NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Right Spirit. The conciliatory spirit is not often in ovidonce in tho Magistrate's Court on those days when 'judgment dobtors and counsel for judgment creditors join issue. An exception to the general rule was provided yesterday, when a Maori debtor was brought before the Court. Counsel for the creditor being out of town, an adjournment wa-s asked for. The debtor raised no objection when tho circumstances were explained to him. Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M.: "I hope he will meet you in tho same spirit later." Dairy Board Election. • In accordance with an opinion given by the Crown Law Office as to tho interpretation of a provision in the Dairy Export Control Act, the election of three members of the Dairy Board, which was to have been held in June next, will not take place until Septombor. Messrs. Corrigan, Timpany, and lorns were elected in September, 1926, and it is held that the clause providing that members shall hold office for three years entitles the three members named to hold office till September. The position now is that in two years out of tho three tho election will take place in Juno, and in the third year in September? Gobbling the Trout. A party from Nelson boiling the billy beside a stream in the country had convincing proof that cols are responsible for the disappearance of trout, states tho "Mail." They first observed a big eel seizo a trout of about a pound and a half, and drag it undor the bank. By means of a pole tho eel.was forced out of its retreat, but no trace could bo found of the trout, and there is no doubt that it was swallowed while a polo was being sought. A couple of minutes later a small eel, about the thickness of a man's finger, was seen to seizo a trout seven inches long. The trout, however, proved too large to be swallowed whole, and for ten minutes it was held half in and half out of tho eel's mouth and was then recovered, dead, by the party. It was generally supposed that only the big eels preyed on trout, but from what was observed it j is clear that eels of all sizes take their toll. While the party wore watching eels made darts at other trout, but [ without success—for the time being ut any rate; but it would seem to bo Only 1 a matter of time before tho whole of the trout in the stream will have fallen victims.

Northland Trams. Consideration will.bo given by the City Council to tho question of extending tho tramway from Woburn street to Seaview terrace, Northland, when the shorter access route to the western suburbs is completed. Not Permitted. Many requests are being received by tho secretory of the Wellington Acclimatisation society for opossums for liberation on various private properties and elsewhere. No doubt a return from tho skins is sought, but for live years acclimatisation societies have not been permitted to supply opossums, nor is their liberation permitted. Tho inquirer who asked for tho largest crate of opossums possiblo will be disappointed at the inevitable reply. Brooklyn Play Area Improvement. The offer of tho Brooklyn Electors' Association to erect ornamental pillars j at the entrance to the Brooklyn play area was last night accepted by the City Council with thanks, and the City Engineer was instructed to prepare a suitable design together with plans and' estimates of tho cost of the work. Napier as Land and Seaplane Base. "I am glad to hear that the despised inner harbour can perhaps bo put to some good use," remarked Mr. W. E. Barnard, M.P., amidst laughter at a meeting of aero enthusiasts in Napier after Captain J. White, of the Hawkes Bay Aero Club, had stated that the highest authority on aviation in the Empire had expressed himself as impressed with the possibilities of Napier as a combined land and seaplane base. Captain White said that he knew of several influential men in Hawkes Bay who were interested in the prospect of seaplanes being introduced into Napier. Training in Bookkeeping.

A matter of importance is the decision of tho New Zealand Society of Accountants to discontinue the bookkeepers' examination, on the grounds that tho society considers that its energies are better directed towards the perfecting of the higher grades of accounting, rather than mere tuition in bookkeeping, said Mr. E. W. Hunt, at tho annual meeting of the Wellington Accountant Students' Society last night. "In a previous address I advocated that instruction in bookkeeping would be better dealt with under the organisations of tho various chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion. In England, the chambers of commerce hold special . examinations in bookkeeping, and the London chambers grant certificates in this subject, which have a recognised value. I believe that such a course, if considered and subsequently adopted by the chambers of commerce, would havo a very far-reaching effect upon the improvement in bookkeeping and accounting. Tho London Chamber of Commerce examinations have a

standing which, is well recognised in various parts of the world, and as bookkeepers' examinations carry a considerable amount of weight, I hope that this course will be considered by the chambers of commerce at no distant date." Auckland Waterfront Viaduct. The plans of the proposed viaduct to connect Western Wharf and reclamation with the main harbour works were approved on Tuesday by the Auckland Harbour Board, which also decided to authorise the work of constructing the eastern portion as far as the lifting span for this year. The viaduct, which is to cost £130,000, will run from the foot of Prince's Wharf to the north-east corner of Freeman's Bay reclamation, thus providing by road and rail a continuation of Quay street, which now runs to a dead end at tho old vehicular ferry too (states the "New Zealand Herald"). It will consist of two portions of different widths, separated by a lift-ing-spun near the centre to allow the passago of vessels to and from tho Freeman's Bay basin. Tho eastern portion, which is that authorised for this year, will be D2oft long, the width being 120 ft, and this will provide foe quays on the northern and' southern facos, a 30ft .roadway, a through line of railway, and two sidings for use in conjunction with the rail traffic from Prince's Wharf. This section will be a solid structure with reinforced concrete piles. The western portion will bo an open pile structure' 850 ft long and Soft wide, carrying a lino of railway to join the linos on the north wall and one siding. The 30ft roadway will be continued, and will turn into Jellicoe street.

