NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11367, 14 November 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Auckland 'Gas Company is in a good position as regards supplies cf coal. It has sufficient stocks on hand to last nearly three months.

A varied shipment of fruit was landed at Auckland from the Island steamer Flora, which arrived from Rarotonga on Thursday night. Included in the cargo were 8000 cases of Island tomatoes, which proved to be in fair order There were 2500 cases of .bananas and 1000 cases of mario3, a native variety of banana, the latter being of poor quality. There were also 2000 cases of oranges, the great majority of which were in bad condition. Half the fruit, in many cases, was in a state of decay, and extensive repacking will be necessary. During discussion .by the board on constant changes on the medical staff of the Waikato Hospital, Dr. Gower (Surgeon Superintendent), said the position was that a tremendous number of medical students were training at Dunedin, and 60 were sitting for the final examination this year. Consequently young doctors at present in public hospitals wore anxious to get settled in permanent positions before a now orop of students qualified. He predicted that in a few years’ time, many doctors would find difficulty in securing positions. Sunday was the ten ill anniversary of the discovery of the bodies of Captain Scott. Dr. Wilson, and Lieutenant Bowers, the last surviving members of tlie British Antarctic' expedition, who, on reaching tho South Pole on January 18th, 1912, met with disaster, owing to terrible blizzards, after starting on their return journey. PettyOfficer Evans died on February 17th, and Captain-Oafes on .March 17th, the latter leaving his tent to meet ’ his death in a blizzard, hoping thereby to give his three comrades a better chance. Captain Scott’s last diary entry was dated March 25tli. Tho bodies were found by a search party on November 12tli. The news of the tragedy was brought to New Zealand by the Terra Nova, which arrived at CinjKifiuu, An JLCXfcJx, 1015 V.

During a thunderstorm which passed over Rotorua three cows were struck by lightning and killed.

The Waikawa and Ohau bridges, which are pn the mfun road between Wellington and Palmerston North, are reported to be unsafe. Heavy snow again fell on. the Tara- . ruas at the week-end. Yesterday morning the crest of the range was thickly coated for a considerable distance down. I “You want a Government just now ; that is stable and strong enough to 'do unpopular tilings Tf it thinks they i are necessary,” 6aid Mr Massey at Eketahuna. Tlie Taita Cemetery Board is contemplating the purchase of extra land for the cemetery. Tlie local body delegates will shortly meet to consider the matter. “They’re very slipshod in Auckland,” remarked Mr F. Cooper, during the hearing of the engineering union’d case by tbe Arbitration Court yesterday. “We want to be more methodical down here.” It is now possible to journey from Gisborne to Auckland in 33 hours, good connections having been arranged at the various stages of the journey. The run from Gisborne to Rotorua is made in from ten to twelve horns, and from Gisborne to Napier in seven or eight hours. It was reported to the Hawke’s BayManawatu District Synod at Feilding that the amount passed for foreign missions throughout the district totalled £llOO, an increase of £76 for the year. For the home mission and extension fund, the amount raised to date indicated an increase on past years, the effort not yet being complete. The rainy conditions which have prevailed during the week have had a bad effect on the supply of strawberries to the Auckland market. Instead of the supply increasing, as it should do at tins stage in tlie season, there has been an actual falling-off, with, the exception of first-grade berries, which are improving m quality. Prices, which in Hie normal course of events should now be easing, are showing a tendency to harden. Should the weather be warm in the next few days it is expected that supplies will increase considerably.

The extent to which a diseased rat can become infested with fleas was exemplified at Devonport. Mr James Eagles, an old employee on the drainage staff of the borough council, had opened up the main sewer to make a drainage connection with a new house being built in Waterview road, when he espied a large /scaly rat, almost devoid of hair, and in an almost emaciated oondition. He chased it with a spade he had in his hand and stunned it. / As the rodent stiffened out, scores of fleas commenced to jump about on it. The best thing which could be done with it was to cremate it, and with the aid of some kerosene this was not difficult. The infinite harm a few such diseased rats could cause in a community is undisputed, and the incident shows the need of destroying rats in season and out of season whenever rthe opportunity offers.

