NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 11 November 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wairarapa Sunday Trains. When the Railway Department decided to stop Sunday suburban trains, tho Upper Hutt Borough Council requested that provision should be made for Sunday passengers to Upper Hutt on tho Wairarapa trains. Tho reply of tho General Manager of 'Railways was before the council meeting last night. Ho said that if .-my Wairarapa trains wero run during the coming season provision would bo made for Upper Hutt passengers. He would like to stress tho fact that very heavy expense was involved in working trains between Wellington and Masterton on Sundays, owing to the restrictions of the' Rimutaka incline necessitating the uso of three groups of engines. lit was very doubtful whether any Sunday trains Would be run over the Rimutakas this season. Farm Research Work. Speaking at a country school jubilee, in Otago, Mr. A. E. -Ansell, M.P., said that more money should bo dovoted to research work in order to place farming upon as scientific a basis as possible. All knew that the use of fertilisers had greatly increased the production of the land, and he had been astounded by the great advances which had been made in the North Island through the use of artificial manures. He thought, therefore, that it was a mistaken policy to raise tho railway freights upon limo and fertilisers. He considered that any change in prices from now on would bo for tho better, and he believed that with care and' efficient work better times were at hand. Ho had been told oh good authority that tho prospects were for a comparatively good season this year. Too Cold for Bathing. The continued cold weather is reflected in the receipts from Riddiford baths, Lower Hutt. Last year the takings to the end of October were £23 10s lOd; this year they amount to only £7 13s 3d. Tho custodian reports that the temperature of tho water has varied from 55 degrees to 59 degrees. A Smaller City Council. A proposal to reduce the membership of the Auckland City Council from 21 to 12 is to be brought before the council at its next meeting by Mr. G. Grey Campbell (states the "Now Zealand Herald"). Mr. Campbell has give notice of the following motion:— "That tho council be reduced, in number to 12, exclusive of the Mayor, and that tho necessary steps be taken to make the same effective for tho next general election for the council." Discussing tho matter, Mr. Campbell said that section 37 of tho Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, provided that a municipal council should consist, in the caso of a borough where tho population exceeded 20,000, of not less than 12 nor more than 21 councillors, exclusive of tho Mayor. Tho Auckland City Council consisted of 21 elected councillors and the Mayor, plus 11 co-opted members of the Town Planning, Library, and Leys Institute Committees. Tho present number had been built up by the amalgamation of Parnell, Rcmuera, Point Chevalier, Arehhill, Edcu Terrace, and Epsom. With the amalgamation of Tamaki and Avondale, representatives of these districts had only sat on the council until tho first election following tho amalgamation. The Auckland Council was larger than that of any other city in Australia or New Zealand, except Melbourne. Tho figures for oight cities, Mayors included, were as follow:—Auckland, 22; Wellington, A 6: Christchurch, 17; Dunedin, 13; Sydney, 15; Melbourne, 32; Adelaide, 19; and Brisbane, 21. Christmas Mails, Coldly viewed in terms of money, the Rangitata, outward bound for Southampton on Sunday morning, carried much more valuable cargo than the 990 bags of second-class mail matter, the last of which was placed on board ou Saturday evening (states the "New Zealand Herald"). But, from a sentimental point of view, the contents of tho mailbags arc sufficient to make the Rangitata a veritable treasurc-slnp, for the hundreds and thousands of Christmas annuals, which make up the bulk of this mail, represent as many kindly thoughts from New Zealandcrs, mindful of relatives ancl friends in the Homeland. The mail is duo in London on 12th December. The Zcalandic took 250 bags of second-class matter _ a week ago, but many people with Christmas numbers of the various periodicals delayed posting until this week, and long hours have been worked all this week by the sorters in an cnclc-avour to keep abreast of the swelling tide o± postings. Almost every inch of space in tho Auckland mailroom was crowded all last week. The Niagara, sailing on 18th November, will take the last letter mail to reach the United Kingdom before Christmas. The postal staff will' therefore be exceptionally