NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8441, 29 May 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

In the competition for the New Zealand Farmers’ Union’s challenge shooting shield, the Bketahuna team made 502 points, the highest scorer being Mr H. M. Kcbbell, with 88. A Press Association message from Wanganui reports that burglars entered the office occupied by T- Bambor on Tuesday night, removed the safe on a handcart to the river, where the door was blown out and the contents scattered.

‘T£ any man wants to make a fortune,” said the president of the Acclimatisation Society last night, _ X suggest that he should start the industry of making leather out of eelskins. The other day a taxidermist showed me a lace made from an eelskin which I was quite unable to break.”

The Minister for Internal Affairs (states a Dunedin Press Association message) has agreed to allow the Tutanekai to make three trips with school children to the battleship on _ Saturday Mid the Hinemoa two, while each vessel will make one trip on Monday. The first trips are to be made at 8.30 instead of 11.30, as originally proposed. Complaint respecting the very poor quality of some of the deer herds in the Wairarapa district was made by several speakers at the meeting last night of the Acclimatisation Society. One stalker declared that for every ten stags in the Haurangi reserve, eight, if not nine, were worthless; very small scraggy things which were not worth carrying out of the bush. He suggested that the herds should be well weeded out, after which new blood should be introduced and the bush should bo closed for a couple of years. At present there was very little worth shooting on Haurangi.

One of the most important lines of scoured wool catalogued in the Sydney market this season was sold last week, and made a record for both combing and broken fleece. Upwards of 424 bales of the brand were offered, and sold under keen competition. The wool was grown "on Crendon station, Richmond, Queensland, the property of Messrs Mair, Osborne, and Atherton, and realised to 25Jd per lb for combing wool and 24d for broken fleece, these being record prices for both classes of scoured wool in the Sydney market for some years past. The wool was fine, bulky, bright, light, and free. Germany secured the major portion, but the purchases were well distributed among other sections of buyers. Some curious fish were included in the hauls made by the Federal trawler Endeavour in her latest investigation of the Australian Bight. The Director of Fisheries, Mr Dannevig, says that at the great depths of between 300 and 350 fathoms they found many now species of fish, some of which had eyes as big as saucers. “It is absolutely new world,” said Mr Dannevig; “some of the fish are most beautifully ornamented with silver or scarlet blotches. Others have an arrangement like luminous spots on the underside. I have no doubt that fish like these are producing light, phosphorescent or otherwise.” Mr Dannevig despatched fourteen packages of new specimens to Sydney for classification, and these will he subseqnently distributed among the Australian museums.

“We wonder whether, amid the rejoicings at Canberra, due recognition was given to the work of one quiet, but capable man, who really found the site of the new Federal capita) of Australia,” remarks the “Pall Mall Gazette.” “The man who fought the battle of Canberra, and is more responsible than anyone else for the choice of the site, was Mr A. L. Lloyd, who was chief’ surveyor of the Department of Works of New South Wales. Ho first examined the Canberra Valley, tested the water supply, became convinced that it was the ideal spot so long sought, pressed it in season and out of season on both the State and Federal Governments, and finally had the satisfaction of seeing his earnest arguments prevail. The memory of founders of cities sometimes soon grows dim. Let us record here the work which Mr A. L. _ Lloyd did with so much enthusiasm in the early days of 'the ‘battle of the sites’ in the Commonwealth.”

At an inter-State conference of master painters and decorators in Sydney last week, Mr John Sewell, of Queensland, said that one of the principal factors in the decline of skilled workmanship was the widespread prevalence of sport. “To the youth of the present day it is the be-all and end-all of life,” observed Mr Sewell. “From week-end to week-end lie will think and talk football, cricket, lacrosse, and the latest records in running, jumping, and boxing. Far be it from us to decry healthful recreation. By all means let our young fellows have as much as they want in reason. _ A good game of cricket or football will make them better ' fitted to take their part in life’s battle, but it can bo overdone. A young man will spend much time and thought in getting himself fit to take part in sport on Saturday afternoon. If the same energy was expended in striving to make himself a better workman the community at large would be benefited, and our plaint to a great extent relieved, hut the fact remains that the majority of our rising generation would rather be good cricketers and footballers than good workmen.”

