NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Timaru is suffering from a plague cf small flies. The nuisance is stated to be greater than for many years past. A branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters is about tq be formed in Waikanae. For the next wool sale in Wanganui the offering has been fixed at 20,000 bales. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, speaks highly of the Mount Cook Hermitage. “It is splendidly conducted,” he said, “and everybody .is most obliging. There are twice as many visitors now as. there were at this time last year.” The delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, which is to he held in Christchurch on February 7th, Bth and 9th, will bo accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor (Dr. Thacker) in the Provincial Council Chambers on Wednesday next.

“One of those unfortunate acts of Providence” was the description- given tlie recent rainstorm by the Mayor (Mr H. S. W. King) at Devonport Borough Council meeting. Various complaints of flooding were received, residents stating that their properties were covered to a depth of seven feet.

The proposed bridge over the Wha reama river Dear lea- (Wairarapa), a loan for which was approved by a poll of ratepayers a few weeks ago, is hung up for the moment by the refusal of tne trustees of the lea estate to be brought into the rating area. It is understood that the matter will be decided by a commission, for which the ’ ratepayers are now moving. Owing to the number of dogs that are Wandering about the city and suburbs without collars, and apparently unregistered, the council officials intend making a raid shortly, and will make an inspection of premises to ascertain where owners have failed to register. Several cases of the kind are due to be heard at the Magistrate’s Court next week.

“We are going to meet the public in the matter,” said Mr H. L. Cummings, the telegraph district engineer at Masterton, with emphasis. “You aro our customers, and we are going to meet you whenever we can, as any other business men would. Please do not look upon us as a Government department that will drive a* thing down your throats whether you like it or not.”

“During the war I registered a sort of vow that I would never again speak to a> German,” said Mr Grant, an Edinburgh banker, lecturing at Auckland, “but I had to break it when, under the blazing sun of Mount Carmel, a member of that nation offered me a luscious Jaffa orange and other liquid refreshment to assuage my thirst, and what was more astonishing to a Scotsman, he wouldn’t take any money for it!”

The triennial revaluation of the borough pf Mataura has been completed. The fating, is on the annual value, whioli the borough valuer has 6et down as a total for the borough at £lljß7o, an increase of over £I2OO on the previous valuation. In the meantime a petition has been presented to the borougn council praying that a poll be taken on the question of introducing the system of rating on the unimproved value. The Government steamer Tutanekai, which left Auckland a fortnight ago on a visit to Northern lighthouses, has arrived at Onehunga. Captain GeoTge Hooper, nautical adviser to the Government,' and Mr A. Gibbs, assistant chief telegraph engineer, who conducted the experiments with a radio po-sition-finder at the Three Kings, were on board the vessel. Captain Hooper declined to make any official statement regarding the experiments, saying the results had yet to be collated and carefully worked out.

Tho following letter has been received by Air J. L. Hay, general secretary, Y.M.C.A., Willis street: —“Dear Sir, —■ I wish to advise you that the men of tho Jules Michelet were anxious to thank- you most heartily for your hospitality and kindness to them during their late stay here. It was a great advantage to have some place where they could rest quietly after tramping the streets.—Yours faithfully, O. R. Bendall (signed) Consular Agent for France, E. Gillertson (signed) hon. secretary. ’ ’

The swarms of beetles that • have visited Lyttelton and surrounding bays during the past week are still plentiful. A resident of Governor’s Bay reported that n fimilm- visitation took place at Teddhigton about three years ago when they were noticed, thougK not in such large swarms. At Governor’s Bay a resident notioed that a heap of manure on the road was infested by thousands of the beetles. The insects also visited Heathcote. A Lyttelton resident- states that they are always fairly plentiful at the sack of Lyttelton in the hush and also at Cashmere Hills.

In a letter to friends in Dunedin recounting events in the Transvaal, » former resident- of that city wrote. “In the meantime Trades’ Unionism is dead. On the Witwatersrand wages are reduced by one half, and there is very much unemployment along the whole reef, so that prospects for Christmas are far from bright. Relief works have been opened at the Hertebeestpool dam, which is to form the nucleus of a vast irrigation scheme. The wages are 4s a day and all sorts and conditions of men, even University graduates, are thankful to work for even that pittance.” The arrivals at Auckland of people from overseas during January totalled 1640, an increase of 10 over the total tfecorded during the corresponding month of last year. The number of people who left Auckland for' overseas last month was 875, while that cf January, 1922, was 803. Among the arrivals during January were six Chinese and 29 Hindus, as compared with the same number of Chinese and eight Hindus during January, 1922. Of the Asiatics who left that port last month 18 were Chinese and two Hindus, while th* departures during January last year included eight Chinese and seven Hindus. Father Andrew, now Rev. John Enright, Presbyterian minister, of Sydney, has written two fearless indictments in his book just published, “Let There he Light” and “Breaking the Fetters.” He has a wonderful story to tell. Six shillings each, posted. P.P.A. Book Depot. Membership renewals for 1923 will be received at P.P.A. Offices, 125, Lambton quay.'—Advt. :

Last week 461 tons of fruit was railed from Beaumont to Dunedin. The Pahiatua quota for the Pearson Memorial Fund is £250, which will he raised by direct canvass. There is a movement on foot to establish herd-testing m various districts about Wanganui. After an absence of some time, mutton birds are making their reappearance about the Foveaux Strait fishing grounds. Mr H. L. Cummingß, district telegraph engineer, who addressed a meeting of farmers and business men at Mastcrton, proceeded to Eketahuna for a similar purpose. In connection with the fly nuisance, some interesting cases are to come before the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday afternoon next. The prosecutions are being conducted by the sanitary department, and there may be some interesting developments. It has long been advocated that Southland is no! suitable for lucernegrowing, but a prominent farmer is well satisfied with a small plot which he tried as an experiment. Ho has cut 16 tons off this plot this season, and expects to get moro before the season ends.

Upon inquiry being made at the Government meteorological office respecting the electrical storm that was expected in the northern portion of the NoTth Island, it was learnt that the storm did not come south. It travelled in an easterly direction, missed New Zealand, and more settled weather conditions are now predicted.

A 200-mile walking tour was recently undertaken by four young women. Having procured the necessary equipment of sleeping bags, cooking utensils, and necessary toilet articles, th*v left Auckland some ten days ago, and proceeded up the east coast as far as Mangapai, where they crossed over to the west coast. After various exciting experiences, they reached Waimaku, en route for Auckland, via the coast, which they expect to reach on Sunday.