NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12009, 11 December 1924, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

“There is a good deal of unemployment in England and constant talk of shortage of money,” said l Dr. J. Blackmore, of Christchurch, who arrived by the Niagara. “At the same time, during public holidays, ’the pleasure resorts were simply swamped with, welldressed, well-fed people who seemed to have no lack of money to spend.” There is to be a record exodus of Aucklanders this Yuletide to the beautiful lakes of Otago (says the Otago “Daily Times”). Local bookings for dike (Southern Highlands are exceptionally heavy, while those'for the Milford track trip represent a notable record for Auckland. The west coast of the South Island, and particularly the rugged district containing the lowest glacier in the world; have attracted a. large number of Auckland holiday tourists this year. Local bookings to Mount Cook are also very good.

“This question is of vital importance to us,” remarked Mir Purcell, Mayor of Marton, when/ welcoming the railway’ commissioners to that town in the course of their survey of the LevinMarton- deviation route. “The railways,” he added, “are a Government monopoly and the ratepayers take 'their responsibilities as well as the privileges.As regards the deviation, so far as Marton is concerned, we realise it is rot a local matter but a national question, and. we hope you will look at it from that point ot view. We know that your decision will settle this question one way or the other.”The Wangaehu Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., has just received advice that its shipment of butter by the Rotorua, which arrived in London at the lattter end of November, has realised 208 s per cwt. Its previous shipIment realised 206 - 6d (says an exchange). These ■ prices must he considered very satisfactory. The recent grading of the company’s butter for I Home shipment is probably a record for 1 this district. The shipment referred to graded t«i points. The factory’s manager is not going to he satisfied with this, and anticipates grading still higher before the season is over.

The property market in Wellington is brisk. It’s impossible to rent hous*c, ■and tbo only thing .to dp is to buy. The question arises now to get a home of one’s own on a small salary or small deposit. One prominent estate agent has solved; the matter. R. Leslie Jones will arrange to “deliver this goods” on deposits from fifty pounds upwards.— Advb. '■ ’ ■ j

A workshop in ‘Hopper street' whs slightly damaged last night by fire, to suppress which the Central Fire Brigade turned out at 6.10 o’clock'. The workshop was occupied by H. Futter.

While out with a party in a boat on the Waikato river an engine-driver, of iSferoer, William Mallard, aged -37, a married man, was shot in the side owing to a pea-rifle accidentally discharging. The bullet struck one of Air Mallard’s ribs. Yesterday’s meeting was the last, prior to the Christians and New Year recess, of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and they will- not meet again till about the middle of January. Seasonal greetings were extended by the chairman, and reciprocated by the members. . . The Major of Tauranga, Mr B. Dive, has advised the representatives ’of the Tauranga Tourist Traffic League and Chamber of Commerce, that the Borough Council will supply to visiting tourists and others tents and camping sites, together with electric lighting and electric cooking appliances, and water, at a minimum cost. At the conclusion of the meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday Mr H. D. Bennett, in extending the compliments of the season to the members, expressed appreciation of the work done during the year, and the support given him while in the chair. They had done a good deal of work for the benefit of the public, and he would like to express his thanks to the various committees and the executive committee.

“We ought to grow railways in these parts,” interpected an advocate of the Levin-Marton deviation scheme during a speech ly Sir Vincent Raven, one of the railway commissioners, when he was returning thanks, for the civic welcome at Marton. ‘‘Well, I see yon have grown a small one,” Sir Vincent replied'amid laughter, “although,” he added, “it is not yet- man-size.” . This witty sally, which referred to the Sanson tram, provoked loud merriment.

A~ silver button, dug up in a garden at To i'apapa, is -occasioning the finder, Mr W. Thomas, no little curiosity as to its identity. The letters R-.A1F.8. embossed on it may, he thinks, have reference to a regiment of the Imperial foroes which fought in Lhe province during the , Maori wars. On the reverse side is the maker’s came, Sliand Mason, Blackfriars. The button was found about a foot below the,; surface, and is in an excellent state of preservation. ■ • ,

Owing, to a shortage of orders several timber mills in the Otago and Sputhland districts closed' down at the end of November, and others ceased operations .on Saturday last. Those mills which have orders on hand, will not close down until within a few days of Christmas. The early, closing" of many of th® mills ha* caused some hardship amongst a number of men who were looking forward to employment all Christmas week and the drawing of substantial cheques Several hundred men aro affected. 1

‘ 1 “Have you got any. bagpipes hero?” asked the Hon. J. G.'Coates of a Geraldine deputation, when it was suggested that , the deputation should wait on the Hon. A. D. M’Leod, Minister for Lands; regarding a certain matter. Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., who is a Highlander, assured the Minister that Sir M’Leod would receive a true Scottish welcome, and Colonel’ K. Mackenzie, chairman of the Geraldine Courity Council, said they would’get the pipes out for the benefit of’ the Minister ,fw Lands. ’: —-

An important liiik of road has beep opened up between tho XVaitangi Treaty station raid the township of Paibia, near the Bay of Islands. It is quite short, -being only,-about six chains frpm end to end, but it is very important, as tourists, haive not hitherto been able to get through to the historic treaty honsd except by means. of launches, whereas now the passage can easily be negotiated’by motor-car. Though less than a furlong in length, the link was a 'difficult piece of work, as it has a depth of about 60 feet and runs through a cliff.

“It has been a very great, pleasure for ns to come' out to New Zealand — a country of. which • we had heard a great deal—and I can- assure you- that this has fully justified our most sanguine expectations. New Zealand is a', beautiful country, and ■ its people have done an enormous amount of wotk in the short time it has been settled. • Considering the few people there have been to do the work the result is a wonderful performance”— Sir Vincent Raven,; one of the railway commissioners, when returning thanks for the civic welcome at Marton.

' “He refuses to report to the probation officer.” said Sub-Inspector Hob lis in the Magistrate’s Court,yesterday; when Patrick Joseph O’Connor appeared to answer a charge of failing to comply with thtT terms of his probation. It was said that after having spent 22 months in gaol on a charge of theft O’Connor was released on probation, but after a while did not report, and as a result court proceeding!) . wore taken. The magistrate said that when the police were lehient enough to grant a man probation it was Ms duty to see that he reported, and a term’of 31 days’ imprisonment was imposed. “ JVe understand that the dismantling of the Christchurch Cathedral organ will shortly be begun, probably during the Christmas vacation of i the ohoir,” states the “Church News.” “Certain parts are to be shipped to England- .to be fitted into tho new action.; The Cathedral Chapter have on order a two-manual Holt organ. This make of reed , organ has only recently been introduced into the Dominion, but the testimonials to ite Worth are being found *fully borne out by its performances. The irtstruiment will be retained as part of the Cathedral musical equipment, and will be of great use when the big organ is unsuited to the smaller services. Tlie reconstruction of the pipe organ is expected to take about a year.”