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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16371, 20 June 1927, Page 6

“The population of China, the country of which we have been hearing so much lately, is 400,000,000. Every fourth person on the earth is a Chinese.” —Rev. George McNeur, preaching in Christchurch.

Found lying across the fodtpath in Sristomhouse street on Saturday in a rerv drunken condition, a middle-aged woman was charged with drunkenness before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., this morning, and was fined 10s, with police .expenses 10s. During the week-end 1.35 in. of rain was recorded in Gisborne, 39 points being recorded for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday, and 96 points during the following 24 hours. The rainfall for the month now totals 6.94 in., this being the fourth highest rainfall in the Month of June, during the past 40 /ears.

During the Borough Council’s extensive summer programme of roadworks a number of extra men were required at the Repongaere quarry to deal with the increased demand for metal. Now that there is less activity on roadworks, however, it. has been found necessary to reduce the quary staff, and on Friday the six extra men were paid off, the usual staff carrying on with the work ar the quarry. The discharging of the men was unavoidable, as with the small demand for stone now existing, there was .Insufficient work to keep the extra men busy. The senior Rugby matches played on Saturday at the Oval produced more than one unusual feature. In the first place the. scoring in the first half of either game was low, Y.M.P. leading Old Boys by 3—o, and H. 5.0.8. and. Celtic being level with 3 points each. In tlie second half the scores in both games mounted rapidly, and a total of 4o points was added during the second halves of both matches. The total of points in the*two games was 52, half of the total being scored in each. Both games featured the infrequent field goal, Bennett potting for Celtic and Sutcliffe for Old Beys within a few moments of each other.

The representations of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce in respect to a Gisborne visit by the British Motor Delegation have been unsuccessful, definite advice to tho effect that Gisborne could not be included m tlie itinerary of their tour having been forwarded by Mr. J. W. Collins, secretary of the Department of Trade and Commerce. Mr. Collins’ letter explains that the time at the disposal of the delegation was so short that an itmerary embracing the lour centres even was difficult to arrange, and while a departure from the original plan ot the tour had been made to enable the delegation to travel via Rotorua from Hamilton to Napier, this had only been possible by sacrificing the Sunday rest at Napier. The whole tour included less than 16 effective days.

A man prowling round a restaurant in Gisborne late on Friday night considerably alarmed the proprietress of the establishment. Before closing tire place for the night at about 11 o’clock, the lady was counting the day’s takings into a handbag, when, on looking out of a window at the rear of the preshe was alarmed to see a man watching her from the yard. A short time afterwards she left for her home, carrying a sum of money with her, and on reaching her house was further startled to see a man dash out from an adjoining doorway, and make off hurriedly down the street. A constable was summoned, and in his search about the place he discovered a length of lead piping in an adjoining doorway. Tjhe matter is receiving a thorough' investigation by the police. “ Tho defendant was evidently quite anxious to oblige the other, and they had a ding dong go for some time,” said, Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick In the Police Cfeurb this morning, (When a well-built Italian fishennan, Joseph Cuslelle, was charged with fighting in a public place on Saturday evening. Tho accused, who required the services of one of his countrymen as intcrperter, admitted the charge. Tho senior-sergeant explained that at about 7 p.m. on Saturday, when there were many people about, the accused and a Maori started > fight- in Gladstone road. Tho Maori was evidently the aggressor, but be succeeded in getting away before the arrival of the police. Inquiries bad been made, and] the "Maori would probably appear before tho magistrate Inter. The defendant is a hard-working, inoffensive fellow,’’ concluded tho police officer. “ Tell him we won’t have this fighting.” said tho magistrate to tho interpreter. “If lie wants to fight, he can so to the beach or some other place. As ho does not appear to have been the aggressor, he will be fined 10s.’’

In an assault case heard at Rangoon, medical evidence was given that complainant was suffering from “subconjunctival haemorrhage.” “In plain language,” said the doctor, “he had a black eye.” The Mayor unemployment relief fund lias been further augmented by a donation of £2 by Mr. T. S. Harper, of the Poverty Bay Garage. A tot{il of £173 6s 7d was previously acknowledged, and the amount now in hand, upon which a subsidy will be received, is £175 6s 7d. When the leaves begin to fall and the cold winds of autumn come, then the Reaper gathers iiis harvest of the “ bearded grain.” Since June 1, 25 people, each over 70 years of age, have died in Auckland. Twelve of the number were octogenarians, and two were nonagenarians.

