NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Slight Earthquake. At 11.5 p.m. last evening a slight earthquake tremor was felt in Wellington, so slight that many people did not notice it. The origin of the shock was about 40 miles away, probably in Cook Strait." Instruments at the Dominion Observatory, Kelburh, show that the ground was tilted slightly towards the south-east. v A- Fanner Does His Job. ."I've done my job. I,must leave it to. the bankers and politicians to do theirs,' " said a farmer to a "Taihape Times" reporter recently. "I've cut a bigger clip of wool this year and of better quality than I have ever cut before^in the last 25 years; my lambs ate the primest I have ever1 handled and my sheep and cattle arc fatter and sleeker than I have evor soon them before. I can do no more. I, in common with thousands of other farmers in the Dominion, have certainly had no finger in.bungling the markets.",, Letters Insufficiently Stamped. ; Complaint has been made by business firms that letters have been :•»- coived with a penny stamp on them and the flap folded in, instead of with a twopenny stamp affixed. The Chief Postmaster at Wellington (Mr. J. M. McLean) states that, although the postal authorities receive a fair amount of additional revenue, from, fines imposed in thiß connection, few complaints have been made by business houses of receiving letters insufficiently stamped. Much more common was tho practice airiong. business firms of sending out a private communication with an account or receipt with only a penny Btamp ion, and letters sent this way could usually, bo detected in the post office. Another fairly common practice was that of enclosing a letter with a packet, which was sent at packet rates. Mr. McLean said that at Wellington up to £40 a month, and more at Christmas, wns collected in additional fines on letters, packets, ,etc, insufficiently stamped. Ready to "Do" Him. "One of my first impressions was the readiness with 'which thofeel engaged in finance sought to exploit the traveller," said Me. W. H. Hagger, onotimo Conciliation Commissioner, who has returned to Christchurch from a visit to Great Britain and Austrnlia. "This cotaplaint," he said, "applied generally at "all ports, of call, money changers, banks, and skipping companies being involved. When I Bay 'exploit,' I mean that there was no standard of exchange set by all those engaged in money exchange. Each section got as much as it could. Tho result was that Borne persons got more or less than others. The banks in Australia, even, were not uniform in the rates of exchange. With regard to the shipping' companies there was the one very plain experience which Thad. This fact I reported to the High Commis: sioner for New Zealand, and he made representations to the shipping com pany and the New Zealand Government." ._ ..,„.„; Double Misadventure. After encountering trouble in a mo-tor-car, two Auckland sisters, the Misses Fenton, transferred to an aeroplane, and were again involved in a misfortune (states a Kaitaia correspondent). Tho two Bisters Were returning from Pandora Camp on Friday morning in a car driven by Mr. A. Hutley, of Awanui. The car became stuck in a hole in the sand near the Maunganui Bluff, Ninety-mile Beach, and later became submerged. The plight of the occupants was seen by Captain L. J. Brake and Mr. Paul, of the Brake and Paul Aero Company, Mangonui, who were fishing at the Bluff. Tho two women were taken on board an aeroplane to fly to Ahipara. However, when the pilot was rising from the beach a gust of wind drove th^machilie.a ehort distance but to.sea^'fiamageywjig done to a wing and to the propeller and the Under-carriage. Captain •; Brake and Mr. Paul jumped into the water, and, standing waist-deep, were able to prevent the aeroplane from drifting but to sea.v-:; Thfey. shivering with cOld when Maoris came to their assistance and helped to brine the machine back to the beach. Arrangements were made for the damaged aeroplane to be taken by niotor-lbrry to Ahipara on Saturday. A rescue car was sent to the scone on Friday evening to bring the passengers back to Kaitaia. Dogs Poisoned. Complaint was recently "" made that dogs in Devonport, Auckland, were being, poisoned, and now a similar complaint has been niadri concerning' dogs in Hataitai. The latest victim is Whiskie, a black and white collie dog, owned by Mr. S. B. Neal, 94, Kainui road. The ; dog, .which was highly popular with the children of the neighbourhood, returned to tho house one evening last week, and presently died in agony. The matter has been, referred to.the police.

