NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 109, 10 May 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sunday Trains on Hutt Line. The Lower Hutt Borough Council, at its mooting last night, received a letter from the Upper Hutt Borough Council stating that it had been subsidising the Sunday train service between Larabton station and Upper Hutt. The sorvice would terminate on Bth May unless other local, authorities would join in the guarantee required by the Sailway Department. It was decided that the basis of the subsidy suggested by Upper Hutt was unfair, as Lower Hutt would be asked to find about 25 per cent, of the guarantee, for which it would receive very little ■ benefit. The number of tickets issued to all stations from ' Lower Hutt on Sundays averaged only twelve, and Lower Hutt was well served by buses. It was decided to ask Upper Hutt to suggest a fairer basis. Taita Cemetery. The annual report of the Taita Cemetery -Board states that a special work at the cemetery has been the building of a reservoir which, with the other tank, has given a good gravitation supply to the whole cemetery. It is proposed to form a water lily pond in the stream. Generally speaking, the cemetery has never been in better order than it is to-day. Special praise is given to the men who have been engaged in the work. "Too Many Questions." Asked for an estimate of the number of men passing through Greymouth in search of employment, the secretary of the Unemployment Committee (Mr. P. G. Davies) replied to a "Star" reporter that an estimate could not bo given, as he came into contact with only • the genuine cases of men seeking work. "We ask too many questions for the liking of the other fellow, and he does % not come near us," he said. "There are not so many now coming over from Canterbury as previously, but we have had to send out a tremendous number of letters in reply to.men asking for assistance whilst prospecting for gold. We have to advise them that there is little or no hope of them securing the subsidy, as there are more practical miners on the West Coast, than we can place on this particulars class of work, and for that reason we'cannot recommend them- to come to Greymouth. "We have advised the Mayor and Town Clerk.of Christchurch of the position, and since doing so our/inquiries have numbered less and fewer men are coming over." > - Old Maori Mere Found. . , While working in. the tile and brick clay quarry 'at Taylorville A near Wanganui, during April, Mr. H. Lampitt noticed a dark object in the yellow clay as it was being put through' the mixer. Curiousity caused him to flick the object put with his shovel, and then to clean the clay away from his "find." . It turned out to be an old Maori mere, says anexehange. Unfortunately, as a result of its experiences in. the mixer, it was badly scarred and knocked about. Thinking it would be of historical value, Mr. .Lampitt took it to- the Alexander Museum at Wanganui, where it was. considered to be one of the most interesting accessions of the month. At one,time a Maori pa was , situated where- the quarry is now eating the hill away. Radio and Stolen Cars. A greatly extended use of 'radio by police. and; automobile association officers was' prophesied by Mr. .V. Duff at a meeting of the committee of the Taranaki Automobile Association, Bays a Taranaki exchange. H« said he had been informed that it would be possible for these officers to carry receiving sets so that they could be notified in an instant, of descriptions of stolen ears, or of the need to repoijt in case of any great emergency. 'It might be a little way ahead, but he thought that this time would come. . A Taranaki; Spa? .../•"'.• '■; \ ' Definite medicinal properties were ascribed,to, the Hot spring recently discoyered on Arawhata road at: the meeting of the Egmont National Park Board on .Friday. Mr. T. E. Anderson; said the_water had been analysed and was distinctly silicate and compared very favourably with some of the German spa springs, ' states the "Taranaki Daily News." "There was a flow of about two gallons a, minute, and one peculiar thing was that about it was,a growth of white clover better than he had ever seen- before.. It was not in the mountain reserve, and he thought the-board should acquire it for its own property. If might .develop- into ■ a spa, for there was sufficient population in Taranaki. ■.:..'■ '■■'..■'" ■■.