NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sharks in Harbour. , The catching of a 9ft tiger shark, one of the most feared of the species, near Ward Island on Monday afternoon, provided, no isolated instance of the presence of sharks in Port Nicholson, though tiger sharks are exceedingly rare. In Evans Bay, near Miramar, of recent weeks about half a dozen sharks have been caught, about sft in length, and last night another one, 4ft 6in in length, was landed.. The tiger shark caught off Ward Island has been identified as the species Galeocerdo Rayneri known to the Maoris as mango tuatini. It is the tiger shark of the Pacific and is also called the shovel nosed or fox shark. This species was the first identified in New Zealand by the late Mr. L. T. Griffin of the Auckland Museum in 1927 aftd since then has figured in illustrated papers as having been caught on rod and line in the northern portion of New Zealand. It has never been previously recorded south of the Hauraki Gulf, but it is thought that the one caught off Ward Island was an isolated fish which has migrated south during the summer months. Mr. C. Lindsay, Museum taxidermist, is assisting a private firm in the making of a cast for the Museum, as the shark, which' weighs 3001b, was to big to be handled at the Museum. Outing; for Orphans. A picnic for orphan children in Wei- j lington at Maidstone Park, Upper-! Hutt, has < been arranged for March 6 by the Automobile Association (Wellington); This is a yearly-effort on the part of the association, and an appeal is made to members to offer the use of their cars for that day. White Island Activity. j White Island, from which very little vapour has been visible from Whakatane for some weeks, was exceptionally active on Monday morning, a huge cloud of vapour rising to a height of nearly 3000 feet (states a Whakatane correspondent). Conditions were calm and warm, enabling the vapour column to go straight upward. Later in the afternoon activity suddenly lessened and the column was only half as high as previously. Auckland's Chief Post Office. The stone facade of the chief post office, Auckland, having been cleaned down and restored to its original whiteness, the side and back walls are being painted to harmonise (states the "New Zealand Herald"). When the building was erected about .25 years ago the brickwork of these walls was ''finished in cement, which weathered in due course to the usual grey. The portions so far painted give a much improved appearance. The new exterior of the Waverley Hotel next door, which is being finished in buff cement with decorative detail in other colours, is also a contribution towards a "brighter Auckland." Overtime to Get There. ' Objections to several of the employees' claims were contained in a letter from a local body applying for exemption from the provisions of the award to the Conciliation Commissioner, who presided over an industrial dispute between engine-drivers and their employers yesterday. One of the clauses evidently caused consternation to the secretary of the local body. This dealt with travelling time, and it proposed that drivers of road rollers and traction engines, who were compelled to travel more than a mile cd a half to reach the place where the work was to be performed, be paid at ordinary rates for the time reasonably spent in proceeding to and from such place, reckoning the time occupied as being at the rate of three miles an hour. The latter stated that the roller of the local body concerned often had to travel thirty to forty miles to work, and if the driver was only allowed to travel at three miles an hour he would have to be paid overtime to get there. Provision should bo made, the secretary added, for a man to camp on the job in accordance with the existing drivers' award.

Late Bus to Suburbs. it was decided at last evening's meeting of the Khandallah Progressive Association, on the motion of Mr. H. Desborough, to make a request for a late bus to leave Bowen Street at 12.30 a.m. each day and running to Ngaio, Khandallah, and Johnsonvillo. "This," said Mr.. Desborough, "is most desir(able and would enable suburban visitors to have reasonable time in the city in the evenings." It was also decided to communicate with the Johnsonville Town Board and Ngaio Progressive Association, seeking their support in this matter. A Sound Excuse. A plea for exemption from service on the ground that he was just about to be married was successfully advanced by a juryman in the Auckland Supreme Court on Monday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). "If I remember you, your present explanation, from the nature of it, cannot be accepted twice," said Mr. Justice Callan, smiling. The juryman had left making his explanation until all the 60 jurymen had been sworn in, and he was warned by his Honour that next time he had a good and sufficient reason for exemption he must make it known at an earlier stage. Cathedral Bell. The gift by Roman Catholic citizens of Auckland of a large bell of deep tone, able to be heard over the city and harbour, has been suggested for the steeple of St. Patrick's Cathedral to mark the centenary of the Church's history in New Zealand next February (states the "New Zealand Herald"). If the scheme is approved an appeal will be launched for small contributions throughout the diocese, and the Apostolic Delegate, his Excellency Archbishop Panico, may be invited to officiate at the blessing of the bell, which should compare favourably with those in other Dominion cathedrals. Two small bells, with a limited range, have been used for the last 60 years. The bells were cast in France 300 years ago, according to the casting dates. Weca Nuisance. That weeds, particularly fennel, were spreading at an alarming rate in the Ngaio Gorge and in parts of Khandallah, : was mentioned in a letter of complaint from a local resident, received at last evening's meeting of the Khandallah Progressive Association. The letter mentioned that periodically the Railway Department cut down the weeds, but this was of no real value as they soon grew again; the only way to be rid/ of them was to burn them. The Khandallah Association was of the opinion that the request for the removal of the fennel was very reasonable and it was resolved to write to the Department of Agriculture suggesting that it might confer with the Railway1 Department with the idea of co-operating in order to destroy the nuisance. ) Harbour Scheme Suspended. An important decision was reached at a meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board, when the temporary suspension of all loan works, which includes the quarry at Kaiwhaiki, 15 miles up the river, and the raising of the harbour moles at Castlecliff, was decided upon after a lengthy discussion of the board's financial position (states a correspondent). The chairman, Mr. W. Morrison, pointed out that in the meantime the board had no option but to close down on the work. This was due to the fact that practically all loan money available was, exhausted, and until the board concluded negotiations for the raising of further finance it was forced to cease operations on the south mole. The chairman emphasised the necessity of the work, however, and assured members that as soon as possible it would be recommenced. , Immediate Attention Essential. '• It was particularly pleasing, said Councillor Will Appleton, chairman of the works committee of the City Council, to a "Post" reporter today, that there is now a general recognition that immediate attention must be given to the improvement of the city's sewerage system. He had little doubt as to the result of the poll on Wednesday next. "The excellent scheme under which we have been operating lor many years," said Councillor Appleton, "provided for a, total population of 75,000. At the present time we have to cater for 95,000 persons, and the indications are that Wellington will in the near future expand very considerably. Under the original scheme a uniform ultimate density of 50 persons per acre was assumed, but generally speaking buildings in those days were not over two storeys. Today, in some of our commercial areas in1 the city, where we now have buildings of ,six and eight storeys, there is a density of 600 persons per acre. It is inevitable, therefore, that a heavy load is placed on the existing pumping system." .