NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 127, 3 June 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The King's Birthday. , To-day is the sixty-fourth anniversary of the birth of His Majesty King George V., and is being observed as a close holiday. A royal salute in honour of the occasion was fired at noon. His Majesty was born in 1865 and was King Edward's second son. His elder brother, the Duke of Clarence, however, died in 1892, and upon the death of King Edward in 1910 King George ascended tho Throne. The hope is beinoexpressed on all sides that His Majesty" having recovered from his long and severe illness, will .be able to throw off his present indisposition, and that the arrangements for Thanksgiving Day on 16th June will not have to be cancelled. Round-up on Tuesday. As was expected, there was on Saturday, particularly between twelve and one, a rush of business at the nibtor registration office in the Concert Chamber, for, just too late, ear-owners are waking up to the fact that they are liable to prosecution if they drive cars on or after Ist June with last year's number-plates, or rely upon last year's drivers' licenses. The special arrangement whereby the office was kept open on Friday till 9.30 p.m. proved well worth while, for a good many hundreds took advantage of it. So far only 8000 of at least 12,000 ear and other motor vehicle owners have obtained their plates and licenses, thoufei this is a good deal better than tho 1928 record on the final day of the old motoring year. The office .is closed today, but inspectors will be out on Tuesday inquiring of those who carry the old brown plates their reasons why. The staff will remain, at the Concert Chamber during the coming week to clean up the business. "The Ambergris King." The Stewart Island correspondent of the "Southland News" states that Mr. Adam . Adamson, "the Ambergris King," with whom the public have become familiar owing to his ambergris activities, has recently been undergoing some hardships in connection with his calling. One of the fishing fleet which called to see him recently found him short of provisions. His home 5a at a very remote and inaccessible place at Doughboy Bay. Few boats venture there, so Mr. Adamson was very glad of the opportunity to send an order for more supplies. At the time he had only a little flour and potatoes, and was far from robust, but a vessel soon had an opportunity of taking round, enough to last him till December, when he expects to return to civilisation. Mr. | Adamson reports that he has had less than his average luck with ambergris so far, but is looking for a good return in the spring. Water Supply and Drainage. Dr. W. F. Findlay, Medical Officer of Health, in his annual report, refers to the water supply and drainage works of Wellington, as follows:—''New reticulations were laid to the railway ■ settlement, Ngaio, and Public Works ! Settlement, Khandallah. The Board of j Health, on the application of the City i Council, decided to issue a requisition for £38,752 for water and drainage I reticulations in various suburban areas. The completion of the Miramar scheme will remove • a source of complaint which has existed for several years, and ' should make conditions satisfactory in. what has been one of the most rapidly growing suburbs of Wellington. With tho completion of tho above works, I think it may bo said that Wellington is probably tho most completely reticulated and sewored city in the Dominion." Californian Quail. That Californian quail were not thriving in Canterbury as they should was the subject of comment'by several members at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and one or two suggestions for increasing their numbers vrete forthcoming, states the "Press." ' Mr. D. Deans described the quail as "the finest sporting bird in the world." There were two distinct species of Californian quail, wet belt and dry belt quail, he explained. In Canterbury quail seemed to flourish along the coasts, but not further inland. It did not seem that much could come of the introduction of birds from Otago or Blenheim, but they might do something with the birds direct from California. In response to a query by.Mr. E. S. M'Kenzie as to whether he was in favour of areas of broom being fenced in to allow the birds to breed, Mr. Deang replied that it would be costly to do this and hard to do it so as to keep stoats out. Eeplying to another question, Mr. Deans said that the hatching of quail under hens was worth trying. One member stated that 90 per cent, of the pheasants in Britain were reared in this manner. The Modern-Riddle. The problem of finding employment for youths when they leave school is evidently causing concern in more countries than New Zealand, states the 'Otago Daily Times." The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has received a letter from the Inverness Chamber stating that every years a number of smart and intelligent boys leave the local Eoyal Academy well equipped eduI cationally and of good character, and that it is extremely difficult to get them placed in suitable employment. The writer forwarded some particulars relating to a number of boys who had been at the academy for five or six years, and inquired if the local chamber could do anything in the way of assisting to find work for them. Copies of the letter have been sent to the Immigration Department,.Wellington, and tc the Otago branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union with the obiect of ascertaining what information can be sent to Inverness. Interesting Souvenir. An interesting souvenir of the South African War in the shape of a handsomely embossed "social" jug has-been presented to the Wellington branch of the South African Veterans' Association by Mr. J. M'Kenna. The jug, which bears the names of regiments and commanders of the first five contingents, and other inscriptions, came into the hands of Mr. M'Kenna in the course of his business, and he presented it to the Wellington branch, with his compliments. This graceful act is highly appreciated by the members of the Veterans' Association, and a motion to that effect will be inserted in the official records, and a copy forwarded to the donor. Shelter Given Free. "This ia the best news we have had for a long time," said the Auckland City Missioner, the Eev. Jasper Calder, on Wednesday, on learning that the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, had approved of a proposal to grant the mission free use of the building in Federal street as a shelter for destitute men.'states the "New Zealand Herald." The building is an endowment of the Auckland Grammar School Board, and although the board desired to lend it to the mission for the five winter months, there was some difiV culty in obtaining official sanction. The fact that the use of the building by the mission would return no revenue to the board constituted the principal difficulty. The City Missioner said the Minister's decision would mean a saving of about £60 to the mission, and he hoped that .as a result there would be an increase in the meat allowance made to the occupants of the shelter. "A meal of porridge alone is not very satisfying for men who have, to go out early in search of work," he added. ''This news from the Minister moans a great deal to the mission."

