Australia overseas, also improved methods of selling travel, and in the reception treatment of tourists, and mentioned that the Commonwealth scheme to spend £100,000, of which £70,000 has already been raised, it well under way."

Electrification of Lyttelton Line,

-Electric trains will runi between' Christelmreh and Lytt'elton about 115 th' February, according to a statement macle in Christehureh by Mr. H. H. ; Sterling, General Manager of Bail-, ways,, who said it is hoped to have the full electric service in- operation about that time. Preliminary trips will be run before then, said Mr. Sterling, and he expected that there would be some sort of'function to mark the opening of the service. On Sunday last the first test of the overhead equipment was macle by an electric locomotive, all the lines and sidings between Christclmreh and Heathedte being tested. The locomotive did not run under its own' power, but was towed by a steam engine, the purpose of the test being to see that the overhead lines were of the correct height. It is expected that the work of testing the new sub-station at "Woolston will be completed tomorrow, but some days after that.will be occupied in getting the machinery into running order.

"With Seismic Violence."

Commenting editorially on the result' of tho General Election, the "Public Service Journal" says:—''Tho . recent General Election, with almost seismic: violence, has changed a serene political landscape. The veteran, Sir Joseph Ward —to whom the service must ever be particularly grateful for the inestimable benefit of superannuation, and whose work in getting the Act through Parliament is hardly known to the younger goneration-^-has, after nearly: seventeen years, once again become Prime Minister. Of his Cabinet, only, two other members have had previous Ministerial experience, and some others have not previously sat in. Parliament. Obviously, the difficulties .of Government, even with I'a majority in the' House, will be greater .than 1 for many years past, but they would be greater still if it were not for the, well-founded confidence expressed by Sir Joseph Ward in the jhour of his victory, that the public service would show the same loyalty to him as they had shown to the Government of.-Iris! predecessor— and it might be added to every other Government-within our . The: Prime.Ministers trust in, the , loyalty and helpfulness of ■ the. Public Servico will be amply justified;'such.-qualities, of service .are some of the fruits of non-political control, and Sir Joseph, when recently expressing to the association his approval of the system, which has operated for the last fifteen years, doubtless was as much impressed by its solid merits as by the uncompromising support with which the service backs it." - . ,

Euns in Plenty.

In local cricket matches on Saturday afternoon there was much evidence of the supremacy of bat over ball. Not a little of it was furnished at the Hutt Eecreation Ground, the Institute seniors running up 462 for the loss of four wickets, and the University junior A team rattling, on 490 runs for the. loss of nine wickets. The latter performance included a very hard-hitting knock by Macdonald, his severe punishment of the bowling accounting for the registration of 96 runs from his bat in half-an-hour. A double-century partnership for the first wicket and a double-century by C. S. Dempster were the outstanding features of the Institute seniors' first innings.

A Baby Tiger.

A tiger was born at the Auckland Zoo yesterday morning, the second domestic event of the kind within a week, as Bella, the female hippopotamus, was found caressing a baby hippo on Saturday morning. Unlike the big animals which -thrive in the overflow of water from the Western Springs and take just as kindly to wet surroundings as a duck/ says the Auckland' "Star," tho female tiger is of a very retiring disposition, and both she and- her cub have been given private accommodation where they will be screened from, prying eyes until the cub gets a bit stronger. Mrs. Stripes and her son— or daughter—are progressing favourably, and receiving the careful attention of. the Zoo officials.

Public Service and Politics.

It is satisfactory to reflect (says the "Public Service Journal" in an ■ editorial) that Public servants in this Dominion almost without exception recognise the obligation to abstain not only from active participation in politics, but also oven from an expression of partisanship, on matters political, and- do conscientiously discharge whatever duties the policy of the Government of the day imposes upon, them without regard to the personal and private views which they are capable of expressing with emphasis in the ballot-box. The mental discipline thus enforced may not infrequently be severe to a Public- servant of strong convictions, but he derives solid compensation in more than one way. It preserves him from that perturbation and unrest which permeate services under political control in other lands where "colour" is often the most obvious qualification for appointment, promotion —and dismissal — : and it enables Ministers of successive Governments, and their Departmental : officers to approach' each other in -a spirit of mutual confidence, without which the highest type of Public Service would be difficult, if not impossible. .-

Export of APPles.

Speaking at a luncheon given yesterday by the executive of the Fruitgrowers ', Federation to visiting Nelson orchardists, Colonel C. Gray, chairman of the Fruit Export Board, referring to the export guarantee, said that remarks made by the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Education indicated that fruitgrowers might expect a continuance of Government support. For some years past he had believed that the fruitgrowers would be able to support themselves in the years to come, and that time was getting, nearer. With regard to the prospects of the coming season, although it was a dangerous thing to. prophesy, there was every indication that the apple market of Britain and the Continent would be a good one. Although there were some four million cases left over from the American past season's supply, it was probable that by the time, the first shipments of New Zealand fruit arrived the American fruit would be almost unsaleable.

Petone and the Water Eoard,

"When the Local Government Loans Board, on the application of the Petone Borough Council last year for .permission to raise a loan for. water reticulation purposes, advised tho council to confer with the Wellington City and Suburban. Water Supply Board in view of that body's projected scheme, the Petone Borough Council wrote to the Water Board asking when the new supply would be available, at what point'in the-borough, at what pressure, and at what cost per thousand gallons. At'the meeting of the Borough Council last night a reply was .received to the above questions, which, however, is of little practical value now, as the Loans Board in the meantime has consented to the raising of. the loan under certain conditions. The City Engineer's report, placed before the board at its last meeting, was the Water Board's reply. The report stated that the information asked for by Petone could not be supplied until the engineering report on the various sources of supply was brought down and adopted by the Water Board. The report.was expected, to be brought down about June next. The time between the adoption of the report and tho beginning of construction would . depend on the time required to prepare construction plans and raise. the construction loan. Estimating this period as a year and allowing two years for the construction, it would not appear that any relief could be afforded the borough of Petone before the summer of 1932. The letter was "received.". ." ' ■/''■

Control of Bus Routes,

Considerable discussion was provoked at. the meeting, of the Petone Borough Council last night by a letter from the Wellington. City Council, the motor-bus licensing authority, stating that it was not necessary for the local body to be represented at ■ its.''meetings except at those dealing with applications to establish motor-bus "services. The letter was part of .c6ijr.espoiid.ence between the licensing.-authority and the Petone Borough Council regarding the route through Petone of: the Eastbourne buses; The Petone Council wished them'to proceed via Jackson street, not via Buiek street, . but the licensing authority, refused, sa,ying that Jackson, street, was too narrow. The Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. M'Kenzie) last night described this attitude as ridiculous. All the.railway buses, he said, went through Jackson street, and the passage of the Eastbourne buses that way would be of benefit both, to. Eastbourne residents and' to Petone; but the buses would have to follow the route prescribed by the licensing authority. The only way out of the'difficulty'would ,be for the Petone Council to get power by legislation to control the bus routes through the borough. Councillor D. M'Carthy thought that the Buiek street route was a privilege from the Petone Borough Council,' and ' not an order by the licensing authority. Councillor J. W. Longman was ■of opinion that the should:have some say with the authority that controlled the bus traffic through the borough. Ou his motion it was decided to send a remit: to the coming Municipal Conference covering the council's attitude. .'"■•. The Town Qlerk was instructed to place the views of the council before the licensing authority.