General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 29 August 1936, Page 8

General News

Niagara’s Large Mail. Over 2000 bags of English an 4 American mail for New Zealand are being brought by the Royal Mail lirwrz Niagara, whicn is due al Auckianc. from Vancouver on Monday. The vessel has 1224 bags of ordinary mail and 866 bags of parcels, ot which 409 bags of ordinary mail and 469 bags of parcels are for Auckland. Working on the Wharf. "What were you doing in Auckland?’’ the magistrate (Mr. H. W. Bundle) asked a defendant in a maintenance case which came before the Dunedin City Police Court "Working on the wharf, wheeling trollies and that sort of thing," the defendant replied. "It was nothing very hard." he added airily. "No waterside worker works hard.” The Matua’s First Trip. Tne accommodation for 39 passen- } gers on the Union Company's new motor-ship Matua has been booker! for the vessel's first trip to th* Islands. About 22 of the passenger? will make the round trip and the remainder will disembark at Islan ports. The Matua sailed for Nukua- w lofa, Apia and Suva and will return M to Auckland on September 9. Standard of N.Z. Newspapers. The opinion that New Zealand newspapers have set a very high standard, following the lines of the best English publications, was expressed by Mr. F. W. Doidge in an address given to the Junior Chamber of Commerce at Auckland. He said people were forced to place credence on the information contained in the newspapers, and it was to the great credit of the Press in New Zealand that this faith was justified. Big Construction Gang. A staff of nearly 500 men has been assembled by the Public Works Department on railway work between Gisborne and Wairoa within less than two months, or at the rate of 50 to 60 a week, states an East Coast daily. The total on the payroll ton days ago was 549. The numbers still have to be increased considerably before the peak of the previous construction work is reached. During that time over 8<»0 men were engaged for a period. | Effect of Accident. Instancing a "classic" example of brain injury, Dr. C. S. Williams, when giving evidence in the Supreme Court. at Palmerston North, stated that. " formerly a man was a regular attendee at church, a Sunday school teacher and a model of righteous livI ing. Following upon a blow on the head, he became a confirmed drunkard and criminal, finishing up his days in gaol. Witness said it was possible lor a bright and cheerful person, after receiving a brain injury, to become dull, stupid and uninteresting Long Idleness Ended. Three notable "placements" under the Labour Department’s scheme were recently recorded in the Hutt Valley. They were a married man who had been receiving relief for

nearly five years, and who has nine dependent children, a married man on relief for four years with seven dependent. children, and a married man. intermittently on relief for two years, with six dependent children. These three men and their 25 dependents arc now enjoying the benefits of full-time employment, at standard rates of pay. Incidents of this nature arc being repeated many times in all parts of the Dominion. Rotary Badges. That PvOtarians should be given Ihe opportunity of procuring Rotary badges for everyday wear was a suggestion made at a Napier luncheon y by Rotarian T. Hyde. “When 1 was in Japan recently I asked a Japanese the name of a shrub," he said. "I noticed that, he was wearing a Rotary badge, so 1 invited him into my railway carriage, where we chatted for about 1.w») hours. Had he not worn ihat badge I would not have had that enjoyable experience. If Napier Rotarians are travelling abroad, a Rotary badge will, I am sure, be a sufficient introduction to fellow Rotarians in other countries." Half-distance Rule. Comment that one of the most Important clauses in the motor regulations required a car driver to travel at a speed not greater than that which would enable him to pull up in half the distance of clear road he could see ahead was made by His Honour Mr. Justice Blair, in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North this week. “I call this the half-dis-tance rule," added His Honour. "If motorists would repeat this over to themselves a thousand times a day. it is astonishing how it would reduce the number of motor accidents." His Honour said this rule applied equally at an intersection as on the open road. "Motorists Shouldn’t Drink.” Under cross-examination by Mr. Holmden, who defended in the Auckland Police Court, a motorist charged with being intoxicated in charge of a car. a garage proprietor called by the police said that accused was to all appearances sober, but smelled strongly of liquor. "If he had had any drink at all, he was not fit to drive a car.” declared witness, when this question was put to him. "I smelled drink on him, but. of course, I could not say whether he had any in him.’’ In answer to Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., witness said that he did not think that a man who had had a drink should drive a car. "You make r.o difference between one pint and ten?" asked the magistrate. "No, sir," was the answer. Holiday Cruises to Australia. An enterprising tourist agency In Sydney has set out to offer New Zealanders a choice of conducted tours of Australia. The first will leave Wellington by the Maunganui on September 15. and will return from Sydney by the Awatea on October 9 The programme includes first-class travel everywhere, motor tours, surfing parties, race meetings and visits to the theatres. The second trip, which is called the Melbourne Cup tour, will leave on October 27 by the Marama, and return on November 23. In addition to paddock accommodation at the Melbourne Cup mee’lnqrf there is a good programme of sightseeing and a threc-dav motor tour from Melbourne to Sydney. The f*r? ,Jor each is under