NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11648, 12 October 1923, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Egmont County Council, at a recent meeting, struck a rate of *2.1 d in the- £ on the capital value.

Vessels with a total registered tonnage of 10,258 arrived at Napier during the month of September, as compared with 34,65-1 in the same mouth of 1922 and 31,030 in 1921.

The steamer Wnitangi still lies near the mouth of the Patea river. A month or two ago something was done to get her off, and now, it is understood, a syndicate from the Wairarapa has bought the vessel in hopes of doing something with her.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie unveiled a war memorial at Pukeuri. He said that ho severely blamed Sir lan Hamilton for the Suvla Bay failure, and considered that it was owing: to the failure of the high command at Suvla that the recent Lausanne Treaty was so disadvantageous.

.Speaking at a meeting of the AVanganui Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr T. B. Williams) expressed the opinion that before Mangahao hydro power was available ihe Wanganui borough steam plant would be fully loaded.

At a meeting of the Patea County Council it was decided, on the motion of the chairman, .that employees of the council laid up through accident receive their wages for one month, after which they will receive the amount provided by the accident insurance company.

The returns of the Dunedin Savings Bank for the quarter ended September 30th last show that the deposits during that period amounted to £114,-406 10s Id, and the withdrawals to £91,865 7s 7d. The total amount standing to credit of depositors on that date was £820,948 11s 9d.

The kingfisher, one of the most 'beautiful of native birds, is a slayer of mice, grubs, and even young birds and white-eyes. In the winter months it frequents cultivated grounds in quest of .grubs and wofiiis, which at this season constitute its principal food. He is a valiant creature, and will attack cats and other animals on their approach to its best.

A car load of passengers had rather a startling experience while crossing Spooner’s Hang© (Nielson). Suddenly a loud explosion was heard from the front of the car and immediately the occupants were receiving a in nit shower bath. The water in the ladintor had become overheated and blew off the cap. The lady passengers especially were much agitated, and took a lot of persuasion to continue the journey in the car instead of walking to the'nearest village.

A deputation of Lepperton settlers waited on the general manager for railways (Mr R. W. McVdllv), and urg. ed the necessity for the erection of stockyards at Lepperton Junction. Mr iloVill.v said the matter had been brought under his notice before by Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., but at the time there liad been a considerable shortage of funds and lie had net been able to coniply with the request. Now, however, considering the altered position, the necessary 7 money for the erection of the yards would ’be authorised.

The throwing of half a dozen eggs in the Arcadia Picture Theatre, Auckland, on a recent evening led to the [appearance in the Juvenile Offenders’ ; Court of a crestfallen group of seven youths, whose ages ranged from 14 to 17 years. They pleaded guilty to a charge of causing wilful iiiisehief by throwing eggs in the picture theatre ou September 15th. The magistrate, Mr F-. K. Hunt, who remarked that “it was not a crime but a foolish joke,’’ ordered the four eldest offenders to pay for the damage done, and the witnesses’ expenses, a total of £4 ss.

As regarded the details of railway matters, said the Hen. J. G. Coates to a New Plymouth deputation, lie did not pretend to understand them at all. He could say, however, that at present the railway finances were qv-ite “sticky,” they were better than they had been, though -not because of increased revenue, out on account o F the economies that had been put into operation. He could make no premise in. .regard to reductions in Heights or fares till he knew what the year’s workings were likely to he, as such, it would be recognised, would be unwise. The department, like any business concern, must look ahead.

An amusing allusion to a certain man’s prison experience was mado by Mr Justice Stringer in the Auckland Supreme Court recently during tlie hearing of an appeal case (reports a correspondent). His Honour recalled an instance where a man, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for street betting, appealed. Medical evidence was called to the effect that the culprit could not live more than a month in gaol. The judge ordered the sentence to stand, leaving the man to apply for the o\eme>nqy of the Crown. The man served six months, and secured a new lease of life ae the result of the salutary effects of prison life, confounding those medical men who had held that he must die in a month.

When speaking on “Prison Reform" yesterday, Mr C. A. L. Treadwell regretted that he had not time to refer to women offenders, except to say that women were more difficult subjects to deal with. Not more than 10 per cent, of them came out of prison reformed, whereas ”6 per cent, of the young men were reformed. He did not wish to hurt the feelings of those interested in this work, but he thought they were not getting them young enough or dealing with them in proper institutions. In no circumstances should the prostitute be allowed to mix with the young prisoners. The question of capital punishment was an interesting one, on which there were authorities for and against, hut in his humble opinion there was only one answer. He thought it dangerous to give men short sentences. Criminals should be given long and indeterminate sentences, and given a chance to work out their own reform.

