Early on the Scene.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 November 1937, Page 8

Early on the Scene.

A striking illustration of the shortage of houses and flats to let in Auckland was provided by a small advertisement offering **f6ur comfortable rooms, self-contained” at Remuera for 18s a week. The premises were let at 6.15 a.ni. to a man who arrived from Point Chevalier on a bicycle. New Arbitration Court. It is probable that the second Court of Arbitration will begin to function at Auckland on Friday morning, when the hatters’ dispute will be heard. The present Court, comprising Mr Justice O’Regan and the two lay members, Messrs Prime and Monteith. will go into recess at the end of the week, and between then and Christmas they will endeavour to complete 31 judgments, including 22 disputes and miscellaneous matters awaiting their attention. It seems likely that the present Court will sit at Wellington in the new year, and Mr Justice Hunter’s Court will begin the 1938 session «it Auckland about the third week in January. New Samoan Mau. The rise of a new Mau organisation with a political creed directly opposed to that of the old Mau, is a new development in Samoan politics. News about this organisation, members of which wear, the same uniform as the Samoan native police, has been sent to New Zealand in letters from Samoan residents and brought by returning travellers. The new organisation is said by those who have closely studied its rise to activity to be mostly representative of the Vaimaunga district at the back of Apia. This district has in the past been unimportant in the system of native precedence, but now it is numerically very strong

Highways Board Inspection. Making its annual inspection of roads prior to completing arrangements for holiday traffic, the Main Highways Board will arrive in Palmerston North on December 1, via the Wairarapa, to deal with the principal highways in this district. The board will prdbably return via Feilding a week later from the north. Increase in Passengers. During the week ended November 20, 1937, train journeys made by passengers from Palmerston North totalled 2587 as compared with 2478 for the corresponding period of last year, according to the figures collated at the railway station. The revenue figures disclosed an increase of 12 per cent, over the same week of 1930. Private Work. A vigorous protest was made by Mr E. J. Bells, an employers’ assessor, in the New Zealand painters’ dispute before the Conciliation Council, at Wellington, regarding work being done for private individuals below award rates on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The workers’ agent, Mr Cornwell, assured him of the support of the workers’ side.—-Press Association.

Floodlights Transferred. Nineteen powerful floodlights have been transferred temporarily from the Sportsground to the Showgrounds by the electrical department of the Palm erston North City Council in readiness for the final section, to-morrow evening, of the Maori pageant in connection with the jubilee celebrations. They show up the oval with remarkable clarity. Long Time To Wait. “Two months is not very long to wait for a reply from a Minister.” said the chairman of the Matamata County Council (Mr J. W. Anderson) when Mr P. R. Hawke (Hinuera) complained that no reply had been received to a' letter sent to the Minister of Public Works, (Hon. R. Semple). “Oh, but it is a long time for the running shoes expert,” replied Mr Hawke, amid laughter. Memorial to Lord Rutherford.

“Lord Rutherford’s memory and his services to science should be commemorated by*some form of memorial here in 'this institution, ” said Dr J. Hight (rector of Canterbury University College), speaking at a special memorial meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand (reports the Press). Dr Hight indicated that most likely certain proposals would shortly be made to that end. Sunday School Movement. A striking indication of the wide ramifications of the Auckland Sunday School Union was given at the annual meeting. It was revealed that the union controlled 315 schools, from as far south as New Plymouth and Gisborne, and including all the North Auckland territory. There were approximately 22,000 pupils enrolled, under the guidance of nearly 2500 teachers.' Fire Brigade Equipment.

Necessarily a long job, which can only be undertaken as circumstances permit, as sufficient hose must be kept ready for instant use in the event of a big outbreak of fire, the changing over of 7000 feet of hose, 11 hydrants and 15 branches to the instantaneous coupling device is being made by the Palmerston North Fire Brigade. Later it will be necessary to alter also the delvery pieces ancl intakes on the engines. Band Instruments.

jThe instruments recently purchased with the aid of public subscriptions, and presented last evening to the Pal-, merston North Garrison Band by the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford), include one Eb soprano cornet, three Bb cornets, one flugel horn, three tenor horns, two baritone horns, one euphonium, two'tenor trombones and one bass trombone. These, together with the four bass instruments obtained in 1934, make up the quota required. Attracted To China.

Prompted by a spirit of adventure, Dr R. J. P. Mecredy, formerly on the staff of the Waikato Hospital, has volunteered for service in the Chinese Air Force, or alternatively with the Chinese Red Cross in Shanghai. Dr Mecredy, who learned to fly at Hamilton in 1934, said that he had been in communication with the Chinese Consul in Sydney, and hoped to hear shortly that his application for service in the enforce had been accepted, although his age was 49. Time Payment Security. Mention was made, at the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board, yesterday, that in some instances where service lines were installed, to be paid for on the timepayment system, there was no security available. The board decided, as guide for future policy, that where the consent of the mortgagee could be obtained the board agree to accept a register against the mortgage for payment for house service lines by instalments. “Whale Feed” Litter. The Onetangi Beach, Auckland, which* is about 'li miles long, was littered for its whole length on Monday hy thousands of small fish, which were described as crayfish, from 2in to 4in long. When the matter was referred to Mr A. W. B. Powell, the actingcurator of the War Memorial Museum and a leading authority on shellfish, he was of opinion that they were probably the crustaceans known as whale feed.” These might easily be mistaken- for young crayfish by a casual observer, he said. Four F.ire Engines. Though the small reciprocal pump first used by the Palmerston Nortfi Fire Brigade appeared in the Diamond Jubilee procession, the old manual engine, which figured in some exciting early fire episodes of the city’s history, was not available, as it is being used to pump water at a Shannon flaxmill. When the new combination fire and salvage unit arrives in some months’ time, the brigade will have in commission a fleet of four motor engines, besides the tender. A Cingalese Letter. Typical of Babu unconscious liumoui, the following, letter spilled out of the Government Tourist and Publicity Department’s mailbag the other day:— “Dear Sir, I regret to inform you that J am an inhabitant of Ceylon. I have a great desire to visit your country, and to drive the best of results. I hope that you would kindly forward me with your particulars at _ your earliest convenience to the address below. Wish your country very success, I am, yours faithfully, S. H. David, Galapama, Induruwa, Ceylon.” Industry At Home. Industry in England is steadily drifting south, according to the impression of Mr J. A. East, who has returned to. Christchurch from a visit to Britain. He said that the problem of the distressed industrial areas was being solved hy moving the youngei population to new industrial areas in the south, and leaving the older and less adaptable people where they were, giving them the dole. Huge “"development 0 of the iron and steel' industry was going on in the South Midlands. For instance, 15 years ago Corbie, in Northamptonshire, was a village with 1 2000 or 3000 people. To-day it was a big town with great steel works and a population of about 20,000.