Untitled

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 6

The New South Wales Government reports that tho Water Board’s relief work has been arranged for, and that more than 4000 men will be employed through the labor bureau. A statement issued by the directors of Broken Hill Proprietory, Ltd., which operates extensive iron works at Newcastle, states that the recent legislation for a 44-hour week has more than offset the wage reduction of 10 per cent, ordered by the Arbitration Court, and the company finds itself unable to make any reductions in the price of its manufactures* A little excitement was cause;! at the Haiti beach shortly after 8 o’clock this morning.- A young man had gone out in a dinghy to catch crayfish, but in returning the boat capsized in the fairly heavy surf. After endeavoring to extricate himself .from the difficult position, he signalled for help. Messrs Charles and Erie Thomas set out in another dinghy and brought buck the young man, who appeared little the worse for his involuntary dip.

Arising out. of a motor collision on Tuesday evening, a chnrgo of failing to observe the offsido rule was preferred against Robert Hilton Bruce, a motorist, in the Police Court to-day before Messrs. A. G. Beero and I. Mirfiold, J's.P. Defendant pleaded guilty, and statod that it had been raining, and the reflections of a number of lights on the wet windshield confused him for a few moments prior to tho collision. A conviction jvtts pnterdd, and a flne of 10e imposed,.

After an exceptionally long spell of dry weather, welcome rain fell in the Opotiki district on Sunday night and Monday morning.

The Government lias not yqt received Sir Otto Niemeyer’s report on New Zealand economic conditions, but expects it. to come to hand in the next four weeks. i

It, lias just been discovered that Dave Smith, the champion middleweight boxer of Australia lias been handicapped by an injury sustained many years ago. A Macquarie street specialist discovered that a lower vertebrae had broken away at its base from the spine. In his boyhood in New Zealand Smith was injured long before he thought of taking up box-

A promise that there would be no difficulty in sending to Hastings an expert and properly authoritative architectural commission with power to say a direct “yes” or “no” where the safety of damaged bindings was concerned was made by the Hon. R. Masters at Hastings last week. Muc-li tiresome and contentious work will thus bo true(ui from the shoulders of busy men who up till the present have been dealing .with people who wish to repair buildings winch the local authorities consider should be repaired.—Tribune.

“The talking picture brings out very forcibly the difference between American and British psychology,” said Mr. R, L. Grant, representative in New Zealand lor British International Pictures, Ltd., who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara this week. “This is to be seen,” lie added, “in the difference in the humor. While the American is not a success unless someone stops a pork pie at close range, about every live immiteS, the British humor is more subtle.” The pork pie incident was not, of course, the only type called humorous, but it illustrated the fact that the humor in America must be obvious. In the British film, the audience can sit back and enjoy a quiet laugh.

Victoria paid unique tribute to the memory of Dame Nellie Melba. A mortuary train was sent to Al'bury to await tiie arrival of the body from Sydney. The train consisted of a first-class car for relatives of deceased, and a large bogie van, carpeted, in which the coffin was placed near the doors so that people could see it. The other end of the van was reserved for the reception of wreaths. This special train left Albury at 8.30 a.m. and proceeded slowly southwards, stopping at all stations to enable the large number of people assembled at each to pay their respects and to deposit wreaths. The train reached Spencer street at 2 p.m.

The Prime Minister’s recent statement on the economic situation and means of righting the position were adversely commented on by the executive of the Farmers’ Union at a meeting in Auckland. The following motion was carried : "This executive expresses keen regret that the Prime Minister intends making no effort to reduce the taxation on necessities, which, in our opinion, should be the vital first step, and further condemns the intention t.o increase taxation at a time when a decrease is allessential. The executive believes that Che only sound method of balancing the Budget would be a reduction of costs generally.” The executive also condemned the expressed intention of the Prime Minister to “raid” the petrol taxation fund for general purposes.

The last day or so workmen have been jxirticularly busy in the various parts of what was formerly the business portions of Napier salvaging and opening safes, which operation has been followed by an anxious inspection of the contents by tho owners. In a number of instances the books, records and money recovered have been practically ruined, so great was the heat to which they were subjected, but there are other instances where even the flimsiest of articles have been preserved. Silver coins in the safes have been turned to a black color and half-crowns in this condition are said to be worth only 9d. However, the application of some “elbow grease” and some cleaning material has the effect of restoring thorn to their former appearance, when they are capable of the same use as formerly.

The Wellington Chaiiiber of Commerce has passed a resolution that as the recent disastrous earthquake has shown the need, legislation should be passed to provide that all designs for commercial buildings should be passed by qualified engineers and executed by competent contractors. Mr. W. M. Page, a leading Wellington architect, condemned top-heavy buildings, which were a source of danger to the public, and said the heavy ornaments on the Royal Exchange Jniilding in Customhouse quay were to be removed, Tho Afastcrton Borough Council, he said, was urging the Government to take down the tower in the post office, and he thought other municipalities should follow suit. He was quite sure the question should be taken up seriously, for they had far too many of these top-heavy features on buildings.

