NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sales Tax and Schools. . - Although school books aro exempt from the sales tax, it is considered by tho Wellington School Committees, and Educational Federation that the exemption should also apply to* such articles as pens, pencils, chalk, and blotting paper used in schools. When the matter was considered at last night's meeting of the federation, it was stated that if the exemption could bo extended to cover these articles the saving would mean as much as £30 per annum to the big schools. It was decided that a deputation should wait on the Minister of Customs to urge him to waive the sales tax (jn all equipment. Hadfield College Fund. At a meeting of contributors to theHadfleld College Endowment Fund yesterday approval was given to tho scheme sanctioned by the Synod for the application of tho income of the fund to the creation of scholarships for the education and training of candidates for the-priesthood. It is proposed to seek power from the Supreme Court to apply the fund and other funds associated with the Hadfield Memorial College and Hostel conjointly for tho same purpose. Beautifying Fetone's Esplanade. Improvements to the western cud of tho Esplanade were suggested by tho Pctono Beautifying Society in a letter to the Pctone Borough Council last night, and were commended by most of tho councillors. The society's idea was that the Esplanade between the wharf and tho'railway crossing should be levelled and cleaned up so that trees could be planted on it to make it more presentable. Councillors V. E. Jacobson and J. C. Burns in particular favoured the idea. The borough engineer (Mr. C. L. Jackson) said that "the trees would be about the only expense," and Councillor Jacobson said he thought that tho society would provide the trees. A motion that tho engineer bo instructed to report to tho new council upon the scheme was lost, and the cnginoer was asked to co-operate with tho society in the project. Unpaid Maori Bates. The difficulties which confront a local body in collecting rates when it lias on its valuation roll a large proportion of Native occupiers of property are shown in a financial statement received from the Wainpu . County Council, states the "Now Zealand' Herald." Tho statement shows the rates collected and collectible-during the financial year 1932-1933. The rates collected over the whole county, which consists of seven ridings, amounted to 63 per cent, of the total. Tho collectible rates from the European section of the county amounted to £10,632, and of this the sum of £9018, or 85 per cent, had been collected. In the Native section, however, tho collectible .rates totalled £7272, and only £2076, or 29 per cent., had been received. In tho Waipiro and Hikuwai ridings more than 50 per cent, of the rates due had been collected from tho Natives, but in the Awauui and Tapuaeroa Tidings only 19 and 18 per cent, respectively had been received. English Angler's Visit. For the second time Mr. S. E. Adamson, an English sportsman, has conducted a fishing and shooting excursion in Now Zealand, states tho "Otago Daily Times"). He will leave- for England this week, but will do so with the intention of returning to tho Dominion in the near future. "I know New Zealand now better than I do England," he said; Mr. Adamson.lias fished most of the rivers, starting at Auckland and finishing near Invercargill, and has lived on various stations in between while shooting over the blocks of wapiti country. Ho likes both the country and tho people, and looks forward to renewing his acquaintanceship with- both. Mr. Adamson met many other English tourists at the various fishing camps, and they were all very well satisfied with the hospitality they received. The • favourable exchange rate had probably encouraged many of tho visitors to this country, he said, for, naturally, when planning a trip overseas, they looked to gee where they would get the best valuo for their money. The sporting visitors had a much stronger incentive in the sport offering. For tho price of their passage, their board, and a fishing licence they could get better fishing here on any river than they could on an English stream, paying upwards of £500 for the rights. Lost on Tararuas. An unenviable experience Jbcfcll Mr; H. Meads, of Bulls, who was lost on the Tararua Range for tw,o days: and nights, states a Palmerston North correspondent. Eventually ho arrived safely at Shannon! With Mr. J. B. Eobins, also of Bnlls, Mr. Meads joined up with a deer-stalking party at Eketahuna. Mr. Meads lost touch with his companions.' in rough, hilly country. Misty rain was falling at the time and visibility was poor. Mr. Meads had gouo after a stag and when he did not return to camp search parties were hastily arranged. Tho countryside "was scoured, but without result. In tho meantime Mr. Meads had wandered off in another direction, eventually coming out on th© other side of tho Tararuas and making his way to Shannon. Clad only in a shirt and "shorts" his experienco was an unenviable one, but he stood tho ordeal well and is now little tho worso for his exposure and arduous climb. The searchers also had a strenuous time and were practically exhausted when tho welcome news 'was telephoned, to them that tho missing man was safe. \' Guides—and Philosophers! A writer in an Auckland weekly recently wroto.admiringly that the most wonderful thing about'Whakarewarewa was the guides. From a somewhat different angle, yet still in awe, "Tangiwai" writes in th© "New Zealand Railways Magazine" that some years ago ho saw an earnest party of Australian lady school teachers, with notebooks out, standing near the Wairoa geyser at Whakarewarewo, with a girl guide of. tho village. "Up went tho geyser, higher and higher, while the girls scattered with squeals of fright and delight. 'How high did it. go?' they asked with ono accord, when it -was'all over. 'Seven, hundred feet,' said the guide firmly. And down went the seven hundred feet in half a dozen notobooks, no doubt to be embodied in due course in a school lesson or a college thesis on tho marvels of New Zealand's goysorland. No uso any mere Maorilauder contradicting that estimate! It was down in. tho notebooks."

Still' Troublesome. ' Noisy motor-cycles were again the cause of many hard words at tho meeting of tho Potonc Borough Council last night. After considerable discussion of ways and means of catching the offenders it was decided to write to; the police asking for their help in tho matter, and the borough inspector (Mr. W. B. Gough) was instructed to make special efforts as well. Tho inspectoi was also asked to inquire into the possibility and tho cost of. having a mounted traffic inspector stationed in Petonc for" a while. Moro Light Wanted. Several of tho councillors of the Borough of Lower Hutt are of tho opinion that tho reduction in street lights made as an economy measure some months ago was too great, and it was' decided at last evening's meeting of tho council that Councillor Mcßaiu and the Borough Engineer should ask tho manager of the Power Board (Mr. E. F. Hollands) to accompany them round tho borough with tho object of rearranging the' street lights, and reinstating up to twenty of those cut out; ■Councillor Wilson said he was not in favour of any limit being made to the number to bo reinstated, but it was pointed out that the council could add moro if it thought lit at a later date. Late Entries. Making up their minds at the last moment that they would like to visit the George and Milford Sounds on the Huddart, Parker Company's motor-ship Wanganclla, throb American visitors to Wellington boarded tho vessel after she had left the wharf yesterday. It was not until 6 p.m.1 that the would-be passengers arranged for berths on the Wanganclla, but by that time she had left tho wharf and was in the stream, where a dance was to be hold prior to j her departure for the Sounds. In a style ; characteristic of their nationality they ; arranged for transport to the Wanga-, nclla 'on the Harbour' Board's pilot i launch Arahina, and .Tvero soon on board. ' Shortly afterwards another intending passenger made up her mind that she would also like to accompany the sightseers to tho Sounds, but by that timo tlic Arahina was gone. She j was apparently unable to charter j 'another launch to tako her out, and the Wanganella left without her.