NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A sitting of the Arbitration Court will he held in Wellington early next month.

“Twenty-three years ago I chased a bag of wind up the football field. . .

my highest ambition was to become a' footballer, and I was actually out to win the junior championship when God Almighty touched me.” —Adjutant McKenzie, speaking at the welcome at the Salvation Army Citadel at Palmerston North.

In opening the summer, show of St. Thomas’s Horticultural Society, Mr R. McKeen, M.P., congratulated the society on the progress it had made, and said that the present display spoke volumes for the care exercised by amateur gardenerg in the southern end of the city. The comradely spirit engendered in gardens was also a thing well worth encouraging.

1 After a lapse of three years, an Auckland business man has. just com pleted an extensive motor tour of the southern part of the province. Although he had mishaps, he reports that there is a general improvement in the con. dition of the roads, "particularly in the Bay of Plenty district and on the Hauraki Plains. He mentions particn larly the roads round Matamata and Atiamuri road, and the coast road from Te Puke to Whakatane, via Matata,

A remarkable increase in the motor traffic about Rotorua this season is reported by a recent traveller. He stated that at the little eating-house at Rotoma a Staff of no less than ten is employed, it being necessary to provide luncheon to 60 or 70 motor travellers every day, besides refreshments at other hours to considerable numbers. He believes that if the main roads did not have their treacherous “gaps” motoring to Rotorua would" develop marvellously.

A story illustrative of cool nerve is told regarding an occurrence in the Auckland suburbs within the last few days A ladv customer went to a small shop and was served by a new assistant. Next day ah® called again and, seeing the proprietor, said something about his having get an assistant. The reply.was: “That must havo been the man who robbed the till while I was in the hack room.” It must have required a steads' nerve for the man to pose as an assistant and serve a customer, with the possibility of the proprietor returning at any moment. The man had his hat on when the customer entered- the shop, hut politely removed it while executing her order.

There is a small creek, or stream, not far from Opunake, which is said to he the lair, of a gigantio eel, one which is said to he well-known to the Maoris of the district. The eel is described as being of considerable length and thickness. The Maoris tell a story of this big eel being onco caught on a hook, hut his strength was such that the Maori who had hold of the line was dragged into the water. It is said that the Maoris claim that this particular eel is a very old acquaintance, and that he has been known to them for “eighty years.” Some of the natives, it is said, speak of the eel with bated breath, and are inclined to the opinion that he is not an eel at all, but a “taniwha.”-

As a result of the electric storm in the Whakatane district, three of the electric light poles at Rangitaiki were slightly damaged by lightning. The lightning evidently struck the wires and travelled down the poets. In one instance a piece about 4in in diameter was stripped out of a poet from top to bottom, while the insulators were not damaged, which is considered to he an excellent test of their durability. It is reported also that two cows were killed by lightning at Rangitaiki, while at Waimana a valuable horse belonging to Mr R, Fleming was killed, the incident being observed by those milking in a shed at the time. At Opouriao a oow, owned by Mr D. Davis, met its fate by the same cause.

A party of British bluejackets proceeding by train to attend a social function in one of the suburbs of Auck. land caused considerable amusement to fellow-passengers by refusing to admit the slightest knowledge of English, and addressing the conductor in more or less passable French. The wag of the party had noticed that sailors from the French cruiser were allowed to travel free, and his vocal acrobatics in endeavouring to inform the conductor of tho fact were supported whole-heartedly by his 29 comrades. It did not make the slightest difference to their argument that they bore on their caps the names of English flowers. It is not known if the conductor succeeded in collecting the fares. Each of the thirty men made an effort to speak in the English tcuuuia. and each dismally failed.

There were five cases of hydatids in the Wairarapa in 1922.

The Eastbourne Borough Council has decided upcrr Wednesday as its 6tatutory half-holiday.

Wool in considerable quantities is still being brought down the Wanganui river, the settlers evidently being anxious to be in plenty of time for the next local sale.

