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Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 30

January is usually a dry month for Napier, but 1930 has proved to be an exception, for nearly five inches of rain fell in Napier during the month. Rain fell on 11 days only, and totalled 4.94 inches On January 8 and January 9 very heavy rain fell. On these two days nearly three inches were recorded and several heavy showers on later days increased the rainfall considerably. Some beautiful summer days, however, were experienced, and the sun was very warm, over 12 hours’ sunshine being experienced on no less than 12 days, while on only three days was no sunshine recorded. Westerly winds prevailed during the month, and the result has been an excellent growth in pastures for the farniing community.

Efforts were made by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to promote a train tour during February, 1925, and also again during April, 1929, but the response offering on those occasions (says the Post) was somewhat disappointing. However, since then two very successful commerce trains have been run in the northern districts of the island, and recently a special committee of the Wellington Chamber was asked to go into the question with a view to ascertaining what support would be forthcoming from the commercial community. In its report the committee recommended that the tour should cover 10 days and that the train proceed as far as Waikaramoana in the one direction and New Plymouth in the other; also visiting Tongariro National Park, and including a run on the Wanganui River. The committee recommended that the tour, if organised, take place some time in May. The question will be discussed at the next meeting of the executive.

“Australia has much tne same problems as has New Zealand. Though the New South Wales coal strike has created a depression in the State, there is a feeling of confidence among business men that the future holds brighter things in store,” declared Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C., on his return to Christchurch alter a twomonths’ trip to Australia (says the Christchurch Times), Sir Heaton left for Australia early in December, and for the subsequent two months he spent a quiet time as the guest of his brother-in-law, Mr Alister Clark, at Glenara. He did not study industrial or political questions to any extent, being mainly on a health trip to the quiet countryside. There he greatly admired the wonderful rose gardens of Mr Clark, who specialises in rose culture. Though it had been a bad season for the resets, the gardens were looking very well. “ The coal strike has forced shares down to a low level,” stated Sir Heaton, “ and the people of Sydney are very concerned about the trouble at the mines. Still, there is a feeling that matters will right themselves very shortly. I had an opportunity of seeing some fine stock while in the country, and of seeing the header harvester at work.” Passengers on the Maheno, of whom Sir Heaton was one, had the delight of visiting Milford Sound on the return trip. The captain of the vessel stipulated that £lOO must be forthcoming before the deviation in the sea voyage could be made. There was some frenzied collecting among the passengers, and the amount was forthcoming. The voyagers saw Milford under very favourable conditions, and were delighted with the grandeur of the place.

“ It appears necessary again to bring to the attention of the public generally that interference by householders or any person not possessing a wireman's license with wiring installations of any description constitutes a breach of the by-laws, and is punishable by a fine of £20,” states the report of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee, to be submitted to the City Council on Wednesday night. ” The department is aware that such interference has taken place, and is making a special effort to locate unauthorised work with a view to instituting legal proceedings. Inexpert wiring not only endangers life and property, but threatens the continuity of the power supply, and it is not too much to say that some day a serious or even fatal accident will take place as the result of some householder extending the wiring for an additional lamp or some such small apparatus. The object of this report is to convey a general warning that the execution of any such work by unlicensed persons is a serious offence, and offenders apprehended will certainly be prosecuted.” The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) was sworn in on Saturday by Mr Justice Reed as Administrator of New Zealand until the arrival of the new GovernorGeneral (states a Press Association message from Wellington).

Bound north on a cruise which will extend over a period of seven or eight days, Mr J. T. Paul's large pleasure launch Aoroa left the Harbour on Saturday afternoon. The Aoroa is carrying a fairly large party, and is in charge of Mr J. Potter, of Port Chalmers. It is Mr Paul’s intention to visit Oamaru and Timaru. Several days will be spent at each port.

During the hearing of a by-law case in the Wellington Magistrate's Court the suggestion was put forward by Mr P. H. Putnam, the counsel for the defendant, that, wherever possible, the police should give a motorist a docket similar to that given by the traffic inspectors, so that a motorist might know that an offence had been committed. The magistrate (Mr T. B. M'Neil, S.M.) agreed that there was something in the suggestion as far as offences concerning stationary cars were concerned. He realised that the police had numerous duties to perform, but if they could institute some such practice it would give a motorist some indication that an offence had been committed and if the motorist did have some grounds for a defence it. would help him to keep the facts fresh in his mind. At present a motorist did not know that he had possibly committed an offence and when it came to the time for him to do so. there were cases where the incident had been forgotten.

Standardisation in the size of letter paper was urged in a report, presented to the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce the other night (says the Christchurch Times). The report stated that if three sizes could be popularised it would save expense in machinery and labour, and generally cheapen production, while the stationers would benefit by investing their capital only in sizes for which there would be a ready sale. The report was from the Birmingham Junior Chamber of Commerce.