NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 41, 20 February 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

"Show the New Zealand Flag." "Wo note the marked, absence throughout the mandated territory of tho Now Zoaland flag, which is showu no far as wo aro aware only on the Maui Pomaro during her periodical calls, and on itho Lady Roberts. Wo think that tho showing of the flag has some bearing on the question of prestige, and wo recommend 'that steps bo taken to show the Now Zealand Ensign rogularly at appropriate places," says tho report of tho investigating officers, on Western Samoa. Petone Gas Works. Tho first consignment of material for the erection of a now gas holder at tho Petono gas works has arrived, and tho contractors for its erection, Messrs;Clayton and Sous, have commencod work, and hope to have it comploted bofore winter. The holder is being built of iron, in profcrenoe to atco). Tho IV tone Gas Board has-three holders, one of steel and two of iron, the steol one being almost oaton" away owing to tho action of tho flea air. Science and Health. "Tho quostion now arises; can man control and iiso all tho discoveries of scienco so as to make thorn servo and not injure his mental and physical capacity and welfare?" asked Dr. J.-S. Elliott, in his presidential address at the British Medical .Association meeting last Vjvoning. "The spcod, thofover, and tho fret of tho prosont day, the noise and excitement, tho intensive education, of adolescents, particularly of girls, tho want of repose generally, disliko of honest labour, lovo of pleasure, tho, false- bolief that • pleasure comes from without and not from within, and tho consequent iucroasp qf nervous disorders spell a too" rapid chaiigo in environment to which poor homo sapiens has not had time to accoinmodato himself. 'Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers,' wrote Tennyson, and it is a fuithful saying that the moro wo know, tho more there remains to bo known. Yet, when all is said and ovory fear is disclosed, it is a great achiovomont that moro fruit has boon gathered from tho tree of knowlodgo in the last huudred years than for hundreds of years of which thore is rocord, and mankind nevor tjoforo had such power over tho processes of Nature." Branding of Inferior Copra. "Wo noto that, as distinct from first-grade copra, the inferior grade of copra produced by tho New Zealand Kopnration Estates has been nllocated the distinguishing symbol 'N.Z. We suggest that sorao other mark be found for this purpose. Tho use of 'N.Z. to indicate an inferior product might, wo feol, have somo' effect on the reputation of Now Zoaland goods gonorally in London," says tho Samoa Economy Coinmitteo's roport. Samoan Officials' Oars. "Sovoral cases came under our notico .whero officials' own private cars and uso samo on official business under an allowance arrangement, when at tho samo timo Govornmont-owned cars aro standing idlo in tho garage. This practice should bo abolished," statos the Samoa Economy Committoo's report. "Another matter to which attention is drawn is the purchase of second-hand motor-cars by tho Administration'from officials. This practice, which might oasily lead to abuse, should not be countenanced." Mortgages on Reparation Estates. "The Peace Treaty provides that all proporty of former German nationals and companies which becamo tho property of the Now Zealand Government by virtue of tho Treaty should bo held by Now Zealand free of'encumbrance," states the Samoa Economy Committee's report. "As an act of grace, howover, various mortgages have been recognised by tho Now Zealand Government, and these aro boing paid off on a schedule covering a term of years. It docs not appear to us, howover, that tho correct steps havo been taken to rogulariso the position, and the noeossary action for validation should recoivo consideration." Shark Goes Blrding. Members of tho railway officers' picnic, who travelled to Motuihi by tho steamer Pitoitoi, caught an interesting glimpse of a natural tragedy, statos tho "Auckland Star." Off Kangitoto a loud splash attracted attention, and a big shark was seen to leap clear out of tho water. In its mouth it hold a largo seagull,, apparently tho proy for which it had made a lightning raid into tho air. For a .moment tho whole body of the shark was visiblo as it somersaulted in tho air. and dived back into its. native element. Tho fisherman of tho party reckoned that it was between Bft and 9ft long. Wonders of Mount Cook. "I wißh more was known in England of New Zealand, and particularly of tho beautiful New Zealand Alps," said Mi-. Kettlowol (govorning director of Kettlewoll, Son, and Co.; Ltd, building and civil engineering contractors, Hull, England), in an interview. "Mount Oook is wonderful, and as an English visitor on a trip round tho. world, having seen en route many great sights, I can say none has given me groator pleasure or interest. Tho car trip from Timaru to the Hermitage," Mr. Kcttlowell. continued, "is most interesting, and though one hundred and thirty-two miles, it is not in tho least tiring." His stay at tho Hermitage he characterised aB one of homely restfulness. Mr. Kettlowell was astounded at the-distances. "You can't get tho proportions of it at all. t lt's all so big," he'said. Compared with tho Southern Alps, th 6 mountains in Cumberland, were just hills, yet they looked higher because they wore living right under them and looking up., "At the Mcvmitage," he said, "you soem to be just beside Mount Cook, and it does not look so big. Thon you find you wero fourteen miles away. The Now Zealand Alps have ranga after range of great mountains, with Mount Cook standing out as the supreme monarch oyqr a]L"

Albino Shining Cuckoo. The Christchurch Museum has received a present from Mr. Thoinns Suddens, of St. David street, Lyttelton, of a perfectly white shining cuckoo, which was shot in the North Island before the war. Salmon Now in tho Rivers. Salmon are beginning to come up ths rivors now, but fishermen report that thero has been- no ■ distinct run yet, states tho Christchurch "Press." They have been caught in tho Wnimakariri, and about forty rods wore out on tho Bakaia over the week-end. Trout in tho Eakaia arc in beautiful condition, but are being left alone for the salmon. Some good trout Woro caught in tho Waimakariri with tho bully in the daytime in tho last few days. In the Solwyn thero lias been rather too much water for good fly fishing, but fishing should bo excellent when the river is slightly lower. ■ . . Government Encroachment. The matter of tho encroachment of survoying by Government officers upon tho available field of operation of the privato practitioners was considered at tho surveyors' conforence, held recently. Instances were given to show that Government officers had been sent on expensive journeys to effect small surveys which could have boeii dono much moro economically by tho local privato surveyor. It was arrangod to have this matter discussed with tho Dopartment, especially in view of tho fact that so much technical and basic survey work, which was tho duty of tho Government staff to attend to, was undone, and as a result, privato surveys were made moro expensive.