NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 19277, 23 June 1924, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

FEOM ALL PARTS OF THE DOMINION.

RESCUE BY DORSET. THE CASE OF STADEN. A new light has been thrown on the circumstances under which Clermont Lafayette Staden, aged 21, of Brooklyn, New York, who was picked up in mid-ocean by the steamer Dorset, came to be in the water. By the mail last week Captain C. R. Kettleweli, of the Dorset, received correspondence from San Francisco, forwarded through the agents for the Federal Line. The agents forwarded a copy of a letter from the Standard Oil Company, New Jersey, owners of the oil-tank steamer Fred W. Weller, of the crew of which vessel Staden was a member. After conveying thanks for the rescue of the man the letter contains the following report from Captain H. Purdy, master of the Fred W. Weller:— “At 9.15 a.m. on April 22, 1924, while the ship was on a return voyage to New York, it was discovered that Staden was missing. It was also noticed that one ring life-buoy was missing. A note was afterwards discovered in the man’s certificate of discharge book reading: ‘Goodbye, tanker Fred W. Weller,’ and signed ‘C. L. Staden? The captain ascertained that Staden was last seen at 4.15 a.m. At that time his vessel was passing Cape Mala, six miles off. It was considered that Staden had not the remotest chance of’ living in those sharkinfested waters. Captain Purdy broadcasted the news of the loss of the man.” Staden, while on the Dorset, stoutly maintained that he had fallen overboard, but the fact that he was wearing a life-belt pointed to the improbability of this being true. Captain Kettlewell described him as a likeable young man, of cheerful disposition. On the arrival of the Dorset at Auckland. Staden was taken charge of by the United States Consular Agent, and sent back to San Francisco by the Maunganui. IMPORTED COAL. AFFECTING DOMINION INDUSTRY. Things are not all “beer and skittles” , so far as co-operative mining parties oi the West Coast are concerned, accordin. to remarks made to a reporter of th Argus to-day by one of them. They hav< been experiencing a very lean time recen; ly, one man is reported to have drawn no a solitary pay since Christmas. j Good money has admittedly been made in the past by co-operative miners, but it is stated that great difficulty is now being met with in disposing of the product of their labour. An an indication of the slump in the market, it is reported that one lot of 300 tons of coal bought recently from one party at 27s 6d per ton is being offered at 16s per ton in order to get rid of it. The responsibility for the slump is laid at the door of the Government, by continuing to import large quantities of coal from Newcastle. This coal is glutting the market and preventing the disposal of New Zealand coal. Language of extreme fluency is being used by the miners affected by the slump in their description of the Government’s policy, and it is pointed out that the importations are also affecting the State Mines, so that the Government is importing coal in competition with its own mines.

One miner stated that he had it on good authority that the Railway Department had practically cancelled the remainder of an order for State coal, to the extent of 400 tons, and was using Newcastle coal instead, some of which had even found its way to Greymouth—the hub of the coal-producing area. WASTAGE OF FRUIT. A RAILWAY ANOMALY. In a speech regarding the fruitgrowing industry, the chairman of the Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago, Limited, Mr A. Ashworth, said that at present the Government carried the fresh fruit to market by the railways, but would not allow the growers to submit it to any process. If they did they were fined by a differential rate being put on. In the picking season, he said, anyone visiting Central Otago would find hundreds of tons of the finest fruit lying on the ground. The growers might not get a high price for it, but if it could be utilised and put through a process it would mean that thousands of pounds of fruit now coming into New Zealand would be kept out, while the sale of the fruit would put something into the pockets of the growers. It would assist them, and would also give some revenue to the railway. BOY’S AGE IN DISPUTE. BIBLE AGAINST REGISTRAR. A peculiar case of disagreement with the age of a boy as given by the Registrar of Births has been brought under the notice of the Wellington Rugby Union’s Management Committee. According to the birth certificate the boy’s age was a year more than that shown in the school roll, and in consquence he was over the age limit for the football team of which he was a member. The parents, however, were emphatic in their denial that the age on the birth certificate was correct. The father was prepared to swear that the boy was not as old as stated, and the mothr had offered to produce the family Bible to prove that the boy was a year younger than his birth certificate indicated. | TEACHING OF HISTORY MINISTER SEEK SIMPROYEMENT. The introduction of more comprehensive and effective method of teaching history in rhe primary schools was advocated by the Minister for Education, Mr C. J. Parr, in a speech delivered at Auckland on Saturday. “Last year, I asked the school teachers of the Dominion to improve the teaching of arithmetic in the primary schools,” said Mr Parr; “I am glad to say this has been done, and a great improvement recorded in the last 12 months. I want to see now >f we can get a lift up in another important matter, the teaching of history. For