NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 96, 20 October 1933, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Western Samoa.

"The political situation throughout tho territory has shown during the year steady and satisfactory improvement," states the annual report of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa, presented to Parliament yesterday. It is shown that convictions for political offences for the year ended March 31 last totalled 8, as compared with 52 during tho previous year and 802 in 1928. The finances of the territory are also on a sound basis, the year closing with a surplus of £ 7754. The economic depression has not affected the natives of Western Samoa to nearly the same extent as in European communities. In spite of low prices, the productiqn of copra and bananas has been reasonably maintained, the return generally being sufficient to meet the needs of the Samoans in the way of imported commodities. Hutt Valley Power. The engineer and general manager (Mr. E. F. Hollands) reported to yesterday's meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board that he expected there would be a decided falling off in power sales during the next six months owing to the, practical completion of the Tawa Flat construction by the Public Works Department. Daylight saving would also affect the board's returns for domestic and commercial lighting during the same period. Eastbourne Traffic. Tho returns of the ferry and bus departments for September were given by the Town Clerk (Mr. C. L. Bishop) to last evoning's meeting of tho Eastbourne Borough Council. In the ferry department, the traffic receipts showed an increase of &50 over tho same month last year, making the total for the last six months approximately £300 higher than for tho same period last year. Apart from overhaul, expenditure was normal, although 69 more trips were run this year than last, this being on account of better weather, and fewer trips having been run by the buses for the ferries. Traffic receipts in the bus department were -approximately £.20 higher than for September of last year, and to the end of September the receipts were £125 higher thiin for the same period last year. Trading expenditure was normal. No Rain Since 1925. "If rain fell on the coastal region of Peru it would be as disastrous to the people there as an earthquake would be in New Zealand," remarked Dr. Herbert Money on Tuesday on his return to Christchureh after teaching in Lima since 1927, states "The Press." "Tho houses are built of sunbaked brick, and tho roofs are of dried mud supported by beams, so that rain would cause tho house to dissolve. The last time it rained was in 1025, and then many persons were made homeless, the railways were washed away, aud tremendous damage was done to power houses and other works. The people ;iro notr iinsious for a repetition of sucb A disaster," .

Auckland Fruiterers' Shops.

