NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 137, 6 December 1929, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

No Sunday Tennis.

No action has been taken by tho City Council in regard to tho request of the Vogeltown Municipal Tennis Club for permission to play tennis on Sundays at the municipal courts, Vennel street.

Prolific Breeders.

Tho Virginian deer which are spreading very rapidly at Stewart Island were originally liberated at Pegasus Bay, and the herd, which subsequently accumulated, kept to those regions for some years (states a Southland exchange. Now, however, there are comparatively few about Pegasus, Bay, but they have spread to every other part of the island. They breed even more rapidly than the red deer, as they often have twin fawns. Tho Virginian venison is excellent eating, and the fishermen make regular excursions in bad weather to secure this prized addition to their larder.

For Improved Streets.

The City Engineer has been instructed to consider the inclusion of Ticlissick crescent, Ngaio, in connection with his general report upon street sealing. The sealing of Hawker street (£425) and improvements to Salamanca road (£.1430) are to be taken into account when next year's estimates are being drawn up. The length of Elliee street between Brougham and Dufferm streets (£130) will be put in hand, provided the work can bo charged to loan account.

War Anniversaries.

The coming week-end contains three important war anniversaries, two of which relate to one theatre of operation and tho other to a naval engagement. Fourteen years ago to-morrow, in 1915, began the siege of Kut, a place of great strategical importance in Mesopotamia. In spite of attempts at relief, the garrison of 9000 British and Indian soldiers was forced to surrender in the following April. Efforts to save Kut cost some 24,000 casualties. A more pleasing anniversary during the weekend is that of the surrender of Jersualern, which took place in 1917. Sundayis the anniversary of the Battle of the Falkland Islands, when Sturdee's battlecruiser squadron put an end to yon Spec and German cruiser activity outside the North and Baltic Seas. Thereafter England for the rest of the war, save for an armed raider or two and for submarines, held unchallenged command of the seas.

Petone Gas Bill.

The way in which the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Bill was dropped by Parliament last session was a scandal," said Mr. H. F. Johnston, Reform candidate for the Hutt seat, in his speech at Alicetown on Wednesday No Government, Mr. Johnston contended, had the right to drop a Bill of such importance merely for want of time. Ho could not speak of the merits or demerits of the measure, but he knew it was of sufficient importance to warrant the most serious consideration of the House. The Bill had been allowed to be thrown to the wolves without any real attempt by tho Government to place it oil the Statute Book. It need not have been dropped. Its treatment in the House was just another example of the futility of leaving in power a Government with so little drive and industry, and of such incompetence as tho United Party. Speaking at Moera, Mr. W. Nash, tho Labour candidate for the seat, replied to Mr Kerr's statement that Labour was responsible for the killing of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Amendment Bill. The second reading was carried, but it was subsequently dropped by the Government on account of the opposition of United members. He repudiated the statement that Labour was responsible for the dropping of the

Conduct of Campers,

The habits of a certain type of camper and holiday-maker who litters beauty spots with rubbish and refuse were tho subject of a letter from tho medical officer of health, Dr. H. Chesson, received at a meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council on Wednesday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Dr. Chesson said complaints made regarding the conditions at some holiday camping places and the disgusting conditions in which camping and visiting parties had left the land had been found to be fully justified. "It seems strange," he said, "that some people who in ordinary lifo would themselves complain if a nuisance existed in the neighbourhood in which they reside, should, when they go away camping, behave in a manner which disgraces our so-called civilisation." No thought was given by such inconsiderate individuals to the peoplo who might come to the same place after them, or to the residents of the locality. Typhoid and other diseases might be transmitted by such carelessness, to say nothing of the nuisance caused by flies and mosquitoes. There was no difficulty in burying refuse. The prosecution, of offenders was suggested, also the appointment of temporary inspectors to supervise the more popular camping places.

Which Was Which?

The extraordinary likeness of twin brothers who were called as witnesses in a case heard in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court on Wednesday caused the Magistrate to evince amazement (states tho "Now Zealand Herald"). One of the brothers was called, and after he had been sworn, fieuior-Ser-goant Sweeney asked, "Your name is Maurice Victor West, is it not?" "No, sir," the witness replied. "It is Philip Arthur." A littlo later the witness's brother was called. The Magistrate, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, looked in wonder at tho brothers in turn. They were dressed alike and were as similar as two peas. The Magistrate remarked that he could quite understand the senior-sergeant's mistake.

Respect for the Dead,

Tho necessity! for giving a lead to the public in showing respect for the dead when near the Cenotaph and Court of Honour at the War Memorial Museum was urged at a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Roll of Houour Committee on Tuesday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). "I am not at all happy about the Cenotaph and Court of Honour," said the chairman, Mr. A. C. A. Sexton. "Should we not set out what we expect the public to do to show their respect for the dead?" Sir George Kichardson naid no strict uniformity should be insisted upon. It was natural for a man when passing the Cenotaph to raise his hat, replacing it after passing. "We should give some indication of what is expected," said Mr. Sexton. "If we make it a custom for people to raise their hats all will be well, but a person does not like making himself conspicuous by doing what others do not do." Sir George Richardson said he saw no difficulty in establishing the custom. It was stated that profound respect was always shown at the Cenotaph in London. A visitor had noticed particularly that passers-by-, even in vohicles, raised their hats in silent tribute. A suggestion that school children should be taught by their teachers to respect the Cenotaph was made by Mr. C. T. Major. He said children had been seen playing round the Cenotaph, and on the previous evening a number had been playing cricket with the Cenotaph as wickets. It was decided to ask tho Auckland Education Board to have instructions issued to teachers to inform the children of the meaning of the Cenotaph.

An Umpire Ideal.

Free trade within the Empire might bo an ideal, but it was one well worth striving for; and in that ideal ho believed both Amalgamated and Empire Dairies had a future, and could render a valuable service to the producers, the Dominion, and tho Empire, declared Mr. W. Goodfellow, amid applause, at tho meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Council yesterday.

Photographing Southern Alps.

Motion picture photographers attached to the Government Publicity Office are to make a trip from the Glacier Hotel, Waiho Gorge, to The Hermitage, via Graham's Saddle, and back to the West Coast via the Copland Pass, to make moving pictures (states the "Christchurch Times"). They will be accompanied by Guide Frank Alack, one of the leading guides on the West Coast, who will perform a number 6f skiing and climbing feats for inclusion in the films. It is expected that the photographers will spend a month or six weeks in the alpine region, aa their object is to secure a number of magnificent pictures to be used for advertising the scenic glories of the Southern Alps. The climb over Graham's Saddle, which is over 8000 feet above sea level, was made by the Right Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, who described the alpine scenery .there as among the finest in the world.