busy for another ten days. Jury Summonses. The -juryman who arrived at the Supreme Court yesterday,, after having been fined £1 Is for failing to be present at 10.30 a.m., appeared before Mr. Justice Reed this morning. He said he desired to express regret at having caused inconvenience to the Court. Yesterday he was moving into new offices, and he quite overlooked the date and the hour he was required to attend. "It is very important, you know," said Mr. Justice Rcrpd to the juryman, "that you see that these summonses arc complied with. I accept your apology, of -course, but I am afraid I cannot remit your fine." Tho juryman then retired to the back of the Court to wait until he should be called upon. A Kiwi Found. A kiwi and two eggs were fouud recently near Waimiha, north of Ongaruc (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The discovery was made on the property of Mr. C. Cross by men who were clearing a site for a mill in the bush. The kiwi, which was found sitting on the eggs in a log, was caught and shown to the children at the Waimiha School, and was afterwards returned to the place where.it was found. The bird, which was a fine specimen, was the first found near Waimiha for a considerable time. Each egg .weighed 13Joz. Relics Removed From Tomb. • Much concern was caused the relatives of the late Lady Carroll when arrangements were being made for her burial (states a Gisborne correspondent). It was found that the keys of the vault in which Sir James Carroll was interred, and in which it was intended to lay Lady Carroll, had been misplaced. This necessitated the employment of an expert locksmith. The double locks and tho heavy steel bolts which are a feature of the door resisted the efforts of the locksmith until only a few hours before the funeral, and when entrance was at last gained it was found that the relics entombed with the body of the late Sir James Carroll had "been removed. There is no record of these relics, but it is assumed that a valuable greenstone mere and the Native mats which lay upon the casket prior to its being placed in the vault were among them. Service Flight. Five aeroplanes will set out from Auckland on 21st November on a New Zealand Air Force flight, which will include visits to Now, Plymouth, Fcilding, Hastings, Taupo, Rotoruti, and Hamilton (states the ''Auckland Stnr"). The squadron, which will be- in charge of Squadron-Leader J. Seabrook, A.F.C., will include four Moth machines and one from the Hobsonvillc base. The trip is expected to occupy four days,

Lower Hutt Building. Though the building figures for the Lower Hutt Borough show a great reduction below those for the same month last year, being for last month £26,120, as against £44,6"59 for October, 1929, tho borough is maintaining its relative position with other boroughs exceedingly well, being fourth on the list of all the cities and boroughs in the Dominion. On this occasion Auckland, which has generally occupied tho leading position, is in tho fifth position, af Lcr Lower Ilutt. A Brave Action. The following clause in tho report of the Pare Prevention Committee of tho Lower Hutt Borough Council was unanimously adopted last evening:—----"In connection with the recent accident to Superintendent Slinn and Fireman Hutton, yqur committee has to recommend tho council that the action of Deputy-Superintendent Doran in entering the burning building and rescuing Superintendent Slinn, and subsequently applying methods of resuscitation, be brought under the notico of the Royal Humane Society, with a view to having tho deputy-superintendent's action suitably recognised. It is the opinion of the brigade members who were present at tho fire that it was'only owing to Mr. Doran's courage and promptitude that a fatality was averted." The Mayor (Sir Alex. Roberts) said ho was glad to report that Fireman Hutton had been discharged from the Hospital. It was hoped that Superintendent Slinn would also bo home iv a few days. Notable Anniversaries. Two notable anniversaries fell on Sunday. Twenty-eight years ago, on tho morning of Sunday, Oth November, 1902, the Huddart-Parker steamer Elingamito struck the Three Kings in a denso fog, and 45 of her passengers and crew lost their lives. The naval engagement between the German cruiser Emden and H.M.A.S. Sydney occurred at Cocos Island 16 years ago, on Sunday, the Emden ; being destroyed by the Australian cruiser. "I Think They're Bather Silly." Cross-examination of a witness iii a case in the Supreme Court to-day had turned to the value of rear reel refloctors on bicycles, and Mr. W. Perry, counsel for the defendant, referred to the movement being made to compel cycliiits to have their