NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11658, 24 October 1923, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The quantity of coal obtained from the Hikurangi Coal Company’s new mine totals ISO tons daily. This is not nearly the total expected; when the new constructions arc finished. The total output from the two mines of the company is 300 tons daily.

A number of purebred cattle and sheep have been brought to New Zealand during the last few months, and other shipments are on the way. The Hauraki, which arrived at Auckland fiom San Francisco, brought a valuable purebred Jersey bull for that pott.

An unknown man was admitted to the Auckland Hospital in an unconscious condition at the weekend. It is understood that he was standing on the rear platform of a Herne Bay trauicar when he leaned out and struck his head on one ot the polos carrying the overhead wires.

The southerly winds during the last few days have retarded the ripening of the Auckland strawberry crop by about 10 days. Growers were mulching the soil and preparing for what should In » good season. At tlie city markets, earlv strawberries brought from 2s to 2s 6d a chip.

During argument in the Full Court yesterday, Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., quoted an old saying, which was to the effect that a good judge was always supposed to enlarge the jurisdiction of his court. But it was counsel’s submission that of recent years the legislature had removed that privilege.

“It is a fallacy that liquor can legally he served with a meal on licensed premises between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on a Sunday,” stated Sen-ior-Sergeant Fraser during the hearing of evidence in a licensing case at Levin. “The Act only applies to week days when liquor may be served with meals during those hours, but it makes ho provision for Sundays. Many people, including licensees, are ignorant on this point,” he added.

An exceptionally good supply of fish was maintained in Auckland last week. The trawlers operating in the gulf experienced favourable weathei, with the result that good catches were the rule, while the new method of seine-net fishing has likewise been the means <.f supplying the market with a plentiful variety, particularly flounder. It is stated that the latter variety has been remarkably cheap during the week. The whitebait season has practically ended, very little having come to hand for some time.

A question of great interest to the teaching profession was discussed by the- Wanganui Education Board, when seme time was occupied in considering whether single teachers should have preference over married, as suggested by the Education Department in a contemplated amendment of the Act. One member objected to the inclusion of such a clause, holding that it was wrong in principle, and that a. woman should be judged upon efficiency and ability to teach, not- upon whether she was single or married.

The much maligned Tourist Department came in for high praise at Dunedin from Mr J. E. Wiiisloe, director of the White Star Publicity Mission. Mr Winsloe said that from his observations during his tour of New Zealand ho had found that the Tourist Department was doing wonderful work, particularly in view of the funds it had at its disposal, and it was working hand in hand with the Publicity Department. Mr Winsloe said that he wished to stress tlie fact that ill no instance had he ever found the department “boosting” one part of the dominion at the expense of tlie other.

After pleading guilty to six separate charges of false pretences and making false documents, Gerald Leonard Knowles, agent of Hatwma, admitted the following offences at the Napier Magistrate’s Court:—(l) Obtaining the sum of £3OO from Sidney Ixniis Anderson by falsely representing that he had an option over certain goods from the Bank of New Zealand, Napier, and that- two bills of lading were good and valid documents, with intent to defraud ; (2) obtaining the sum of £3OO fiom Joseph Gilmour by the same false representations; (3) making a false cheque on the National Bank of New Zealand, Napier, for the sum of £672, purporting to have been signed by H. A. Pirie. He was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Wellington on all charges.

A new permanent church is to he built at Paihia by members of the Williams family to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of two of New Zealand’s greatest missionaries, Henry and William Williams, known to the present generation as Archdeacon Henry Williams and Bishop William Williams, first bishop of Waiapu. 11l announcing the gilt of the church in his address to the Auckland Synod, Bishop Averill skid that the Maori race owed more to the courageous atid successful work of these two pioneer missionaries that it could ever acknowledge, and it would be an honour to the Auckland Diocese, and especially to the Bay of Islands, to have a permanent memorial to the work and Worth of these great men on the spot, which was already sacred to their memory.

A diversion occurred at tho meeting of strawberry growers at Auckland which threatened at one stage to develop into a bout of fisticuffs. A discussion was proceeding on the question of dishonest packers, when a Maori grower rose to his feet and with no ttle eloquence of speech, declared his own perfect honesty as a packer. He offered to sacrifice £66 if any poor fruit could be found in chips packed by himself. Another grower sitting near the Maori interjected once or twice when the latter was speaking, and finally aroused the latter to some show of heat. Ignoring the protests -of the chairman, the two continued their altercation, and the Maori took off his coat, saying he would “knock” the interjecter if he stood 1 up. The latter, however, coolly told him to wait till they got outside, when he undertook to “knock” the Maori. Someone got in between the pair, and amid laughter peace was restored.

