NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Upper Hutt Finances.

A, financial statement was presented to the meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council last evening by the Town, Clerk (Mr. B. M. Wilmshurst) who said it was gratifying that the council had kept to the estimates. In consequence of this the bank overdraft had been reduced by £511. Rate arrears had been reduced by £337 9s 9d. In the receipts, the revenue from Maidstone Park had been increased by, £175 3s lid, heavy traffic fees by £59 16s sd, and njotor drivers' licences by £48 10s. When the estimates were drawn up it could be seen that to meet the requirements of the year was going to entail a good deal of expenditure, and the present financial position after the year's working was to be appreciated after taking into consideration the necessary expenditure incurred which was unforeseen at the beginning .of the year.

Health Camp Difficulties.

With only £659 in the bank, the Wanganui Health Camp still has Its doors closed for; lack of the needful furnishings, states "The Post's," representative.' With the aid of Various grants and donations, the large airy buildings are finished, a • cottage for the staff has been moved nearer the main buildings, the grounds have been planted, and in parts levelled for a play area, and about an acre prepared as an experimental kitchen garden for the children in their spare time. Application has been made for a grant from the King George V Memorial Fund to enable the trustees to complete their work, and a sympathetic ■■" reply has •been received. It; is hoped that during [the . next session of Parliament machinery for the allocation of grants from the funjd will be passed, and the Wanganui application'will have favourable attention. ~ ' "His Majesty."

The police constable who was on duty as orderly in the Court qf Arbitration .yesterday elevated the title of Mr. Justice O'Regan. When the Judge enters,-for the first sitting of'the day it is the duty of the Court orderly to call out: "Silence for his Honour the King's sJudge!" and everyone present in court stands until the Judge is seated. Yesterday the Court orderly went one -better. As Mr. Justice O'Regan entered the court-room the orderly took a swift look at those in court and called out: "Silence for his Majesty the Judge!" If h% Honour noticed the slip, he did not show it. Coronation Oaks.

The sixty-five acorns sent from Windsor Park to Wellington at the time of the Coronation and planted'in pots last year by the Wellington Beautifying Society have grown sturdily and the oaks are now about eight inches high. They are ready to be planted in a "Coronation Avenue," and the executive, of the society last evening appointed a sub-committee of two to confer .with the authorities on a suitable site. Two localities which will be considered are Pukerua and Anderson Park.

Infectious Diseases,

Infectious diseases notifications in the Wellington district for the week ended yesterday totalled seventeen. Three deaths—two frbm tuberculosis and one from eclampsia—were, re- ' ported. In the central Wellington area three,cases each,of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and tuberculosis were reported; also two cases of erysipelas and one each of eclampsia, puerperal fever, and lead-poisoning. In NelsonMarlborough there were two cases of scarlet fever and one case of poliomyelitis.

Report on City Housing.

A specialmeeting of the. City Council will be held on Thursday evening to consider the report made by the City Engineer", Mr. K. E. Luke, upon the results of the housing survey carried out in the city and suburbs last year. Councillor C. H. Chapman, M.P., asked at last night's meeting of the council whether the report' could jiot be discussed at that meeting, but the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) replied that1 the report was so extensive and detailed that councillors 'should have more time to consider it: A .special meeting would be required to deal with it adequately.

World's Scout Jamboree-

A world jamboree of Boy Scouts is to be, held in Wellington in 1940, during the Exhibition period, when it is expected that about 5000 Scouts will be in camp in the vicinity of the Capital. The Boy Scouts' Association applied to the Wellington City Council last night for a donation towards the preliminary expenses of arranging for the jamboree. It was decided, on the motion of the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, to vote £250 for this purpose/

The Bottom Fell Out.

A gasworks stoker who was called in the Court of Arbitration yesterday afternoon to detail the duties of stokers was asked by Mr. J. Roberts, advocate for the workers, when it was that the foreman was cabled out at night at the works at which he was employed. The witness replied that it was only when anything serious occurred that the foreman was called out at night. In this instance he was called the branch manager. Replying to another question, the witness said that the last time the branch manager was called out was about three months ago when the bottom fell out of the boiler. (Laughter.) Mr. Roberts commented that it was high time for the foreman to be called.

Beautifying the City.

The programme of the Wellington Beautifying Society this year includes the allocation of 15,545 trees for planting in the Wellington district. , The variety of which there sis the largest number is pohutukawa (6104), and next is, koromiko (1700). The following will be the distribution, the largest shares going to the Marine Drive, the Art Gallery site;, and the hills committee of the society:—Marine Drive, 3520; hills committee; 2100; road to Day's Bay, 1000; Eastbourne Borough, Council, 500; Lower Hutt Borough Council, 400; Makara County Council, 400; Hutt Road, 1800; Art Gallery site, 2800; gifts to other societies, 1000; held over for special functions, etc., 2025. Of the last two allocations the following distribution has been decided upon so far;—Johnsonville Beautifying Association, 200; Petone Borough Council,. 200; Paraparaumu, 500; Brooklyn committee, 200;. Island Bay, 200; members,' 900; Strathmore Progressive / Association, 50; Cockayne Memorial, 250; Paekakariki Progressive Association, 50; Titahi Progressive Association, 50. Matters on which the society, will make representations will be • the. planting of Somes Island and the beautifying of the entrance to the city by the new arterial ramp.

The Family Man. "I have eight children," said a witness, a gas worker, in the course of his evidence in the Court of Arbitration yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. Roberts, who was examining the witness, suggested that he would be able to speak with authprity on family life. His Honour Mr. Justice O'Regan looked up from his note-making to make the observation; that the witness was preeminently a 1 good citizen.

Amended Taxi Fares£'

Amended taxi fares-were fixed by the City Council last night. The new rates, which will become operative on April 12, are as follows:—For a distance not exceeding one half-mile for one or two passengers, Is; for every additional half-mile, 6d; for every additional passenger over two for the whole or part of the journey an extra charge of 6d. A child under five years of age is not to be counted as a passenger if accompanied by an adult, but a child unaccompanied will be charged full fare. Waiting time will be charged at the rate of 6d tor each complete five''minutes. A fee of 6d will be charged for luggage carried on the carrier. On longer runs, as to a point ten miles or more from the G.P.0., the charge is to be agreed upon be* tween the driver and the hirer." It will be an oflence for. a driver or owner to demand or accept less than the legal fare, plus proper additional charges.