Very considerable alarm has been caused to tne settlers of the Clive district oy the puoiishing in Napier of the statements that a dragline excavator was i.emg) used to open tile overflow at the Waitangi for tne Tutaekuri River to reach tne sea, instead of flowing along tne western uounclary of Napier. .Settlers fear that if this diversion took place without proper control of the flood waters, their pioperties would be greatly endangered, reports the Hastings Tribune. Mr. F, o. Hay, engineer in control, of the restoration of tne river protection work, lias issued a statement announcing Unit the rivers board is restoring to the district the same measure o, security from flooding us existed bolero the earthquake.- The board is reminding tlie damaged stop-banas, widening the Waitangu overflow, making a diversion at the mouth of tlie Tutae.airi niver, so ns to shorten the course from the Tarndale road to ttie Westshore bridge, and thus increase the fall in the river. The board has. no intention of inverting tlie Tutaekuri.

While tlie material results of the Imperial Conference might not have amounted to much, public opinion had been aroused in the questions involved, said Mr. J. Tilbury, an English visitor, who is making a business tour of the Dominion. For example, the proposal to abandon free trade was looming large, because trade stringency brought it prominently to the front. New markets were necessary, and the Dominion appeared to provide them. The conference Had left that problem unsolved, but by the cdnference it had been given publicity, and for tlfe first time the mass of tho people had begun to think seriously about it. Once the masses had realised what Imperial preference meant, he thought it would come. It was not wise to bring about radical changes suddenly. Time was a great leavener, and changes which came gradually were tho more permanent. “The warning recently given by Mr. Snowden,’’ continued Air. Tilbury, “wqs wise. Nor was it unexpected; but I-think it exaggerated.” He did not think things were as serious as that speech indicated. However, the English public realised - that economy was, a necessary, measure, and in the main they'Supported the spirit of the announcement, Star.

A isuggestion has been made in the ■Wellington papers that when Parliament meets it should extend summer time till the end of April.

The Otago executive of the Farmers’. Union resolved that the Dominion executive be urged to bring pressure to bear on the Government to reduce tho rate of interest in New Zealand for loan money.

The Hukarcre school for Maori girls, which was destroyed by earthquake at Napier, is to be re-established in Auckland, and advice has been received that the school is to reassemble on March 7.

Members of local bodies at Christchurch are discussing the possibility of being able to reduce the rates m the coming year, and there is a hope that the Drainage and Hospital Boards will be able to reduce their levies.

The New Zealand Opticians’ Society at its annual meeting decided that it was desirable to establish an optical clinic in the Dominion, to study abnormal cases and to enable opticians to discuss cases with one another, also to learn new methods of technique.

A charge of attempted carnal knowledge of a girl over 12 years and under 16 years, was laid in the Police Couit to-day against William Alexander Johnston, 52. A remand for eight days was applied for by (Senior-Sergeant V\ade, ami granted by Messrs. A. G. Beere and I. Mirfield, J's.P.

Notice of motion was! given at ameeting of the To Awamutu lower Board to reduce the unit charge lor; lighting from 8d to 7d, as Irorn April 1, a .nd to reduce the annual horse-power charge for milking machine motors ■firom £4 to £3. Tho chairman, Mr. J. IJohnson, said' it. was essential in these times of low prieet to reduce production costs as much as possible.

Interviewed yesterday as to the report that legislation is to be introduced providing for retirements from the Civil Service after 35 years’ service or upon reaching the age of 60, the Prime Minister said a committee of the Cabinet was dealing with the whole question, and when its report was available it would be considered by Cabinet

“The board took the risk and purchased books without the Education Department’s permission,” said the chairman, Mr. A. Burns, at. a meeting of the Auckland Education Board, when the department advised that it was unlikely that any grant would be available this year for the purchase of school and class library books. Mr. Burns said the board already had £6CO worth of books on its hands.

Two men who were at the Napier police station awaiting hearing on charges of theft when the earthquake occurred were brought before the court on Tuesday. The police stated that the men were'released on parole when the hi” - earthquake took place. They at once set to work at their own risk and rescued patients in Dr. Moore’s hospital. Accused were admitted to probation, tho bench commending them for their courage. It is understood the men each received a cheque for £25 from Mr. G Ilusheer, proprietor of the National Tobacco Co., who was rescued by them from the ruins of the hospital.

The level of Lake Okataina is falling steadily, and it is feared that much of the wild beauty of this rugged bowl may be lost if the water drains away past the low level of ’3O -years ago. Since June the lake has fallen more than 4ft., a most unexpected position, since for pinny years the water has actually been rising, and has encroached close to the sheets built beside the fishing lodge. A jetty built by tho Government for use in the days when the lake was included in the regular tourist trips from Rotorua via Tarawera, has been covered deeply for years, but now can be seen plainly onlv a few inches below the water. The gradual fall of the lake did not excite much comment, remarks the Rotorua Chronicle, but an appreciable quickening of the rate of drop since the earthquake of three weeks ago, and an even greater fall since the second main shock, have given rise to some anxiety.