some years history has not been given the serious treatment in the primary schools, which its importance demands. In the last syllabus, it was made a compulsory subject, but the examinatnon is not a written one; it is merely oral. “We want the assurance that every New Zealand boy and girl is getting sound instruction in the history of Great Britain and of New Zealand, and we propose that written questions shall be put which will elicit answers, giving a fair idea of the pupil’s knowledge. Children will not be able to grow up as good citizens,. understanding their full rights and the privileges of freedom they enjoy, unless they learn how the nation came to win those rights, and know something of the battles and sacrifices of our ancestors who secured for us the blessings of freedom which we enjoy to-day. They must know something of the history of the Motherland to understand and appreciate this. It was also contended that children should be taught something of the history and growth of New Zealand, which was full of interest.” The Minister’s views were cordially supported by Mr J. A. Lee, who spoke of the value of history as teaching children the origirf of the liberties they enjoyed. It would be well worth while for all concerned to co-operate with Minister and teachers, and thus give this important phase of school work the lift forward it merited.

ON HER LAST VOYAGE. END OF STEAMER ROTOMAHANA. The shell of what was once the coastal passenger steamer Rotomahana was taken to its last resting place at’ Pahiki Island last week to be sunk at the sandspit to form the foundation of a wharf in order to facilitate the loading of shingle. The final disposal of the vessel is of more than passing interest as she is a relic of the early days of Auckland, where she was built in 1876. The first steamer built in New Zealand was a wooden paddlesteamer, Governor Wynyard, which was constructed at Auckland in 1851. The Rotomahana, which it is understood was the first iron steamer built at Auckland, was constructed by Messrs Fraser and Tinne. Another smaller iron steamer, the Kina, was being built at the same time by Mr J. Fraser, an engineer and boilermaker, and there was great rivalry as to who should have the honour of building the first iron steamer. The result was that the Rotomahana was launched 20 minutes ahead of the other vessel. The Rotomahana, for nearly 40 years, carried passengers and cargo from Auckland to the Thames and Coromandel. When she became too old for active service she was utilised as a store hulk in the harbour for her owners, the Northern Company. Eventually she became unfit for that work, and last year was sold to the shipbreakers. UPKEEP OF ROADS. BURDEN ON THE FARMERS. The method of taxation for the upkeep of roads was discussed at the provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Auckland last week. Mr C. K. Wilson said the burden seemed to fall upon the farming community. They contributed to the maintenance to an extent out of all proportion to the use they made of the main roads. He considered that the clamour for better roads was being raised by people who contributed most to the destruction of the highways, but vere reluctant to pay for their upkeep in a .air measure. The Motor Bill would not provide for an adequate revenue, and the users of the roads would still escape. He -. as of opinion that the small county counts in the back blocks could not co-operate rVith the Main Highways Board in its loading scheme. These bodies could not obtain the money for the formation of ordinary roads vitally needed by the settlers. There was even less chance that they could pay for good motor roads. Mr R. D. Duxfield said the erection of toll gates would solve the problem, as they would permit of no evasion. Taxes on tyres and benzine left loopholes for exemptions and concessions. Mr C. C. Munro said the motorists who sought for better roads were quite willing to pay for them. They were aware that money spent on roads gave a good return. The following resolution was carried: That this conference is of opinion that the provision of better roads to meet the demands of motor traffic should be achieved by other means than the taxation of farmers, either by the Government or through the county councils, and that a scheme should be devised whereby the users of the roads should contribute to their upkeep. AN UNUSUAL APPLICATION. MISSING MAN’S ESTATE. At Blenheim, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court was asked to presume the death of a man who was last heard of nearly 70 years ago and who, if still living, would be about 106 years of age. The case was one arising out of the administration of the estate of the late Patrick O’Dwyer, of Blenheim, who died in 1889. His immediate descendants, who mainly reside in Marlborough, proceeded against Cornelius Herbert O’Dwyer, of Patetonga, Thames, who is administrator of the estate. They asked the Court for an order that the defendant as administrator, be authorised to administer any real or personal estate still in his hands on the assumption that the late Patrick O’Dwyer’s brother, John O’Dwyer, predeceased him. Affidavits were put in showing that John O’Dwyer, whose death the Court was asked to assume, left New Zealand in 1854. He was then about 26 years of age and unmarried. In 1857 O’Dwyer was heard from. He was then living near Adelaide, South Australia. Since that, however, nothing had been heard of him or of any wife or family, though diligent inquiries had been made, particularly in 1890, after the death of Patrick O’Dwyer, and in 1900 and in 1904.

