NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

TheS Golden Coast.

Tho American, steamer Goldcu Coast is still under police guard at the Taranaki Street Wharf, .having been declared, "black" tjy. the local watcrsiders because she is carrying a nonunion crew. She is not expected to' leave' Wellington until noon tomorrow for Melbourne as her crow are unloading a very heavy-cargo, 1500 tons having been brought here, and 300 toni-j have- afterwards to bo loaded. A very^ large number of American motor-cars has been unloaded from the ship." Backblocks Roads. . The opinion that the' metalling of all clay roads giving access to baekblock settlers should bp undertaken by tho Unemployment Board as a first consideration was expressed at a meeting of the Stratford sub-provincial executive of '•' tho Farmers'' Union, says! a. Taranald exchange. The suggestion^ -which cdmo from Mr. M. Davis, Midhirst, and was put as a resolution to be sent from the executive to the board, received tho unanimous support of members of tho executive. It was agroed that the mattqr was very serious and^ was urgent. • There was no discussion on the motion, as it expressed the feeling of the meeting. "If this policy is adopted/ declared Mr. T. T. Murray, chairman, "not one person in New Zealand paying a levy will object." Peppercorn on Demand. Ono peppercorn on demand is tho price of the lease of a small portion of tho railway yard at Lyttclton given by tho Eailway Department to the Canterbury Pilgrims and, Early Settlors' Association, states the " Christchurch Times." At a meeting of the executive of tho association on Monday afternoon tho president (Mr. E. E. Webb) reported that ho had signed the1 lease- for tho small plot, the document sotting out the figure as a "peppercorn if demanded. " " Where are you going to get a peppercorn from?" a member asked jocularly, but the president reassured him. The plot, which is situated in the railway yard at the back of Porbes's store, marks the original landing place of tho pilgrims. A stone will bo placed on the site with an appropriato inscription, and it is proposed to unveil it on December 16. Sunday Carrying." Tho question of tho carriage of goods on Sunday by licensed carriers was raised at the sitting in Stratford on Monday of the No. 5 District Licensing Authority. , The chairman of the authority (Mr. Percy Thomson) said that a clause was'being included in the new licences to cover tho question (reports the "Stratford Evening Post"). "Tho position is this," said the chairman, "that the granting of these goods service licences does not permit the carriage of goqds on Sundays. It is still necessary to get a pormit under the Stock Act or tho Police Offences Act. In any cases where a carrier sees another carrier operating on Sunday it is only his duty to himself and other carriers to make inquiry as to whether a special permit has been secured. If such is not the easo the mattor should bo reported and a prosecution would follow." Mr. S. Macalister, counsel for an applicant, said that although Sunday carrying was not allowed under tho general: law ho wondered if it was prevented by the conditions of tho licence: "Wo are putting in a special clause to cover it," said tho chairman. "A spceial" licenco will still bo necessary as, in cases of night carriage of stock." A Long Cruise. ■ , \ At tho end of next week Mr. John Wray, of Eenmera, accompanied by Mr. JR. Wellington, of Auckland, and Mr. Russell Robertson, lato or! the Byrd Expedition, will leave Auckland for a cruise of four months' duration to the South Pacific in his 11-ton yacht Ngataki, states the Auckland-"Star." Tho first port of call will be Sunday Island, the largest of the- Kermadee Group, 650 miles from the starting point. From Sunday Island the course' will be still north-east to Tahiti, a total of 2000 miles from Auckland. This is oxpeeted to talco threo to four wooks. Prom Tahiti the- cruise will be extended across the Pacific to tho west, making finally for tho New Hebrides, over 2000 milos distant from Tahiti. Prom the Hebrides it is about 1200 miles in a southeasterly direction back to Auckland, a total, of 5200 miles in a straight lino. 6ver two' years has_ been occupied in building the Ngataki by her owner, Mr. John Wray, of Lucerne <Eoad, Remuera. Tho yacht is a substantial typo of ocean cruiser, built on the lines of tho Norwegian pilot boats, the same as Mr. Erling Tambs's Teddy. They have proved their sea-going abilities on.many occasions. Tho Ngataki is 34ft overall,' 12ft 6in beam, and sft 6in draught. She is now fitted with a small auxiliary engine for uso iv calms. Mr. Wray, her skipper, expects to be homo again by tlio middio of November to prepare for (ho ruc-o, from Auckland to Melbourne*, for which he was one o£ Uic first to enter