FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 16

FIFTY YEARS AGO

FROM ‘ STAR ’ FILES Toiigariro is now more active than it has been since the outburst of 1869. A huge column of smoke and vapour is rising from it, and the most active cone is Ngauruhoe. On a fine day the sight to be seen from Taupo is very imposing. The recent earthquake may have some connection with Tongariro’s increased activity. • * * * The Queensland Government has decided to restrict immigration to single girls. a n * * * During their New Zealand visit the English footballers played nine games, winning six, drawing one, and losing two. Total points for were 43, while points against wore 24. s • • • Intelligence has been received through a deserter from Stanley’s expedition that all were well at the end of October last, and that the party was plentifully supplied with provisions. • * • « Sir James M‘Bain has been appointed president of the forthcoming Melbourne Exhibition. • • • • Commenting on the Government’s Financial Statement, the ‘ Star 1 says that the country was quite prepared to find that the financial proposals of the Government involved additional taxation, and it might possibly be a relief to know that the whole_ amount required to be thus covered is under £200,000. Of this total £56,000 only is required to balance the ordinary revenue and expenditure, and £58,000 is the first instalment of the £128,000 deficit which it is proposed to pay off in two years. • • • A patent has been taken out in Melbourne for destroying rabbits _ by electricity. The patentee’s plan is to arrange wires round the burrows in such a manner that rabbits shall be killed by contact with them in crossing. ••' . • * The corporation of_ Wellington will shortly be able to claim the honour of being the first city in' the colony whose streets will be lighted with electricity. The conditions of a tender which has been accepted provide for 500 lamps of 20 candle-power. The cost will be onehalf of the present expenditure on gas, and the light given will be three times as great. Another advantage is that the city will be lighted froni dusk every night- until daylight on the following morning. • « • • Sir George Grey has been urged to introduce his (Bill again this session for giving the people of the colony power to elect their Governor, and it is probable that he will do so. The Bill was before the House last session, but did not get through. m•* , • Two Australian bushrangers who held up a hotel at Walgett were arrested after being tracked over 100 miles from the scene of the' exploit by the police and black trackers. • • The employment of prisoners in the gaols at various trades has become so general that the production of prison industry sold last year exceeded £13,000 in value. The goods in question included needlework, bricks, drain pipes, and metal manufactures.