After hearing authorities by counsel His Honur said he thought he was prepared to find on the whole of the facts the presumption that John O’Dwyer died within seven years of 1857, this being the usual custom, but how far did that take them for he could not presume that John O’Dwyer has no issue? However, he would look into the matter. It was stated in the course of the hearing that the value of John O’Dwyer’s share of Patrick O’Dwyer’s estate was about £2OOO, this being impounded in he or his descendants should turn up. WATERMAINS BURST TROUBLE IN WELLINGTON. No fewer than four bursts in the Wellington watermains occurred during last weekend. First, a valve gave out at the Bell Road reservoir; then in Aro street a broken main gave no end of trouble till it was repaired; about midnight on Saturday a collar-joint in the 21in. main at Thorndon blew out; and last, but by no means least, the old 24in. main on the Hutt Road gave out near Ngahauranga. As good luck would have it, the last break occurred in a length of pipe to one side of the bitumen-surfaced motor track, otherwise the repair gang would have had a very hard task in digging through the newly—and. very solidly—laid roadway. As it is, the work of mending this break was considerably the heaviest of the four repair jobs. The cause or causes of the breaks are unknown. PEAT BOG ON FIRE. BURNING FOR EIGHT MONTHS. Below the Mount, Richmond, and the Camp Farm, and running parallel with the Portage Road at Otahuhu a peat fire has been burning steadily since December, says the Aulkland Herald. The originating cause was the burning off of some dry thistles near-by, but no one could have expected that it would continue for eight months. Up to the present over four acres have been affected, and there is a probkbility of another three acres being attacked. The peat is over 10ft. in depth, and possibly contains some heavy timber. About three months ago the Borough Council attempted to stem the fire, having a trench dug sft. wide and sft. deep, but without avail. It is fortunate that there are no houses in the immediate vicinity. Fears are entertained for one house, however, though it is still about two chains away. At the past rate of progress it will reach the house in about three months unless something can be done to check it. It was hoped that the recent heavy rains would have been sufficient to put it out, but the only result has been clouds of steam, giving the impression of a miniature Whakarewarewa.

ALMOST A TRAGEDY. ! BOY SHOT BY COMPANION. A boyish escapade that might have ended in tragedy, was Mr J. Houston’s description of a case heard last week at the Hawera Court, which arose from charges against four youths of being in possession of .303 rifles and ammunition for other than lawful or sufficient reasons. Sergeant Henry said that on May 10 four boys went pig-hunting at Meremere. They camped on the edge of the bush at night and went off on the hunt next morning. None of them had any experience, and the hunt was not a very successful one. Two of the lads became tired before they had gone far, and remained in a hut, while the other two went on with the hunt. The two hunters, said the sergeant, decided to have a shot at the hut from a distance of what they thought about 1000 yards to frighten the two occupants. Three shots were fired, and a bullet struck one of the boys in the shoulder. The boy was in the hospital for 12 days, and he remained an out-patient for some time after. The lads used Defence rifles and ammunition that they taken from the rifle range during practice. The Magistrate said he would hold the matter over the boys’ head for a year, and each was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence that day 12 months. In the meantime the lads were ordered to report each month to the police. A condition of the lad’s liberty was that he was to pay the injured boy’s hospital expenses—over £lo—at the rate of 7/6 per week, and that he was not to attend a picture show for six months. EDUCATION BY POST. "COMPLAINTS IN TARANAKI. Complaint that the results of the Educar tion Department’s correspondence courses for children in back-blocks districts were not satisfactory were recently made by the Taranaki Education Board. At a meeting last week a letter was received from the Department, combatting the statement, saying that almost every day the teacher in charge received letters of commendation from parents, including several in Taranaki. It was, of course, recognised that where direct instruction by suitable teachers could be secured it would be more satisfactory to busy parents. The Board contended that there was a need for some other means of checking the progress made by the children. HALF FROZEN. MAIN TRUNK PASSENGERS. Strong complaints were made by passengers by the Main Trunk express which left Auckland on Sunday (writes the