At the present time there is a freight war between shipping companies trading between Gisborne and Auckland. So far maize only is affected, but in this respect a big reduction has been made, Che price being lowered from 2s per sack to lOd, to which figure all the companies have now come down. While Mrs Lucy, Taken, a widow, of Gerald street, Sunderland, was waiting on the quay at Southampton to embark on the White Star liner Corinthic, for New Zealand, the youngest of her three children, a girl aged 3, who had beeu ailing, but was pronounced fit to travel, died in her arms. Mrs. Taken cancelled her passage. *

Tlie peal of bells erected at Sc. Paul’s Church, Invercargill, was dedicated on Sunday afternoon. The, peal consists of nine bells, and is one of the finest afid largest in the Dominion. The largest bell has a diameter of 42in. The peal is unique in the fact that it\is the only, one in New Zealand to be played from-a clavier or keyboard. . V;/ With the object of obtaining syn : chronisation of terms and holidays for the various educational institutions » suggested seliemo of dates lor 1928 was placed before the Council of Education in Wellington for consideration at the annual conference. The scheme was recommended for approval provided the bodies concerned are consulted.

A Gisborne solicitor, John Noden Bullard, was charged in the Magistrates’ Court this morning before Mr JS. C. Levvey, S.M., with the theft of £135 9s, the property of Teat and Friar. On the application of the police accused was remanded till July 4, being released on bail in the ,sum of self £3OO and one surety of £3OO. An amusing sidelight at a clearing sale at Cambridge was concerned with the disposal of a garden roller. There were only two bidder’s, and both were keen, the article being finally knocked down for 32s 6d. The chargin of the purchaser can be imagined when he subsequently discovered that the other bidder had been operating for his (the purchaser’s) wife. When a party of six women and six men was returning from a dance at Hiknrangi to Whangarei, the lorry in which they were travelling overturned, throwing the occupants out. Mrs. L. Matin sustained a severe injury to her leg. Miss Gwen Wilson also was seriously injured. Some other members of the party are confined to bed owing to shock.

The Council of Education, at its recent conference, decided to urge the Minister of Education to arrange for the ' Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, to represent New Zealand at the Vancouver Education conference in April next, and to visit Great Britain. Canada, and the United States in order to study the educational systems of those countries. Christchurch people who were out in the early hours of Sunday morning were privileged to witness a tine display of the Aurora Australis in the south. The. sight was a particularly beautiful one and was at its best about 1.30. Mr. 11. F. Slcev, officer in charge of the Christchurch Observatory, states that the Aurora was accompanied' by a pronounced disturbance of the compass needle.

When the log of the steamer Ngapuhi was taken aboard the vessel as she reached Tauranga from Auckland recently, a bright piece of ivory was found in the cylinder. A closer examination revealed that a shark had evidently attempted to swallow the log and m the process had lost a tooth. Tho cylinder was full of water, which accounted for tlie log running slow from Old Man Rock to Tauranga. A seaman of the old school, a man who commanded ships with white wings in tlie days before steam, Captain Charles -Watchlin, died at the age of 80 years, at his son’s residence, Cheltenham, Auckland, recently. No less than 60 years of an eventful life was spent by him in New Zealand or in New Zealand waters. He was one of the best-known of Auckland master-mariners and had commanded several ships, the names of which are now but memories.

Since the Canterbury Tart Trotting Club established itself on the trotting ground at Addington, efforts have been made to dispose of the old Sockburn course. At last a sale has been made, and the block of land, comprising 87 acres, lias been purchased by a syndicate at a price running into many thousands. The syndicate has substantial financial backing, and it is intended to establish up-to-date saleyards there as scon as possible.

Petrol-driven pumps for filling the large tanks from which railway locomotivos draw then water supply are gradually being replaced on South Island lines by electrical installations. One of these new pumps is being provided at Moana (West Coast), others have been approved for Ashburton and Rangiora, and eventually a similar installation will go in at. Rgkaia. The railway pump at Hornby was recently connected with the Lake Coleridge power.

