NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Penalty for Late Payment.

Judging by the few callers at the city rates office the decision of. the City Council to reduce the 10 per centpenalty for late payment of rates to 74 per cent, if payment is made by March 27 is not proving much of an inducement, in fact, ratepayers who have not yet met their demands do not appear to be taking any notice of the concession, arguing probably that they may ,iust as well be killed for sheep as lambs, there being so small a percentage of difference. The Hutt County Council will impose the full 10 per cent, penalty after March 28. Shooting Season. The shooting season for native and imported game opens on May .1. In the Wellington district the closing dates are:—For grey, mallard, and shoveller duck, June 30;'for cock pheasants and quail, July 31; for black swan, May 15. Limits are two cock pheasants, three head of black swan, and 15 head in all of grey, mallard, or shoveller Hares are not protected -in certain counties. National Day of Prayer. The Dominion Conference of the Methodist Church held recently at Auckland decided to observe the day of national prayer in conjunction with other churches on April 2. All Methodist preachers, congregations, aud people are urged to co-operate. ' Inspection Fee. " ' -. Criticism that the fee' charged- for the % Government inspection of machinery, particularly electric motors, 'was excessive, was made at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last 'evening. The opinion 'was expressed that the time had'arrived for a complete overhaul of the Department • responsible for tho inspection of machinery, and it was contended that tho present certificate was really only the receipt for a fee. It was decided to request the Associated Chambers of Commerce to make further.representations to the Government. A Snooting Compromise. An interesting position has arisen in xegard to the Awapuni Lagoon, on.the property of the Manawafcu Racing Club, and, a section of 23 acres adjoining it, the property of the Kairanga County Council. An agitation has been afoot to proclaim these properties a sanctuary for the protection of native duck. Everybody concerned. is agreeable to have the area' so proclaimed, but the Kairanga. County Council's caretaker lives on the property, and has a garden which it is stated the pukekos ravage, and the county authorities seek a provision in the. proclamation that this man should be allowed to shoot pukeko. The Department of Internal Affairs is sympathetic with the desire, but cannot accede to it under the Act. As a compromise which will insure protection for twelve months, the Department has suggested, and the Wellington Acclimatisation' Society has agreed, that this area of country shall be exempted from the gazetted shooting areas for twelve months. Tamahine's Cricket Trip. "With six hundred people on board the Union Company's ferry steamer Tamahinc arrived at Wellington at 10.10 a.m. today from Picton. Tho Tamahine's sailing from Picton was postponed from yesterday afternoon until this morning,'so ,that cricket enthusiasts in Picton, Blenheim, and the surrounding country could see the big cricket match at Wellington today. The vessel, decorated with flags, made a fine sight as she came up to her berth. There was a big crowd on the wharf to welcome the Tamahine's excursionists, and the scene was reminiscent of that when an intercolonial liner comes to Wellington. Tho" Tamahine will leave- Wellington at 6 p.m. today on the return trip to Picton. Dangerous Tunnel Approach. Several suggestions have been made for the improvement of the approach to the -Mount Victoria tunnel from Ellice and_ Brougham Streets, but apart from an improvement in the lighting, made some months ago, and the laying down of lanes for pedestrians (o'f which few take much notice) nothing "has been done. Visibility at the corner of Ellice and Brougham Streets is blocked by a garage built to the line of the footpath, and round the corner, at the turn into Patterson Street, the . crossfall of the roadway apparently slopes in the wrong direction; at any rate, it does not assist motorists, in any way, and several drivers, not acquainted with the approach have found their cars swinging unpleasantly far out when running from the r .tunnel towards? the city. Tho building up of a special rrossfall at tho turn into Oriental Bay Parade, just past the baths, a few years ago has provided visitors to Wellington with something to discuss in terms of mild wonder, just as the absence of some lesser building up of the road surface in the swing to the tunnel approach has caused others to express surprise.

Cut in Scholarships. Owing to the need for converting some £1600 worth of Government securities held as scholarship endowments, the Auckland University College Council has decided to reduce the annuabpayments to scholarship holders this year by 20 per cent, says the "New Zealand Herald." An exception is made in regard to the Sir James Gunson scholarship in agriculture, for which some accumulated funds were stated to be in hand. The president, Sir George Fowlds, remarked tliat the college held local body securities to a considerably larger . value than, the Government/bonds referred to. The Canadian Seigneur. .' No further advice has been received by the Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington, of the Canadian Seigneur, which was reported to be in distress in, the ISTorth Pacific, with the Oregon Maru standing by, and the Empress of Eussia going to the'distressed ship's help. It is thought possible locally that the Canadian Seigneur has lost her propeller. Although the vessel is one of ..the fleet of Canadian National Stea'mships, which trade regularly to New Zealand, she has only twice been here, and that wasdn July and December, 1927. The Canadian Seigneur has a gross tonnage of 5755. She was built by Canadian Vickers, Ltd.. Montreal in 1919. .- Taking .Soundings. Soundings are at present being taken round the Queen's Wharf, where a grabdredge has recently been engaged in cleaning out debris. Such a iarge amount of accumulated silt has been removed that the sea floor in that portion has been materially altered, and this morning five men were taking soundings of the locality. Two of them were occupied in rowing the small boat from which operations were conducted, another took the soundings, from the stern, while the others were respectively engaged in paying out a rope guide and noting the depths as, they were obtained. The Harbourmaster's Department and the Engineer's Department of-the Harbour Board both take soundings, the latter department's men being engaged this morning. Time They were Abolished. Recently the Wellington Education Board suggested to the Minister .that the Education Boards should be consulted before any amending educational legislation was framed. A. reply was read at today's meeting of the board intimating that the Minister, although always prepared to give careful consideration to the advice of boards on matters 'affecting the welfare of primary education, regretted he was unable to give a definite assurance that the board's request would, be acceded to on each and every occasion when changes were contemplated. "It is time he abolished the^boards if that is the only reply he can give," was"one member's remark when, without further comment, the letter was quickly placed on the "received" list. :