NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 37, 13 February 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

What Is It For? Silence is being observed by tho Railway Department regarding the Clayton engine, of which a photograph appears in this issue. All that the Railway Department will say about tho engine is that it has. beon manufactured by the Clayton Waggons Co., Lincoln, England, and that it is fitted with a marine type watcrtubo boiler, and has a four-cylin-der, high-pressure, totally-enclosed engine. It is understood that one of the claims for this engine is that it is economical in tho use of fuel, but the Department will not at this stage divulge the reasons which actuated their experiment. Homeless Americans. "The last United States census shows that 75 people out of every 100 in the urban parts of tho United' States aro homeless," remarked Mr. Will Applotou to a "Post" reporter yesterday. "I mean by this, that they livo in small apartments, hotels, and rooms; take their meals at restaurants, lunch-counters and hotels. This is a groat contrast to what I found in England, France, and Germany, whore people have homes as they did of old. As a matter of fact, I was amazed in England to discover tho thousands of homes that aro now being erected in all parts of the country. In my opinion, England -to-day is being re-built, and much the samo applies to Germany; and what was more noticeable to me was that all of the new homes have bathrooms." , Strange Marine Visitor. Once again from Stewart Island comes the tale of a strange marino visitor, and this time the fish has beon caught and sent to the mainland for presentation to a museum, remarks the Bluff correspondent of the "Southland News." At present for preservation purposes it is in cool storage in a Bluff freezer. Gathered from observation and remarks it is conjectured that the fish belongs to the ribbon species. Local fishermen say that they havo seen nothing like it before and cannot givo a. name. The stranger is a, most beautiful specimen of marine life. Its length is four feet; at the broadest part it measures nine inches and the maximum thickness is only one inch. It is of a bright silver hue, and along tho back and on. the belly part it has horny projections of about l-16th of an inch. It is in shape not unlike a small crosscut saw. It has a very small mouth, the tail tapers away for about a foot, terminating in a delicate replica of a butterfly wing or a peacock's feather, with all their prismatic colouring. The fish was first observed by Messrs. W. Johnsou and Lightfoot in tho surf in Horseshoe Bay and appeared to be in a fatigued state. Those gentlemen quickly noticed that it was a stranger and secured it with little difficulty. Education Board's Building. It is anticipated that negotiations between the Government and tho city authorities in regard to tho disposal to the City Council of the Education Board's block of buildings in Mercer street will be satisfactorily settled in the very near future. It was officially stated yesterday that there would be no delay in regard to the erection of the highly necessary additions to the Technical College, as instructions were given before Christmas for tho preparation of plans and specifications. The erection of these additions was not dependent upon the sale of the Education Board's property in Mercer street to tho City Council. The City Council had agreed to purchase tho property at the price fixed by the Minister, and the question of the interest on that portion of the purchase money that might remain unpaid over a year or two, together with the amount o2 rent to be paid by the Department, if it occupied the premises during the course of the erection of its own offices, had yet to bo agreed on. Calvin Coolidge's Foresight. "I think .. that President Calvin Coolidge was pretty wise in his day and generation when he announced his famous 'I do not chose to run' decision," remarked Mr. "VV. M. Appleton to a "Post" reporter. "He know that the Presidential candidate to succeed himself would have a pretty serious finan-, cial idepression on his hands. Another point; too, that Mr. Coolidge had not lost sight of was the acufco Prohibition question that has disturbed America for years and now sooma no noaror solution than before." Not Climbed This Season. Although numerous parties have waited at tho Haasfc Hut for suitable weather conditions, Mount Ceok still remains imcoiiquerod this season states tho Christchurch "Press." Most ■of tho peaks are in excellent condition for climbing and tho weather remains fine and settled. Great progress is being mado by the Public Works Department in the construction of the Ball Hut road, and the stopping place for tho ears is now v/ithin one and a half miles of the Ball Hut, and this is a great advantage to tourists, as it brings tho Tasman Glacier and the Hochstetter ice falls within reach of practically all. The nine-hole golf course at the Hermitage is now playable, and this adds to the attractions of this mountain resort. Wrongful Dismissal. Tho Arbitration Court may uphold the appeal of a worker who contends that ho has been wrongfully dismissed, but tlie employer 13 not thereupon obliged to tako tho worker back, states the "Auckland Star." "It is very questionable," said Mr.' Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court on Tuesday morning, "if a judgment allowing an appeal would'be regarded as sufficient evidence to maintain a claim for damages. Tho position is a most unsatisfactory one, and I have previously characterised it as a farce. It i.i much the same as tho case of a jilted girl. Sho can get damages, but she cannot forco the man to marry her. Tlio only legal remedy in this case is an action for breach of contract-." The appeal which prompted his Honor's remarks was upheld. Presbyterians Aggrieved. The Presbyterian community of Christchurch is reported to bo up in arms ovor the pro-eminence given to representatives of tho Anglican aud Roman Catholic Churches at the farewell ceremony to the Governor-Gen-eral, Sir Charles Fergusson and Lady Alico I'crgussou (states the "Christchurch Times"). At the monthly mooting of the Christc-hurch Presbytery on Tuesday morning a :discussion on the subject took place in committee. When approached at the conclusion of the meeting Mr. W. H. Bose, by whom the matter had been raised, said tho position was that at the function be noticed that seats had been reserved in the front row for tha representatives of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. "I looked )n vain," he said, "for our own representative. I later learnt that he wasithcro, but had been relegated to a sea) at the back. It was an extraordinary position for us to be placed in as Ithe GovernorGeneral is a ruling elder of the Prosbytcriau Church of Scotland and has identified himself very; closely with the Presbyterian Church df New Zealand during his term of bffice. I think tho samo courtesy shoilld have been shown to the Moderatof of our Presbytery, as the official representative of our church." The Presbytery decided to put tho position bofpro tho Mayor io see that on future piiblic occasions' the Presbyterians received equal rights with the representatives of other churches. This oxpresdon of opinion was unanimously supported by ' the members present. i.

The Williams Family. ■■In speaking at the garden party given the new Bishop of Waiapu in Napier, says the "Napier Telegraph," Dean Brocklehurst remarked on- tho honoured name the new bishop bore. "Personally I always question whether it is the Williams' or the rabbits that overrun New Zealand," he added, amidst laughter. Bishop Williams, in a speech later in tho afternoon, said that he had to plead guilty to .haviV-g some relations. Ho had once been told, he said, that it was said that there were 100 families of Williams in New Zealand, and all had ten children each. "I admit it is founded on fact," he said, amidst laughter, "but it is only approximately correct." An Intelligent Pony. It was due to tho very intelligent behaviour of a pony at the Tangiteroria Show on Saturday that its young rider, Jack Sloane, aged 12 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. 11. Sloane, of Maniaranui, was not injured, states the "North Auckland Times." Tho horse knocked the top rail of tho first hurdle in one of the events and dislodged its rider, one of whose feet became caught in tho stirrup. He was suspended head downward until assisted, but the horse exercised fine care xor its young mastor and remained still until help was at hand. The lad received an ovation when ho remounted and completed the hurdle circuit. The lad also gained third award in tho gentleman rider class.