Treasures.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 8, 24 February 1909, Page 6

Treasures.

The Dominion Museum in Wellington possesses an almost priceless collection of greenstone ornaments, including the splendid tiki, about Sin. in length, which the celebrated chief Hoiigi took with him to England in 1819. It is undoubtedly of great antiquity, for so prized a possesseion was almost certain to have descended to its owner from a long line of ancestors. With many other valuable specimens it is being mounted on cardboard of a quiet hue, silver wire being used so that rust cannot damage the greenstone. These highly interesting specimens will liave to be packed away until they can be displayed in a

building where there is adequate provision fold their safety. There have been several burglarious visits to the old museum, and it is not considered a suitable place for the display of such valuable historical relies. Only one or two bird skeletons are on view in the museum, but 20,000 bones are stored there, out of the public gaze, including Mr. A. Hamilton’s collection of fossil birds, probably the best extant. In a few years at most tho publie should be able to view all these packed-up treasures, for it is proposed to ’wiild a suitable up-to-date Dominion Museum at the rear of the Parliamentary Building. Fire at the Oil Wells. About four o'clock on the 17th a fire occurred' at the Taranaki Petroleum Company's works. Three tanks and about 70 barrels of crude petroleum were destroyed, 10,000 gallons in all. The fencing and shed were also damaged, but the wind fortunately saved the derrick and other buildings. Departmental Changes. I. Already there is a good deal of speculation as to who will be appointed to the more important posts about to be vacated in the Civil Service owing to the determination of the Government, to put tho superannuation regulations into effect. It is expected that Mr Frank Andrews, formerly associated with the secretarial staff of the late Mr Seddon, and now attached to Sir Joseph Ward’s secretarial staff, will replace Mr A. Willis as Clerk of the Executive Council. Mr Andrews, who is at present on sick leave, has been acting-secretary to the Cabinet on more than one occasion, and has a thorough knowledge of the duties he will be required to fill if he is appointed. Although Cabinet has not yet considered the question of renewing or determining tho engagement of Mr G. V. Shannon as Customs expert, there is reason to believe that his retirement will take place shortly. Mr Shannon.was appointed at a time when the tariff was difficult of interpretation, and evasion of the Customs laws was, it is alleged, somewhat freely practised. Now, however, the tariff' lias been greatly simplified, and it is thought that the work required to be done eail'be efficiently carried on by less highly,-paid officers lit the receiving centres. This .would be following on the lines adopted by the late Commissioner of Customs (Mr Millar), In the case of an Auckland officer who was appointed.drapery expert, which position ho subsequently resigned in order " to enter into private business in the northern town, the vacancy was not filled, the Minister being satisfied that owing to the simplification of the new tariff the work hitherto performed by the retiring official could be carried out by other members of the Customs staff without impairing its efficiency, while at the same time he would be effecting a saving in expenditure in the department. ' In connection with the’ retirement of Mr T. Humphries, Surveyor-General, I have to repeat, what I said a few weeks previously, that his successor will be either Mr J. Strauclion, Commissioner of Crown Bands in the Auckland district, or Mr Goldsmith, who occupies a corresponding position in Canterbury. The chances are that Mr Strauclion will be appointed. Mr F. J. Wilson, solicitor to the Public Trust, is to be retired after a service extending over. 20 years. Mr J. McDonald, assistant solicitor, will most likely take his place, Mr McDonald' was for-' merly a clerk. in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington, and was admitted to the practice of his profession some time previous to Ids appointment as assistant solicitor. When the;report was circulated a few' weeks ago that Mr Dinnie,' Commissioner of Police, would succeed Colonel Hiiineas Inspector of Prisons,’ I scouted the suggestion as a wildly impracticable One, and a Ministerial declaration a day or two afterwards proved that I was on tho right track. Now the “Post” ventures to say that the idea'was to combine the two offices) but that there is some doubt now thill the proposal will be carried into effect. As a matter of race, such an absurd proposal was never for a moment contemplated by the Government. It is also stated by the evening journal that Inspector Cullen, of the Auckland police force, may fill the shoes of Colonel Hume as Inspector of Prisons, and. failing him, Inspector Ellison, of the Wellington police force. On the authority of the Minister for Justice, I have to say that there is not the slightest foundation for the rumour in regard to either gentleman.— .Wellington correspondent.

