NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Happy Taxpayers. A jocular note was struck by tho Prime Minister (tho Hon. G. W. Forbes) when speaking at tho Now Zealand Rugby Union's dinner on Saturday night. "I had a particular interest in to-day's game," said Mr. Forbes. "Thoro is a little thing called the amusement tax, and I don't think I have ever seen auch a happy gathering of taxpayers in ray lif o as wore present at Athletic Park to-day. Even tho Budget was forgotten." Black Patches May Be Worn. Authority has been granted by the General Officer Commanding tho- Now Zealand Forcos for all ranks of tho Wellington Bogimont to wear the black distinguishing patches as worn by the New Zealand Klflo Brigade during the Great War, laeut.-Colonel J. L. Saundorsj D.5.0., Officer Commanding tho Ist Battalion, Wellington Regimont, states that the regiment prizes very highly the distinction in dress that has been eonforred upon it, and that it is tho intention that battalion headquarters and tho four companies of tho battalion will wear tho patches of brigade headquarters and the foul- service battalions of tho New Zealand Eiflo Brigade The battle honours of the New Zealand Rifle Brigado were awarded to tho Wellington Kogimont, and are now emblazoned on tlio Regimental Colour. Hostel at Arthur's Pass. A schoaie for'the oroction of a hostel at Arthur's Pass on tho lines of tho Chateau Tongariro was considered at a mooting of tho Arthur's Pass National Park Board of Control on Friday, when it was decided to seek legislative authority empowering the board to raißO tho necessary loan with the Government's approval and from one of the Government's lending institutions, such as the Public Trust Office. Tho board, it is emphasised, does not by this movo commit itself to any one man or to any group of persona proposing to erect the hostel (states the "Press"). It is open to consider any scheme that way be' put before it, but a grant will bo made only on condition that an equal sum is offered by the promoters. The board was formerly asked to advance a larger proportion than half of tho cost of tho hostel. The amount previously asked of tho Government has been considerably reduced since the board considers that tho proposal, at tho start, should be more simple. This opinion, however, does not oppose tho addition of furthov accommodation when that is required. Quarry Pace Blasted. Tho largest "blast that has over been exploded in. Now Zealand was fired at Wilson's Portland Cement Company's quarry on Wednesday (states a Whangarei correspondent), For tho past eight months preparations had been made and tho whole quarry face was lined with veins containing gelignite. Boforo the oxplosipft the quarry face overhung lik« the *un of a, basket, reaching a height of 260 ft of sheer limestone at the highest point. At a point 40ft back from tho edge 20 holes bad been bored, the deepest 245 ft, and the least deep 125 ft, containing 25 tons of Jugh explosives, four tons movo Man tho previous record blast made by the company. Tho blast • i tho most successful over hold, and matorial sufficient to feed tho works for two years now lies at tho foot of the quarry. The rock has been broken up to such, an oxtont that very little pick and shovel work will be neeossary to load it into the trucks. For several hours after t! explosion smnH quantities of stono foil. ' An Old-time Tragedy. By the death last week in Wellington of Mr. Tom Ford, at a very advanced age, is recalled a tragedy which happened in Wellington some seventy years ago. The late Mr. Ford was 'a drover at that time, and one day he was taking a'mob qf bullocks down Chew's Jane, In those far-off days a-wharf was at the ond of tho thoroughfare. Just as the wharf was reached, one bullock turned and throw Mr. Ford from his horse Ho received injuries which loft him stono blind and stone deaf for the rest of his long life, with tho loss of a Hwb in addition. In spite of this sevoro handicap, t!io unfortiuiato man led a vory cheerful existence. Ho wns very quick at unclorfitariclitig what was (ionunniucated to him by means of writing with the finger on tho palm of his hand. University for Officials. Tho luck of provision for tho training of local body officers and Civil servants was a deficiency in the university courses in New Zealand comment, ed upon by Dr, 11. BeJsh&w, professor of economics at the -University College, during an address to tho Aucklaud Chamber of Commerce (statos the "Now Zealand Herald"). Profossor Bolshaw said that in most countries thoro wore unlvorsity facilities for tho preparation of oflleifilu for public administration, lit view of tho large number of such officials in Now Zealand and oi! tho importance of public enterprise, it was imperative) that they should have Ibo highest possible tuition jiiifl tlmt tho university should endeavour to provide that (raining. He had hopes that tho time was not far distant whori a diploma in public, administration would be instituted by the Auckland University College.

