NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wellington's Water Supply. Beports from Wainui-6-mata indicate that the stream is lower at the present time than it has been for some years, and this has given rise to a suggestion that Wellington's water supplymight bo affected. Inquiries made from official sources this morning, however, revealed that there is no cause for anxiety. It was explained that it was not unusual for the Wa'inui Stream to run low without having an appreciable effect on the water supply. He Kept Smiling. "I wish I could smile at my financial difficulties as the witness does," exclaimed Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court in Blenheim recently, as he listened to a Native witness, whose face was continuallywreathed in smiles, blandly reciting a whole chapter of financial worries. "Well, I've had so many difficulties, your Worship, that I have to keep smiling," explained the witness candidly (reports the "Marlborough Express"). "If I didn't try and keep smiling I'd have been dead long ago!" The- Magistrate: "Your sense of humour keeps you alive?" "Yes," acknowledged the witness, blithely. "They say you don't want to be like the raven." Choosing a City Engineer. "The dommittee has . finished its work, but the names of the applicants who are to be recommended to the council for consideration in making the final choice cannot yet be divulged," said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, when questioned on Friday regarding the applications for the position, of city engineer in succession to Mr. W. E. Bush. A special committee Was appointed at the last meeting of the Auckland City Council to consider the 75 applications and reduce them to 12, the right being reserved to the council to consider applications not recommended by the committee if thought desirable. "The desirability of not yet making public the names recommended by the committee can be appreciated," added the Mayor. It is understood that the committee has decided to recommend nine names to the .council for consideration in making the final. selection (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The applications have come from all parts of the world, the majority being from Great Britain. Australia, and New Zealand. Alleged "Heresy" Hunt. As an aftermath to certain happenings in the congregation of a Presbyterian church in Dunedin, rumours are widespread that the minister has had to face a "heresy hunt" (says the Dunedin "Star"). With justifiable indignation the minister concerned emphatically denied that any such charge had been made against him. He characterised the statements as being idlo exaggerated gossip, with just that sprinkling of truth to make them react with damaging effect on him. "If you talk like that I am going to talk back to you!" Aroused, an elderly lady stood up in church one morning and interrupted the clergyman'in his sermon. She was silenced, but not so the tongues of gossip. Apparently the ideas of the cleric, who was not long ago inducted into the charge of the church, did not conform with those of some of his congregation, and his methods of preaching were considered too strong and too modern by the conservative and older people of his "flock." But, as to thero being a "heresy hunt," rumour is wrong. The story was circulated on the basis of happenings of two months ago, and no action has .been taken. The cleric said that the gossip was old, and at no "time had the session called on him and asked for explanations. The matter, in any case, was a purely private one between the session and himself, and any suggestion of a "heresy hunt" was false. The minister's reply was verified substantially by the 3ev. John Kilpatrick, clerk of the Presbytery, who admitted that rumours had been circulated, but stated that Presbytery had not been informed of any charges of heresy. If heresy were alleged the Presbytery could not help but enter into the matter, but the office-bearers of tho church would first have to take action. So far as he was aware no action whatever had been, taken, - . .: ~

Maori History. A history of the Hauraki Maori tribe is being translated by Mr. George Graham, of the Akarana Maori Association (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Tho document was prepared by Tukumana, a grandson of Tehoreta To Taniwha, who lived in the days of Captain Cook. The manuscript makes clear that Hotunui, after whom the Maori house in the new museum has been called, was descended from Hotunui, the commander of the Tainui Canoe. The document is explanatory of many of the carvings arid figures in the house. 'Possums on Wireless Pole. Awakened by the barking of her dog early on Friday morning, a resident in Clifton road, Takapuna, went into the garden and found that "Darkie" had treed two full-grown opossums, which were clinging together on tho top of the pole which supports the wireless aerial, states the "Auckland Star." The dog was wildly excited, and had to be shut in the house before rescue operations could be commenced. The 'possums were reluctant to quit their precarious place of refuge, and it was only by shaking the pole vigorously that they could be induced to descend. No attempt was made to catch, them and they bounded off into the undergrowth. Thomdon Reclamation. The work of filling the Thorndon reclamation, which will be incorporated m the new railway yard, has been held up pending the completion of culverts' to carry the storm water from the Hobson street and other gullies. The smaller culvert has been completed for some time. The larger will be finished early in the New Year. The "Wellington Harbour Board is driving the piles for_ the temporary berth for the dreclge which will resume work on the filling when the big culvert is finished. ° Frozen Meat Problems. The English scientists now in the Dominion investigating cold storage problems in connection with meat have recently been in Hastings. Further investigations are to bo made at Ngahauranga, and early nest year experimental shipments will be sent to England. These will be in charge of one of the scientists who will closely observe the meat throughout the voyage. Loss of weight and loss of bloom in frozen meat are two of the several problems to which the scientists are giving their attention. Steamer's Departure Delayed. A delay of 24 hours in the time of departure of the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Kaikorai for Port Kembla took place at Auckland (telegraphs "The Post's" correspondent). The vessel had unloaded general cargo from southern ports, and was due to sail at 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. At sailing time six stokers were missing. Four came on board after 6 o'clock, while the other two could not be found. "While two substitute stokers were being engaged two cooks walked ashore, causing a further delay Orders were given to take the Kaikorai out into the stream until the cooks could be found. However, the crew refused to take the vessel from the wharf until the two cooks returned The trouble was further complicated when tho two substitute stokers went ashore. It was then too late to engage ohers. Yesterday the task of nnrimg unemployed stokers was difficult, and the vessel did not sail until after 1 o'clock in the afternoon., Gift to Philatelic Society. The gift of a collection of stamps of Great Britain, made by Mr. Claude Ferrier to the Christchurch Philatelic bociety, was accepted at a special meeting of that body on Thursday evening (states the "Press"). Mr. Ferrier's collection, which has taken 40 years to form, contains practically every known issue, dating from 1840. It was stipulated that the collection be held in trust and not sold or disposed of in any way. As occasion arises, it may be added to, and used in exhibitions research work, or displays for the benefit of. philatelists. The president of the society (Mr. A. W. Cousens) said that Mr. Ferrier had originally intended to give a selection from his duplicates, but eventually had decided to hand over the entire collection. Only seven copies of all the known issues of the stamps of Great Britain were missing, and these were so rare that probably they were now unprocurable. The collection was insured for £400. Mr. T. S. Dacre honorary solicitor to the society, dealt with the legal aspects of the matter, and it was decided to appoint trustees to hold tho collection on behalf of the society.