NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 9, 12 January 1932, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Fires in the Gardens. People passing through the Botanical Gardens are requested to keep a lookout for any signs of the, activities of an inceridiarist, and report the matter to the authorities. Yesterday a heap of rubbish was found blazing beside a treo trunk, and it is thought to have been set alight by a man who was seen some time.ago lighting fires in the Gardens near Anderson Park. Attempts have been made to detain him, but without success. The Tioating Dock. It will be a little time yet before the new 30-ton anchor blocks for the floating dock will be sunk in position replacing the 13-ton blocks which proved to be inadequate. The new blocks have been cast, but after the removal of, the old.- ones a certain amount of dredging will be necessary. -Ihese operations, however, are not considered likely to delay the handing over of the dock to the Harbour Board. The tug Zwarte Zee left port this morning. for Newcastle, on her return to Holland. The other tug, the Whitte Zee, left last Saturday. Water in Demand; "We must safeguard our interests," said the Mayor of Petone (Mr. D McKonzie) at the meeting of tlie* Potonc Borough Council last night in reference to the desire of the Wellington City Council, to obtain artesian water from Gear Island. "All kinds ot things were said about our water and pollution and goitre were mentioned, but now, the city is eager to got our supply." The subject arose from a report made' to the council by its representatives at the meeting of the Hutt Eiver Board, which considered the city's application for access to a piece of land owned by it on Gear Island, where the boring would be done. The Eiver Board, after hearing the opinions of the Hutt and Petone Borough_ Councils' representatives, signified its acquiescence with Wellington's proposals provided an undertaking was given that if the boring caused a diminution in the artesian supply to the Valley users, the City Council should cease operations. No advice of this decision has yet been sent to the Petone Council by the Eiver Board, and it was left to the Works Committeo to deal with the reply when it comes.

Mount Anglera Climbed. Mount Anglein (Hananui) is the highest peak in Stewart Island, and from its position at the northern end of the island overlooking Foveaux Strait commands :i wonderful view of the mainland and Stewart Island. During the last twenty years it has not been climbed by tourists owing to its inaccessibility. Two years ago a track was cut to the summit, 3200 ft above sea level, but a party of 23, organised by Mr. A. W. Jones, of Invereargill, which left Half Moon Bay on 31st December, was the first party of tourists to make a successful ascent. "A Men's Fellowship." "It is quite possible to form a men's fellowship—a group of young married men, who would meet for half an hour or so before church," said the Rev. Robin R. Adair, travelling secretary of the Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Class Union, when speaking at the- annual meeting of delegates at Christchurch. "Young men afoove the age of 22 would bo invited to join. Younger than that, men and youths seem to live in a different world." The president (the Eev. H. Davies) said that many young men nowadays passed out of Bible classes when they reached the twenties, and had no further connection with the church. He thought Mr. Adair had made an ■ excellent suggestion. • Using Wireless Beacons. The opinion that the installation of wireless beacons would be of considerable value .to vessels when approaching New Zealand or when navigating between coastal ports, was expressed on Saturday by Captain J. H. Gaskell, the commander of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion liner Mataroa, now at Auckland, states the "New Zealand Herald.". Captain Gaskell cited an incident which occurred when the Mataroa was recently proceeding from Auckland to Gisborne. The vessel left Auckland in a moderate north-easterly gale with heavy misty rain, which reduced the visibility so much that a wide berth had to be given to East Cape outside the 100-fathom line. After rounding the. cape, Captain Gaskell arranged with, the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Rangitata, which was at anchor in Tokomarii ■ Bay, to. exchange wireless bearings. Captain Gaskell immediately put the ship's head on the bearing indicated, and so accurate did it prove that the Rangitata was made right ahead. "This surely demonstrates not only what a great aid it would be to safe navigation on this coast, but what a comfort it would be to masters of vessels if they were -able to verify their positions by. means of wireless beacons similar to those established round the coast of Great Britain and most other places in Europe and America," said Captain Gaskell. A Friendly Bird. The stilts, the long-legged wading birds which have frequented the swamp areas along the Napier-Taradale road since the earthquake,' appear to be getting more friendly every day. Prior to February last these birds were to be seen in large numbers on the swamp lands near Petane; but since the muddy waters near Taradale have become fresh, they appear to be shifting camp to those areas. For months past users of the Taradale road have made friends with a lonely bittern, which is no longer disturbed' by the noise of passing traffic and spends its time dozing in the sun in .the; fresh, shallow water. This bird is becoming as popular with the habitual users of the Napier-Taradale road as "Pelofus Jack" was with the sailors on the Cook Strait ferry steamers. New Korokoro Boad. Replying to questions raised by Councillor E. T. E. Hogg at the meeting, of the Petone Borough- Council last night, the Mayor (Mr. D. McKenzie) said that 150 men were now employed on the construction of the new roaij to Korokoro; In a!.we.eklor so 200.men would be employed, .100 from' Petone'and 100 from Lower Hutt. The Public Works Department was in complete charge and provided everything for the job. It cost the borough nothing. Asked whether satisfactory arrangements had been made with owners of property through which tho road will go, the Mayor replied that it seemed that the Government was satisfied with the arrangements. "I think.we have been very well met," he said. ; Wellington's Harbour. ' For the number of people Wellington harbour had to serve it could be compared with any other harbour he had seen, said Mr. Maurice Cohen, ex-chair-man of the Wellington Harbour Board, who returned to New Zealand to-day by the Maunganui from Sydney, after an abseneo of three years abroad. Wellington's harbour was a miniature of the greatest and best-known, harbours, in the world, he said, and its equipment was eminently' suitable and adequate for the claims made upon it. Each harbour equipment differed' according to the particular type of produce it had to handle, and in this respect there was nothing finer than ;the wheat-hand-ling process.; in -where 3,000,000 bushels of wheat could be loaded in one day. ■ ~"'•'