Some time ago the South Otago Hospital Board, at the instanoe of Mr Jasper- ;Clark, wrote to Wellington suggesting that hospital boards or other , responsible people concerned should be given power to ' obtain contributions / from defaulting husbands whose dependants were in receipt of assistance. In Teply the Minister for Health (Hon. C. 3. Parr) states , that a resolution was passed by the recent conference of the four chief boards to the effect that legislation should provide that such defaulters should be employed on some form..of .remunerative work and# their earnings applied to the maintenance of their families. He forwarded a copy of a communication from the Control-ler-Genera,l of Prisons, who proposed to obtain further information regarding the New South Wales system, with a view to introducing legislation on similar lines in New Zealand. Immaculately attired, top-hatted and with an expanse of saffron shirt front, a tall, rather pallid-looking hero strode down the steps of the Government Buildings (Christchurch), hesitated on the edge of the kerb to light a cigarette and looked inquiringly for a taxi ’(statesltlhe ClhTistchuroh “Press”). Then things, wortliv of a place in “Limehouse Nights” began to ‘happen. Two pale-faoed ruffians violently attacked him, overcame him, threw him into the back seai of a car which 'had meantime drawn up and drove off. Tho most peouliar part of the occurrence —it happened in Worcester street in broad daylight—was the fact that it was repeated time after time, while a man with a megaphone, in the background gave friendly advice and exhorted tho thugs to “Ihit him hard.” And the crowd stood round impassive and smiling! Christchurch is rapidly becoming familiar with the inner side of the “movies.”

A 'gentleman who died recently at New Plymouth was at one time one of the town’s most progressive business men. He was connected with many public bodies and attended to his civic work in a praiseworthy way. Over six years ago, however, chiefly through over speculation, he found that he was in low water financially, and in addressing his creditors on the subject, he made use of the following words: “I made the mistake of allowing myself to be persuaded to take a hand m local politics, the twelve years spent on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, a like term on the borough council, and six or seven years on the harbour board, represent sacrifices which in justice to myself and my family I should never have made. My time might have been far more profitably occupied otherwise.” The time 6pent by public spirited men in connection with local matters is not sufficiently appreciated sometimes by many and yet they often perform this work to the detriment of their own interests. To make two pound notes from one, by the skilful splitting of the paper, has been the harmful diversion of quite a few people since an ingenious rogue in the north gained some notoriety by his successful passing ,of notes so treated (states the “Otago Daily Times”). A deception of an even meaner sort- than that of the northerner was practised on a Dunedin tram conductor on Wednesday night when he 'was tendered, for a twopenny ride, two pieces of copper that, in tho bustle necessitated by a full car, were put into his bag without question. Whfln he came to count his returns at night, however, he found among his cash two halves of pennies. The coppers had been neatly split, and it was quite easy to understand they would be readily accepted by anyone in a hurry. It is presumed that they were prepared by someone with designs towards easy money in a “twoup” school, as each of the faced bears tho Queen’s head, and the application of some adhesive substance will be all that is necessary to make of them an —i. haadar.,”

The price of gas for the Petone Borough Council has been fixed by the Hutt and Pet-one Gas Lighting Board at 7b lid per 1001) cubic feet net.

The Petone Borough Council have twenty-two casual workers employed on street work just now aa well as the ordinary staff. The price of firewood was reduced by the municipality of Petone last month in order to dispose of stock on hand. The demand proved very satisfactory in every way. During October, 5,388,600 cubic feet iof gas were manufactured in Petone. The supply to the Lower Hutt borough during the month approximated 2,143,000 cubic feet. The Wellington Rugby League has accepted the two grounds over the stopbank at Petone on the terms and conditions ouggesied by the Borough Council. The Minister for Health has approved of the- North Canterbury Hospital Board erecting a recreation room at the Coronation Sanatorium, and the work in to be proceeded with forthwith. A meeting of the Wellington Community Sing Committee is to be held shortly, when it will probably be decided to hold a community “carol’’ sing on the Thursday before Christmas at the Town Hall. The seaside resort at Otaki bids fair to rival Paikakariki and Flimmertou. No leiss than forty-four new houses have been erected since December last. Bowling green, croquet, and tennis lawns are to be constructed, and; a water-supply is being arranged for.