Despite tho fact that the burglary occurred only on Friday night or early on Saturday morning, Detective McLoad made a smart arrest at Muriwai yesterday, apprehending a man suspected of breaking into Messrs Petrie and Co.’s premises. This morning tho accused, Hugh Goodlet, alias Manley, 23, came before- Mr. E. C. Levvey, Sir., in the Polieo Court charged with breaking and ‘ entering Petrie’s premises, and stealing goods to the value of £l2. The goods named were six tubes of shaving soap, one suit of clothes, a pull-ovor jersey, a pair of suspenders, and six writing pads. On the application of Defective McLeod the- accused was remanded till Wednesday.

Sad circumstances surround the death of Huia George Smith, who was found hanging in ail outshed of tho house at which fie was hoarding in Palmerston North. Deceased was employed as a window-dresser by ft firm of drapers, and his employer's speak highly of his work and general character. Some weeks ago deceased lust Ins wife, as a result of which he is said to have suffered very greatly. He was 22 years of age, Ins wife being one year his junior. Scribbled in pencil a note left by deceased referred in pathetic language to the death of his wife. His note stated that lie. was going to join her, and asked that his thanks should be given to those people who had shown him- kindness, including his employers. Prior to going to Palmerston North, deceased lived in Hawera with his grandmother.

Mr. G. F. Clapcott, Napier borough engineer, was congratulated by the Napier Borough Council on the success of his recently completed stormwater drains.

“ New Zealand people are the greatest readers in the world,” stated Mr. A. Hobson, president of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, when speaking to the British Empire Trade Delegation in Napier.

The head gardener at Napier is planting out in the Botanical Gardens various native trees which he received from the Waikaremoana district, with tho object of extending the native flora in the gardens.

Eleven naturalisation certificates were granted in New Zealand during May. Three persons affected are Germans, two are Dalmatians, two are Russians, with one Swede, one Pole, one Italian, and one Austrian. A new wharf 600 ft. long has been elected at Castlechff, Wanganui, alongside the old landing place, and behind the new structure reclamation work which will give the Harbor Board ah additional five or six acres of land, is now receiving the finishing toadies, Viewed from Waipukurau on Thursday the distant Rualiine mountains were a most glorious sight, being covered with snow from base to summit. As a corollary to the heavy hill coating of snow, * the atmospheric conditions throughout Central Hawke’s Bay were much more severe, the temperature showing a most appreciable drop.

After careful consideration it has been decided to obtain the services of Mr. F. Reade Wauehope (.Christchurch) as producer to the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society which is at present rehearsing .“A Runaway <L;i” for production towards the end of the year.

A respondent husband in a separation case at the Wanganui Court, when it came to relating his side of the story, commenced to blame his mother-in-law • for always interfering. “Oh, don’t j bother about, that part of the story at/ present,” said the magistrate.. “I want to Rear something of the merits of the case. Later the story of the mother-in-law. which is only a side issue, may help to turn the scale.”

The v neat appearance of the schools in the Nelson Education Board’s district has been commented on by travellers, stated members of the board at a meeting the other day. It was added that, motorists appreciated the fact thatthe names of the schools which were painted on the buildings were a convenient guide to travellers who were strangers to, the districts.! With frequent police raids being carried out, rumors of raids are circulating freely, and an amusing instance is tefd m Ashburton (says the Guardian). A uniformed policeman, having business to transact, visited a shop the other day, accompanied bv another limb of the law', also in uniform. As their visit coincided with tlie visit of a well-known lawyer and a justice of the peace, the story went the rounds (with the rapidity with which rumors fly) that the shop had been raided. The proprietor of the shop thinks the story is excellent advertising. “.Sir Oliver Lodge has promised that the next long journey he takes will fie to Sunny Nelson,” said Dr. Tillyard during a lecture at Nelson. In spite of his age. Sir Oliver was still one of the greatest scientists alive, continued Dr. Tillyard He was the real inventor of practical wireless and he put hia pupil, .Marconi, up to the dodges which later made him famous. Perhaps when Sir Oliver had passed on the prejndice which existed against him because of fiis interest in psychical research would vanish and he would at 5 last be as the real inventor of wireless. . Another sl.iiie has been laid in the history of the port of New Plymouth by the fumigation of the Port Hardy, it being the first occasion on which a vessel has been fumigated at the port. The fumigation operations are in acordanc-e with an American law which compels masters of overseas vessels to have the vessel fumigated within six months of calling at any American port. It is understood that a heavy fine is levied on masters disobeying the law. The Port Hardy is to call at American ports en route to the United Kingdom. A cat plyed a prominent part in a little coir.edy-drama last week in the shop window of a well-known baker (says tlie Ashburton Guardian). Puss had contrived to enter the forbidden territory, and, highly pleased with herself, began a devastating attack on the cream cakes. She was soon seen by the wrathful shopkeeper, however, and a battle royal resulted, puss proving more than a match for the wielder of a broom and two Irish terriers. The climax was reached when, with a crash, the broom went through the plate-glass window, .and the cat escaped by means of this, very convenient emergency exit.