Drastic Criticism! "The most drastic piece of musical criticism I ever licard of was published in the Birmingham 'Post,' " said Sir Hugh Allon, the distinguished English musician, at a reception hold in his honour at Auckland. A cortain lady had given a soup recital iv tho city and next morning tho paper's musical critic -wrote: 'Miss So-and-So ga.vo a vocal recital last night. Why?' " "The Final Say.". "Tho tcaohor and committee of a school may agree as to the school hours, tho board having the finnl say in any disagreement," said Mr. A. Burns, chairman of tho Auckland Education Board, when tho Maromaku (Whangarei) School Committee wrote asking ■whether a committee had power to fix tho hours in the event of daylight saving being brought into operation this year at a dato earlier than in previous years, Mr. Burns added that it did not appear likely that thoro would bo any change this year. Rangitiki's Blue Ensign. When tho lincv Kangitiki arrived from Southampton on Wednesday afternoon, it was probably noticed by a fow that she was not flying the Blue Ensign which she has flown on previous trips. Tho Blue Ensign is flown by merchant, ships when they havo on board a certain minimum number of Royal Naval Reservists. Tho number varies from year to year, boing usually from fivo to eight, and including deck officers, engineers, and in somes cases tho ship's doctor. Tho fact that tho Kangitiki is not flying the Blue Ensign on her present trip indicates that sho does not this year carry the number of reservists required by the Admiralty. Novel Stage Lighting-. A novel method of lighting was used by tho Auckland Amateur Operatic Society during a, rehearsal on Friday 0 eniug when tho electric lights foiled temporarily (states tho "Now Zealand Horald"). After rehearsing had been successfully carried on in the dark for forty minutes, a motor-car was driven into the hull and its headlights used for illumination until the electric lighting was restored. Destroying the Forests. Tho effects of the higher animals on tho forest were expressed ia two ways, said Mr. F. E. Hutchinson, addressing tho Canterbury Philosophical Institute. The first was tho mechanical effocts of their presence—tramping, rubbing, and othor things. Those effects woro usually minor ones, limited to such areas as winter "yards" and broodirg grounds. They bocamo important inough for consideration only in casoa of extreme infostation, Tho second was tho eating of plant tissue. J'Tbo animals break down and devour tho horbago, and the plants endeavour to repair the damage by putting out new leaves and shoots," said the lecturer. "This goos on till lack of material for tho plants to recuporato results in the death, deformation or disoaso of the plant, Tho numbers of tho animals in tho forest is therefore of the greatest importance. Where the presence of a fow animals would do no harm a. largo number would render tho extinction of tho forest only a. matter of time. A thick infestation of a forest by a planteating animal always results in a downward gradation of tho forest. That cycle obtains in principlo regardless of the form of attack, that is, whether tho animals attack tho. foliage, bark, flowers, fruit, tiocd, or young plants. A forest may bo 'overgrazed' ,iust as a farmer's paddock may be. Furthermore, wo havo confined these animals more or less closely by areas of settlement to rather small and circumscribed mountain districts of low carrying capacity, so that serious and increasing ever-grazing is already in progress. The downward cycle has already begun over largo areas of mountainous country in the South Island, Man may bo depended upon to look after his interests, which in this ease are in the preservation of the forests and therefore in tho strict limitation of tho nnuibors of the doer." Proposed Railway Surcharge. Strong criticism of the Railway Department's refusal to increase the excursion fares to Arthur's Pass and Qtira by a surcharge of sixpence, to raise funds for the development of the National Park, was made by Dr. W. M'Kay, chairman of the Grounds Committee of the Arthur's Pass National Park Board of Control on Friday following a mooting of the board, "The meeting docided again to apply to the Baijway Department, impressing upon it tho necessity of making a surcharge of sixpence a ticket on these excursions to raise funds to go to the. development of tho Park," stated Dr. M'Kay to a reporter of <(Tho Press." "Our previous request,'made sis months ago, root with tho reply that since the J)o----partroent was not represented on the board it could not giant the request- I pointod out that at Greyinouth a similar surcharge was mado on tickets to the Anioto Eacocourse to find funds for the G-roy Jockey Ctlub, It seems an inconsistent policy, and wore than that, to permit this surcharge being made at Greymouth and Ricearton and to refuse it when the money is needed, for such a praiseworthy public work as the dovolopmont of National P«rk, We want to use the. money aimply for the development and betterment of the Park. It is onr only possible source of an adequate revenue to do anything material to make tho Park: the national assot it should be." Tho toavd, said Dr. M'Kay, decided that if tho Bailway Department wore to refuse this further roquest, it would take overy possible step to obtain the concession. The Department aoomed blind to the fact that improvements to tho National Park would benefit its own traffic. Braajnaii's "Score," Amusing comment on the strong hold which cricket has on Australians was maclo by Sir Hugh Allon, director of tho Boyal College of Music, London, at a rooeption in Auckland. Sir Hugh said his one memory of Australian hotels was of people coming to his room to acquaint him with the number of runs JJwhmiTi had made at Lord's. "What do you think of Bvadman's score?" one man asked him. "1 did not know lie had written one," ropliod Sir Hugh. "In facetious vein I suggested to him that the name of Bradman ought to bo added to tho thr'co grout ii's —BatfJi, Beethoven, and Brahms," added Sir Hugh. "He saiil, 'What team do they pluy for'?' I said 'International.' 'Whon; can I soo them piny?' ho ftflkod, I said 'In Hoavpu, 1 'Do they make ninny runs'?' ho asked. 1 paid, 'Lots, and they are. very dimcult to play.' I think he still believes Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms two cricketers, It was one experlcnao it was really worth going to Australia for," Tunnel Cables Fuse, A great volume of smoke issuing from 'tho Ilataital cod of Ue Kilblrnla tunnel this morning at about 0 o'clock promised nil sorts of ssrious trouble in> side, but what that trouble was it w«h not possible to boo from the portal. It. was not as bad as' it looked, being cuuaod by tlm fusing of tho BOO.volt cables which carry powor for tho tramway service, and was easily coped with when the power was switched off. No trams, of course, could run throng!* tlip tunnel, but buses worn rushed from Kilblvnio and slinrod tlio trainn over the Hosenonth Hill nnd round Oriental Bay or hack to meet tho tram servicil. over Constable street hill, at the Kilbirnio Post Qfiieo. Tho tunnel survico «\'is running normally ugain in about, ■fifty minutes.