The Wellington Technical College proposes to hold its open night on Thursday, November Ist, when all who are interested in the work of the college are cordially invited to inspect the workshops, art and home science departments. At the same time the pupils of the Technical High School will hold a sale of articles made by them for thb benefit of the university students’ European relief fund, to which monetary contributions have already been made. The Union Clothing Company has kindly consented to allow the college the use of its large window at the corner of Cuba and Manners streets for the display of students’ work during the week November 12th to 17th. “The display made last year in the window of Messrs James Smith, Ltd.” (stated the director of the college in his report to the Board of Governors last *ight) “did perhnps more than anything else to bring the work of the students before the notice of the public, and I believe the display this year will be an even better oum.”

A number of rases of influenza have occurred at Kaiwnka during the pastfortnight. Most of the cases were of a fairly mild nature.

A conference of civil engineers is taking place at Whangarei. An inspection has been made by the visitors of the railwav works.

A man named Cookburn, who resides at Mastertcn, fell off the train returning from Wellington on Monday night, evidently through being unaware that the gate was open. He was picked up apparently unhurt, but remained at Pigeon Bush that night.

Five occupied shops in the main street of Pahiatua have hern purchased from the ov per. Mrs M. M. A. Burge, by Messrs If Hannah and Co., of Wellington. The premises were erected 20 years ago but have been considerably improved sinc« then.

A commission appointed by the Wanganui River Trust to inquire into the claim of lessees of its lands in the Taumarunui district for improvement in conditions of their leases, sat at the week-end when rhe lessors put their ea.se. Mr W r . A. Veitcli, M.P., presided. The commission will submit a report to the River Trust at its next meeting.

The Wellington Technical College Board of Governors received advice last night from the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand that that board has decided to pay the Technical College a subsidy of £25 for the year 1924, on the understanding that classes in botany and chemistry for pharmacy students will bo continued for that period.

Following the lead of the opponents of the Frankton-Raglan light railway scheme, settlers in the Te AwamutuPirongia light railway area met at Mangapiko, and, after discussing the position, decided to actively oppose the scheme as unsuitable and too costly. It was decided to nominate five candidates for the election to he held in the middle of November, all pledged to wind up the affair at the earliest possible moment.

Evidence given In' a constable in a sly-grog-selling caso raised a laugh at the Police Court, Auckland. The witness went to the particular house on a Sunday. W 7 lien lie was given the liquor, defendant said that witness ought to be thankful that he was not like the men in the street who liad their tongues hanging out with thirst. Defendant added to the witness: “I •shall never forget a look on a Scotchman’s face when I put some wliiskv in liis Sunday morning tea.”

Mr W. D. Lysnar, M.P., lias received the following telegram from tlic Minister for Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coates, respecting the reported abandonment of the Gisborne-Napier railway route, via Ngatapa : —“(.living to exceptional difficulties at the Ngatapa end, and reports supplied by the engineers as to the general stability of the giound through which the railway will pass, I have directed a smvey of alternative routes to be made. I purpose travelling through your district early in December.”

A Palmerston North school teacher referred to two “lioivlers” which had occurred in essay writing by the younger iiupils at one of the local schools recently (says the “Standard”). The subject of the essays concerned impressions gained oil a first visit to the zoo and one child wrote: “The first animals I saw were the bears and the lions and my aunt and cousins wero also there.” Another pupil displayed a pretty though unconscious wit when he unite : “The first thing I saw was the keeper feeding the lions with ‘roar’ , (raw) meat. ’

At the meeting of the Technical College Board of Governors last night, the following letter was received from the Director of Education (Mr J. Caughley): “With reference to your application of the 18th ult. for the services of an agricultural instructor at your school, I have to soy that ths department does not consider that any extension of departments at the technical school should be made at present. It would not appear, therefore, that any further action need he taken with regard to securing the services of Mr G. C. Kimber from the Leland Stanford University.”

Auckland buyers of fat cattle are still operating extensively on. the west coast of the North Island, and there was considerable competition at the last Feilding sale for fats from this quarter, a well-known Auckland buyer bidding keenly for anything good. It is reported that he harTsincc been operating nearer Wanganui. Taking previous years for a guide, the fact of an Auckland buyer operating so late in the season is a very good sign for beef growers, and it looks as if the present high prices for fat cattle will be well maintained until well after Christmas (says the “Chronicle’’).

The heavy wind prevailing on Monday affected the number of people who usually frequent Eastbourne and Day’6 Bay on a holiday. The total of passengers carried by the Muritai and Cobar during the day was 3300, and of these 3000 had left the city by 11 a.m. The Muritai, on the 10.15 trip, was a full ship, carrying for the first time her full complement of 1550. She proved an excellent sea boat under trying conditions, and passengers were taken across the harbour with a minimum of inconvenience. An excellent time-table was maintained throughout, the day, which included four extra trips over and above the ordinary timetable. The boats were run to time, and little difficulty was found in loading and unloading with the time available at each end of the' journey.