NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10432, 10 November 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Press Association message from Auckland states that the trawler Sountess, owned by Sanford's, Ltd., was seized by the Customs for alleged Infringement of the trawling regular tions in respect to boundary limitations, and was sent to port by an inspector. The owners have been i granted permission to use the vessel until the result of a prosecution is known. It is understood that the oxponditui© under the heading "extension of drainage" in connection with the corporation loan of £IIO,OOO, of which mention was recently made by the Mayor, will be largely in furtherance of the Greater Wellington scheme, by which outside boroughs are gradually being merged into the city. Tho Mayor eta tod to a "Times'' reporter that tho dotails had not yet been prepared, but there was no doubt the municipality would now bo bettor able to strive for its ideals and make Wellington "a city par excellence." A special "trial'' express train for Auckland left Wellington on Saturday night at 8 o'clock, and with a favourable run should have arrived at its destination about midday yesterday. Several of the head officials of the Railway Department made tho journey. The Prime Minister, other Ministers, and some members of Parliament also proceeded north. There were to be only six stops—Palmcrston, Marten, Taihape, Ohalruno, Taumarunui, and Frankton—on the journey, and a similar experimental run will bo made from the north to the south terminus. Correspondence is passing between Now Zealand and Australia on the subject of timber pricos, it being alleged that a remarkable discrepancy exists between the prices ruling in the? Dominion and tho Commonwealth. It is said that "0.b." (ordinary building) timber, which costs 26s per 100 ft in New Zealand, can be purchased iu Sydney as low as 16s per 100 ft, and price-lists are being exchanged to enable the real position to be ascertained. Ilimu is in big demand in New Zoaland and largo quantities of that timber have, it is said, been shipped to Australia. Heart of kauri, which is growing scarcer and scarcer, is also stated to bo selling cheaper in Australia than in New Zealand. A "Times" representative was on 'Saturday informed that heart of kauri had been sold as high as 80s per 100 ft in Now Zealand, while tho prico in Australia was from 40s to 60s.

The position in connection with the supply of ccal, and as a natural corollary, gas, has not changed, though the crisis of a few davs ago will not, it is hoped, again occur. Sufficient coal is coming to hand to .supply present-day requirements but that is all. Burglars who attempted to break open a safe at Page's store, Kingsland, on Friday night (states a Press Association mossago from Auckland) lett behind a. considerable quantity of fuse, with dynamite caps, gelignite, and revolver cartridges. An explosion was heard by neighbours at 5 a.m., and the police were called. An examination showed that tho safe had been badly bulged, but had not opened. Instructions from General Headquarters give permission for tho dyeing of military greatcoats in possession of discharged soldiers, provided that no payment has been made to the discharged soldior by the Defence Department in respect to tho greatcoat. A < certificate to this effect, signed by the officer in charge, Boso Records, must be produced by the owner of tho coat, and retained by the dyer. On Saturday Mr Gladston» Hill, who is making arrangements for tho visit of the New South Wales Orchestra, received tho following cablo message from Sydney:—"Suggest special performances of 'Messiah' by local society and State orchestra in four centres. Suggest Madame Goossens-Viceroy as soprano soloist." Mr Hill will discuss the proposal with the New Zealand societies interested. Tho following is an extract from a circular that is being sent out by business firms in America to their clients in different parts of the world, as well as in the United States:—"We. believe the enemy of prosperity is Bolshevism. CurtaiJod production hroeds it, diminished advertising makes it, and fear and doubt send it stalking abroad in search of prey. Full-grown Bolshevism" says: 'Cut your working force. Call in your salesmen. Keep your money -under the mattress. Buv nothing. Think nothing but doubt. Talk nothing but failure.' Crush Bolshevism in business by talking prosperity." The following instructions from General Headquarters with regard to the emplovment of . Y.M.C.A. secretaries and orderlies are to oome into force as from December Ist: —Y.M>£.A. secretaries employed in camps and hospitals will receive free rations <ynd quarters, but will not receive travelling warrants or expenses from tho Defence Department; Y.M.C.A. orderlies employed in camps and hospitals will receive free rations and quarters, but will not reoeivo pay from the Defence Department, nor will they wear military uniform. All military personnel at present employed as Y.M.C.A. orderlies will be demobilised on November 30th, unless they are required for other military duties. In the Juvenile Court on Saturday morning, before Mr E. Page, S.M., a boy nine years of ago was charged with a by-law breaoh. Tho boy, with others, started a gorse fire at Island Bay. A high wind was blowing at the time, and half an acre of gorge was burnt before the lire was got under. ActingJ-Sonior-Sergeant Wade said a penalty was not asked for, tho desire being to point out the danger of lighting fires in the open at this period of the year, especially when a strong wind was blowing. The magistrate admonished and dismissed the defendant. A similar course was taken in the case of a. very small boy who was accused of breaking a window at Island Bay valued at 10s. In connection with the recent purchase by tho city of 150 acres at Wilton's Bush, the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) stated on Saturday that complete surveys had to. be made before the soheme could be initiated, and when this was completed it would be found that the health requirements had been made one of the first considerations. The area contained flat, undulating, and a portion of hilly land, and thoreforo could not be dealt with in the samo manner as level land. All possible was being done to push on tho work, and the details would soon bo arranged. "I am confident it is going to be a good thing," said Mr Luke, "not only from the city's point of view, but in the interests of tho peoplo as a whole."

The Terrace Congregational Sunday School celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary by special services in the church yesterday. The morning service was conducted by tho Rev. A. Reader, of Thorndonj in the afternoon the Uev. G. Knowles Smith, and the City Mission, gave a special address to the children; and in the evening the Rev. J. Reed Glasson occupied the pulpit. The services, which were well attended, were marked by the special singing of tho children under the conductorship of Mr A. M. Lewis and Mrs D. E. Barnes) was at the organ. The church was nicely decorated, on the organ .being emblazened "1844 to 1919," the years during which the Sunday school has been conducted. The customary tea and public meetings will be held to-morrow evening. "No, I em sorry to say the position has not improved very much," said a prominent Wellington hardware merchant to a "Times" roporter. "Somo time back I mentioned that 1914 orders were only now coming to hand from England, and I can merely repeat what I said then. The position is actually •unchanged, but I am optimistic ouough to believe that an improvement may bo anticipated before long. There appears to be a more hopeful strain in the business communications I am receiving from Jilngland, and in the direction of hardware manufacture tho oversea Dominions will, fcoon benefit. Tho American markot is in a- slightly better condition, but prices are very high, and there is no doubt the American manufacturers of all hardware and allied articles are reaping a rich harvest." Writing from San Franoisco, Mr M. J. Reardon, of Wellington, says Ids hoalth is satisfactory and chat ho is already feeling the benefit of tho rest and change. San Francisco was "booming" after the war. He had ohly been there a few days when his )ettor was dispatched.,, but ho had already seon many' interesting sights, and hoped to securo much interesting information as to the labour and oconomio conditions of tho city and other centres. Tho churches woro handsome structures and the interiors beautiful. As a contrast tho Chineso quarters wero interesting and an oye-openor. Pictuiro shows were defingt enormous business. So far as quality of programmes was concerned they were in no way suporior—wero, as a , matter of fact, inferior —to the averago cinema presentations in New Zealand which comparatively speaking wero of & high order.