A Unique Gathering. Tho gathering of Scouts at the annual meeting of the East Harbour troops, held at Eastbourne last night, was, in tho opinion of Sir Alfred Robin, Scout Commissioner for the Wellington District, who was present, unique, inasmuch as it was the first occasion in Now Zealand on which all branches of tho Scout movement have thus assembled. Last night representatives from troops of sea scouts, land scouts, rover scouts (both sea and land), wolf cubs, and girl guides were present, when exhibitions were given of various scout exorcises. The Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. 11. M. Jones) and members of the Borough Council paid a short visit to tho meeting. Favourable Terms Obtained. The Mayor (Mr. Q. A. Troup) announced at last night's council meeting that he had arranged to raise a further amount of loan money, £.98,000, through the A.M.P. Society, at the same rate as the' last amount so arranged, i.e., 5£ per cent. There were no flotation expenses, and the terms were more favourable than could have been obtained had the council gone to tho London market. Ho had noticed that Brisbane had recently negotiated a loan of a million at 5J per cent., and tho Commonwealth loans had also been raised at a higher rate than Wellington City was paying. The sum of £08,000 is made up of £50,000 for street-widen-ing, and £48,000, part of the Miramax drainage loan.

Herd Testing. As the result of a visit of the chairman of the Dairy Board, Mr. W. A. lorns to the Waikato to meet the principals of the Te Awamutu, Taupiri, and To Aroha Herd Testing Associations, the organisations named havo agreed to •join the New Zealand Herd TestingFederation. Mr. lorns expressed the opinion, at the meeting of the Dairy Board just held, that little difficulty would be encountered in inducing the Heretaunga Association to join the Dominion Herd Testing Federation. A committee of the Dairy Board is to interview Hie Minister of Agriculture with «i view to expediting preliminary matters in connection .with ingAn Opportunity to Kefund. The refusal of tho Wellington City Council to refund heavy traffic foes amounting to about £10 paid to it in error .by the Hutt Valley Elcetrie Power Board was again mentioned at tho meeting of the latter body yesterday. It was stated by the chairman (Mr. W. H. P. Barber) that the council was firm in itu refusal not to make a refund, for, although it was willing to do so, it had not the power in law. Mr. Barber said that he- had interviewed tho Auditor-General, who was of the ! opinion that the matter of tho legality ' of refunding moneys paid in error was a very important one, and one that should be settled either one way or the other. The Audit Department would [ take no'action if the Power Board and the City Council, were to adjust tho ' matter between them. In equity the council ought to refund the money, but i it could not legally bo compelled to do so. The board later in tho afternoon considered in committee tho opinion of I its solicitor on the subject.

"Star Chamber Methods." At the conclusion of the business arising out of the Works Committee's report at the City Council last night, Councillor It. Scmplo wished to raise a matter which had formed the subject of reference to the Finance Committee's meeting on Monday, relative to a pro- . posed conference between city workers and the council's representatives, but the Mayor ruled that the matter having been dealt with by tlio Finance Committee, could not bo reopened in open council. Mr. Semplc: "A matter of vital importance to hundreds of men working for this council should be heard in the open council." The Mayor: "The matter has already been gone into and dealt with." Mr. Somple: "In camera. It affects hundreds of men working in this city." The Mayor: "The ordinary council methods have been followed." Mr. Scmple: "Star chamber methods." Grant for Bural Education. At a meeting of the- Otago provincial executive- of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday, tho secretary reported that Professor Strong, of tho Homo Science Department of tho University of Otago, had received advice that tho trustees of the Carnegie Institute had made- a grant of £1500 per annum, commencing from January, 1930, for the purpose- of carrying out education extension work in rural districts. This giant was to bo expended-in Otago and Southland, and a board comprising Sir James Allen,- Colonel Studhqlme, and Mr. H. D. Acland had been suggested to administer the funds. Professor Strong was anxious that the women's division of tho Farmers' Union should bo the medium through which the work would bo carried out. The executive decided to send a letter of congratulation to Professor Strong on the success 1 of her' efforts in obtaining this grant and thanking her very heartily for the interest she had taken in such a commendable enterprise.