Somq use is evidently to be found for the old dredge Waikaka, or at least portions of her (says a Napier exchange.) Some of her gear is now being found useful in helping to raise the sunken dredge C.D.K., and it is possible that use will be foundi for the pontoon, as the engineers have informed the Harbor Board that they feel sure the pontoon will prove useful when wharf construction and other works requiring pontoons is commenced. Their recommendation is to slip the pontoon in order to ascertain its condition, and the board has agreed to have inquiries made to ascertain what it will cost to do that. One of the 14 New Zealand Crosses awarded has been handed over to the New Plymouth Museum by Chptain F. J. Mace (of Oakura), who won this decoration for bravery in the Taranaki warn more than half a century ago. The cross, which has been placed in the old colonists’ room at the museum, is Maltese in shape and made of silver. Surmounting it is a gold crown, upon each arm, a gold star, and in the centre a gold laurel wreath encircling the words “New Zealand.” Inscribed' on the other side is “Captain Francis Joseph. Mace, Taranaki Militia.” The ribbon is crimson m color, similar to that of the Victoria Cross. LieutenantOn!. CWey, C. 8., Deputy-Adjutant-General, in an account of the earlier Maori wars, published in Londoti in 1863, refers to the fine performances put up by the company in which Cap tain Mace served, and to Captain Mace himself as “an excellent rider and the pluckest fellow I ever met.” The possibilities of a superannuation scheme for the secretaries of agricultural and pastoral associations were mentioned at tlie annual conference.of these a-'so- , ciations in Palmerston North, when the report- of the secretaries’ conference was considered. The report stated that Mr. A. M. Conway, of Cheltenham, told tho secretaries in conference that he would like them to investigate the possibilities of the scheme, by which secretaries who laid served their associations for a certain number of years could be provided with superannuation. On Mr. Conway’s suggestion, a committee was set up to consider the matter before reporting to the next conference. This committee consisted of Messrs. H. S. Quigley, W. T. Penny, 1... 11. Smart, and il, H. Fisher, and was to submit any scheme promulgated to the executive of the general conterence. At the conference of the association this proposal met .with heartv support, several speakers poiiiting out the desirability of secretaries Being provided with superannuation allowances.

“The Government is very dilatory in tbia matter of unemployment, and is oniv acting now because there is a pistol at its' head ” —Mr. J. Siddells, speaking at a meeting of the committee of tneWanganui District Unemployment k una.

An' Elthiun Argus representative was informed tliat the prices of timber and joinery for house-building are coming down,- and that consequently houses can be erected at a price less now than they have been a few months ago Tins is said to be thfc result of a breakaway from certain price-fixing conditions. The fine sight of about 60 Clydesdale horses at work was witnessed at Mr. k. {£ * Adams’s farming property, V mw■bank.” Clarksville, last week, when the fanners of the district tendered a ploughing bee to Air. Adams, a new neighbour. Altogether 12 teams were engaged, and over 30 acres of ground were turned over, writes a -Milton coircspondent.

A Maori flax beater and a carved stretcher for weaving were unearthed 20ft, below the ‘level of the street when workmen were recently engaged in excavations in New Plymouth (states the served, though they have probably been buried well over a century. The new building is on the site of the Pukearika pa, : which was vacated by the Maoris about- 1830.

In proposing the toast of the Prime Minister at- the Manawatu A. and P. Association's gathering, Sir R. D. AleLean (Hawke’s Bay) said that- Mr. Coates was a- friend of the farming community. He was more administrator than- politician, and that was what-New Zealand wanted. There was, perhaps, too much of jioHtics in the Dominion, and more regard for passing legislation than. for developing the resources of the country.