rear mudguards painted white. The witness was frank and said what ho thought about the proposal. "I think they're rather silly " he said, "because nine out of ten bicycles don't have mudguards. They will first have to bring m a regulation making it compulsory for cyclists to have mudguards on their bicycles. Bison. Bom at Zoo. The collection of animals at the Auckland Zoo received an addition on Saturday morning when a North American bison calf was bom (states tho "New Zealand Herald"). It is belioved that this is the. first time _ a bison has been born in'tho Dominion. Tho curator of the zoo, Mr. L. T. Griffin, stated that the calf was a fine, strong little animal and appeared to be doing extremely well. Mr. Griffin said he was not sure whether any of the Australian zoos had bison among their collections, but the birth in Auckland proved that if given sufficient space these animals will breed in captivity. Bison were practically extinct some years ago and in order to save the species the Canadian Government made provision for the remaining animals in tho National Parks, .where they would be free from molestation. The parks now contain considerable herds of these picturesque animals and the Canadian Government has taken steps to see that they are given every chance to survive. Gift to Missioner. c .A scarlet cassock, the gift of members of tho staff and supporters of the Auckland City Mission, was presented to the Rev. Jasper Calder at a service in the Civic The'atro at Auckland ou Sunday evening. In making the presentation Mr. Edward Smith mentioned that it was the custom for red cassocks to be worn by missionary priests in London, and it was thought, desirable that Mr. Calder should wear a similar vestment, especially as he was soon to assume control of the Church of the Epiphany, and incorporate the activities of that church with those- of the City Mission. Auckland's New Station. The informal opening of the new | Auckland railway station on Sunday next will mean a strenuous fortnight for the administrative, traffic, and engineering staffs (states tho "New Zealand Herald"). The change involves not only night-and-day , work next week-end in completing road and rail access to the new station, but also tho removal of the whole station staff and the personnel and equipment of the district offices now housed on the second floor of the Chief Post Office. So far as the public arc concerned the most important feature is that every time-table train will be run and the passenger servico will not bo interrupted by the change-over. The new station is to be officially opened on Monday, 24th November, before which date tho district staffs will be installed in their fine new offices on the two upper floors of the station building. The crisis c/ the removal period will be reached on Saturday and Sunday next \vhen the station and traffic staffs will be transferred. Simultaneously large gangs of men will be engaged in making a rail connection between the new station and the Parnell lino, which will continue to carry most of the suburban traffic for years to come, and in cutting road access to the station from Beach road across the present main tracks. This done, tho remaining offices will be moved in the course of next week. Gliding Fatality. Details of the glider accident which resulted in. the death of the New Zealander, Mr. Eonald . Steole, in Canada, on 21st September, have been received by tho young man's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Steele, of Omokoroa, near Tauranga. A letter containing particulars of the fatality has been sent by Mr. Shelly, president of the Border Cities Glider Club, Windsor, Ontario. Mr. Shelly states that tho launching of the glider was done by towing it behind a motor-car with about 500 feet of rope until the glider got well into the air. Mr. Ronald Steele had taken the machine to au altitude ,of about -400 feet when he released the tow-rope to glide down. After releasing the rope he put tho glider into a climb until it turned over on its back and performed an almost perfect loop. The machine came out of this manoeuvre and went into another loop, but it had lost so much altitude that the loop could not be completed. Tho glider nose-dived into the ground almost vertically. Mr. Steele was fatally injured and did not regain consciousness after the crash. In i/ nveying the sympathy of members of the glider club to Mr. and Mrs. Steele, Mr. Shelly says: "We all feel tho loas of your son very keenly because we knew him as an upright and conscientious man. He was highly respected by those -who worked with him, ancl loved by those of us whose privilege it was to be called his friends."