NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 94, 22 April 1933, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

"The Evening Post." . "Tho Evening Post" will not be published on Tuesday, April 25, Aji2ao Day. St. George's Day. . Tomorrow is St. George's Day. St. Goorge is the patron saint, not only of England, but of Aragon and Portugal. Tho Christian soldier was martyred on April 23, ,303 A.D., and between that time and tho period of tho Norman conquest of England many fanciful tales were woven around his prowess on the battlefield. Of his life there appears to bo no record, but legend associates him with twtypo of moral strength- to which the English have always paid homage. His popularity, however, has. never reached tho hoight attained by St. Andrew in Scotland, St. David in Wales, or St. Patrick in Ireland. The Council of Oxford in ,1222 ordered that his feast should be kept as a national festival, but.it was not until the time of Edward 111 that ho was made patron saint of tho kingdom. The connection of St.; George with the dragon can be traced to the close of tho sixth century. He, liko many another Christian saint, entered into tho inheritance- of veneration previously enjoyed by tho pagan hero, Pcrseujf, who slew a, sea monster. Babbit Menace in tho Waikato, „»' Rabbitsl are spreading in an alarming manner in parts of the Waikato district, according to a party of Now Plymouth sportsmen who havo returned from a four days' shooting expedition in the Kiwitaehi district. They said without hesitation that rabbits were three times as plentiful now as whon they wero there twelve months ago. In conversation with farmers in the district, it was gathered that taey were unable to pay trappers, with the result- that the rabbits were getting away from them. The increase had. been enormous. Four New Plymouth sportsmen sceuroo1 457 rabbits in four days. It is gnggosted (says the "Taranaki Harald") that some scheme should be devised whereby tho Government,. -«rith a subsidy from the farmers, should employ relief workers in trapping tho rabbits. Trapping is proposed in* preference to poisoning, as fho carcasses would then bo of commercial value. Too Many Holidays. With Easter, St. Georgo's Day, and Anzac Day all falling within a'period of less than a fortnight, thff present month as notable for the number of holidays that nro observed by tho banks and for the dislocation that is caused in business circles," the "Christchurch Star" comments. This" position is brought about by the fact that Easter is a movablo feast and it is a coincideneo that this year it should fall so close to Anzac Day.. St. Georgo's Day is observed as a holiday by the banks only, but as, it falls on Monday next, and Anzac Day is on Tuesday, there will be some ineonvenieneo to business' firms through being denied banking facilities' between tomorrow and Wednesday. There is still a strong feeling in the community that the prosent practice of keeping April 25 as a day set apart as Anzac Day should be maintained, but among a section of the population there is a growing sentiment in favour of abandoning tho fixed date and holding the observance on tho nearest Sunday. It seems unlikely, however, that any change in the existing custom will be made for some years. From the point of view of the commorcia.l section of tho community, the exceptional number .of holidays this month is unwelcome/ but the only real complaint that is heard is against the closing of the banks on Monday nest, which is regarded as an unnecessary holiday, • ..'..'. Eastbourne's Finances. Forecasts, that the financial results of tho borough's operations for the year ended March 31 would be shown as satisfactory, when the accounts were completed,'were made by the town clerk of Eastbourne (Mr. C. L. Biahop) in his report 'to the ; Borough Council. . For' tho. twelve months ended March 31, ho said, £9652 was collected in rates (current and arrears), as against £904.9 for the previous twelve months. Tho amount of rates struck was £10,400. Expenditure for tho year had boon kept within the estimates, and tho completed , accounts, which would bo available for the next mooting, should show the position to be satisfactory. For the month of March tho ferry traffic rovenuo was approximately the game as the corresponding month last year. For the twelve months ended March 31 the result of trading operations was somewhat better than for the provious year. For the month of March bus traffic revenue ehowed only a very slight falling off of £15 as against the corresponding month last year, and there was therefore somo hope that the maximum falling off had been reached. For the year just ended, dospite a falling off in revenue of nearly £2000, the reduction in expenditure would allow for a profit being shown. The result of trading in the two departments —ferry and bus— taken together was approximately the same as for the previous year.