Savings Bank Business The “ New Zealand Trade Review,” in dealing with the transactions of the Post Office Savings Bank, expresses the view that the favourable terms granted by the Savings Bank are attracting the funds of a class of depositors for whom it was not tended, viz., investors of some means. This class of funds (says the "Review ”)| may naturally beattraeted by more tempting investments, and thus be withdrawn on a large scale at a time of scarcity. The Government, however, is now obtains ing funds from outside the Dominion. The summary of transactions of the' Post Office Savings Bank is extremely interesting. It shows that deposits continue to be made on a full scale, but that at the same time inoney is now, being freely withdrawn from that institution. Bocal resources are thus being brought into use to meet the requirements of the community, while the investors are finding more remunerative employment for their funds. The deposits ami withdrawals shown in the returns of the Post Office Savings Bank during the two years ended December 31 last compare as follows:— j

There was an excess of withdrawals in the September quarter of £-12,539, and in the December quarter of £50,416, but when set against the increases in Marell and June quarters, an excess of deposits for the year of £256,254 is shown. Through Mail Service. In aii interview last week at Christ, church, the Hom. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, said ’'that he was .at present engaged in arranging the new express time-table. IS was a somewhat difficult matter to fit in the hours to suit everything. The main object was to be able to get’ the mail service through from one end of New Zealand to the other as rapidly, as possible. In order to accomplish this, the ferry- boat must arrive at Wellington at 7 a.m. or 7.30 at the latest, and even then, to enable the mail to catc’.i' both the New Plymouth and the Napier mail trains, some adjustment of ! tha' time-tables on these lines might be re-’ ’ quired. In regard to the Southern "ser-' 1 vices, he said, the train must get away, "< from Christchurch about 8 a.ni. If pa 4 -; sengel’s were to land in Invercargill at a' ’ '' reasonable hour, the Department would" : have to consider shortening up the tibia 7,1 ' between the respective termini as far as the mail trains were concerned. ' Mr. Millar added that lie hoped to‘j+et; the new time-table out in a week os' two, and it would be put into oplera'ticirt very quickly after it was finally settled. The General Alaiiiiger of Railways (Mr. T. R’oiiayne) , has just returned to„;. Wellington from) aii . ex'tpnsiye jour-' ney around -the... North'". Inland ' railways,. and reports that; traffic'’. is, fairly busy north of Ohakune. iHierd was considerable disorganisation of.iiusiness through the coql strike fi.t' Huutly, and the railway. Jost, a. good deal of freight, as coal for consuiiiptiop in Auckland was imported, from 'Newcastle.' ■ Things.are quiet south of Ohakuniy tnifi' ' Mr. Ronayne found a very hopefiil febl-' ing among sawmillers in the Taihapei ' district. Anticipating, an impi'pvenieiiffi in their industry, they Srb' piittirig doiWtt) five new sawmills in that fieiglibdufhood. . . Napier Hospital. A meeting of the Napier Hospital. £rus< tees was held last week to meet Dr Valentine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, arid confer with him on matters connected with the hospital. Dr. Valintine said he had been living at the hospital for the past week, and found that the buildings hiere insanitary and in disrepair, the interion did not show the eerupulous cleanliness