The presence of a number of railway officers at the smoke concert of the Manawatu A. and P. Society was favorably' commented on by the Prime Minister, Hon. J. (J- Oc-ates, who said their attendance had bis approval. He noted with enthusiasm tliat officers of the department were getting amongst the fanners in order to ascertain t-lieir difficulties and to place themselves at the disposal of users of the railway system. “ That’s the spirit we want to encourage,” added Mr. Coates.

For glazing repairs there was a loud and incessant call in Dunedin after the recent- storm. Windows on a northeasterly exposure were blown in by the score, and in winter went tier people do hot wait for such mending till they have saved a bit more. Plumbers were also in request everywhere for the overhaul of shattered roofing, and now’, in hundreds of dwellings of all sorts as well as humble, the occupiers are seeing about having walls re-papered and ceilings restored. in one way and another the aggregate bill for wages and material, as a result of the gales, will run into an appreciable sum.

At the little country township ot Okato, about 20 miles from New Plymouth, a storm centre in .the days of the Maori Wars, the settlers decided that the cemetery required a clean-up. There was no money for the purpose, but tliat did not prove a bar to getting the work done. A working bee was decided upon, about 60 settlers turned out with spades, shovels and wheel barrows, and a day’s work saw’ the neglected cemetery put in good order. The wives and daughters of the settlers assisted by providing refreshments for the workers. It was a community effort well worthy of emulation.

The electric locomotives which are used in the Otira Tunnel are being kept busy at present dealing with an exceptional rush of coal traffic. Cue day 7 recently the gross tonnage scheduled to be taken through the tunnel from Otira to Arthur’s Pass was 2160 tons, which is. about. 900 tons above the average. These conditions had prevailed for two or three days. Right trains are being run between Arthur's Pass and Springfield so as to avoid the possibility of any congestion taking place at the former station, In addition to coal, there is a fairly heavy quantity of timber passing throngb the tunnel.

When the Waikato County Council was discussing the question of licenses under the Motor Vehicles Act at its last meeting,. Ur. Henderson supported a resolution carried by the Horsham Downs -branch of the Farmers' Union advocating that farmers be exempted from a fee* for light lorries which were used exclusively in the interests of the owner and for the farm. Cr. Henderson was emphatic that representations should be made with the object ol affording the relikf set out to the farniing community, but agreed to wait until the new. regulations concerning the Act came into force before moving in the. matter.

A pipiwharauroa, or sinning back cuckoo, was seen in suburban Auckland recently. The old Maoris called the pipiwharauroa the harbinger of spring. Both pipiwharauroa and kokeperoa (the long-tailed cuckoo) are migratory. On the approach of toe New Zealand winter they go to Samoa and other of the South Sea islands, usually returning to New Zealand in the eariv part, of the spring, their appearance generally being first noted in the north, although as the season extends they spread all- over the island. Of late years it- has been noted that an occasional pipiwharauroa does not make the Islands trip, and apparently some of the birds are content to spend all the year m New Zealand.

The limbless returned soldier who considers himself inordinately handicapped by his loss will be cheered by the nows of the following achievement made possible by the use of artificial legs. On Easter'Monday, a New Plymouth man, wearing one of the metal legs issued by the Government, on his left leg, which had been amputated above the knee, climbed to within a quarter of a mile of the summit of Mount Egmont. But for the fact that night was falling fast and the risk of being caught on the mountain in the dark was too great, he says he would have been able to reach the summit without discomfort. The return journey was made without difficulty, and in good time. The same man quotes the case of a member of the New Zealand Plying Corps with a leg amputated above the knee, who goes every year to the Stockburn aviation centre. He is said to hold the time record for flights between .Sockburn and Timaru.

At. the annual meeting of the Westland Licensing Committee at Ho&itika, Dr. Telford (Chief Health Officer for Canterbury and Westland) stressed the necessity of hot water being used for the washing of glasses in hotels, as a preventative of disease. It was unfortunately not a practice, lie said, in the bars of the hotels of the West Coast to use hot water for that purpose. He explained the detrimental effects upon health resulting from water in which the beer glasses had been rinsed coming in contact with the sugar from the aerated waters, and how the flerms and bacteria from people suffering from pyorrhea, venereal disease or ulcers were likely to be spread by such means. There was no way of dealing with it with cold water, but if hot water was used it would kill the greater uortion of the germs. If the glasses were dried with a ecod dry cloth, this also acted in an efficient manner. He requested the committee to consider the question of hot water being provided for that purpose for the sake of the health of the Community.