Virgin Peak Climbed. Miss Ida Corry (England) ana Mr. Jack Sharp (New South Wales) accompanied by Guides Alack and Christie, made a successful ascent of "Big Mac," at the head of the Fox Glacier, on Wednesday. "Big Mao" is next Mt. Torres and Mt. Tasman, on tho main Divide of tho Southern Alps, and has not previously been climbed. White Heron at Tauranga. A white heron was observed, oh the Tauranga waterfront in the vicinity of Fifth and Sixth avenues on Saturday. Some years ago one of the birds was frequently seen on the Waikareao estuary on the western sido of the borough. Excitement In Hay Field. Two haymakers had an alarming experience on a- farm at Buckland, states tho "New Zealand Herald." They were just completing a stack when it was nqtieed to be on fire. They immediately attempted to extinguish the outbreak, but a cart alongside the stack, which had been used for bringing in the hay, caught alight and tho horso bolted with it round the paddock. Meanwhile, the fire spread to the grass round tho stack and commenced creeping across the paddock. Neighbours came to tho rescue. The horse and cart were Bated from destruction, and the fire in the paddock was Arrested, but the stack was destroyed.;:::;;^ ' \.\ ■-■■ i ■ "■;_ More Confidence in Australia. ' f There is' , certainly a decided improvement m tho spirit of the people in Australia since the elections," said the Rev. Dr. 0. J. Morkanc, rector of the Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, who arrived at Wellington this morning by the Ulimaroa from Sydney after a holiday visit to Australia. People seemed to have gained more confidence, he said, which was a striking contrast to the feeling prevalent twelve rnqnths ago. During Christmas they seemed to spend their money more freely, and some of, the business firms reported that trade had been better than for years past. Solar Phenomenon. Tho somewhat rare phenomenon'of "mock suns" was seen at Auckland lato on Saturday afternoon, a pronounced solar halo having a bright golden area on the eastern and western quarters of the circle, states the "New Zealand Herald.*' A shadow: of the halo was also discernible almost directly overhead, the whole display being unusually brilliant and giving the appcaranco.of separate suns. The. phenomenon is caused by refraction through ice-prisms in cirrus clouds, and is occasionally seen in stormy weather. A display of lightning was noticed in the eastorn sky, during the evening. . Kiwis on the Highway. ' O When driving from Auckland to Palmerston North with her family last Wednesday, Mrs.,H. E. Edmunds wffs startled, as she rounded a bend at Tongaporutu, in Taranaki. to find two young kiwis disporting themselves on the main highway, which 'carries- a, great deal of traffic. Theyshowed .'ho fear until the children alighted, to pick them up. They then scuttled to cover ia heavy bush adjoining the road. There a third young kiwi was seen.. ■•.-■' Helping the Unemployed. : f, A five-day week for Chfistchurch City Council employees is proposed by Councillor A.1 E. Armstrong,; who suggests that'the workers should also accept "a corresponding adjustment in wages and salaries." This, he says, would provide work.for. sixty more men at. £ 4 a week. Councillor Armstrong has, given notice of his intention to move the following motion at/the next ordinary meeting of the council, to bo held on Monday, Ist February:—"Believing that the interests of: the country demand the*'sharing of'all available^work among the greatest numbers, the i Christchurch ''City ; ■Council inaugurates a five-day; week' to provide the 'greatest number '.of workers' with' permanent jobs. »: In this consolidating effort tho employees'be asked to accept a corresponding adjustment of wages and salaries which will, ensure the employment of sixty additional workers at £4 a week." Down the Waiau by Bowboat. There are many ways of enjoying a holiday, and Mr. Bob Murie, of Wellington, and Mr. N. McGregor, of Mount Linton, tried, and found ..thrilling aid most satisfying a new; way of making a 100-mile • boat trip tfoxrn the swif tfldwihg WaiaU ißit;er, Southland/ from the outlet of "taW'Te Anau to Kanapouri, across".that'lak'e, and on down the river to Tuatapere. Though the Waiau River runs with big volume tho trip is fraught with danger owing to the swiftness of tho currcn^ and the swirls and eddies as the water rushes through narrow gorges. The first day's travelling carried the ; men, with Mr. E. Govan, of Te Anau Hotel; to Manapoiiri. where Mr. Govan left them, and on with the swifter running stream to Hedcliffs Station. In the morning they struck heavy going through a rocky gorge and narrowly ; ; nnssed disaster several times, arrivinglat the, Monbwai power station, to. the considerable Surprise of the ;station, staff, in"the forenoon. :Af ter7a iitretch of: smooth Water they struck a patch of heavy eddies, but beyond tho, gorge the going was quieter and they; were able to Telax. Tuatapere was reached: at about 4 o'clock that day. Mr.'.Murie described the trip _as one of the most interesting and exciting one could laaagineV The country through which they passed was clad with beautiful bush, and; plentiful bird life gave additional interest, paradise and grey duck, swans, and other birds being.seen along the banks. A good strong boat Was essential, he added, and to .meet possible trouble it would be wiso to carry some additional equipment, such as an inflated motor tire. The trip has been made once or twice previously, Mr. Ronier Grey, a son of Mr. Zano Grey, and a Companion having made it in 1928, and others have covered stages of the 100 mile run at ono time and another.