MEWS OF THE BAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11660, 26 October 1923, Page 4

MEWS OF THE BAY

An unusual phenomenon seen at Carterton last evening was a lunar rainbow, between the station and the hilis, created by the moon shining through the drifting mist from the hills. Very aid residents could only remember having fceen such a thing on more than one or two occasions.

“Nobody can know everyone in his district/’ declared Mr F. Castle, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday. "If ) r ou know ten per cent, of tho Smiths you arc doing very well. A member: You know them all at election time. (Laughter.) Mr Castle: Oh, no, we don’t; only the politician does that.

In a Napier telegram published on August 22nd it was staffed that a man accused of arson admitted he had set fire to the house in consequence of differences with the manager of tho estate. The Press Association made inquiries, and learnt that this should actually have been "a married couple” and not "manager,” and this correction is made in justice to the latter.

"Our system does tend to exclude persons of means; but not people who are under a private practitioner ’’ said Mr F. Castle_, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, in answer to an inquiry. n I don't think that the private practitioner looks at it altogether from the score of expense ; I don’t think he does. Maybe he thinks that the patient can get better treatment here. But there are a good number of people who came in could pay and don’t/'

It is not often that a bankrupt arrives before the Official Assignee with two solicitors to help him; but that happened yesterday. Bankrupt and his legal adviser were quietly seated compiling a rought statement of assets When there entered hastily a second solicitor, who apologised both for his lateness and his little knowledge of the case. Explanations followed, and the first gentleman withdraw, as he had been asked to act by a relative, whereas the second man was bankrupt’s own choice.

In a leading article, the "New Zealand Medical Journal” quotes* with approval the statement of Dr Hardin Neil (Auckland), that- "tho medical profession lias never known an instance where spiritual healing, either by Mr Hickson or any other spiritual healer, had effected a cure of malignant organic disease. But in cases of obsession as U a disease rising from slight ailment, Mr Hickson, by giving ease to the mind through spiritual administration, might help tho patient to become, mentally normal. Thereafter bo would ho able to carry on with a minimum of discomfort in regard to the real ailment, and in time the disability itself might. Iby adaptation, practically disappear.”

A number of prisoners will appear for sentence at the Supreme Court this morning, before Mr Justice MacGregor.

A chambers sitting will be hold at the •Supreme Court this morning by Mr .Justice I-loskinjr, who will settle fixtures for the civil list for the approaching cessions.

The cooks and stewards dispute will come before the Conciliation Council this morning for hearing. Mr W. Newton, the commissioner, will preside.

Colonel J. J. Esson (Secretary to the Treasury) acknowledges the receipt of £5, forwarded by a person unknown us conscience-money to the Government Stores Department.

A proclamation was gadetted yestßrday constituting the borough of Blenheim and the counties of Awatore aaid Marlborough as the Marlborough elec-tric-power district.

The hospital committee reported to the "Wellington Hospital Board yesterday that arrangements had been made for the district nurses at Paekakariki and Paraparaumu to take up thoir school duties from November Ist.

The period, March 24th to May 31nc, 1924, has been declared an open sen-e-on for Red and Virginian deer shooting in the Southland acclimatisation district ; and the period March Ist to May 31st as an. open season for shooting white-tailed Virginian deer, wapiti, and moose in the same district.

The Wellington Hospital Board decided yesterday that representations should be made to the Minister for Pensions with the object of arranging that advances in the form of food made by the social welfare committee to widows in receipt of pensions be not considered when pension revisions of such persons are made.

"We smile at our friends in Auckland; they arc parochial,” said Mr Alpere at a meeting of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association. <T They really believe Auckland is the hub of the universe. They all ‘©kite’ about it and we smile and say they are parochial. But do not be afraid of being parochial. Start first of all by loving your city.”

"It is a fallacy . that liquor can legally be served with a meal on licensed premises between the hours of 0 p.m. and 9 p.m. on a Sunday,” stated Senior-Sergeant Fraser during the hearing of evidence in a licensing case at Levin on Thursday. "The Act only applies to week days when liquor may be served with meals during those hours, but it makes no provision for Sundays. Many people, including licensees, are ignorant on this point,” he added.

The Store Kopparbergslajga Company, probably the oldest established industrial concern in the world, -ha* been celebrating its 700th anniversary in Sweden. The company was founded during the first half of the thirteenth century, and the first deliveries of copper from the niino at Falma were made in the year 1225. Since that time the company lias continued, with unbroken regularity, to play an important part in the economic life of Sweden.

Extraordinary figures showing the great economy achieved as a result of using oil fuel for steamers were supplied to Mr H. Gregory, while in Western Australia recently, by the captain of the Bambra, a Western Australian Government vessel. He said that, by experience, it had been proved on the Western Australian ooast that, while the cost of fuel oil for a 5000-ton vessel had been £oooo, the cost of running a 3000-ton steamer Die same mileage on Newcastle coal had amounted to £26,090.

A woman who owed £24 for rent was sued in the Magistrate’s Court. Auckland, for payment. She stated that her husband was a waterside worker, ».®<J the rent was £2 os a week. She had five children. She was hoping; to get another house in a fortnight’*! time. In making an order for payment at the rate of 10a a week, tins magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., said he could not understand liow :i woman in her position could afford to pay such « high rent. "Mind you don’t starve the children in paying this,” he concluded.