A New Zealand company, not in a largo way of business at present, lebeived a shook a few days ago when an order for certain plant was refused by a firm of British manufacturers (says the Otago “Times”). The order was likely to amount to £750 to £IOOO, and it was sent to a great firm in Lancashire, specialising in plant of the kind required. The order was to have been paid for cash against documents. or virtually as soon as the plant was placed on hoard the steamer conveying it to New Zealand The reasons given for the refusal to accept this business were want of knowledge of the company and references in Great Britain, preference for dealing through some exporting firm in London, and the smallness of the particular order. The local firm felt annoyed at the rebuff to its efforts to place its business with a British in preference to a foreign manufacturer; tut it is understood that it will still try to get ita order executed in Britain.

The prohibition of money-order and postal correspondence for H. Thompson, 275, Swunston street, Melbourne, was gazetted yesterday.

The lines of the Wairarapa Klcctric Power Board extend over a distance of 200 miles. When the outer districts are fully reticulated the total will bo a frrea-t deal more.

The opinion was expressed at the meeting; of the W-airarapa Power Board that it more power schemes like Ivcurarau were carried out as cheaply there would be no need of the big Government schemes.

‘‘One of the strange customs of the Koreans is to pray with their hats on and their boots off,” said Commissioner Hoggard at Masterton. '‘Not very pleasant sometimes either,” he a ddc d. (La ugh ter).

Some 570,000 acres are proclaimed in yesterday’s ‘ Gazette'’ as apart for selection in the Ben Ohau Block of the Canterbury Land District; also some 0000 acres in the Auckland Land District.

A une of two hundred Polled Angus bullocks that had been advertised to be sold at the last Feilding sale did not reach the market. It is reported that they were bought by a well-known Hawke’s Bay cattle-grower.

Along with other small towns throughout New Zealand, Paten experienced tl)o depression in trade that came about as one of the aftermaths of the war, but, according to two or three prominent tradesmen there, business is decidedly brisk again.

A resident near Mt. Hol&sworth wrote to the quarterly meeting of the Masterton Methodist Church suggesting that a service should be arranged on Sundays for the benefit of visitors and tourists at the mountain. The matter has been referred to the Masterton Ministers’ Association.

The ravages of hares came in for seme strong comment at a meeting of the Masterton County Council. One member instanced a farmer who had planted 500 young trees, and lares had destroyed 250 of them. Another councillor from the East Coast eclipsed this by stating that of 1000 trees he had planted, 75 per cent, had been destroj'ed.

When in London, said Mr C. A. L. Treadwell yesterday, he visited the great prison at Pentonville, and standing in the hall he looked down a long passage where he saw terraces and terraces of cells. It .was years behind the-■system of New Zealand. In France prisoners- were kept locked up in the cells, and when they left were worse than when they went in.

Amending regulations for trout, carp, and perch-fishing in the Waimarino Acclimatisation District were gazetted yesterday. They provide, inter alia, that every rainbow trout (Salmo iridou-j) not exceeding twelve inches in length from nose to tip of tail, taken or caught by any person in the Mangawhoro stream shall immediately be returned alive into the water from which the same is taken.

Some idea of the success of the work of the Salvation Army in Korea may bo obtained from the knovledge that no fewer than 76 corps were opened, the congregations averaged 54,000 per month, converts ran into thousands, and 16,000 copies of the New Testament were sold (not given) to the natives, in eight years during which Commissioner Hoggard resided there.

Speaking on “Prison Reform” at the “Y* luncheon yesterday, Mr C. A. L. Treadwell said that at present the prisoners at Invercargill reform prison wore kept separate at night, altnough a new system was being introduced by which they would be allowed to associate after Vork hours. At present he was a staunch believer in keeping the men apart as much as possible, letting each man work out his own destiny.

In an address at Masterton, Commissioner Hoggard, of the Salvation Army, said that it was only during his stay in Korea that the Japanese moved the signposts bearing the inscription, “If you love your country murder the foreigner.” “When you are the foreigner,” the commissioner naively remarked, “that is not altogether pleasant reading about yourself.”

The Wellington Rotary Club is having a big boys’ demonstration next Friday at the Town Hall, whon there will be a brass band procession from three different points. On the following Sunday the churches are cooperating in the movement, and in the morning the addresses will be to the boys- themselves, while in the evening the appeal will be to the parents. No sport® events will take plaot? this year, as there are so many functions of the kind, but the boys will be entertained in other ways.

Reporting to the Napier Harbour Board on the damage alleged to have been done to certain vessels whilst lying alongside Nelson quay, the special committee set up to go into the mat ter recommended to the board that £6O be paid to Richardson and Co. for damage done to the Tangaroa, and that the committee be empowered to further consult with the board’s solicitors with a view to bringing about a full settlement. The , committee further recommended that the board disclaim any liability m respect of the alleged damage to the Ahuriri, as they could not see any damage that could reasonably be held to be caused by the wharves. The board adopted the recommendations of the committee.