The Oastlepoint County Council used the wrong form of voting-paper in the poll on the Wharama bridge loan of £SOOO. As nobody was misled by the irregularity the poll has been validated by Grder-in-Council.

It was stated at the Gonville Town Board meeting that the members had no objection to racehorses being kept in the district, but they objected, after putting paths in order, to find racehorses being exercised upon them.

Through the activity of the Masterton A. and P. Society, Wairarapa vendors submitting stud sheep for auction at the Hastings ram and ewe fair have been furnished with a special train of 33 trucks, which will leave Featherston on Tuesday.

Gonville Town Board launched out in a little farming enterprise and sowed 94 acres in oats on the Domain. This crop has turned out very satisfactory, besides helping to keep the ground free of weeds. It will he turned into chaff for the board’s horses, and will materially save the chaff accounts.

A fine specimen of the rare veronica Astoni, a variety of the Koromiko which is only found in a native state in the Tararuas west of Masterton, was brought in to Masterton. The flower is a plum colour,, and the leaf is rather broader than in other varieties of Koroxniko.

As the result of a horse and cart backing in the exceedingly narrow lane beside Page’s clothing shop, on Lambton quay, a large plate-glass window was cracked beyond redemption. It is estimated that the cost is very large, but the window will he replaced at an early date.

Mention was made of the financial position of the Progress League at the last meeting of that body. It was stated that the room where the league held its meetings was kindly‘lent by Mr P. C. Watt. Mr G. R. Mitchell, the secretary to the league, had entailed considerable expense in his investigations. It was proposed to canvass business men to see if funds could he obtained from them to help the league in its, work.

A poll is to he taken later in the month over a specified portion of tho East Coast for the purpose of obtaining sanction for a loan of £IOO,OOO to provide harbour facilities at Tolago Bay. The scheme is to provide a concrete wharf extending out from the land for a distance of 1600 feet in the south-west oorner of the hay. At this wharf coastal vessels would he able to berth 6afely, and to load and discharge, thus obviating the difficulty and expense of lightening. The complete solieme includes, in addition to the wharf, cottages, stores for wool, and road formation.

On the site of the new match factory, off Cambridge terrace, a tall chimney was recently erected, and shortly afterwards a very tall skeleton ironwork construction, over 100 feet high and taller than the chimney, made its appearance. TheTe has been a good deal of conjecture as to what was the nature of the work, and a man on a passing tramcar ventured the opinion that it was for the purpose of hanging up the match tapers to dry. A “Times” reporter ascertained that the construction is an elevator for the purpose of raising concrete and distributing it to any part of the building required.

“I’ll never taste again,” pleaded an old man, a statutory first-offender, who appeared on a charge of drunkenness before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., at the Timaru Police Court (says the “Ashburton Guardian”). “I’ll give my word as a Scotchman,” he protested anxiously, and added: “I’ll take my Bible oath!” “I would sooner take your word as a Scot,’’ declared the magistrate pleasantly, apparently to the surprise of the son of Caledonia. The old man had recently come back from Dunedin, and had been found in a sorry state of drunkenness in Stafford street. He continued to protest his whole-hearted determination to follow the “straight and narrow path,’’ and never to touch intoxicants again. He assured the magistrate that he would' gladly go to the Old People’s Home. He was convicted and discharged, on condition that he entered the home. This the Scottish recalcitrant earnestly promised to do without the least delay.

Like most of the old families in Scotland and England there is an heirloom of mystery in the family which for the second time in its history is about to be allied with Royalty—the House of Strathmore. The “Lyon of Glamis,” which belongs to the Earls of Strathmore, is an ancient and beautiful loving cup in the form of a lion rampant, richly and most curiously chased. One stoTy has it that this beautiful heirloom was the work of an early Venetian goldsmith rescued from the Saracens by one of the ancestors of the Strathmores. It is in some way connected with the famous Glamis Mystery of Glamis Castle. Somewhere in the walls of the great ancient building there is a mysterious room, and the secret it contains is known to only three people—the head of the house; the heir to whom it is revealed when he comes of age; and the factor or steward of the estates. There is a tradition that the imparting of the Glamis secret to the Strathmore heir has on more than one oocasion sobered a roystering Stiathmore.

