LOCAL & GENERAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11826, 6 January 1933, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Last year Duuedin bankruptcies totalled 22. against It i.u 1901.—P.A.

At the annual meeting of the X.Z. Ai.C. and A. Union at Tirnaru, Mr C. Church, of Gisborne, wa'.s appointed a member of tlie committee.

Insurances amounting to £'4-30. in the film Office, worn held by Mr. T. A. Lawson, proprietor of the Derby Street Tyre Surgery, which was extensively damaged by fire on Wednesday morning, over sleek, plant, and fitting?, The stock was covered bv a policy for C 250, the plant h.v one for £IOO and the fittings and shot) utensils hy another for £! 1 0< >

Fire si aiding in a motor truck in the CoIkU-u street garage occupied by Mr. Colin Kirk resulted in die brigade being called out at 12.35 p.m. yesterday. The cause of the outbreak appears to have been a short-circuit in the electrical system while repairs were being carried out hy a mechanic The truck was pm shed out into the road and the blaze extinguished with sacks before rho brigade arrived. Practically no damage was caused.

A Wanganui resident suggests that most of Ihe major earthquakes that bad been experienced in Xew Zealand over a period of 40 years, had occurred during spring- tides. It was then that there was a great additional weight, of water near our coasts and tlii< pressure Mind weakm-snos in the earth's trust. The big quake of 1885. the Murchison, Napier, and other major upheavals had all occurred during spring tides. Seismologists in various parts of the Dominr ion have written to the Wanganui resident noting the importance of the observation.

One reason for ihe. keen interest 1110 Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. D. C Sullivan, lakms in helping reflef workers came to light ihe oilier day, when lie was Talking to ihe inmates of the Addington Men's Homo. He void ilium that he know what it was to be out of work. When he was about IS years of age he had gone abroad, and in London bp know what it was to., live on Id a day. Housed to spend lid on a tea-cake, tbe same amount on a cup of tea, and the other penny went in "a doss down somewhere.” The Mayor said he knew nothing of philanthropic institutions, had no friends, and had to make Ids own way, "down and out in. London.' * The great anti-dry vote revealed in the presidential elections has already resulted in a freer trade in bootleg liquor being tolerate:!. In New York and other cities, speak-easy proprietors, arc openly advertising their wares. Already 17 States have abandoned their .prohibition enforcement laws, and. without the help of the State authorities, the Federal officers find it almost impossible to enforce prohibition. Some British traders profess to believe that the abolition of the Eighteenth Amendment will not curtail much greater shipments of ‘‘Scotch” than now find their way to tlie United States by devious .methods. In 1013 the exports of vScotch whisky to America were 8115,026 proof gallons, out of total shipments to all markets, of 9,983,908 proof gallons. Last year the world export trade was 5.781.888 proof gallons, or a decrease <■; 50 per cent.

The classification of accommodation on trains and boats into first, second and third is gradually undergoing transformation. On the British railways the second class has almost entirely ' disappeared, and the carriages are marked First and Third. On ships the same tendency for the second class to fade out has also been noticed. Nowadays many vessels have first qnd what is called ‘'tourist” class, while others call it "cabin class.” It is really first and third, but modern travellers like high-soun-ding names. The latest vessel to be changed is tho famous old Aquitauia, of the Cunard line, which has' had her second class accommodation taken out and tho hig diningroom turned into n cinema with room for 250 people. Another feature of modern travel is that the luxurious traveller is getting more exacting J and 80 staterooms on tho Aquitauia. have been provided with separate batliroom3; the suites being described as "among the most luxurious afloat.”

“One hears a lot of talk about Australia turning the corner," but' " you can’t toll me that tho' country is turning or has turned the corner, when on 1931 figures the Governments between them are facing a deficit of £20,000,000 a year”, commented a business man. who' was a passenger on tho Marama, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney. “I think the Governments' will keep everybody poor for the' next fieri years”,’ he said. , * ’'■

The dispute between Australian exhibitors and American film distributing companies regarding the supply of films for 1933 is confined to Australia, and the question at issue does not apply to New Zealand. It is explained that the dispute has arisen through the consolidation of interests, so far as the buying of film supplies is concerned, reached by Iloyt’s and Union theatres, ' which now control 95 per cent, of the picture Jimises in Australia. There two companies have been at' loggerheads for years, but have now put their heads, together to oppose the exchangos. New Zealand theatres work amicably with the American organisations oh a 25 per cent, right of rejection basis, and there is no possibility of a dispute arisng between distributors and the exhibitors. To n certain extent the system of “block booking” which requires that the year’s output of films should be bought as a, unit, applies to New Zealand, but here the exhibitors have a' 25 per cent, right of rejection in respect of the films sent from America for the year.

Remarkable pluck and quick-think-ing wore displayed by Miss "Pauline Murphy in averting what might have been a double drowning tragedy at Ibo month of the Mohalca River r»n Boxing Day. A party of bathers from Mr. .1. R. Murphy’s homestead walked down to the. river intending to cross to the Mob aka side. The first members of the party crossed snfelj* bnl trouble occurred when Miss Tlw.a.heili Oswald, employed at the homefiend, and Mr. William T>e Imu tour attempted the crossing. Mb" Oswald is. no! a strong swimmer and when she was u earlv over the swift-running channel lier strength failed. M". De. Lam on r cough f her and attempted to swim to i.iie bonk, but the current proved too strong and the pair were quickly swept downstream out into the estnary. They were, some 50yds from the shore when their plight was noticed bv Miss Pauline Murphy who immediareiy swam out to a-sisi. Some Maoris fishing nearby observed the predicament- and, by the use of rittev (floats used for stretching a line nnr to ibo fullest extent when opposed in a swift current) floated lines out to the swimmers, thereby hauling them into safety. Miss Os wald was unconscious when brought ashore, hoi recovered after a period of artificial respiration. "Rye-witness-es of the happening are loud in their praise for all associated with the rescue and agree that especial credit is due to Miss Murphy for her courageous action which clearly led to the saving of at least one life.