NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 35, 10 August 1933, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tribute to Relief Workers. "Many people run down relief work as useless expenditure and say that we do not'get value for our money," said Mr. C. F. Lethaby at the annual meeting of the Island'Jßay Municipal Electors' Association last evening. "They say that the men could be engaged to greater advantage. While we can agree with that to some extent there is another aspect, and I would just like to say that if anyone wants to see what relief men can do they want to go to >the job1 at the back of Avon Street. The .work that in being done there could no.t be done better by the regular workmen' of the City.'Council." A. Carnival Week Feature. The proposal' to carry out a programme of aquatic and novelty events at Oriental Bay as one of the attractions of the National Confidence Carnival in November was unanimously supported at,a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor-boat Association last evening. -In addition to the items.already untjer consideration, including yacht racing, illuminated boats, swimming and life-saving events, a fireworks display, rowing, open-air boxing, and dancing and "stunt" flying, it was suggested that prizes niignt be given for the best decorated boat and the most amusing nautical costumes. Th c delegates were asked to confer with their'clubs regarding the extent to -which they would be. prepared to assist in.the programme. The chairman (Mr. .0. A. Moller) said that the yachtsmen could help to make the display the most spectacular feature of the carnival. They had called on'the peoplo of Wellington for funds in the past, and would now have an opportunity of doing something outstanding not altogether i'or themselves.' Island Bay Fishing Fleet. > A- statement recently made' by the director of Parks and Beserves (Mr. .T. G. MacKenzie) to. the effect that the trouble, caused by the fishing fleet at Island Bay was not as acute as it used to be gave rise to some discussion 'at the annual meeting of the Island Bay Municipal Electors' Association last evening! ■-~ The chairman (Mr. C. F. 'Lethaby.);'.said; that lie thought Mr. Mackenzie's ■ remark must have been a slip- of the tongue as, if anything, tn'o trouble was.more acute than it had been. ■■.Boats were anchored close iv 'on tho <eastern side of.the bay in front of the ladies' dressing sheds.and boxes of rotting bait were still being left on the beach. A motion was passed endorsing the attitude of the association in opposing- the establishment of any industry on the beach or on the easternrocks, or the provision of any facilities for any industry. ' • Aviation in Wtstport. ■The Wostp'ort Aero Club has received advice that the Marine and Lands Departments had agreed to a site at the north, beach being acquired by the club as a landing ground for aeroplanes, states the Wostport, correspondent of the "Grey Eiver Argus." The area is admirably suited for the purpose and was chosen as a result of a visit to. the district by Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes,, Director of Air Services. When levelled off and top-dressed, runaways in all directions for about 600 yards will be provided and it is intended to put this work into operation at an early date. The securing of the ground is the result of tireless effort on the part of the club* Sand Drift at Island Bay. The problem of overcoming the serious drift of sand across The Parade at Island Bay was discussed at the annual meeting of the Island Bay Municipal Electors' Association last evening. Mr. J. O. Shorland said that hundreds of tons of sand were blown across The Parade in the vicinity of the children's play area and the -City Council, every month or so, spent large sums of money clearing it awayl The whole trouble, lie contended, could be overcome by the erection of a brush fence at a cost of about £20. Other speakers stressed the danger to motorists caused by large quantities of feand on .the roadway. A discussion ensued as/; to whether the City Council should bo asked to take temporary or permanent measures to correct 5 'the: nuisance. It was finally deWed to request; the coiineil to adopt a permanent measure, such as the erection pf a concrete wall. ~" Cellulose Pulp Production: It is 'reported from the West Coast that there are excellent prospects for the establishment of flax pulping plants for the production of cellulose pulp in the Karamea and Buller districts. A representative of tho Westport ". Times' 'was informed that as far- as Earamca isl concerned, the* establishment of ;a plant is practically assured, tlie object being to produce the pulp for shipment, to England for use in the manufacture of artificial silk, and cellulose products. The conditions at Karamoa, it was stated, were entirely favourable. The area of flax was available, tho price of the land at which tho people were prepared' to sell was-rea-sonable and the quality of the flax itself was excellent. The land itself was first-class for the. growing of flax. The high quality of tho flax had been proved by a sample taken from blades .of bushes over an,,area of five acres. Dr. Brown, an industrial chemist of Auckland, said that it had the highest cellulose content of any' flax yet tested.* Westport has an opportunity of haying a similar concern provided tho quantity of leaf required for the first three years can be guaranteed. The company behind the project in tho meantime will endeavour to secure sufficient land for part of their requirements and will be open at. all times to take all flax offering- .

