HEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11664, 31 October 1923, Page 6

HEWS OF THE DAY

Cress seas which disturbed the Niagara’s passengers on her recent voyage to Auckland were responsible, said Mr W. B. Leyland at a reunion of naval veterans at Auckland, for his being asked by an American : “Does not Britannia rule the waves?” “Yes.” “Well, I Wish to heaven she’d rule them straight.”

Hamilton v/ill celebrate its diamond iubileo next year, when 60 years will nave elapsed since the first band of military settlers landed in close proximity to tho present traffic bridge. In 1914 it was proposed to mark tho jubilee of tho settlement of' Hamilton in an appropriate manner. Arrangements were made, but just three weeks before the anniversary the Great War broke out, and the function was cancelled. The first, settlers have nearly all passed away, but there are a few survivors, and the first generation of their descendants are numerous. It is expected that steps will he taken sOjortly to arrange for the celebration of the jubilee in a fitting manner.

A few days ago several local launches journeyed to Mayor Island (says tho “New Zealand 1 Herald”). Parties aboard tho launches Severn and Kingfisli enjoyed excellent sport fishing. On the first day the Severn’s crew secured a hapuka which weighed 1111 b, beating the Kingfish’a best by 301 b, but on Monday the tables were turned by one of 1321ib, caught by a member ahoard tho Kingfish. Many excellent photographs were obtained of the catch and of floating schools of fish. Recently an enthusiast in a small boat when fishing between the mainland and Matakana Island, hooked a shark five and a half feet long on a sohmapper line. The shark put up a strenuous fight, hut was eventually secured and towed to shallow water, half a mile away from where it was hooked.

When the Remuera, carrying many immigrant families for New Zealand, “crossed the line” on August Ist of this year, tho old barbarous shaving cere itiony was displaced by a children’s party. Wre arrival of King Neptune, attired in tho traditional flowing heard and royal regalia, was signalised by a blast by the ship’s bugler. The King was attended by two mermaids, whoso beautiful costumes caused childish eyep to glisten with excitement. Caps of many colours were handed round to the children, and then Neptune proceeded to work what was obviously a miracle. Dowering a bucket over tho shin’s side, ho brought it back loaded with toys. Thcso he distributed with royal dignity, and tho excited children beamed with happiness. Curiously enough, oaoh toy was marked for one child, and each child received a suitable toy. King Neptune, for good measure, then rented each child with a sea-bun marked with bis initials. Tho royal train then proceeded to the third-class quarter, whero an exactly similar ceremony was enacted, to the great joy of Hie children and adults.

Tile Nircaha correspondent of the Eketahuna “Express” states that the milk supply at the local cheese factory lias reached 4070 gallons.

Tho exports shipped from the port of Tauranga last month included 270,000 feet -of timber, 2472 boxes of butter, 2700 crates of eggs. 400 cases of fruit (principally lemons), 300 bales of flax, fibre and tow, and 570 sacks of maize.

The portion of Ghuzneo street immediately adjacent to St. Peter’s Church is at present undergoing repairs. Regrading and metalling is taking place, the roller and several men being employed on improving the surface.

The figures above the Central Post Office main doorway are being cleaned. These statues represent the various types of mail carrying—train, boat, and telegraph—and have for some time been disfigured by the weather conditions and an accumulation of dust, but are now receiving attention.

In connection with the Waipukurau borough third housing scheme, six contracts have been let for the erection of the houses. The prices are as follow £B3O, £BIO, £706 10s, £7OO, £7OO, and £7OO. These prices are for absolutely modern houses with electric light, sewerage, etc.

An interesting collection of German mark notes was brought back from Germany by Mr L. Alfred Eady, who returned by the Niagara. The notes range from the one-mark issue to one of 5,000,000 marks. The Latter note was the highest denomination in circulation when Mr Eady was in Germany.

Despite the tide of prosperity which is sweeping the North American Continent, Mr L. Macintosh Ellis, Director of Forestry, who returned by the Niagara is convinced that New Zealand was “the best of all.” The dominion, ho said, leads in agricultural production, social and economic conditons, and forestry methods.

Tho most northerly completed sec tion of tho North Auckland rail wav, between Kaikoho and the Lake Oma pere plateau, has been taken over by the Railway Department from the Publie Works Department. It ie a length of 8J miles, and includes the Tahuna tunnel. The next section, which is in hand, is a length of 14 miles between the plateau and Rangiohua.

It is said that passengers who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara complain of the quality of the drinking water during the first -week of the trip from Vancouver. They say that it was 6o salt that they could not drink it nor the tea made from it. Even after leaving Honolulu -where, presumably, supplies were replenished, passengers <vtate that the water contained strong traces of salt. Something had evidently gone wrong with the condensers!

The value of kauri timber is often spoken of, and a striking testimony to its worth comes from the SouthenTßeservoir (Dunedin). The woodwork of the tower there has been standing in the water since 1877. During the recent excavations it was found that while the cast iron work under the same conditions had rusted so that it had to be built up with reinforced concrete, the kauri timber seemed as fresh as when it was put in.

A published statement that a French surgeon at Bordeaux recently reported a ease in which a 12-dny-old boy had cut a tooth, and that the occurrence was very rare, was read with interest by a Christchurch resident. He states that his little daughter, who is now five years of age, was horn with a tooth. The tooth has 'been preserved, and tho child’s father has had it ?et in :gold and hung by a light golden chain to a iaecpin, which he has presented to his wife.