Mr R. W. Holmes gave notice ft) more at last evening's meeting of tho Philosophical Society:—“That a technological section of the society bo formed.” The matter will be discussed at tho next monthly meeting of tho body.

A Press Association message states that Richard McKenzie Edwards, whv was arrested for desecrating graves in tho Wairoa cemetery, was. after a private examination by Mr Barton, S.M., committed indefinitely to the Porirua Mental Hospital as not fit to be at large in society. A block of 600 acres of land at Le. vin has been acquired by tho Government for purposes of closer settlement. The land will provide at least seven farms and will come into the possession of tho Grown at the end of An. gust. It is said to bo suitable for all agricultural purposes.

Members of tho Acclimatisation Society were hist night urged by Mr R. Bruce to follow the advice of Shakespeare, which he crystalised as being: “Lire in the country and live in a. cottage.” He could not give any better advice if he were to speak for a fortnight. (Hear, hoar.)

A Press Association message from Te Kuiti states that a fire at 3.30 yesterday morning destroyed the house of Miss McKenzie, near the railway bridge. Nothing was saved. The cause is supposed to be a defective chimney. The insurance is £l5O on. the house and £75 on tho furniture in the State office.

Anglers who were present at tho Ae. climatisation Society’s mooting last night were agreed that one of their greatest enemies was the ooL One speaker said that some rivers went' full of eels which were like great snakes. The chairman, Mr L. Tripp, mentioned that a friend of his one night took fifty-six big ©els in one basket from tho Hntt river.

At the adjourned inquest at Baidu th a on Frederick Littlewood, wh« set fire to a house and then attempted to commit suicide and wife murder, the jury found that he was temporarily insane (states a Dunedin Press As» sociation message), but that there was insufficient evidence as to whether death had been caused by the fire op the self-inflicted wound. A non-suit was entered up in th* breach of promise case, McDonald v. Coles, the hearing of which was ta have occupied the Supremo Court yesterday. When the case was called, Mr Hindmarsh, for the plaintiff, announced that he had no evidence to offer. Mr T. M. Wilford, for defendant, applied for a non-suit, which was granted.

Some months will yet elapse before the Hutt road is finally cleared of the recent slips and restored to its normal order. Tho trouble experienced at first in securing suitable labour has been overcome, and excellent work is now being done by the gang of men employed. As the work of repairing the broken main is not an urgent one, it will not bo commenced until the scene of the present operations is far removed from where the main lies.

The Canterbury Rugby Union ha* asked the management committee of the New Zealand Union to endeavour to obtain the permission of the Commissioner of Police for members of tho force to play Rugby. At present tho regulations prohibit those men from taking part in tho game. The chairman (Mr G. H. Dixon), at last night’s meeting of the committee, agreed to interview th© commissioner oq tho matter.

The Wellington office of Reuter’s Telegram Company, Ltd., is in receipt of cable advices that the report of the directors for 1912 shows a profit on the year’s working of £36,807. ' A balance-dividend is declared of 10s per share on the old, and of 6s on the new shares, making a total appropriation at the rate of 10 per cent, for the ■ year. The total reserves of the company amount to £152,000, and tho balance of profits carried forward to this year is £8678.

The Horowhenua A. and P. Associ** tion is about to make a forward move, the committee having decided to take steps to hold meetings during the winter months for the purpose of discussing matters affecting agricultural and pastoral interests. It is Loped to arrange for Government experts to give lectures in the county on cow-testing, sand drifts control, forestry, and shelter planting. Mr J. C. Neill, one of the leading authorities on pomology in the county, is the moving spirit in the forward movement.

The chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr U. Fletcher) reported at last night’s meeting that he had interviewed the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) with regard to the exemption from harbour dues aooordod to Government vessels and_ cargo passing over the wharves. He put the board’s case before the Prime Minister, who told him that he (Mr Massey) would go into the matter, at the same time making a request for full information. This, said Mr Fletcher, had been forwarded, and he hoped that some satisfactory result would ensue. In regard to mail steamers, he pointed out to the Minister the injustice done to the main Harbour Board by the fact that mail steamers were exempted from all charges. This was a very serious matter to the board, as well as to the other principal boards of the Dominion. ‘ ‘ Last year we lost revenue amounting to £I6OO owing to the fact that San Francisco mail boats were exempt.” The Prime Minister promised that this matter should have the earnest consideration of Cabinet, and Mr Fletcher was hopeful that good results would also fallow.