-'. The Tanker Bisca. V : ' \ The tanker Bisca, mentioned in yesterday 's , cable news as having arrived at. San Pedro, long overdue, from Adelaide after having lo.st two propeller blades early on the voyage, was scheduled to load a cargo of oil for New* Zealand at San Pedro. The tanker will go into dock at San Pedro for cleaning and painting, and will have the new propeller blades fitted while she" is in dock. - She will be delayed for only a few days, and should leave San Pedro about 14th May for Auckland, Wellington, and Australia. "A Very Busy Place." > Counsel in a collision case in the Supreme Court to-day was questioning a witness; "for the benefit of the uninitiated," about the trade of a certain hotel on the main road between Carterton and Masterton. The witness agreed that the hotel was very busy on Saturday afternoons. "In fact,,there is a regular pilgrimage between Masterton'arid this hotel on Saturday afternoons?" suggested counsel. "Wejll, th.e'best way I eanj put it is that^l would like to have the takings there on a Saturday night," Teplied the witness amidst laughter. '■. "It is the first port of call for the thirsty,' is.it not!" asked counsel. Witness also agreed with this and told his Honour that seven or eight barmen were employed in■'. the hotel /on Saturdays. "It's a very busy place,'^he said; finally. Rolling Lift Bridge. ' I ' The rolling lift bridge on the western viaduct, Freeman's Bay, Auckland, which is now nearjng completion and will be open to traffic by'the end of the month, was tested on Saturday, when it-was gently lowered into position for the first time and again raised (states the- "New Zealand Herald"). The test, which was watched by Harbour Board members and,the engineer, Mr. D. Holderhess, was. not an official test of the completed'structure, but an examination of, the mechanism, Vhich was inspected several times during the operations. The bridge was lowered very slowly by hand at first,-,-being stopped frequently while the cogs working on the runners, on which the structure moves were scrutinised. The machinery was then set in motion, the structure being run right forward and lowered intb the open position. As the decking had been laid officials were able to walk over it, after which the bridge was again raised, checks being made while it was in different positions. At no time was the machinery run at the normal speed at which it will operate when the structure is in use. The test .Will be repeated from time to time as the bridge nears completion. Although tho greater portion of the machinery is ready for use, an amount of electrical equipment has to be added while surfacing will be laid on tho docking and portions of ironworks added to tho superstructure. As this work is done the balance weights will be increased. The concrete tanks used for the purpose are not yet full, and considerable additional weight can still £o added. .

A Lower Hutt Economy. In its efforts to bring about economies, the Lower Hutt Borough Council has carefully investigated its rubbish collection system, also the-sanitary service. The Works Committee decided to call for tenders for .this w^rk, which has hitherto been done with the borough plant by day labour. The result has proved very satisfactory to tho council, a tender having been accepted which will save the council between £200 and £250 per annum. The borough is hiring its plant to the contractor. Nut and Bean Farming. Believing that the Government's small farm scheme for unemployment relief can be turned to account for growing^ such unusual crops as peanuts and haricot and Lima beans, a returned soldier resident of Avondale, Mr. O. H. Speakman, has sent in an application for a ten-acre allotment and hopes to obtain one in due course (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Mr.'Speakman has raised very -fine specimens of the crop mentioned, upon a small section in the Watervi'ew district, and has also successfully grown a Brazilian sweet potato that ia almost unknown in New Zealand. He believes that there is a good market for. locally-grown peanuts and the two varieties of beans, supplies of which are now imported, and that given a market these crops should make the small farm scheme available to men who, like himself,. are unfit for heavy labour. ;■■ * y Launch's Long Voyage. An arrival at Auckland' on Sunday evening was the large motor-launch Te Toa, after a passage of over 450 miles from Onehunga (states the "New Zealand Herald"). She is a wooden vessel of 22 tons register, and is fitted with twin semi-Diesel engines, each of 24 h.p. For a number of years she was engaged in the passenger service on the Manukau Harbour, but owing to the slackness of trade she has been brought to Auckland to be utilised in the local trade, probably; seine net fishing. After leaving Onehunga at mid-' day last Tuesday, fine weather, with light south-west winds and smooth seas, was experienced on the 200-mile run to Cape Maria van Diemen, which was reaphed at 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. After rounding the cape, the Te _ Toa encountered a fresh southeast wind, and head winds continued to be experienced for the remainder of the trip to Auckland. On board the launch were- Mr. W. C. Wright, the owner, and his two sons, Mr. E. W. Beaumont, who acted as navigator, and three others.