NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 135, 12 June 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

"Best Spirit of British Justice."

."In the record of the Native Land Court we have had some wonderful work by the judges,',' stated Mr. X.. Ross during the course of an historical lecture in Palmerston North. "I would like to make this statement publicly, aud without any reservation, that there we have an example of the best spirit of British justice in protecting the Natives against themselves and against 'landsharks.' It has cost the country a tremendous sum as it sometimes took three years to get a deal through the court, so closely were titles ' investigated and the interests of the Maoris watched." Wanted to Drive. ' A man, with number plates under his arm all in readiness, presented himself at the Wanganui City Engineer's offices on. Friday seeking a driver's license. To describe the inspector's |own words (says the"Chronicle") he waß"three sheets in the wind)" but ; was insistent that a driver's license had to be had. "Ever, driven before?" the inspector asked. "Half an hour, maybe, but I'll challenge the lot of you. Drive her up the Art Gallery steps if you want." He was gently told to come back later. New Railway Buses. Additions to the Hutt Valley, bus i fleet are being made *by the Railway [Department. Within two or three days a new 33-seater is to be put on the road, to be followed at fortnightly intervals by two similar new buses. Seven new chassis are being fitted with 31-seater bodies. The first of these vehicles will be in use within a week, and the others will be completed and put into commission at the rate of one every three weeks. Ten more chassis are on order. With the bringing into use of the new buses some of the older ones will be withdrawn for overhaul. . Shortage of Coal. , The extent to which the coal hold up in Australia might affect the gas supply locally was discussed by the members of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Light- i ing Board at its meeting last . night. The Railway Department wrote notifying an increase in the price of the Newcastle- coal supplied to the .board to & 3 per ton, and urging the board to make the least possible on its (the Department's) supplies. It was explained by the secretary that the coal now cost lls 4d per ton more than before the strike. The chairman (Mr. W. G. Lodder) stated that the board was using as much New Zealand coal as possible, but it could not use too much if it wanted to get an adequate yield-of gas. The board was laying, in a store of as much rcoal as it could •. getj but the demand was large even for native coal. : ' Thieving in Dressing Sheds. What was characterised as a very mean ease of thieving at the Lyall Bay dressing shed on Saturday last was brought under the- notice of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union last eyening.by the Miramar Rugby Club. A letter from the club-stated that, members of the intermediate team were completely robbed of not only their money, but personal belongings, tram tickets, etc. In view of the numerous complaints received of similar thefts, the club suggested that arrangements might be • made for a custodian to look after players' belongings; each week at a cost of a few shillings. "Although only 60 players are accommodated at Athletic Park each week," added' the letter, "their property is protected, yet at Lyall Bay; for instance, about 300 players' belongings are at the mercy of anyone who-cares to ransack them." ■ It was decided to forward the complaint to the police, the opinion being held that the catching of one or: two •peopled rifliiigi players' clothes would probably.check the pracA Commercial Library. prlTfh&vibr^'ieSr,C<)mmitteerec<)miliend- ttL / Clfc3: Council;at. its last meeting that consideration.should be given to the formation of a' commercial Je£ nat.. th« Public -Library, a suggestion which was approved of, but without aiscu Sßl on. Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. A. Fletcher, H. C. South and H S., Tairchild, secretary, 2 T*i th^ C°^ mitte6 t0 diseuss^'thTpn; Pff/ Mr- .^etcher, acting on behal touch with what was going on in the fWn^ °P' J^-ttat the Libraries^ Committee, was m full sympathy witn the project, and would be pleased to carry the idea into practice if suitable financial arrangements could, be made! I It would be necessary to consult the librarian, Mr. J. Norrie, as -™ what books would be required and what space , could be made, available at the PubUc i Library for such a section. The committee would^then get into touch w£l the various bodies concerned to ascertain to what esjtent they would be pre-i pared to assist the project. • •■--' ; Land For the People. Correspondence, has been" passing between the Minister of Lands" (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) and Mr. C. S. Burnett,: i Crown tenants' representative on the Wellington Land Board, with reference' to the acquisition- of lands for closer: settlement on the west coast of thes North Island. Mr. Burnett has dra™n the attention of the Minister to the fact that 169 applications were, dealt with in respect of'the Wespella Block of twelve sections, and that/some mbnths: ago 150 applications were received for two sections in Omatane.- "I would like to respectfully bring under your notice the urgent requirements of the disappointed applicants, and that in addition to the Wereroa further suitable areas will soon be rendered available tor settlement on this coast," writes Mr. Burnett. "A meeting will shortly be held in Wanganui in regard to this question, when I trust the Government •will be able to announce further areas being available for settlement in-time for next dairy season." The Minister has replied to Mr. Burnett stating that the Dominion Land Purchase Board is; considering offers of .sevoral suitable estates, but he is not yet in a position to give any indication as to the .probable result of the negotiations. Every endeavour is being made by the Govern-, ment to meet the present demand for land.

A Lucky Escape. | The prompt action of a motorman on a Northland-bound tramcar in the city last night, shortly after 11 o'clock, saved a young man from serious injury, or, perhaps, death. The car had just turned into Lambton quay from Willis street, when the man stepped off the footpath right in front of it. It was a case calling for quick action on the part of tho motorman. In an instant he applied the brakes and brought the car to a standstill. The man was underneath, but fortunately the front wheels had not caught him, and he was quickly extricated, with nothing more than a few bruises on his head. He appeared to be intoxicated, and • his main concern was that he was unable- | to find his hat. ." Children's Tram Tickets. "There is no concession so generous as this in New Zealand," remarked the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board (Mr. J. A. C. Allum), when referring to school children's tram tickets. The value of the concession granted to school children during the last twelve months was £5516 14s 3d. Owing to abuse in the use --.of---school concession cards it was recommended that in order to prevent the cards getting into the hands of other than bona fide scholars, children's school concession cards should be issued only through schools. The cards were at present sold by ticket agents, and. numerous' instances had.occurred where they had been purchased and used by other than scholars. Mr. Allum said there was no desire to take away the concession, but in order to prevent tickets getting into wrong hands the suggestion of tho manager to issue them only through the schools should be carried out. The recommendation was adopted.