Improved Bylaws Needed. "The consolidated or remodelled bylaws of Wellington City which have been under consideration have not yet been finalised," says the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. W. F. Findlay) in his annual report. "I have suggested that the City Council '< adopt our departmental plumbing and drainage bylaws. In some respects the present city bylaws are not up to the standard of those now obtaining in the surrounding borough and courties." Chinese Homage. [ The Chinese of Wellington closed | their places of business for two hours on Saturday afternoon as a mark of respect for the late Dr. Sun Vat Sen, tho founder anfl. first President of the Chinese Kepublic. The reinterment and State burial of the late Dr. Sun Vat Sen took place at Nanking on Saturday, and yesterday a well-attended memorial service took place at the headquarters of the Chinese Nationalist Party in Wellington, similar services being held in other parts of the Dominion. Stoats Still Protected. "We cannot impress too strongly upon sportsmen generally the good work they can do by shooting stoats, rats, and similar vermin which destroy our nal|.-e birds as well as their eggs, and ask them to kill harrier hawks which destroy the young of ducks and other waterfowl." So ran a clause in the Native Birds' Committee's report which was considered at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, states the Christchurch "Press." Mr. C. Stokell took exception to the passage asking sportsmen to destroy stoats. In doing so they were asking members to break the law. Stoats Were protected under the Eabbit Nuisance Act, and he thought it would be necessary to make some alteration in the report. Mr. Lawrence: "I am not certain, but I believe the protection on stoats was removed, except in rabbit-infested areas." Mr. Stokell: "I have a letter from the Agri-1 cultural Department saying they are i protected." On the motion of Mr.. E. S. Whiteside the word "stoats" was I deleted from the report. | Big Game Fish Expedition. ' Next January, according to Mr. E. W. ,F. Donaldson, the well-known Auckland deep sea fisherman, who is at present m. Christchurch, there will be a big fishing expedition, lasting about a month, 1 in Hauraki Gulf, states the "Press." Mr. Donaldson will be chartering a special steamer which will carry its own launches and cruise down the Hauraki Gulf to White Island and Mayor Island, Eussell, the Great Barrier Island, Whangarei, Doubtless Bay, and Cape Maria Van Diemen. The trip will be confined to New Zealanders, and is expected to run into a total cost of about £2500. The individual expense to the members of the expedition will be about £50. "The Hauraki Gulf" said Mr. Donaldson, "is the greatest fishing ground in the world." Mr. Donaldson has fished all over the world in the Malay States, and the South Pacific Islands, and has found nothing that can stand comparison with it for deep sea sport. The Hauraki Gulf contained thirty varieties of fish, he said, most of them game frpm the smallest up to the big taniwha mako. Domestic Cases in Court. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, has sent the following letter to the Women's Service Guild and League of Women Voters:—"Ee closing of Courts during hearing of domestic rolations cases: I have carefully considered the question, and have come to tho conclusion that the Courts should not be closed during the hearing of such cases. To close the Courts would violate one of the fundamental principles of our system of justice, and the ultimate dangers that may arise thereirom far outweigh any benefits that may accrue in the way of c: sing the path of tho parties'involved. I agree with your views in this matter. I also agree that as far as possible there should be no encouragement for idlers to listen to these domestic cases I understand that with this end in view arrangements have been made in the local Court that all separation, maintenance, or affiliation cases will be taken in the upstairs Court Eoom tho police charge sheet being taken as usual in the main Court Eoom downstairs. It is desirable that similar arrangements be made in other places where possible." City Milk Supply. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr W. F. Findlay) in his annual report on the health conditions of the city, refers to the milk supply of Wellington as follows:—"The municipal milk depot has had another very satisfactory year. Plans and proposals re the new station have been under close consideration. I have perused the final plans for the new station, which will be commenced shortly. During the year bacteriological and chemical checks of the milk from various portions of the sterilisiing and bottling plant were carried out. These were very satisfactory. Although the consumption of milk in Wellington is perhaps higher than it is in England, there is still rcgih for improvement in the quantityFdisposed of per head. Perhaps in the years to come the City Council will be able to still further reduce the cost;" No Play on Sundays. A request that the swings and pther gear on the children's play ground in Queen street, Thames, be locked or thrown out of action on Sundays was made to the Thames Borough Council on Thursday evening by a deputation from the Thames Ministers' Association, consisting of Eevs. J. Milne and J. Lambert, states the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. Milne said he hoped any misunderstanding in regard to the matter would be clearsd as a result of the xdsit of.the deputation. "The Ministers' Association," said Mr. Lambert, "feels there were two sides to the question. I understand the council has not yet officially taken over the ground, and so we feel this to be an opportune time to ask for certain regulations governing its use by children on Sundays. We do not desire to see the ground closed on Sundays. We believe they should be open on that day for parents to sit and rest with their children. We do maintain, however, that it is in the highest interests of the children that the day of rest be honoured, and that the swings and other apparatus be locked or thrown put of gear on Sundays. I think that ii you could see your way to embody our request in the regulations for the use of the ground, together with the posting of notices in prominent places you will be preaching a very helpful sermon to the young people." The deputation retired with an assurance from the Mayor, Mr. W. Bongard, that the request would receive due consideration.

Reducing Eat Nuisance. During the past' year 276 rats were caught on ships and 372 in Harbour Board sheds; and 958 were caught by the Wellington City Council. Investigation of tho work and methods adopted by the Wellington city rat-catcher has been attended tor at intervals, states the Medical Officer of Health in his annual report. Thanks are again due, he says to the Harbour Board for its co-opera-tion in the matter of rat-catching on wharves and ships. The bacteriologist oxammed 788 rats with a view to detecting any possible cases of plague or other infectious diseases.

The postal authorities have received cable advice from Sydney that the Maunganui, which left on Friday for Wellington, carries S2B bags of mail from Australia and 289 parcel receptacles, also 427 from other places.