NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Only one tender was received hy the City Council for the erection of the proposed wharf and boat-slip for the use of the fishermen at Island Bay. As the amount considerably exceeded the engineer’s estimate, fresh tenders are to be callqd at once for the wharf only.

V contributor to an exchange writes: ' ~:r, —While playing poker the other day I was dealt four eights and the joker, which, made five eights in all. I have played the game for (JO years, and have never seen or heard of five eights being dealt to a player.”

' A report was circulated some time ago that Councillor A. W. Parton did not propose to again contest a seat at the council table. Nevertheless, Councillor Parton, by the unanimous vote of a recent meeting of ratepayers of the Seatoun and Bays district, was declared the sole nominee of those ratepayers.

It is reported from Dunedin that rabbitskins are selling exceptionally well for this time qf the year. Big money is being paid for what are known in the trade as “racks.” The realising of hitherto unknown prices for those advanced summer skins augurs well for the values winter skins are likely to command.

When the tax and draft on wool was mentioned at the bi-monthly meeting 6f the Gore sub-executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, one member said that when he consigned wool to London he always received an extra called “warehouse sweepings,” but he had never seen, any such items in looal sales.'“Oh,” said another, “they do not sweep here.”

While fishing in the vicinity of Colao Bay recently, a party of natives hauled up a fi6h about 18 inches in length, which had l three feet on either side. As the fish continued to walk about the boat the Maori considered it was tapu, and Instantly made for the shore, where the fish was cast overboard. Mr H. Spear secured the fish and sent it to the museum. It. turned out to be a guarnard, and is plentiful in Australian waters and on the coast of the North Island, but is seldom seen in the southern part of New Zealand.

Reports before the Wellington Education Board indicate that the allotments of . work have been very well brought before the children through the medium of the Press, and the indications are that an earnest endeavour is being made both by pupils and teachers to make the very best, of the circumstances. The Chief Inspector of Primary Schools of the Dominion has already visited e number of schools, and within a week or two the inspectors propose visiting both town and country schools in order to observe the scheme in actual operation.

“It was in 1850 that the first regular mail service between ’Wellington and New Plymouth was started,” said, Mr A. McKenzie, of Marton, when speaking at Flock House recently on the early history of the Lower Rangitikei. He added that the mail was carried on foot by Thomas Scott once a month. In 1802 -Cobb and Co. started the first regular coach service (reports the “Manawatu Standard”). The first sea-going vessels to trade between Rangitikei, Wanganui, and Wellington were the ‘Mosquito (6 tons), and the Catherine Johnston (10 tons). The first houses built by the Maori for the settlers were and rush with thatched roofs of toi-toi and totara bark, and some of them stood for 50 years.

Rev. H. Van Staveren, Rabbi of the Hebrew congregation in Wellington, is the subject of in exceptionally fine portrait ill oils, painted by Mr W. A. Bowring. The Rabbi is painted in his black robes, wearing a biretta. and over his shoulders is ~tho talith or fringed scarf worn during divine worship. In his arm and resting against his left shoulder the Rabbi holds a scroll of the sacred Scriptures which is seen enclosed in its covering of rich crimson velvet, heavily embroidered in gold. The painting is attracting considerable public attention at the McGregor Wright Gallery, where it is being shown for a few days. The picture is among the last of the .portraits to be painted hy Mr Bowring in Wellington, as he is presently leaving to reside in Sydney.

The much-discussed question of “paying rent” in Wellington exercises the minds of many. It is obviously wrong lo fire awav money in rent when, for less expenditure, one may purchase the freehold of his own .home. There is another point worth remembering, too, that R. Leslie Jones. 101. Willis street, sppeialires in “homes.” Proof of this is to he found on reading a special double column advertisement inserted by B. Leslie Jones on page 12 of this issue. —Adwfc.

The postal authorities have r eceived advice from Melbourne that the Manuka left on the 19th instant for Bluff. She carries a small mail for Wellington. After a lapse of over two years, the beef works of the New Zealand Meat Packing Company will resume at Eltham this week. The reopening of the industry will mean the employment of a considerable number of men. It was stated at a meeting of the London County Council that 128 men over the age of 70 years were employed in the tramways department, most of them as watchmen, while 420 men were over 65 years. An old] West Australian gold digger called in a provincial newspaper office the other day, and, tossing some quartz samples on to a reporter’s table, remarked 1 that he had discovered auriferous stone within a radius of 38 miles of Wanganui. The Utility Egg Circle, of Feilding, consigned 600 dozen eggs to the Wellington market, and l these were sold at & lOd a dozen. The payment for this consignment was being made on Saturday, suppliers receiving 2s 7d per dozen. ' Some time ago the Shannon Chamber of Commerce made a move in the direction of getting an extension of the telephone hours locally, and as an outcome a petition signed by over 75 per cent, or subscribers was handed to the postmaster • (Mr Jones) asking that the telephone hours be extended until midnight during the week and open one hour m the morning and evening on Sundays. The .postmaster has forwarded the petition to Wellington headquarters for consideration.