A notification published in last night's Gazette provides that fruiterers' shops in the combined district of Auckland —■ that is, Auckland city and suburbs — shall close on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8 p.m. Householders' Poultry. Giving evidence before the- Tariff Commission yesterday, Mr. J. N. McLean, organiser and secretary of the New Zealand Poultry Association, said that the last census of poultry in New Zealand in 1926 showed that 158,850 householders, or approximately 50 per cent, of the total number of householders, kept poultry, the total number of fowls, ducks, geese, and turkeys being 3,781,145. In reply to Professor B. E. Murphy, a member of the Commission, Mr. McLean said it was an official census. Professor Murphy: "It seems to mo an enormously high percentage of householders keeping poultry. I shouldn't have thought it possible." Power Board Congratulated. Complimentary remarks on the results of the year's working of the Hutt Valley Electric Power | Board were made in a letter received at yesterday>s meeting of the board from Mr. Evan Parry, formerly chief electrical engineer of tho New Zealand Government, and now a consulting engineer in London. Mrj Parry stated with reference to the Power Board's annual report for the year ended March 31, 1933, that there were many surprising things in it, and lie quoted the following:—Tho rapid increase in population, the high rate of increase of units sold per head of population, • the high value of units per head attained, and the low revenue per unit sold. The financial result was also satisfactory, and a source of congratulation. Members of the board expressed their pleasure on receiving so ■complimentary a letter. Bathing Shelters for Muritai? The question of erecting bathing shelters on the beach at the Muritai end of Eastbourne came up for consideration at last evening's meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council. When dealing with the works committee's report, the chairman of the committee (Councillor S. G. Shearer) asked the council to approve of the principle of having bathing shelters at Muritai. There were shelters at the other end of the 'beach, but any shelters at Muritai would have to be temporary ones, as nothing was stable there at the present time. Councillor M. Magill said the matter was discussed by the previous council, which thought there should be bathing shelters at Muritai, but that they should not bo as expensive as tho one near the wharf. The matter was referred back to the works committee for an estimate and recommendation. Nudism Among Rowers. A suggestion that the cult of nudism has spread to rowing was made at the annual meeting of tho Canterbury Bowing Association on Tuesday evening, when a, member, Mr. A. C. Stiles, mentioned that one or two members of clubs had been seen out on tho river in a "rather nude state." "I think that we might bo getting complaints if it is continued," said Mr. Stiles (reports "Tho Press"). "One or two have been on the river without singlets. I am a lover of the sun myself, but I do not think that it can bo done in the heart of the city." "It must not be done," replied the, chairman, Mr. F. D, Kestoven. "It might be all right for ladies bathing, but we cannot do anything like th3t as rowers." Tho chairman suggested to members that they should warn clubs against the practice. Eaßtbourno Borough loans Conversion. Eastbourne has the honour of being tho first local body in New Zealand to convort its loans under the recent legislation, and at last evening's meeting of tho Eaßtbourne Borough \ Council warm congratulations were extended to the-Town Clerk (Mr. C. L. Bishop) on his work in converting tho loans. Councillor C. H. Andrews, in moving to that effect, said that tho ratepayers had every reason to be gratified at the result obtained. The council had the satisfaction of knowing the scheme was tho first to bo placed before the Department and the first to be gazetted. By having to seek outside advice, other local bodies had been caused expense in converting their loans, but in Eastbourno's case there had been no extra cost to tr/e borough, for it had a qualified man in Mr. Bishop controlling tho matter. Many other councillors spoke and the Mayor (Mr. E. W. Wise) added his tribute. The motion was carried unanimously. False Fire Alarms. Eecalling with satisfaction the recent convictions of youths for giving false fire alarms, which resulted through calling the attention of the police to the matter, the Fire Board today passed an appreciative motion of thanks to the police officers and to their own officers who had collaborated in securing the evidence. The dangers of the brigade being in attendance at a false alarm in the event of a serious actual fire in another part of the town were comniontedi on, also the saving that would result to the board from tho stoppage of false alarms. The chairman (Mr. N. W. Nelson) said that apparently there had been, two gangs of youths rivalling each other the numbor of false alarms they could produce. He had heard of one incident that would have been humorous except for its possibilities in the event of a fire elsewhere. Two of the board's officers, sent to watch for the committing of false alarms, took up their position in a shed which apparently concealed them. The boys, however, were also watching, and they barred the shed door, shutting the officers inside, and then rang for the Firo Brigade. The return for September showed that there were 21 malicious calls. Actual fires attended during the past six months totalled 148 as against 213 for tho same period last year. "The depression is passing," remarked a member of the board. Beach Erosion at Eastbourne. On behalf of the ratepayers on the waterfront at the southern end of the borough, Messrs. E. J. Boyd-Wilson, D. Eodie, and M. G. Hurst wrote to the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening on the question of erosion. The letter stated that during the past three years a succession of southerly storms had washed away a large portion of the sand dunes on sea frontages, and seriously eroded the sections, with a loss of fences, approaches, etc. The residents were confronted with tho imminent risk of further damage and loss unless protective work was carried out. The sections most seriously affected were sold by the council of the day to the present owners as desirable building sections, and the plan published at the time showed an esplanade along the seafront of the property. It was felt at the southern end of the borough that a concrete seawall was needed, as at tho northern end. The present unsatisfactory conditions were undoubtedly holding up building operations. The present state of the part of the borough in question gave visitors and prospective residents a .bad impression of the borough as a place of residence. A comprehensive scheme was needed, and it was hoped protection would be provided before next winter. The Mayor (Mr. E. W. Wise) said the question of erosion had been well discussed, and all fully realised the danger. Mr. Hurst came to see him some time ago, and he told him lie did not think the council could do much this year, but it was hoped to make tho work the first - after tho drainage was completed. He hoped every councillor would keep the: matIfis in miaii