NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1937, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tribute to Wellington Harbour. "One of the finest harbours in the world" was how an overseas visitor described Port Nicholson today. He said he had travelled widely, but he had seen few landlocked harbours with such splendid anchorage and facilities as that possessed by Wellington. He was also greatly impressed with the Marine Drive, which, he said, was unique by reason of its length, good roads, and the,rugged ocean scenery en route. Rising Prices.

Described by the chairman (Mr. W. G. Lodder) as "another ' hit in the eye," notification of price increases was received at the meeting of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board last evening. Two firms notified an increase of 2s 6d a ; ton in the freight on coal and three others an increase of 10 per cent, in the price of meters and 15 per cent, in the cost of meter repairs. The increase was attributed in one instance to the new legislation. A member remarked that the big increase in the price of basic metals also affected the position. New Gas Plant.

Parts of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board's new carbonising plant are already being manufactured in Britain. At the meeting of the board last evening a letter was received authorising the board to raise a loan of £30,009 as the cost of the new plant, to be repaid in twenty years. A poll of ratepayers will not be necessary. A start will be made on the building in about four months' time and it is hoped to have it completed in ten months. Rest Park at Balena Bay.

A proposal was made to the reserves committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon by Mr. F. W. Moore and Mrs. Gibson that an area of land at Balena Bay—the last remaining level section—should be acquired by the council and made public property as a rest park and children's play area. It was stated that the section can be bought for a reasonable price and that it would be ideal for the purpose, for it was near the beach and the yachting area and would be appreciated by visitors to the bay by car along the Marine Drive as well as by residents round about. Already the children used the ground, in its rough state, as a play area, for it was the only place available in the vicinity. The committee assured the deputation that the suggestion would be inquired into and that it would be referred to the full council for final decision.

Fees for Game Shooting. Asked if he could give any indication of his intention, as reported, to increase the licence fees for game shooting, the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, stated at Rotorua on Sunday that he was aware that there existed a conflict' of opinion in regard to licence fees, reports a correspondent. He recognised also that there was a view among a large number of keen sportsmen that to keep up the standard of the sport more money than was now obtainable was required, and that sportsmen were not averse to giving assistance. "I am afraid there are among us a few who are able to buy an expensive shooting kit," remarked the Minister. "For instance a hundred guineas for a gun, three guineas for a pair of boots and other high-priced gear, and travel to the scene of operations in a luxurious limousine, and when they are not able to get a bird these sportsmen sometimes declare that the-licence fee is too much. I am sure criticism from those sources-carries .-its-own answer,'''

Demand for Oysters A keen public demand is reported for oysters, which are now in season. The proprietor of a suburban fish shop stated yesterday that he had used a full sack that day, whereas last year a half-sack often lasted for two days. He attributed the better sales this season to the fact that the spending power of the people has increased. Yellow Clematis. The presence in the Ronga reserve, Marlborough, of a rare specimen of clematis, the flower of which was a distinct yellow, was mentioned at the last meeting of the Pelorus Scenic Board by the secretary, Mr. W. J. Elvy (states the "Press.") The vine, he said, was spreading over a fairly wide area in the bush, and was flowering profusely. The chairman, Mr. P. R. Wilkinson, stated that he had seen this colour of clematis in Taranaki, but he had not known before of its existence: in the South Island. Future of Te Wairoa.

The possible return of a section of the Tuhourangi people to their ancestral home at Te Wairoa, which they evacuated after it was devastated by the eruption of Mount Tarawera, was referred to by the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, in an address at Whakarewarewa (states a Rotorua correspondent). Bishop Bennett said the bell recovered from the ruins of the old church destroyed by the eruption had been repaired and would be r,eady for use if ever the time came when the church at Te Mu was rebuilt. It was possible that this might occur, for, with the growing population at Whakarewarewa and the paucity of land there, there appeared to be no reason why some of the younger members should • not return to their ancestral lands at Te Wairoa. Much of this country was very fertile and if properly worked was quite capable of supporting them.

Child Tossed by Bull. A two-vear-old boy, Douglas 'Liddell, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Liddell, of Wnitianga, was tossed by a Jersey bull on the property of Mr. C. B. Pye, Hot Water Beach, on Saturday morning (states a Whitianga correspondent). While suffering severe bruises, the boy was fortunate to escape severe or fatal injuries. The animal was running with a herd in a large house paddock and came upon the child playing nearby. The bull commenced to toss the child playfully down a steep incline. The boy's screams attracted the attention of a 15-year-old cousin, Matilda Fyfe, of Wellington, who is holidaymaking at the beach. The bull, which had been showing ferocious tendencies, had been carefully watched. Miss Fyfe remembered having heard that loud yells would often distract an animal intent on attacking. With commendable courage she ran straight to the rescue and her terrific yells distracted the bull and brought helpers to the scene. The boy was rescued in a dazed * condition, showing signs of severe shock. "Incorrect and Unfair." "I must take the strongest exception to the remarks of the Minister. They are very incorrect, misleading, and unfair," said the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. G. ,C. [Macindoe, when replying to certain statements made by the Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, the Hon. F. Langstone, when speaking to a deputation from the Whangarei Borough Council which asked for more publicity for the scenic attractions of North Auckland (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The Minister's remarks, which were the subject of an official statement by the chairman of the board, were as follows:— 1 "Then again there is the trouble with the,overseas boat cruises with tourists for New Zealand. When you have a ] harbour board like that at Auckland, charging about £SOO a day, the result is that the stay in that port is only a few' hours, and then off the vessel goes to Wellington." Mr. Macindoe stated that the average charges levied by the Harbour Board on six tourist vessels—Orion, Strathnaver, Orford, Esperance Bay, Narkunda, Qronsay—between October, 1 1936, > and February, 1937, were £334 for a two-day stay in port. These charges included, of course, towage, port charges, wharfage, pilotage, and water supply. "Any of these vessels could have remained in the port of Auckland for as many days as they had liked at an additional cost of approximately £2O a day," said Mr. Macindoe. "It is unfair of the Minister when replying to his deputation to attribute any blame to the Auckland Harbour Board for the tourists not having been provided with facilities to visit the scenic parts of North Auckland."