NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Charges for electricity were briefly discussed by the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce last evening when the opinion was expressed that the rates should come down quicker for larger users. It was decided to approach the City Council.

Advice has been received by Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., from Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P. (Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing) that the successful tenderer for the arterial water reticulation contract for the StqJ;e housing block in this city was Mr. J. H. Rush, of Palmerston North.

The anniversary of the birth of George Augustus Selwyn, the great pioneer bishop of New Zealand, fell yesterday, for it was on April 5, ISO!), that he was born at Hamstead, London. In 1841 lie began his association with this country, and until 1868 he continued his labours for the welfare fli the settlers and the Maori people. Charged with the theft, at Waipukurau on April 4, of a cheque valued at £7, Jack Henry Payne, aged 31, a labourer, appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Accused pleaded guilty, but on the application of Detective-Sergeant Meiklejoiin, who said that Payne had been arrested only half-an-hour previously, he was remanded to enable the necessary papers to be received from Waipuku-

A brass plate of historic value is exhibited in a glass case in the private office of Mr. U. H. Mackley, general manager of railways. An inscription on tile plate, which was originally attached to New Zealand’s first locomotive, reads:—James Davidson and (Jompany, No. 1 Otago Foundry, Dunedin. The plate is a reminder of the infancy days of the railways system and its growth from a few miles in 1863 to more than 15400 miles of permanent way in actual use to-day. What is believed to constitute a record bus tour for the South island was completed recently by Midland Motorways, Ltd. During a fortnight two Midland buses have conveyed a party of 50 members of the Taranaki Young Farmers’ Clubs from Christchurch down to Invercargill and then through Central Otago to Gore, Roxburgh and Alexandra. Later the party left by inter-island steamer for Wellington. The total mileage of both buses for the complete tour was approximately 2500.

At last evening’s meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, Mr. F. G. Opie directed attention to the number of cases before Courts which Magistrates had dismissed as trivial. He thought departmental officers should exercise more discretion and not display so much zeal for it had to be borne in mind that the unfortunate individual prosecuted had to bear the cost even though he was successful !in his defence. “On the other hand, we have many people trying to beat the Government,” commented the' president, Mr. A. J. Graham.