NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10901, 16 May 1921, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The unimproved value of Feather - ston borough has increased from £31,000 to £50,000 since the last valuation.

The Wellington results of the degree examinations of the New Zealand University appeal- in this issue of the “Times.” They will be found on page

Shortly after 6 o’clock yesterday morning the Petone brigade received a •call to a fire which had been discovered in a dye-works in Nelson street. The property, which is owned by Mr -A. Anderson, was not greatly damaged.

’■ “One is apt to be rather dazed on occasions such as these,” remarked a newly-capped speaker at the ’Varsity Graduates’ Association " luncheon on Saturday last. “Personally, my attitude, as well as I can define it, is a certain bewildered satisfaction at having diddled the examiners.” (Daughter. )

The Public Works Department’s decision to cancel all grants found the Wairau Bead Hoard in a particularly favourable position. At the board’s meeting the secretary stated that operations had commenced in every instance in which the Government had made grants, so these grants would have to be honoured.

The Postal authorities have been advised that the s.s. Suffolk sailed from Sydney on the 14th instant for Auckland. She carries a small Australian mail for New Zealand. The s.s. Ulimaroa left Sj’dney ait 11 a.m. on the 13th instant for Wellington. She carries 242 bags of mail, including 10 bags from the East and 2 bags from Africa.

A Wanganui message states that the body of George Clark, who had been missing for some weeks, was found under the Town wharf, near the Band dredger Kaione. It Was in an advanced state of decomposition. The last time the deceased, was seen was in the -vicinity of the Kaione, to go aboard of which he was refused permission.

A gathering of printers was temporarily nonplussed on Saturday, when, after singing the National Anthem to tho toast of the King, the health of the President of the United States was proposed. No one seemed to be able to recall the words of the American Anthem, but the difficulty was quickly got over by a lusty rendering of “He's a Jolly Good Fellow.”

“What we want in this country, as in all • countries,” said Mr F. A. de la Mare, at the ’ Varsity graduates’ luncheon on Saturday, “are men who will learn to think and who, when they have thought, will go and fight for the conclusion they come to. Unless and until we get that state of affairs university education is no use at all, and degenerates into a mere scramble of degree-getting.” y “I was a member of the Canterbury Shearers’ Union in; the early said a witness in the Blenheim Magistrate’s Court tho other day. “Only shearers were allowed to join then.” be added. “Then, who are now?” asked counsel. “Half of them are agitators,” exclaimed witness. “You think the union is not as good as in the old days?’’ queried the curious lawyer. The witness assented.

A discovery which has settled heyond doubt the fate of the launch Doreen, recently reported missing, was made at Riverton recently. During the afternoon a party of footballers were out over the. sandhills. One of the party, Mr E. K. Booth, while walking along the back beach, picked up some wreckage above high-water mark. On one of tho pieces, which, was painted green, the name qf the launch Doreen was, still clearly visible.

The Tramways Band gave an enjoyable programme at Oriental Bay yesterday afternoon, and, despite the coldness of the weather, there was a large audience. The band, which was under the baton of Mr G. Bowes, contributed:—March ‘‘Ever Forward;” .selection “Fragrance;” cornet solo. “1 Pass By Your Window” (soloist, Bandsman D. MacPlierson) ; selection, “Scotland for Ever;” polacca. “Prince of Poland;” and selection “Polly Prim.”

On account of the increased cost of living the amounts made payable for maintenance are being increased by magistrates. Several such cases have come before the Wellington Court and increases have been granted in some Vases. Recently a wife applied to Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., for an increase of maintenance order, from 2os per week to £2. The wife stated it was impossible at the present time to live on 25s per week. His Worship made an order tor £2 a week.

The falling of a free at Weetbush, on the Upper Plain (writes the “Times” Masterton correspondent), resulted in serious injuries to a youth named Donald Trass, aged 17, who was assisting in the operation of removing an old rata tree for firewood. He was sti uck by the tree when failing,\and as the result was removed +o the hospital in an unconscious condition, suffering from a fractured skull, a broken arm, and other injuries. He is the son of Mr Samuel Trass, a wellknown Fernridge resident.

By the wreck of the Tasman many "Whakatane business men axe comparatively heavy lesers. Some lost goods up to £250, and several others to £IOO, practically all being uninsured. There was a large consignment of flour /aboard. One man lost all his furniture and effects, which he had brought from the South Island. There were also aboard, a propeller and shaft for the scow Vesper, recently owned by tho Harbour Board and held ng at Whakatane. _ These losses, especially in this time of financial stringency, may possibly have a bad effect on the business of the town.

Hie “Times” Auckland correspondent writes: —“The telegram of inquiry sent off by Mr R. F. Barter, secretary of the Auckland branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, regarding notices of dismissal issued to several fitters and turners at the Newmarket railway workshops, elicited an early reply from the Acting-Minister for Railways, tlm Hon. D. H. Guthrie. The communication advised that the Minister was having an investigation made concerning the matter, ana would communicate with Mr Barter later.”

The question of toll-gates appears to be disturbing Wanganui local bodies aa well a® those of other districts. Last week the Wanganui-County Council received a letter from Rangitiked County Council, stating that Mr Newman, M.P., had been informed by , the Minis ter for Public Works that the question of toll-gates was to be investigated by .i committee of inquiry. Councillor Hine said that the matter had hung fire too long, and they Bhould take similar action to Wnitotara County Counqjl and go ahead. After soma discussion it was decided to advertise the scale of proposed chargee, and to have the toll-gate as close to the Wan. gaoliu boundary possible.