Whiteman's Bridge. The Hutt Connty Council,.at its meeting yesterday authorised improvements to Whiteman's Bridge subject to the approval of tho City Engineer. The Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Board advised that it had decided to contribute 50 per cent, of the 1 complete cost, or £175, whichever was thoi lesser amount. Ambulance Petrol Tax. Considerable surprise- was expressed at tho meeting of tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council this week that the Minister, of Finance- had not granted tho Free Ambulance Association exemption from tho petrol tax. It was considered that there was no organisation or section of the' community more deserving of consideration in this direction than tho Free- Ambulance Association, and tho council strongly protested against exemption not being granted, and trusted that tho Minister of Finance would find a way to remit tho tax. Insurance at Eastbourne. Because of its new water supply tho Eastbourne Borough Council is of opinion that the fire insurance premiums on houses in the borough should bo reduced. On the motion of the Mayor (Mr. 8. F. Fisher), soconded by Councillor W, F. Hornig; the Underwriters' Association has been asked for a reduction to first-class risk rates. Tho possibility of'giving a reduction 'is being investigated by tho associa- : tion. '■ ", ' . ■- Afforestation of' Waste liands. , Afforestation of the many thousands of acroa of waste sand-drift lands along tho . west coast of the North - Island, from tho Patea to the Rangitikoi Rivers, is engaging attention (reports an exchange). What is planned is a Wangahui and district afforestation board, on which will be represented the counties of Patea, Waitotara, Wanganui, and Rangitikei and the Wanga--1 nui City Council. Authority for such a : board to operate must bo sanctioned by Act of Parliament., '; ■'" Kauri Gum Board. In response to requests by the Auckland Chambor of Commerce for information as to how long the process of wind-ing-up the Kauri Gum Control Board was likely to take, states the "New Zealand Herald," the .Minister of Lands, the Hon; E. A. Ransom, has telegraphed stating that there has been a delay as a result of the destruction of stocks of gum by fire in July last, and tho consequent adjustment claims on insurance. Legislation was necessary for the abolition of the board and. the lovy, and it would probably be introduced at tho next session of Parliament. In the meantime, tho board was endeavouring to dispose of other stocks of gum held by it, Stratford-Main Trunk Line.1 Though it was thought possible that tho clearing of slips from tho entrances" to the largo tunnel between Tuhua and Okahukura .on the. Stratford-Main Trunk railway linehvould allow through goods- traffic between Stratford and Taumarunui to recommence shortly, it is now, considered impossible to cstimato the date when the lino will be opened again (says the "Taranaki Daily News"). The magnitude of the werk, it was stated by a railway official, was proving greater than was at first expected. Though the line was to have been opened for passenger traffic on May 1, it was now improbable; he thought, that it would bo open beforo June. Blind Swimmers. . Blind and partially blind children , disporting in. the water at the Auckland Tepid Baths is not at all an unusual sight, and visitors to tho baths experience a shock of surpriso on learning that the youngsters, splashing about with such confidence are not of normal Vision, says the "Star." Quite a "considerable number of blind children have learned to swim, and many, have qualified for certificates of competence undor tho tuition of Mr. D. B. Anderson, who has made & specialty with this class of pupil as a labour of love. Mr. Anderson's work in this direction was the subject of appreciative comment by members of tho Auckland Swimming Centre at its last meeting. Embargo and the Butter Trade. Auckland firms in the butter export business see in the embargo on the importation of Russian butter into Great Britain somti prospect of relief for the over-supplied British market, and they said today that at first sight it seemed the embargo mjght be bene- , ficial to New Zealand (states tho "Star"). But, on the otlrer hand, the supply and demand on tho Continent might bo so altered that the benefits in the Homo market would bo neutralised. Germany and other Continental countries have of recent years imposed restrictions on tho importation of butter, and this has led to an increase in the amount- of Continental butter which has been sent to the English marketsShould Russia find Continental markets for the butter which she can no longer send to England, the exports of other European countries to Britain may increase and thus maintain the present excess supply. Chatham Islands Wharf. Particulars of the progress with the work of erecting the now wharf at Waitangi, Chatham Islands, were contained in a letter from a member of the Chatham Islands County' Council, which has been received by Mr. J. McCombs, M:P., " in whoso electorate the islands are included. The motor-ship, Port Waikato, arrived at Lyttelton recently after having discharged Australian hardwood for the wharf. Rafts were made out of oil drums, about one dozen to each raft, and five or six piles were loaded on each raft and towed ashore by a launch. The piles wero then rolled off the raft into the water, and by means of wire ropes attached to them wero drawn ashore by six horses. Teams of bullocks wero also employed. On April 11 nearly all tho holes had been made round tho rocks ready for the construction of tho breastwork for tho approach road to the wharf. Tho contractors for the wharf, tho Rope Construction Company, have between 17 and 19 men from tho mainland working on the wharf. Several islanders will be employed on the ap--proach road. Mr. McCombs's correspondent asks him to approach the Marine Department and the Post and Telegraph Department, and try •to arrange for the trawler, South Seas, to carry a mail, oven if only letters and i papers, whon the steamer Tecs is laid up. ~ Mineral Water at Bellamy's. Surprise was expressed by members of tho To Ar-oha Chamber of Commerce when it wus \ learned that German mineral water wits stocked in Bellamy's in profcrenco to the Now Zealand pro--1 duct which it was stated it was impossible to introduce,, says tho "New. Zealand Herald.'' .One speakor said ho had often tried, to introduco - Te Aroha minorai water into Bellamy's without success, it being pointed out that the imported German water was ■ cheaper. The Mayor (Mr. B; Coulter) i said that when the Governor-General 1 (Lord Bledisloe) had visited T© Aroha, ■ he had commented on the excellence of : the waters} and expressed surprise that > they, were not better known. ' If New ! Zealand's natural mineral waters were ; excluded from the Parliamentary buffet, ■it was certainly a reflection on Te Aroha, and Mr. Coulter considered the i attention of members of Parliament should be drawn to the fact. Tho chamber decided to write to both the ; Prime Minister and the member for the district. It was do6idod to forward • a case of mineral water to the Governori General asking him to accept it as a gift. ■ .