(Which should prevail, and the wards were not clean. The place was overcrowded, and the grounds untidy and insanitary. !He found a lack of harmony between the administrative officers, due to outside interference, and a want of definiteness in regard to duties. Despite all drawbacks, the patients had been well cared for, hut 67 were too many for one man Jo look after. .The economic side of the hospital had been neglected, and mismanagement was rife. Out of 19 nurses, only two were trained nurses, but that there was not that absolute disloyalty to tho matron as some people endeavoured to make out, was shown by the fact that four senior nurses had offered to stay on if required after they had passed their (examinations. The hospital books did not contain enough information, but this .was due to the secretary being overworked. Dr. Valintine recommended the appointment of an extra medical officer at £ 200 per annum, and additional help for the secretary. The matron (Miss Florence Edwards) forwarded her resignation. Mr. W. Shrimpton gave £lOOO towards the erection of a new children’s ward in memory of his son. Canterbury’s Wheat Yield. Canterbury’s yield of wheat this year will be the heaviest for many years. In mid and North Canterbury fifty bushels per acre is common on medium land, and the best land shows a much higher average over all of between 35 and 40 bushels. Harvest operations are often interrupted by wet weather, and after cutting the weather was so uncertain that not a few farmers threshed from the shook before the grain matured, merchants rejecting this wheat as not full milling or export. Much of it will have to be exposed in bags in paddocks, maturity being secured by this means. If stored in bags in a granary without weather drying in a paddock it will degenerate rapidly. The harvest is so abundant that merchants and millers are holding off till market indications become more pronounced. The weather this week has been perfect for all kinds of harvest work, and stacking is proceeding apace. A very large area is still in stook, and the grain is giving promise .of excellent sample when threshed under proper conditions. Feed is abundant everywhere, and root crops give a pleasing prospect. Hands are scarce in some districts, and there is plenty of work everywhere for willing men with some knowledge of field work. Deadly A new explosive called “Mortite,” the invention of a New Zealander, was tested at Nelson recently, when shells of chroma steel, weighing respectively 251 b, 271 b, and 281 b, with walls Igin thickness, were successfully exploded. It was stated that service shells of the same weight would require to contain 220 z of bursting charge, as against the soz of “Mortite” which were used, and the walls of service shells would be only gin in thickness. The new explosive is not a nitro-glycerine compound, and can be handled as carelessly as cordite, but it is said that it does not deteriorate with age. Negotiations are in progress with the British Government regarding the explosive. The Aeon Salvage Expedition. The auxiliary scow Zingara left Auckland on Sunday for Christmasdsland with the Aeon salvage expedition,-Captain W. Robertspn is in command, and the second in command is Iris son; Captain L. Robertson, Captain Holmes being also associated with the party. Mr. F. Goodman, who accompanies the expedition, lias cpnsiderable experience as a master shipwright and in salvage work. Mr. Henderson goes, as secretary. The Zingara carries dn experienced diver and diving gear, two chief engineers, two firemen .and a winch driver. The vessel is fully equipped with necessary gear, and present indications point to a successful result of an enterprising venture. Tlie commanding officer of the Auckland mjlijary district lias finally decided to hold l|ie ; Easfei; mqnoeuv.res for the forces eqhiprising the Auckland district at htbrrinsvii’e. 1 , ' ’ ' A,young .man named T. L. , Tlidnison, who slept on! tiie prb(iiiges had a narrow escape jn a lire whjcli occurred last' week at iTlaipilton in’ the slibp of RJr' T.indSay, draper, who had his’stock niiieli damaged. . In order to protect the trout in the livers from destruction the Canterbury

Acclimatisation Society has decided to offer the high price of Is. per head for shags, which play havoc among the small fry-

The Minister of Railways expects to make an announcement this week with regard to the personnel of the Commission which is to inquire into the allegations of incompetency and mismanagement at the Addington Railway workshops.

The Auckland Drainage Board which is to take in hand the big work of draining Auckland and the outside boroughs, etc., which will eventually be Greater Auckland, is now in working order, and last week made arrangements for raising £lOO,OOO out of the £500,000 which they are empowered to borrow.

A well known settler of Awaroa, Kawhia, Mr. A. Pearson, had a marvellous escape the other day. He was getting out of his launch when the hammer of a pea rifle he was carrying got caught, and the weapon went off. The bullet entered Mr. Pearson’s eyebrow, and came out under the skin without doing him any harm.

1907. Excess Deposits. Withdrawals of deposit?. t £ £ March quarter 2,325,099 2,000,250 324,849 June .. 2,422,441 2,036,541 385,900 September . .. 2.357.677 2,076,796 280,8.91 December .. .. 2,240,447 2,011,536 234,911 ■ ■ —- Totals ... . .£9,351,604 £8.125,123 £1,226,541 1908. Excess Deposits. Withdrawals of deposit?. £ £ £' March .. 2,542,188 2,382.935 159,253 June .. 2,6D7.657 2,447,707 159,950 .September . .. 2.319,607 2,332,140 — December .. .. 2,204,622 2,255,038 — Totals ... ..£9,674,074 £9,417.820