Palmerston North correspondent of the Auckland Star), especially those travelling firstclass, owing to the dangerous practice of the Department running long trains. Instead of two trains on Sunday, there were eighteen carriages. The steam heating did not reach the last six of the carriages, and the travellers in these were half-frozen. The intense cold was especially hard on women and children. The latter were crying nearly all night with the cold. The great length of the train also made it difficult to handle, stops being violent. Sleeping car occupants were awakened at each skip by violent jolting, so, between cold and bumps, they did not have much comfort for the extra fees. MAORI HISTORY. DIVULGING SACRED TRADITIONS. The chiefs of the Aupouii, Ngatikahu, Terarwa, Ngapuhi and Ngatiwhatua tribes assembled at Hokianga recently for the purposes of compiling a complete history of their tribes (says the New Zealand Herald). Surviving chiefs realise that the time had arrived for the remaining high priests and historians to unbosom sacred genealogies handed down to them through the ages of Maori traditions. About a month ago notices were circulated by Wiremu Rikihana and the noted Ngapuhi chief, Re Te Tai, throughout the northern districts from Tamaki to Tereinga Wairau (Spirits Bay). The old chief, Re Te Tai, addressing the people, said: — “Listen, oh, my people. As my steps are now nearing the horizon, I have invited you to assemble here before me to listen to my last wishes. From the days of your ancestors down to the present time the Ngapuhi have never yet divulged their sacred traditions to be placed on record; but times have changed. Christianity has been established in the land of your forefathers. A solmn treaty exists between your forefathers and the great white Queen, Victoria. I have now decided to unbosom to you the sacred genealogies of your ancestors, commencing from God to the present generation.” After the chiefs address eight members of the tribe were elected as a recording committee. An Executive Committee was also elected, consisting of 16 members of the tribes, Hoie Wepeha being elected chairman. The opening ceremony was conducted by Re Te Tai, now 90 years of age. It was the kara kiapihi (sacred dirge) of the Ngapuhi Tribe. No other tribe in New Zealand has this dirge. The clerks who were recording were unable to take it down in shorthand, and the chief was highly disgusted with his eight clerks—all had received college education—and their chairman for insisting on his repeating it and going slow. It took him three days to give his records. As the matter is of great importance to all northern Maoris the Executive Committee has decided to take a further record throughout the district till the history is completed. It was unanimously agreed that when the records were complete a final meeting should be held at Hokianga, when an invitation would be sent to the Minister of Native Affairs to be present. Re Te Tai will hand over to him the records for safe keeping by the Government for the benefit of future generations of the Ngapuhi Tribe. EARLY CLOSING. SMALL TRADERS’ COMPLAINT. Two months’ experience of the new regulations concerning the earlier closing of shops whose business is covered by the Retail Shop Assistants’ Award, has provoked much complaint throughout Auckland against the Arbitration Court’s decision Scores of small traders in and about the city and suburbs assert that the curtailment of shopping hours in the evening “is another concession to monopoly and the big traders.” Investigation reveals some interesting features in the shopping trade of Auckland. Of these an outstanding point is the number of small shops throughout the city and suburbs, each it would seem having to turn over much stuff to make anything like a substantial profit. Most of such shops do not employ assistants at all, and quite frequently represent a hazardous enterprise. Here and there, however, a small shop is run by a wife as , a means of supplementing the industrial wages of the husband. The great increase in this form of enterprise during recent years is said to have “hardened the heart of Pharaoh” against what orthodox shopkeepers call unfair competition by freelance traders, who formerly were not affected by the shop assistants’ award. There is a great deal more complaint against closing at 8.30 o’clock on the late shopping night than against the 5.30 closing on four evenings of each week. Suburban traders say they have been severely hit by the curtailment of the late night shopping. Formerly they secured an appreciative measure of business from suburban residents after they had visited the city on a Friday evening. They invariably had some purchases to make on returning home from town, and small traders got the benefit of that “last minute” trade. Under the new rule it has mostly been lost.