NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tram on Fire. Fire broke out on an outward-bound Onehunga tramcar in Symonds Street about 5.20 on Monday evening owing to a fault in« the resistance coil underneath the .vehicle (states the "Auckland Star"). Two engines from the Central Fire Station and one from Parnell answered the alarm, and the flames were quickly suppressed. Only slight damage was done to the woodwork. Although the car was crowded at the time most of the passengers remained in their seats during the episode, which held up tramway traffic for some-15 minutes. Maoris and Politics. According to Maoris who are in a position to know, the forthcoming Western Maori election promises to be more exciting than previous contests. During the course of his address at a .meeting at Te Koura, near Okahukura, the other day, Mr. J. Asher, of Tokaanu, who declared himself a supporter of the Democrat Party, said if they elected him as their member all the Native questions would be solved, because the people he represented had £30,000,000 ready to release in order to alleviate distress, do away with unemployment, and settle all Native problems (reports the "Star's" TeAwamutu correspondent). The member for the Western Maori electorate, who was present at the meeting, made several interjections in Maori. He offered to bet the Democrat candidate £1 to a peanut that he would be returned to Parliament, and after stating that he knew his opponent was of Jewish descent, advised him to take all his money back to Palestine, The Natives present showed considerable interest in the political situation as presented to them by the two candidates, and after participating in a "pohai" (feast) dancing was indulged in until the aspirants for political honours, departed from the pa. Old Russell Church. To celebrate the approximate centenary of the historic Anglican Church at Russell, it is proposed to lay, on Sunday, December 29, the foundation-stone of a permanent chancel, which it is intended to add to the building, and which will ultimately form part of a complete stone church. The Gov-ernor-General, Viscount Galway, has been asked by Archbishop Averill to perform the ceremony (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The church, which is the oldest still standing in New Zealand, was built in the thirties, but the year of its completion is unknown. Within the building Captain Hobson, on the day of his first official landing, January 30, 1840, read his proclamations, including those authorising him to establish British sovereignty over New Zealand after obtaining the consent'of the Native chiefs. It survived the burning "of Kororareka by Kawiti in 1845. The marks of bullets fired in the affray are still to be seen on its weatherboard walls and in-the churchyard is a monument to the men of H.M.S. Hazard who were killed on that occasion. A tall cross marks the grave of Tamati Waaka Nene, the staunch friend of the British, largely through whose influence Captain Hobson obtained the first signatures to the Treaty of Waitangi. Efforts are being made by the vicar of the Bay of Islands (the Rev. TP. W. Wilkes) and a committee to augment a sum of money which is already in hand for the building of the new chancel. The Maori Race. - "We are faced with conditions that never worried our ancestors," declared Mr. John Bennett, at a largely-attended meeting at Hastings on Saturday when it was decided to form a Maori Rotary Club as a first step towards establishing Maori committees to foster improvement in the education and health of the Native race and to advance its social and cultural welfare (states a Hastings correspondent). "In trying to keep up with modern pakeha civilisation we have scrapped many' old ideas and customs that gave us so much pride of race," he declared. "We have seen also the passing of our' old communal life, lam not saying that it is not a good thing that some of the old customs have gone." Educated and talented Maoris were given nothing to strive for, and most of them, after trying for a year or two to find a place in life whei-e they could use their talents and scholarship, just drifted into the life of the pa again. They forgot the good they had learned and sank into a state of indifference. We feel that the time is ripe to form some organisation to try to stop the rot, to try to bring the young Maori up to being a good Maori, instead of a bad pakchn, with- the best part of the Maori and the best part of the pakeha embodied in his character, able to live a self-dependent and self-reliant life" Mr. Bennett added that they had tlie hearty support of the pakehas-in their efforts.

Valley Hospital Sites. In connection with the discussions that have taken place about hospital facilities in the Hutt Valley, Mr. W. Nash, M.P., states that he is in favour of the retention of the hospital sites in the Hutt, being opposed to the view of some people that they should be sold. A Chinese Holiday. Following their usual custom, the Chinese residents; of Wellington will be observing tomorrow as a holiday in celebration of the 24th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of China. All the Chinese shops will be closed throughout the day, and the usual meeting to mark the celebration will be held at 1 pjn. in the rooms of the St. John Ambulance Association. Parcmata Bridgrc and Road. A gang of 50- men is now engaged on the formation of the mile of road into Plimmerton from the site of the Paremata Bridge. When completed the road will run alongside the railway line for the greater part of the way! but at no point will it cross the line. There is plenty of room for road formation, although at Goat Point it has been found necessary to excavate the hillside. Good ' progress is being made with the construction of the bridge. Last of Centre Poles. Auckland saw the last of tramway centre poles on Monday, when the remaining row in Ponsonby'Road, between Karangahape and Richmond Roads, was removed (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Members of the Auckland Transport Bdard and officials visited the locality to watch the workmen begin their task. The poles were cut away at theur bases by the oxyacetylene process* .and toppling them to the ground ""presented no difficulty. The gradual removal of centre poles throughout Auckland has been an activity of the board for several years.