The Electricity Department of the Public Works Department reports that since March 3rd the level of the water in Lake Coleridge has increased hy 51 inches. This is one inch higher than the level recorded on the 2nd inst.

The trapping of trout to strip for ova has commenced in the Wairarapa district, but the work was hindered at the outset by a flood. Last year, desnite several floods, 280,000 were obtained at approximately Is 6d per thousand.

A Press Association message from Wairoa states that the Returned Soldiers’ Art Union resulted as follow: 16,903, W. C. Burt, Dunedin, 1; 19,394, D, McLeod, Freeman’s Bay, Auckland, 2; 12,748, care of Messrs Blythes, Napier, 3.

Information has come to hand that Antonio* Cortesi, a man in charge of the cookhouse on the new- public works tunnel at Mareretu, was found dead in bed. Deceased was a married man. He retired the previous night apparently in good health.

Timber is coming down in price North of Auckland there ha 6 been a reduction of 12s 6d per 1000 ft. Advice received in Dannevij-ke notifies a reduction in the price of timber by 10s per 1000 ft. It is also stated that traders can now retail cement at a much less figure than formerly.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society has decided to remunerate the constables who were responsible for the conviction of several persons at Thames and Waihi for shooting game out of season. The fines amounted to £BO, and practically the whole of this amount will be absorbed in payment of the rewards.

A short time ago we learned of a new use for whisky. A clucking hen had been put on to a nest of eggs, and to get it reconciled to the new situation it was given a teaspoonfu] of spirit. It had the desired effect. The individual who recommended it had frequently so used, it successfully.— “Wyndham Herald.” .

Strict economy is to be exercised by the Manukau County Council during the coming winter, as its funds will bt at a low ebb until the next rates are three or four months hence. The difficulty has been occasioned by the fact that loan moneys to the extent of about £4500 have not come to hand, although the debentures are signed and the money was ' expected last month.

Discussing the trend of prices of meat in the past twelve months, representatives of the butchery trade m Auckland stated that present charges were from 25 to 30 per cent, lower than those of a year ago. The butchers would have been able to still further reduce the prices of meat had it been possible to dispose of their by-products. As it was they could not get. profitable rates for hides, "skins, and tallow.

“If any factory manager worked his employee® under the same conditions as those at the Wellington Town Hall he -would he put into gaol,” asserted the newly-eleoted Mayor, Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., at a social gathering at Dustin’s on Saturday night. “Men have been working there, crowded together, and without natural light. I havty seen the Town Clerk this morning, and in future they will have rooms where they will at least get fresh air and daylight.” (Applause.)

A recent report from Christchurch shows that the, number of unemployed registered at the local bureau of the Department of Labour was 35, of which total 6 were new registrations during the week. Six men were found private employment, and last week a considerable number had -been put on to public works at the Cass, and on the Arthur’s Pass tunnel, and on Saturday it was reported that matters were somewhat easier. Preference is being given to discharged soldiers, married men, and single men with dependants.

Writes the “Times’ ’ special correspondent : ‘ ‘Quite a number' of farmers’ associations approve of the suggestion coming from the New Zealand Farmers’ Upion to approach the Government and ask for the setting up of a body of inquiry to go into the whole question of waterside labour, with a view to putting it on a more satisfactory footing. Farmers generally agree with the statement that our export trade may be imperilled 'if there is a continuance of troubles and of the increasing of expenses by unnecessary -disputes and delays over what are, in many cases, quite trivial things.”

The secretary of the Wairarapa Automobile Association, at its last meeting, held at Greytown, reported the completion of the mile of fencing on the Wellington side of the Rimutaka hill, and it was resolved to ask the Feaiherston County Council if the fence on the Wairarapa side would be repaired on completion of the road improvements. It was further resolved to compliment the County Council on the excellent condition of the road, and to ask if it would be possible, after the road is completed, for a roadman to be employed on this side of the hill to keep it in order. The association considered that by doing so an excellent road could be maintained and the expense therefore warranted.

After kindlv answering some queries as to last night’s display of the Aurora Australis, the Rev. D. C. Bates was questioned as to weather indications. To a “Times” reporter he said that the barometer had been high in all parts of the Dominion. A storm centre had apparently been located north in the neighbourhood of East Cape. Southerly winds and heavy rain squalls had been experienced along the East Coast during the past two or three days. The rainfall measured, at Wellington, on Sunday morning, for the previous twenty-four hours, 19 points. High atmospheric pressure or anticyolonio conditions were, he said, likely for the next few days, which meant that fine weather during the days and cold night might bo expected.

At the meeting of the Manawatu Gorge Board of Control, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., brought up again the question, of toll-gates in the gorge. Since the Government, he said, had refused permission to erect these, it was impossible for the board to carry out its desire. He suggested that the meeting should give him authority to take steps to havp the Act amended m order that the gates could be constructed in the gorge. Mr J. Linklater moved jthat the necessary authority be given. If there was anv place in New Zealand where tollgates were required it was in the gorge. Mr H. Cornelius (Pahiatua' agreed hut pointed out that he had a rooted objection to toll-gates l>ein? placed all over the country. So long ae they "were confined to the gore* the _ matter would get hi& support. Mr Nash contended that the* traffic- would be more easily controlled with two. but the hoard would definitelv decide that question later *>n. The " motion was carrier*