Seismograph at Bunnythorpe. Tlio Manawatu-Oroua Power Board's distributing sub-station at Bunnythorpe has boon equipped by the Dominion Observatory with the most modern form of seismograph from which continuous records of earth tremors ovcj a wide area are supplied to the central oflico at Kclburn, Wellington; status "The Kangitikei Advocate." Opposed to Wool Board. "I consider it is a ridiculous proposal to set up a Wool Board when we have a Meat Board which is composed of some of the ablest nie'ii in New Zealand, and which is quit© capablo' of dealing with wool,-" said Mr. A. Stuart, M.P., amid applause at a meet.ing of farmers at Taihapc recently, reports tho Taihape "Times." "I can assure you that I shall strongly oppose the suggestion if ever it comes before the House," continued Mr. Stuart. "Nothing Doubtful." • The Ministers in charge of the Departments represented in the football match at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon were quite naturally among the most enthusiastic supporters of tho -respective teams, and when it came to summing up at the finish, the partisan feelings of. the Ministers were more apparent. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) claimed that the better team—his team—had won, at which the Postmastor-General (tho Hon. A. Hamilton), true to his colours, expressed some doubt;. "I happen to be in charge of the Police," said tho Minister of Justice. "I say it is not doubtful, and where the Police are concerned there 'is nothing doubtful." , Arapuni Works. ; Tho testing of the-second gate in tho diversion tunnel at Arapuni has been carried out over the last few days, and so far the apparatus appears to be in perfect oilier, reports the "Waikato Times.'' It will bo several' days yet, however, before tho tests are finished and the gate is fully tried. Mr. T. Kabone, electrical engineer in charge 6i the Auckland district, and several officials from Wellington, are on the scene and are studying the tests that are being made. Tho gate, which is of a similar type to the No. 1 gate, is some distance further along the tunnel and.has been installed for an emergency. The work of installing tho additional gate was commenced some months ago and was completed about tho end of last month. In the. powerhouse three units are running and there has been no trouble with any of the "turbines. The works, generally, are running smoothly and the periodical testing of the bed of the head race is in operation. Launch Burned. The 32-foot launch Fleotwing, owned by Mr. Barnett, was totally destroyed by fire on Monday (states a Whangarei correspondent). Mr. W. D. Barnett,' son of the owner, was on board at the- time. He escaped in the dinghy, but was burned on the wrists, face, and legs. Mr. Barnett'went v out to/the launch, which was moored in the harbour. Immediately the engine was started it back-fired, and the engineroom was enveloped in flames. It is thought that, benzine in" the bilge ignited. The dinghy was tied .to.the moorings forward, Mr. Barnett having to dash through tho flames to escape. Within, half an hour tho launch was burned to tho waterline, and the remnants were later beached. It'was a comparatively new craft, valued at £330, and was insured for half that sum. Fruit Boats Capsize. The Union Company's freighter Waikawa, which arrived at Auckland yesterday morning from Pacific Coast ports, via Islands/; met with stormy conditions when, loading fruit in the Cook Islands. She brought 8000 cases of oranges, a sniall" shipment of tomatoes, as well as other cargo, to New Zealand, and is due at Wellington tomorrow. On .her voyage across the Pacific as far: as Barotonga the Waikawa ■' experienced fine : weather, but stormy conditions were encountered when loading fruit at other.'; islands in the Cook group1 (states tho "Auckland Star'}). At both Aitutaki and Mauko one of the Islanders' boats laden with fruit capsized. A member of the Waikawa'a crew also, fell into the water when jumping from a boat to the gangway, but was pulled out by the natives^ Owing •to the adverse, conditions the steamer's loading took considerably longer than it,would have done under favourable circumstances.; On her run to Auckland from tho Islands the Waikawa met with sou-westerly gales'. Although no damage was' done the storms reduced the ship's speed and further delayed her arrival. A member of the crew became ill during the voyage and':was taken off the ship by ambulance as soon as the freighter berthed1 yesterday morning. Our National Game. ' Some remarks in praise of JSTctt Zealand's national game were made by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) in presenting the cup at the conclusion of tho Police v. P. and T. Rugby match at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon. "YoU know, over in Australia they are good cricketers,": he said, "but New Zealand is prepared to- face the world with its football. We have some of the best footballers in the world. I say that, although I am an Irishman, and .we have good footballers there. ... I hope football will g 0 on and flourish in New Zealand as it deserves to." Small South Island Boroughs. "In all the controversy which has occurred since I made my remarks about certain small boroughs, there has been nothing which has caused me to change my mind about the anomalous conditions existing," stated Dr, E. P. Noale, secretary to the -Auckland Chamber of Commerce, addressing the Auckland branch of the Town-planning Institute on local body Teform, reports the "New Zealand, Herald." The speaker was referring to his recent remarks before the Economic Society, when he said some of the "decadent mining towns of the South Island, for reasons' of local pride, still retained their Mayor, councillors, and all the trappings of borough status." Arrowtown and Naseby were two outstanding cases cited by the speaker, who said there were towns which no longer possessed half, or even a. fifth in some instances, of the population needed to acquire borough status today. Too Much for the Borer. Stones which were told by New Zealand soldiers who were imprisoned during tho war in Germany of the hardships of their life, and the inadequacy and shockingly poor quality of the food are confirmed in a striking way by an exhibit in the display of antiques which is being, held at Balclutha, states the "Otago Daily Times." This is a loaf of bread of the typo provided for prisoners • f>£ war, and brought back homo by a soldier as a. gruesome reminder of former miseries. Although it is stated to ha.ye been made of rye and sawdust, it resembles in appearance a geological specimen rather than an article of diet. Even the wood-borer has been deluded by its appearance, as the loaf has been riddled in several places with the holes of this hopeful and persistent insect, which evidently found tho fare so little to its liking that it had abandoned the loaf in disgust.