NEWS OF THE DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19915, 18 April 1939, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

U'liatatulu Inquest An inquest into the death of Clifford James Smith, aged 23, who died on Te Kowhai station, Whatatutu, on Saturday as a result of being dragged by n horse, was opened at Whatatutu yesterday morning for the purpose of identification and was idjourned sine die.

Fingers Blown off During blasting operations in the Paremata quarry, Tolaga Bay, yesterday a Uawa County Council foreman, Alexander Agnew, aged 40, married, met with an accident in which several fingers were severed from his right hand. After receiving medical attention he was conveyed to the Cook Hospital. This morning he was reported to be making satisfactory progress.

Advertising New Zealand A tribute to Hew Zealand’s publicity on the Continent was paid in Auckland by an experienced traveller, General R. A. Voiuz, of Paris, who has concluded a seven weeks’ holiday tour throughout both islands. He said the 'Dominion’s propaganda was very well done, and a great deal was known about the country in France. He had been fully rewarded for the long journey by what he had seen. “We know about your attractions,” he said, “but the trouble is that you are too far away.”

Public Works Activities

Although no new major works have been taken up by the Public Works Department in the Rotorua district so far this financial year, 650 men are still employed On road maintenance and reconstruction. The RotoruaWaikaremoana, Rotorua-Whakatane, and Putaruru-Taupo main highways, in particular, are receiving considerable attention. It is reliably estimated that the traffic on Rotorua district roads has increased approximately 100 per cent in the last three to four years, with a consequent increase in the amount of maintenance work to keep the roads in good order.

Car Over-turns in Loose Shingle An accident which might have resulted in serious injury occurred on the Wairoa-Gisborne main highway near Whakaki on Sunday afternoon when a small car skidded in the loose shingle and overturned. The car, driven by Mr. Wilfred Hartnell Hitchcock, Gisborne, was travelling from Nuhaka towards Wairoa when a pig which had been grazing on the side of the road wandered in front of the vehicle, and in swerving to avoid the animal the car ran into some loose shingle, skidded and turned over. There were four occupants in the ear at the time and all escaped serious injury. The driver’s mother suffered a bruise on her leg.—Special.

Past Officers’ Lodge The (first annual meeting of the Gisborne Past Grands’ LOdge of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows was held last evening, there being a satisfactory attendance. The report of the retiring president, Bro. P. Schwabe, P.G., reviewed a successful year, during which support from members was very encouraging. Regret was expressed at the death of two members. Bros. C. Peterson and I. Mirfield, P.G.s. The following officers were elected: President, Bro. P. O. 'Niven, P.G.; vice-president, Bro. T. .1. TDunstan, P.G.; secretary, Bro. V. B. 'Murray, P.G.: treasurer, 'Br'o. W. M. iMichie, P.G.; auditors, Bros. V. C. Rothwell and L. F. Barker, P.G.s; examining officers, Bros. F. W. Nelson and E. W. Grigg, P.G.s: conductors, Bros. Pi. W. Cook, R. W. Wallen and W. M. Wilson, P.G.s; guardian, Bro. V. C. Rothwell, P.G.; warden. Bro. F. T. Robinson P.G. The officers were installed by Bro. Schwabe.

Prayer anil Meditation During the present period of international unrest, St. Matthew’s Church, Auckland, will toe open for prayer and meditation every day from 7 a.m. to (I p.m. Worid Tour Postponed The gloomy international situation has caused Mr. D. Coll is, chairman of the Kairanga County Council, who had intended leaving immediately on a six-month world tour, to reconsider his plans. Air-conditioned Church The first of its kind to be adopted in Hawke's Bay, a modern gas-heat-ing and air-conditioning system has been installed in Knox Presbyterian Church, Dannevirke. A test of the installation proved that it will be satisfactory. Shortage tff Water In the rural areas of Southern Hawke’s Bay, the shortage of water, specially for household use, has assumed serious proportions. In the To Rohimga area household water is being supplied by dairy factories in the cans as they are returned. Household washing is taken into Dannevirke, and the town supply is affording baths for many country people. The cost to the district of the fall in dairy production alone, taken from factory returns, is estimated at £20,000. Handling Mails The container system of handling mail, used extensively by the English railways, is thought tb toe capable of adaptation to the service between Christchurch and Wellington. A report was received by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce at a recent meeting outlining the advantages of the system, and this will be considered toy the postal committee of the .chamber, and possibly discussed with the 'Postal and 'Railway Departments and the Union Steam Ship Company, Limited. Wastage by Erosion An indication that he intended to attack the problem of river erosion in New Zealand in earnest was given by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, speaking at the opening of the Whirokino trestle bridge, near Foxton. “Too much of New Zealand is now going out into the Pacific,” said Mr. Semple. He proposed next session to seek powers to deal with erosion of good land by rivers. Too many of the river boards were dealing with the effects ar.d not with the causes, he said.

Pitchforks Replace Lines Fish caused traffic hold-ups and iarge congregations of pedestrians at die main Hutt bridge in Lower Hutt the other day. In the shallow waters beneath the .bridge kahawai had come in numbers that would make even the most attractive louristseeking fishing brochure look modest by comparison. It was a day of the slaughter of the innocents There was no skill attached to the catch. Hordes of small boys and a leaven of adults caught the kahawai with, pitchforks and with other instruments equally far removed from the sportsman's method of the hook and line.

iVhat Glasshouses Cost

Not a great deal is generally known of the considerable cost of glasshouses or of the amount of labour and materials required for their erection. As an example of these items there is now a glasshouse, 160 ft. long and 33ft. wide, toeing erected on the property of Mr. B. V. Cooksley, Taita, which is costing £750. Five ’tons and a half of glass are required as well as half a ton of putty and £l5O wbrth of rafters. There is also 2000 ft. of piping and a mechanical stoker, manufactured in Christchurch, for heating. This stoker burns slack coal that otherwise would be practically unsaleable.

Otago’s Fewer Children

In 1856 there were 200 scholars attending primary school in the Otago district. In 1916 there were 21,880, but 'in 1937 the total had dropped back to 18,437. These figures were quoted by Mr. D. C. Cameron, a member of the Otago Education Board, when speaking at the reunion banquet of the Waikari School. There had been a decrease in the number of pupils over a period of 21 years of 3500. Last year the total had dropped another 340 compared with the previous ,12 months. “If this decline continues,’’ said Mr. Cameron, “I don't know where we will be in the next 30 years or so.” The Cheque Marked “X”

Travellers who do not like to carry large sums of money about with them, but prefer to depend on cheques or letters of credit, probably have never considered the difficulty they would be in if, through some injury, they were unable to sign their names, states a Christchurch exchange. A tourist recently in Christchurch suffered a broken wrist, and had to go through much formality before even a small sum could be obtained. The tourist had to find another depositor in the same bank, who would act as guarantor. Various endorsements were made on the cheque, on which the tourist made a cross, which the guarantor witnessed. This was the first case of its kind in the history of the bank. It is easy to see what an awkward situation a tourist in a foreign country would be in, particularly if he could find no one to identify him.