The members of the Wanganui Harbour Board met Mr R. W. MoVilly, General Manager for Railways, and arranged the order .of reference far the commission which is to sit early in 1923 in connection with the Wanganui foreshore question. “Right from 1930 everything else has been coming down except labour. Profits went over two years ago. Overhead charges have gone up out of sight; and labour must realise the position.”—Mr F. Cooper, in the Arbitration Court yesterday. “UnfoAunately, though, whether we can say that it is due to on aot of Providence or to the King’s enemies, my witnesses, who were to come here from Christchurch on Saturday, have not arrived,” remarked Mr P. Cooper in the Arbitration Court yesterday. A communication was received at •last night’s meeting of the Petone Borough Council from the chairmen of three local school committees, asking for a grant towards augmenting facilities at the libraries for the benefit of the children. The application ..was referred to the library committee!* ' “We don’t discuss matters which take place in the Conciliation Council,” said Mr Justice Frazer, in the Arbitration Court, yesterday. “That is regarded as more or lesß sacred. You see, if we were-to do so. it might hinder people from making offers in the Conciliation Council. “They pay it, sir, without a murmur,’’ remarked one of the men’s representatives at the Arbitration Court, yesterday, when a special rate of wages' Ivas being' discussed. “And I suppose they pass it on with a percentage added,” said Mr M. J. Reardon. “Oh, the days of passing on are done with, and we know,” replied one of the employers’ witnesses. A consignment of 1501 b of tobacco, intended for the inmates of the Old Men’s Home at Lome Farm, Southland, has gone astray. The tobacco was ordered from a firm in Napier, which duly consigned it to the board. The board received notice that the tobacco was shipped at Wellington on October 20th, but beyond that nothing further has been heard of it, and inquiries have been instituted. Some idea of the influx of skilled workers into New Zealand industry may be gained from the statements of Mr R. E. Barter, the engineers’ representative before the Arbitration Court yesterday. There had arrived in. Auokland during the past year, he said, about 100 mortf emigrant engineers, in Wellington 50, and in Christchurch and Dunedin a similar number. “You see, Auckland has been having rather a good, time,” said Mr F. Cooper, in the Arbitration Court yeeI terday, when the provisions of the Auckland engineers’ award were under I discussion. “They’ve been having some j good wrecks up there, and they have become a hit reckless." “Oh, I see, ! find in Wellington they’re wreckless in the other sense,” replied Mr Justice Frazer.

At the meeting of the Kelbum Ratepayers’ Association last night, Councillor M. F. Luckie stated, in reply to a question, that the work, of diverting Mount street from the present dangerous corner at its junction with Wellington terrace, and taking the roadway round through the site formerly occupied by Mr Bethune’s old house, is to he put in hand at once. The ueceesarv proclamation had been gazetted that morning. An epidemic of poisoning dogs has developed in Rotorua. The thinning out periodically, of a few which ore diseased, half-starved, and useless is desirable. Great circumspection, however, is necessary, or the valuable dog appropriates what was meant for the useless our. Four or five died last week, among them "Jock,” the soldiers’ dog. There was consternation and genuine regret among the “blue hoys” when the news became known A sensational incident occurred at the show grounds at Christchurch during the parade of prize stock. While in front of the grandstand a trotting colt, full-brother to Rota Peter, became fractious and alarmed by the sound of the bagpipes, suddenly bolted across the ring, throwing the driver, Joseph "Wilson, out of the Bulky. There was a general scatter to give the colt a clear run, and he was pulled up by officials before causing any damage. Wilson, an elderly man, fell very heavfly, and he required assistance to the secretary’s office where he was attended to hv members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Beyond shook and bruises he did not suffer injury. j

“If the average ‘painter’ were not an optimist the bookmaker would have been out of business long ago,” ‘remarked Mr A. M. Onglcy, when addressing the jury at the conclusion of a. betting case in the Palmerston North Supreme Court. Counsel went on to refer to the value of “tips,” given by a telegraph operator, as thev were in a position to know the latest racing news. Mr Ouglov made reference to tho suggestion that such telegrams as “Romano© and Soma Fashion” might relate to an affairo-de-coemr or a deal in spring millinery but explained that such sentimental news would no doubt contain quite « lot of information for the man who liked a modest bet- .