At the weekly meeting of the Y.M-C.A. Literary and Debating Club, Mr J. C. Nick!in delivered a paper entitled “ How are Standards of Authority Arrived At?” Mr B. Brown presided over a good attendance. Throughiout the paper the essayist contended that there could really be no external standard of authority, but that the standard must he in the conscience of the individual. He pointed out that, in times past, people had been ruled by leaders, either kings, nobles, or priests,, and had had to subject their own minds to tho will of those leaders. How. ever, with the rise of the ■ present social democracy, people had begun to think for themselves and to reason out the problems of social life. Special emphasis was laid on the absolute necessity for conserving freedom of thought. At some future time the people would rule themselves and administrate their own affairs to a far greater extent than at present. Thera would bo leaders, but the power ol those men to lead would have to he recognised by the majority. A good discussion followed, ten speakers taking part. Next week the general secretary will deliver a paper on Tennyson’s “ Idylls of the King.”

Particular attention should be gives to the scalp in the Autumn. Mrs 801. leston successfully treats all complaint* that cause falling hair. Courses of treatment from 21s. Special hair lotion, guaranteed to promote growth. Sa. Personal attention. 256, Lamhton quay. 'Phone 1599, •

Residents of Mangapapa, near Gisborne, decided last night to take steps to form a borough, according to a Press Association telegram. Tho "Wellington Waterside Workers have elected Messrs F. Cnrtico, 11. H. Simmons, and L. Glover to be delegates to tho Unity Conference.

A new issue of tramway concession tickets, at reduced fares, will bo available to-morrow, and may bo obtained at all tramway depots and from agents. A petition is being forwarded from Gisborne to tho Minister of Justice asking for a magisterial inquiry into the refusal of an application by J. K. Quinn for a certificate of fitness to hold tho license of tho Record Reign Hotel, says a Press Association telegram. A conference of representatives of local bodies regarding hospital levies will bo held in tho Mayor’s room at tho Town Hail this morning. The conference is convened by tho Miramar Borough Council with the object of entering a protest against the increase in the levies this year, and all tho local bodies concerned will bo represented.

At tho instigation of tho employers in tho hotel trade in Wellington, tho Wellington District Hotel, Club and Restaurant Workers’ Union has been made a party to a dispute which will be heard by the Conciliation Council on Juno Ilth. Messrs J. Berveridgo and F. Oakes are recommended as

assessors by tho employers and tho union will hold a special meeting on Monday next to consider what counter proposals are to bo mado and to appoint their assessors. A ceremonial parade of the troops of the Wellington Garrison will bo hold Park on Tuesday, Juno 3rd, to celebrate the King’s Birthday. The parade will bo reviewed by tho officer commanding tho district, and Coloned Campbell, who wiH bo in command, will have with him tho following staff: —Brigade major, Major H. R. Potter; staff officer. Lieutenant Bose. The D. Battery will take up a position overlooking Newtown Park and w3l fire a royal salute of twenty-one guns, commencing when the brigade salutes.

Th® Levin Co-operative Dairy Company forwarded shipments of butter to England a few months ago, and reports are now to hand from one of the firms which has had the handling of part of the butter exported to the English market. The flavour is described as very find, rich, and creamy, delicate in colour, well-made, solid body and' grain, and free from greasincss. The shipments are reported as being excellent in all respects. This is very sati&factory news to Devin and _ district farmers, and indicates the nigh standard of perfection which dairying has reached in Horowhenua.

There was a largo attendance at last night’s meeting of the Wellington South Progressive Society, over which Mr John Castle presided. The rules, which had been drafted by a provisional committee* wer© adopted. Several matters of urgent importance were recommended for tho immediate attention of tho executive. The following officers were elected ' —President, Mr J. Castle; vice-presidents, Messrs Wylie, George, Cooper, Fitzgibbon, and Ludwig; committee, Messrs Downes, Worth, Hosie, Jenkins, Campbell, Petterssen, Caterer, Goodyer, Cfewes, Savage, Beveridge, and Murdoch; secretary, Mr Ormisdon; treasurer, Mr Crosby; legal adviser, Mr Fitzgibbon.