NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wool for Japan. ' - The first direct shipment of wool from Wanganui to Japan will leave by the Naniwa Maru, of the Yamashita Kisen Kaisha Line, early this week, reports the Wanganui correspondent of "The Post." She is taking 514 bales from Wanganui, as well as 66 sacks of cattle hooves and 25 tons of casein. Later in the month the ship will take aboard 800 New Zealand sheep at Lyttelton. . '....'" Defence Above Party. Support for the Government's scheme for defence reorganisation was expressed By Colonel A. A. Corrigan when speaking at a reunion dinner held by members of the Wellington Branch of the Old Contemptibles'. Association on Saturday evening. Defence, said Colonel Corrigan, should be kept apart from party. It was of paramount •importance, and supporters of all shades of political opinion should rally behind the scheme for reorganisation. Once a scheme was established any defects could be remedied, but solid support was required to make the scheme a success. ■ Secretaries and Lawyers. "In these days secretaries must be 'mines' of information.if they do not want to be always employing lawyers to get them out of difficulties. I spent this morning in the. Magistrate's Court and found out while I was there that for one offence I could be charged under four Acts and three awards," said Mr. V. E. Hamilton, at the annual dinner of the New Zealand Institute of Secretaries at Christchurch on Friday the "Press;').

Uniformity In Refereeingr.

The view that despite the excellent efforts of ' referees' associations ■ to secure uniformity throughout New Zealand in Rugby refereeing, NeW Zealand Rugby was no further ahead in this direction now than it was 25 years ago, was. expressed by Mr. A. C. Kitto, a member of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, at the annual smoke concert of the Wellington Referees' Association on Saturday night. The referees did not seem to take real notice of the things that their associations taught them, said Mr. Kitto. No two referees ruled precisely alike.' Mr. Kitto praised the work of the Wellington and other associations towards securing uniformity.

Rotorua Hot Pools.

Steps are to be taken shortly to erect a protective fence around the famous Wishing Tree on Hongi's Track (states a Rotorua correspondent), while the road which.'passes alongside it will also be straightened in order to carry it further away from the tree and minimise the risk of accident. Advice to this effect has been received by Mr. A. F. Moncur, M.P., in a letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry). A Rotorua Borough Council committee has been considering the possibility of fencing or otherwise protecting numerous hot pools within the borough area. The engineer has now carried out a survey and submitted a report showing that the cost of' carrying out the": required, work will be £252., After discussing the matter the council decided to seek the assistance of the Arawa District Trust Board, and to ascertain whether a subsidy can. be -obtained from the Employment Department i or labour costs. It was decided that the Mayor should;open a fund and invite contributions from the public in order to .raise the necessary money.

Pohutu Geyser. -

Within 3 period of more than nine months, Pohutu geyser has played only three times (states a Rotorua correspondent). •In October, 1936, Pohutu established' anew record by-playing 201; times in one month. In Nqvember the number of shots was reduced to 20, while in December, during the peak Of the tourist season, the , geyser did not give a single display. It remained quiescent until May 17, when three shots were given. From that date there has been no sign of activity. The other vents in the Whakarewarewa Government Reserve are unusually active at present, the two unnamed spouts between Pohutu and. Waikorohihi giving almost continuous displays. The Papakura geyser has also been a source of interest to tourists, while Waikorohihi has played occasionally. The Waikite geyser is quiescent, giving little sign of activity. The Cauldron, which usually indicates whether Pohutu will play or not, has been very active. The Prince of Wales Feathers, which plays simultaneously or just prior to Pohutu, have also been quiet

Rugby Union's Work,

■ "Many people have asked what the Wellington Rugby Union does," said Mr. A. W. Cooper, president of the Miramar District Rugby Football Club, when proposing the toast of. "The Wellington Rugby Union" at the club's annual smoke concert on Saturday evening, "but few realise the amount of work done by that body." Ha said that by its work players each Saturday had use of free grounds for which the union paid £1600 to £1700 each, year in rent. An amount of £500 to £600 .was, expended for the benefit of injured players, and '•the,,union had to pay the expenses of /touring :teams. This.expense was maintained, by the revenue from Athletic Park. It required much good management and a great deal of hard work to do this successfully,, said Mr. Cooper. The members of' Rugby clubs in Wellington owed a debt of gratitude to the members of the union, - The toast was accorded musical honours. Not Yet a Menace. Two scooters parked neatly behind the massive ■ pillars of:' the railway station entrance" on Saturday looked a little .impudent. Their , owners .were, however,, only in their right as citizens to inspect the building, or make.use of its many facilities. It was a new phase of the incidence of road and rail which drew a smile from many people passing the portal. It is- doubtful whether the scooter is strictly a road vehicle, except perhaps in the more remote suburbs, but on this occasion the riders had used the main drive, like any other form of transport. This traffic will not seriously perturb the s Department by its growing menace, at any rate over the long distances.. Flying to England. <,■'.■■ "I intend" to fly the next time I go to England," said Mr. H. J. Butcher, a member of the council of the Automobile Association (Auckland), who returned to Auckland on Friday by the Mariposa after a world tour, reports the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. Butcher remarked, on the remarkably accurate time-table, maintained by Imperial Airways with the new .flying--boats between Alexandria and Southampton, and said that the ship on which he made the journey landed on time'to the minute. *; ■ ; ;'. ~ : Jackson's Bay Port. ;-":".-•... ~ The Public- Works ;'■ Department .is makjng preparation for an ,early : start with the organisation and 'preliminary work for the construction of the harbour at Jackson's Bay recently authorised by the Government and,the/first portion of the necessary equipment will be shipped south in about a fortnights time, states a Greymouth correspondent. The camp which is to be established will eventually be up to date, with its own cookhouse, bakehouse, canteen and recreation hall, and probably radio telephone equipment. It is expected that over 150 men will be employed on the work,, which involves the construction of a wharf, probably of Australian hardwood, and 30 ; mil^s of road with numerous bridges, while the Department' also;is giving consideration to the question of landing facilities :for aeroplanes-m:the vicinity of the Harbour. A '■■ more, frequent shipping service will be required than is now given'the area, and the Depart-, ment will prbbably have its own launch .for serving, various places m the locality.;. .