NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11497, 18 April 1923, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mr -Charles. ,W. Limpus, aged ‘65 years, a well-known sheepfarmer, formerly of Patangata, but more latterly a resident of walpukurau, was found dead in a cowbail.

At the time the orders were placed for the Mangahao power plant, costs of machinery were liO per cent, higher than pre-war, said Mr Evan Parry to a “Times” reporter yesterday. At the present time they were only 60 per cent, in excess, but he did not think there would be any further decrease until the pound sterling had appreciated very considerably.

Compensation amounting to £333 Ss 6d was awarded by the Arbitration Court at Auckland to Hubfert James Broughton, farm labourer, against Donald Fiolaysqn, farmer, Dargaville; Broughton’s claim was for the doss of a leg. While working on the defendant’s farm, he fell into a gif in hold and damaged'the knee with the result , that osteomyelitis (from which lie had previously suffered but from which he had been free for some time), became active again and amputation was necessary-

Speaking on electrification work yesterday, Mr Evan Parry, late chief electrical engineer to the Government, now engineer-in-chief to the English Electrio Company, and who planned the hydro-electrio scheme for New Zealand, said he had no information as to present costs in the Dominion, but the estimates for the various sections of the scheme were correct,; as they were based on work already carried out, with an ample margin for contingencies. The estimates should be adjusted to the value of money then and now.’

The belief that the dried milk industry would one day come into its own was expressed by a company official when giving evidence before the Arbitration Court in Auckland in the dairy workers’ dispute. He said that dried milk was having a hard struggle for existence, hut those interested were looking to the time when the industry would be firmly established. Ho added that travellers were creating a market around the Pacific, and he believed the industry, which had been established at heavy cost, would eventually come into its own.

The deer-stalking season is now in full swing, and advice has just been received that three further 12-pointers have been taken in Hawke’s Bay.

The Dannevirke Borough Council has decided to give consumers of gas the benefit of a reduction cf tenpence per 1000 feet.

The Pahiatua branch of the R.S.A. is likely to follow .the example of Waipukurau, and disband. The annual report shows a year of comparative inactivity, due mainly to the lack of interest shown by its members.

The contract for the renovations and alterations to the King’s Theatre, which has been acquired by a syndicate as a picture theatre, has been let to J. H. Meyer and Co. The architect is Mr Lhvellyn B. Williams'.

“The bad road takes too much out of the cows,” stated a ratepayer who wrote to the Borowhenua County Council, suggesting- that certain repairs should be effected on Poberua road.

Charles Selkirk (67) left his home at Morningside, Auckland, on Monday morning, apparently ini good health, and boarded, a tram car for th© city. He was in the act of handing his fare to the conductor when he collapsed and died on the seat.

A horse corralled’ in a vard near Staveley, in the Ashburton district, was attacked by a deer, which injured the horse’s eye and lacerated his flanks. The deer disappeared into ,the bush. On one occasion A mob ot over 200 deer were seen at Staveley

Mr W. H. Jackson has 'donated to the'-. Wairarapa High School a. complete X-ray apparatus fitted with a powerful coil, eondenser, fluorescent screen and Crook’s tubes. This donation carreis a departmental \ subsidy for the purchase of special chemistry apparatus. ' At a meeting of the .South Wairarapa Acclimatisation Society correspondence was received regarding carrying rifies over Mount Hector track by camping parties. A number of pheasants were liberated in the South Wairarapa, last month, and more are to be distributed at an early date.

“Rugby club secretaries have so much to do these times that the volume of their Work is practically eqifal to that of , the Rugby Union secretary 12 to 15 years ago,” remarked Mr J. Prendeville (chairman), at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union management committee.

The weather continues very dry at Waipawa, but exceptionally heavy frosts are, being experienced almost daily; The frosts have practically! annihilated all the late tomatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins. Water is becoming scarce in some of the country districts.

The Banks Peninsula Power Board has arranged to .hold a ceremony at 'Duvtanabelfo fla Commemorate s the completion of the electrical reticulation of the Peninsula. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, will be present' bo address the gathering and, to unveil a commemoration "tablet.

“I don’t think, they are worth it,” was the comment made by the Mayor of Hastings at the last meeting of the Borough. Council, when tenders for painting the German guns , sent to 1 Hastings as war trophies were, opened, and it was ascertained that the prices ranged from £ll to £l9. Councillors agreed, and it was decided not to accept a tender.

An attempt was made to break into the promisee of the “Herald” at Auckland. ’ The attention of an -employee who wqs working on the third Soar was attracted by noises outside the window, and-tho crouching figure of a young man was seen on, some scaffolding erected in connection with the building extensions . now in progress. The police wore summoned, and \ a search was made, .but without success. : “(Relatively this is only a small job,V said ' the Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. H. Gunson) at the opening ceremony at Nih'otupu data; “Huge as it appears to us, it is really, nothing very bag, and this will be appreciated when 1 say that all. this water would last London only two days. , You see, after all,' we are a small peoplle; in a, small community, and must be humble.”

Exactly when electric power will he available in Auckland from Horahora cannot be stated, said the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, but the ; work is being pushed through with all dispatchJ From Horahora to Penrose the transmission lines will be carried on steel towers in certain sections and on wooden towers along other portions of the route.

The “Carterton News”' states that' two men were caught by Mr R. Barton (an honorary 'ranger of the Acclimatisation Society), near the mouth of the Tauherenikau river, with seven ducks iu their possession. A , certain amount of shooting has been carried on in this particular vicinity. Cover is excellent, and oil a windy night the young ducks driven in fall an easy prey to guns.

The chief items of traffic on the Sanson tramway during the month were, minerals and manures 189 tons, cheese and butter 1501 tons, general merchandise 80 tons, 1 sheep, etc. 61 trucks, timber 24,790 sup. feet, and the fares amounted to £1 2s 6d, stated the monthly report of the manager, presented at a meeting of the Manawatu County Council. The aoqaunts far the tramways showed a debit balance of £39 Ss Id.

In the course of an address on astronomy at the Cathedral Grammar School at Christchurch, Dr D. B. McLeod, D.Sc., referred- to the enormous distances that had to be considered when talking about ’the stars. An express train travelling at sixty miles an hour would take forty years to reach the nearest planet; but it would take it forty million years' to reach the nearest star, one of the pointers of the Southern Cross. '

“New Zealanders are the most polite people I have over met,” said Dr Armstrong Smith at Palmerston North. “If one seeks the aid of a New Zealander to reach his destination, the latter not only directs but actually goes out of his way to put him on the right track, and even when one is returning and happens to meet the same person, he kindly inquiries, ‘Well, did you find the place all right?’”

Mi6s Gertrude Cadness, aged 23. a resident of Whakatane, is missing. She had been undergoing treatment for mental depression for some time, and was discovered in a highly nervous state by a neighbour. Who tried to persuade the girl to go tb bed, The neighbour had started to undress her when Miss Cadness eluded her and rushed out of the house. She was tracked up the river, but search parties have | failed to find any further trace of her.