The form in which charges are laid in the by-law court has more than once perplexed a dftJundiant, who has failed to understand the legal terms in which the various charges are laid. At yesterday’s session of the by-law court an who admitted “cutting” a corner. The charge was read over to him, and when asked how ho pleaded, remarked that he could not tell because he did not understand the charge read to him. Thereupon the real nature cf the charge was read to him, and probably appreciating his previous admission, and in full knowledge of the case, he let it go at that! The question of slaughtering cattle at the Napier abattoirs by the “humane” method was discussed by the Napier City Council, when Mr G. Thomson, manager of the works, reported’ -on the question. The report sets out that the “humane” killer could easily be used on quiet animals, but not bn station beasts, which are not so docile. The present method is very quick, and the beasts lose consciousness almost immediately. The report states that kheep are never skinned alive, as it would be dangerous to the operator, who took no risks. Nothing in the shape of cruelty, concludes the report, is permitted at the works.

In his concluding address at the meeting of the British Medical Association Congress, the president, Sir Ernest Rutherford, referred to the broadcasting -of his presidential address, which had been the subject of friendly humour in the newspapers. He suggested humorously that he had been murdered to make a Roman holiday, but added that he had received many Eoreonal letters, not only from friends, ut from young people he did not know in all parts of Britain, saying that they heard the address quite clearly and enjoyed it. One of the letters was from a scientific friend in Arosa, Switzerland, saying that he picked up the speech quite clearly at that great distance.

A comedy that might have had serious consequences was enacted in Auckland. Heckled by some young men in tho crowd standing around him, a wellknown street-corner preacher, who was holding forth in front of the Ferry Buildings on the subject of physical Christianity, became excited, and, producing a bottle from his hip-pocket, threw tho contents over those who were unlucky enough to bo within range. This so incensed the crowd in general, and ihe injured persons in particular, that the orator wae seized and carried kicking to a neighbouring horse trough, into which ho was unceremoniously thrown, the police arriving a few minutes too late to prevent tho unwelcome and unexpected immersion.

A narrow escape from death wa* experienced on the Auckland waterfront hj a six-year-old hoy named Alexander Crawley. Ho waft playing by the reclamation works between the ferry and tho Prince’s wharves, and in attempting to pass on tho seaward side of the war memorial ho fell a distance of 10 or 12 feet into the almost liquid mud below. Ho disappeared: from sight, but oanue up again almost timmediately, this time with only his head and arms showing fbove tho surface. In hie fright tho boy commenced to struggle, but this only caused him to sink deeper. A bystander, seeing liis danger, called to him to remain still, and to keep liis arms extended. In a little while the boy was rescued by means of a rope with a ncose on the end of it. ,

The amount the public of Wanganui was asked to raise *for the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund fer the civilian blind of New Zealand, viz., £BOO, has ueei? exceeded bj* £IOO.

Arrangements have been made for the Hon. J. G. Coates. Minister for i Railways and Public Works, to meet a deputation from the Canterbury Chamber ol : Commerce and kindred associations, during the Minister's visit to Canterbury.

The “Otago Daily Times” states that the weather in Central Otago continues to be very dry, rain being badly required. What little frost there has been has done very little damage, so at the present time the fruit crop promises to be a heavy one.

At a meeting of the Waitaki Power Board, it was agreed to purchase the Oamarw Borough Council electric plant for £43,000. It was also decided to urge the Government to expedite the development of the Waipori scheme, which is considered more likely to be advantageous than Lake Coleridge.

The Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd., have made arrangements for Mr Frank Goldberg, governing director of the Goldberg Advertising Agency, Ltd., to deliver a lecture noon modern advertising, at the Ford Building, commencing at 8 o’clock on Friday evening. This lecture will form the first of a series given exclusively to the Wellington Broadcasters, Ltd.

“I was very surprised l to find on looking through the year book of this country tho other day that a girl twelve years of age had been, married r.aid Hon. Dr. Newman, M.L.C., speaking at the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children last night. “There were also one or two married at 13, and others at 15 and 16. I think this is shocking, and a reproach to our civilisation. It is a very wrong state of affairs.”

At the meeting of stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club, it was stated by a member that the road from Tauherenikau to Greytown was the worst stretch in the Wairarapa, and getting almost impassable. The remarks were endorsed by another member, who said that he was not going to Masterton again by road. Apart from the rough ride and the damage caused to care, the road was dangerous. He compared this road with the roads in Hawke’s Bay, which are in splenid condition through the use of the road grader.

The annual red triangle street- day appeal in connection with the local V.M.C.A., will be held on Friday, November 2nd. For some time .past the ladies’ auxiliary have been working in this connection and present judications point to a very successful day. There will (be a number of stalls m all parts of the city, and the public erf Wellington will be given an opportunity to support the work the association is doing among the young men and boys of the city. Contributions are solicited for tho various stalls and gifts of flowers, cakes, fruit or produce may be left at the Y.M.C.A.f Willis street ou the day before the sale.

Members of the “If Winter Comes” J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company, after a successful tour of fume of the principal towns of the North Island are now in Christchurch, where they will play for tho carnival season. They open in Wellington on November 17th. Mr J. Farrell, manager of the company, who has many friends in Wellington, accompanied this strong combination to Christchurch, but returned to Wellington to take over the management of “The Cabaret Girl” Comedy Company, which opens it* season at the Grand Opera House to-night. Mr C. M. Berkeley will leave for the south this week to arrange the advance business for “The Cabaret Girl” tour, and Mr A. Wilson has proceeded to Christchurch to take over the management of the Williamson Dramatic Company.