ROUND ABOUT WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 27

ROUND ABOUT WELLINGTON

By

Pencarrow.

(Specially Written fob the Witness.)

April 22. Thursday night, the census over, but no record yet cf fresh cases in the mental hj 3pitals. What finished some people was the clause dealing with “persons who passed the night within the establishment or arrived on the 21st without having been enumerated elsewhere, and give a list of names on the back hereof.” Having found the back hereof the head of the family, sometimes resorting to cuss words, all because he had mislaid his tortoiseshell spectacles with the horn rims. He could not see the bracket signs enclosing the words “related by marriage, blood or adoption.” Without the brackets the thing looked puzzling. Facetious S things added to the general conby suggesting that perhaps some members of the family should go under the heading “geese,” and though told to dry up they wanted to know why they had to state they were males if they had already stated they were sons, and would they bo neuter if they had been born that night and not been christened. The next-door neighbour rang up to say her only inoome comes from bridge earnings, and where should they be put? All admire the human understanding of the census man who put in the little touch about “owing to the high standard of general intelligence of the New Zealand people, information has hitherto been obtained throwing light, etc., and the Government confidently appeals to the people, etc.”—noblesse oblige. A great load was lifted from the shoulders of the head of the house bv the personal schedule issued to household employees, some of whom in former years have been apt to resent the intimate questions they were required to answer on the census paper. To every man (and woman) his own worry now (or hers), and a great deal of friction avoided. Thanks be. The New Zealand Times reports the case of “a well-known lady” who ordered the census man off the premises, and will shortly appear before the Court in consequence. Wellington, ever ready for a little amusement, is dying to know all about it. There are people who refuse to believe the story. They would probably doubt the word of a surveyor who, three times, had his peg thrown at him by a very welbknown lady who objected to handing back six inches of her neighbour’s land. Seeing’s believing. I saw- it not many years ago, and the lady is still living, and still holds the six inches. “Anything for a quiet life,” says her neighbour.

On dit that the captain of a great ocean-going steamer put out to sea late on Tuesday night, instead of waiting for the morning. He is a brave man, but could not face the. census papers for his crew. Rumoured that we shall all be living on apples soon—and very nice, too —but apple growers in the Nelson and Hawke’s Bay districts are in a state of grave anxiety, for if there is really no more shipping space ruin lies ahead. There will be apples to burn soon, such appbs too as even dear old England cannot produce—so says one who knows conditions in both countries, and is greatly distressed. No one here seems to know the cause of the block, why the Government guarantee is already exhausted, and why there can be no more shipping space till June, if then. Wellington wharves look perfectly good ones, but country people are blaming conditions on those wharves, and in the midst of all the loading and the bustle and worry the usual two hours’ stop-work meeting took place yesterday morning. “Still,” says Mrs Methusak, “the pot is no blacker than the kettle. In my young days you did not see business men at the races on a working day. . They had something else to do, and the women didn’t play bridge in the afternoons. In my opinion the country’s going to the dogs.” The new High Commissioner, Sir James Parr, leaves for England on Friday night with his wife and the two youngest daughters. He leaves a son and two young married daughters in New Zealand. Sir James and Lady Parr will be greatly missed here. Thev each possess a qualification which will make for success in the new life to which thev are going—they are kind. They will be helpful to New Zealanders in England. Sir James will paddle his country’s canoe with the tireless energy for which he is famed. By the Remuera also sail Major and Mrs Haviland, who arrive that night from Auckland. The only daughter of the Govern or-General has made friends during her too brief sojourn in New Zealand. By them she will be held in affectionate remembrance.

Probably because there is so t much smoke and dust about the rapidly-growing city the great need for tepid baths is again being stressed, also Turkish baths. The only tepid bath here is in connection with the Boys’ Institute, and is not big. Tlie Turkish baths were pulled down several years ago. On the site formerly occupied by them the Mothers’ Rest Room has been built. Replying, to a deputation the Mayor recently stated that the tepid baths now in existence in the country are not paying propositions. Nevertheless he hopes for the beet, etc. The matter will be kept in mind.

Lectures are the order of the day. Miss Diana Watts has teen telling us how to walk, and now we have Dr John Mott in Wellington. He is lecturing to-night on “present-day Trends in Asia and Their Significance.” It is known that Dr Mott has devoted his life to thq student movement, and that he is a great power. He will have big audiences here. H.M.R. Dunedin and Diomede have arrived. For the rank and file there is a

dance to-night. To-morrow night thi Navy League's ball for officers takes placa The weather, which has been dry, hot* and still, is changing. To-day poppies were sold in the street*! and on Sunday, with the rest of the world, Wellington will remember those men who made the name of New Zealand and Australia eleven years ago. Anzac Day—and already the solemn hush is perceptible. Memory is quickened. There is a pause in life. “My boy was twenty-one that week.’* . Who does not know his mother? Twentyone. ... he passed. . . . trailing cloudf of glory. Because we who know Trim ar« proud and glad we desire that the children of this generation shall know his story. So on April 25, which this year falls on Sunday, we shall honour his memory. The parade here will be un- ' usually impressive owing to the presence cf naval men.