The farewell meetings of Ambassador Booth are advertised, stating that this will he the last opportunity of hearing the man who stirred up Australia. To-night in the Taranaki street Methodist Church Mr Booth will deliver the address which startled Sydney. On Sunday morning, in the same huildingj “Adam and Eve,” or “The Gospel m the first chapters of Genesis,” is to he given. In the afternoon, in Town Hall, the Ambassador is to deliver the address which has never failed to attract the largest attendances in the largest halls throughout Australia —“Lessous from the life of my mother, Catherine Booth.” At night, also in the Town Hall, the illustrated lecture, “Ecce Homo—Who was Jesus?” is to be given at seven o’clock. This lecture has been given not only in the largest halls of Australia, hut throughout the world, and shows two hundred beautifully coloured pictures—many of them being copie® of the world’s masterpieces. This lecture was claimed by one of America’s leading divines to be worthy of exhibition before a divinity students’ extension course gathering; it is the first time that it will, have been given in Wellington, and in all probability will he the last. Another great subject will be dealt with in tho Taranaki street church on Monday night, namely, “When Jesus comes back to Wellington.’-

It is expected that the new municipal kiosk at Eastbourne will be finished next week.

A good start has been made with the tarring operations for the new tennis courts at Eastbourne. Shelter-sheds and conveniences are in course of erection.

The holiday traffic across to Eastbourne by steamer constituted records. The present month, so far, is in excess of receipts for the same period last year.

The Eastbourne Borough Council passed a vote of thanks last night to those who gave assistance in connection with an outbreak of fire on January 7th in the vicinity of the Muritai park, and which at one time threatened the reserve.

“All arrangements are well in hand,” declared the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr F. H: Mather) last night, commenting on the coming carnival; “and, given good weather, it must be a big success. It will be of inestimable benefit to the borough from a publicity point of view.”

Messrs J. H. Bethune and Co. announce in our auction columns a Public Trust sale to be held at their rooms, 154, Featherston street, on Wednesday next, '24th inst., at 2.30 p.m., when they are submitting a 5-roomed dwelling, No. 39, Scarborough terrace, and a 6-roomed dwelling. No. 26, Leraud street, both having every convenience. Full details appear in the advertisement, and any further information may be had on application to the auctioneers.

At the conclusion of the Nurserymen’s Conference yesterday, the members, together with officials of the Agricultural Department, paid a visit to the city waterworks as guests of the Wellington Nurserymen’s Council, and a most enjoyable day was spent in ideal weather. A visit was made to Wainui-o-mata, where Mr Semple explained details of the work in hand. A vote of thanks to Dr Reakee, Captain Ellis, and the officials of the Agricultural and Forestry Departments was passed.

It is remarkable how the public mind changes with the seasons. In walking through the streets yesterday, grim, small groups of man could be heard eagerly discussing the prospects of a certain horse winning a race at Trentham. Races and horses are in everyone’s mouth; from the eager boy who shouts “Race car-r-rds!” to the man .who, out of modesty for his public position, refrains from talking of races on the streets, but who is not so reticent “on the quiet.” To-day it will also be cricket, and soon it will be football again—and so we go on. Time does indeed pass quickly these days, but the “sports” appear with the regularity of hardy perennials 1

A proof, copy of a pamphlet published to help advertise the Wellington district was submitted at the last meeting of the Central Progress League, and met with the general approval of those present. It was stated that tho cost would approximately be £2OO for printing 20,000 copies. The distribution of the pamphlets would be free. There was no cost outside the publishing, and it was felt that the business people of Wellington would find the money for such a publication. The pamphlet dealt with the whole of Wellington district, the .harbour, shipping, industries, the, nufreral and other resources, the bays, pleasure resorts, agri--oulture, dairying, general farming, sporting; in fact, all phases of the life and possibilities of the city and district.