"Packing cases were responsible for the design of the houses of the early immigrant settlers,” said Mr O. T. J. Alper* at the annual meeting of th.c Christchurch Citizens’ and Ratepayers'’ Association. "The early settler,” lie said, "when wondering" about the dosign of his house took the packing case shape: placed the zinc lining a 6 an inverted "V” for the roof, and cut a square- hole iii either end. Ho joined these two holes together, and called, iit a 'hole.' .Thank goodness our frktad the borer is responsible for the decrease in tho number of this class of Louise left standing,” he concluded.

In the Whnngarei Harbour waters ewordlish abound in largo numbers and of a large size. Mr R. Osborne, owner of the sailing boat White Wings had tho temerity to thrust by hand irom a dinghy a sliark hook into the hide of a swordfish, and .while it was in its death throes he toned it- to Whangarei where it was hauled ashore. The length of the fish, from tip of the sword to* the tail, was 12ft 6iu. Although it ia not the largest landed there by any means, it was sufficiently repulsive to demonstrate the risk of attacking it from a frail dinghy. The fish showed scars of recent battles, which doubtless led to its being secured under such circumstances.

One of the A-karoa fishermen# Mr Arthur Westlake, while out a few miles off the heads early in June last, found "business” rather slack, so he amused himself by scribbling a message (with tho usual request to a possible finder), corkin'g it tightly in a bottle, and then committing it to the tender mercies of the deep. Weeks passed, and the matter had passed from memory, when towards the end of September, the unexpected answer to the -request came—from Taranaki. Two hoys had found tho bottle on the beach, a few days before, between Manaia and Opunake. It would be interesting to know by what devious route the currents and the tides had taken that small bottle before it was flung ashore on the South Taranaki coast.

"Tho church is not called upon nor is she competent to deal with the grave political, social, and industrial prob terns of the day, but it is her business to encourage and train her members to study these problems in the light and teaching of the Christian faith,” said Archbishop Julius at tho Canterbury Diocesan Synod. At the .same time they must beware of one grqat danger. Tlio study of these questions was attractive and perhaps seductive. Many Christian leaders of tho "Free Churches” in England deplored the fact that not a few of their ministers' had allowed politics and social reforms to take the place of tho Gospel of Olirist. They would do well to romomber that their contribution to the salvation of the world was the ministry of the Word and sacraments, and that they were doin<? their best work when the lives of their people wore a witness to the healing grace of Christ. i

The heavy gale, experienced in most parts ol the Dominion, and early in the week blew down a brick wall tt Dunedin.

A grey seal landed at St. lvilda Beach, Dunedin, and disported on the sand for an hour before making a leisurely way to sea again.

A man named James Jenkins, aged 83, of Kamo, appeared at the V\hnngarei Court yesterday, charged with indecently assaulting three girls under 16 years of age.

The cattle at the Masterton spring cattle fair were mostly in veiy good condition, and some very fair prices wore received. The proportion passed in was particularly small.

On the recommendation of the hos pital committee of the Wellington Hos pital Board, a ‘-listening-in set” is to be purchased for the Ewart hospital at a cost not exceeding £66.

That the subsidy- allowed to tliePetone Aui'hluance Van Committee be 25s for all cases conveyed to or from the Wellington hospital was decided by the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon.

Record entries have been received for the Whangarei Jersey Cattle Club’s Annual Show, next Saturday. In the school sections the entries number 269, cookery 300, cattle 137. Horse events are post entry. The entries are just on double the number of last year.

Five animals for the Auckland Zoo arrived from Sydney by the .Manuka. The animals comprise one tiger, two water buffaloes, and two bantcngs, purchased from the Perth Zoo. Originally the consignment consisted of six animals, hut one, a tiger, died the dayafter the Manuka left port. It is reported to have been in sickly condition when it was shipped at Sydney.

While walking along the Opaki road near Masterton a local resident, Mr David Orr Gilmore, was attacked by an unknown assailant and rather badly handled, an accomplice joining in. Mr Gilmore was beaten about the face with a heavy weapon, thrown down on the side of the road, and: hound and gagged. Robbery was evidently- the motive. as his pockets were ransacked and a small sum of money was taken.

Owing to the unsatisfactory Home market last y-ear, it is reported that freezing companies are rather dubious as to what prices will be offered for mutton and iamb for export this season (states the Wanganui “Chronicle”). It is stated that a line of lambs has been sold in the Marion district for 22s 6d for forward delivery. his was for an exceptionally fine line of Southdown cross.

Race meetings afford facilities for the operations of the lightfingered gentry, and the Waikato Hunt meeting, held on Monday, was no exception to the rule (says an exchange). During the rusfh for refreshments, either at- Fran-kton or at Mercer, i-n the return of the race trains, a wallet, containing about £l6, was stolen from the inside pocket of a young man well known m Auckland boxing circles.

A donation of £3OO to the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund has been tnMe by the Auckland Harbour Board. A deputation from the Memorial Fund Committee recently waited on the board. Mr W. Wallace reported that the fund was to provide for blind civilians only. The chairman, Mr H. It. Mackenzie, said a returned soldier was surely- an ordinary civilian, while Mr Bloodavorth stated the Blinded Soldiers’ Fund would exist for some time yet.

“War records ajre overdone in ttm courts. We are all very tired of them,” remarked Mr J. W Povnton, S.M., at Auckland. These remarks were provoked when a rolicitor stated that a man in the dock, charged with vagran v. had left with the Main Body, had been twice wounded, and row wore a silver plate in the top of lus head. For two years and seven months he had been a prisoner of war in Germany and his body was covered with scars from German bayonets. “I don’t doubt that he lias a- most honourable record,” said Mi Poym-on, S.M., “but he has now disgraced it. Some men have disgraced thrir records time and again since returning.”