NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 44, 21 February 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Advances for Settlement.

Detailed regulations under the Land Laws Amendment Act of last session arc published in this week's "Gazette." They prescribo conditions subject to which advances will be made by tho Government "to Crown tenants of undeveloped lands for tho erection of buildings and (Other improvements, and to occupiers of undeveloped settlement lands for the same purpose. Tho regulations operate immediately.

New Hutt River Bridge,

Formal consent to the raising of a loan of £950 by the Lower Hutt Borough Council for tho purpose of completing the construction of the Hutt River Bridge is given by Order-in-Council published in the "Gazetto" last night. Tho interest rato is not to exceed 5-J per cent., and the term of tho loan is to be not more than twenty years. '

Warning to Speedsters,

A warning to those who mako a practice of speeding in Rona Bay and Muritai was issued by the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. H. M. Jones) 'last night at the Borough Council meeting when tho Town Clerk reported that speeding in tho borough was becoming a real menace, no improvement haviu'g been observed in spite of warnings issued. The Mayor stated that the borough officers were being instructed to make a serious attempt to check the speeding, by instituting proceedings against all offenders.

Kongotai as Training Ground,

Owing to tho fact that Gear Island is unavailable, some training ground is urgently required for members of the Wellington Aero Club.' Wing-Comniand-er Grant-Dalton, the Director of Air Services, has approved of tho use of Bongotai Aerodromo for solo flights, so long as Flight-Lieutenant G. L. Stedman is the. Aero Club's instructor.

Now to be Kated,

The Government is not lible for local body rates unless in eases where a special rate was placed on the property before it was acquired by the Government, but as soon as such property is no longer occupied by the Government, the lessee becomes liable for any rates. This applies in the case of the-ten acres vested in tho Railway Department, and used for some fifty years for railway workshops, at Petone. This will now be leased in blocks *or warehouses, factories, and industrial plants. A new road, a chain wide, to serve the area will bo continued from tho Main Hutt road north, coming out at the Main roafl near the Korokoro overbridge. The leases will be offered in a few months.

Electricity Charges,

That the charges made by the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board may in the near future be reviewed was indicated in the report .presented to the meeting of tho board yesterday by the engineer-manager (Mr. E. F. Hollands). He said: "Further information has been gathered with regard to rates, and a meeting of the Special Bates Committee will be called next week. We hope shortly to place before the board a complete set of new rates for its approval."

Super-tax Commission's Work.

The Commission appointed to inquire into cases o£ hardship arising from the imposition of the special laud tax under the taxation proposals of last session was originally given until 21st February to submit its report to the Government. An extension of time has now been, given until not later than 21st May. /

Local Body Loans,

Formal I approval of the following loans being raised by the Wellington City Council was "Gazetted" last night.—New milk station loan, 1930, £30,000, for ten years, at 5J per cent, and 1 per cent, sinking fund; unemployment loan No. 4 (1929), £21,000, for ten years, at the same rate of interest and sinking fund. The Palmerston North Borough Council is authorised to borrow £5000 at 5§ per cent, and £3 per cent, sinking ■fund, for ten years, for repayment of the municipal buildings loan, and the Upper Hutt Borough Council! is empowered to raise loans of £5800 and £10,000, each at 6 per cent, but for varying terms, for waterworks purposes. Tho rate of interest in connection with the Wellington City Street-widening Renewal Loan, 1919, Repayment Loan of £70,300, is prescribed as 5$ per Sent. .

"Buy New Zealand Goods."

The remarks'of the president of the Maorilanders' Association (Mr. J. A.Shand), at the recent half-yearly; meeting, advocating practical support for Sir Joseph Ward's. New Year slogan, "Buy New Zealand Goods," have been tho subject of commendatory messages received by the association from those engaged in secondary industries in various parts of the Dominion, including Dunedin, Nelson, and Timaru. In particular Mr. Shand pointed out how tho expenditure by New Zealanders of an additional half-crown per week on New Zealand-made goods would assist not only our local secondary industries, but also help to alleviate unemployment by making it economically possible for more workers to be employed. At tho last meeting of members of the Maorilanders' Association members pledged themselves1 to do all they could to put the slogan into practice and to induce others to do likewise.

"The,Prophetic Note."

The. importance of the function of the "prophet," as distinguished from I that of the "priest," if the Christian Church would effectively confront the problems of its life and work, was strongly emphasised, in Ms inaugural address last night, by the Rev. A. N. Scotter, 8.A., the newly-inducted president of the. Methodist Church of New Zealand. In' order successfully to combat, those modern forces of demoralisation —materialism, the craving, for excitement, the secularising of life^— which were no less a menace to Christianity than the infidel arguments, and the sword and stake which in earlier centuries assailed it, the Methodist Church, ho urged, must escape from tho deadening influence of the merely mechanical ,and ceremonial; it must sound the prophetic note, compelling men to a more vital- and responsive worship, calling them to anew vision, and that authentic Christian experience which originally characterised Methodism. "If Meth-; odism is to.prosper this year in our Dominion, "he said, in conclusion, "it must be evangelistic, with a confidence born" of prayer, and ;in the power of a cleansing baptism of the spirit of Christ, and the joyful fellowship of believers. Let each member of this conference seek that endowment of the spirit of God that •will make this new connectional year an; epoch for Methodist progress." ■'. \

Building Up Tourist .Traffic.

Tho importance of town planning in relation to tho tourist traffic was stressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hoii. P. A. deHa Perrelle) when speaking at a meeting of the Town Planning Board to-day. New Zealand was regarded as beisg an attraction for tourists, said the Minister, and if they took steps to ensuie that their cities were well laid' out land cared for the country would be a still greater attraction than it was at present. Personally, he regarded the tourist traffic as one of the country's most important industries, and ho looked forward to seeing a big increase in the number of people who visited the Dominion.. He was convinced that rwhen the people of other countries knew what attractions there were in New Zealand they would come a long way to see them.

"World's Greatest lext-book."

The Bible—the greatest of all textbooks and missionaries—and religious education were effective, factors in tho Christian Church's campaign against moral evil and against materialism and tho secularisation oi life, declared the Rev. A. N. Scotter,;B.A., president of the Methodist Church of 'New Zealand, in his inaugural adiress at Wesley Church last night, i Ho. deplored the lack of knowledge in. religion, but rejoiced that psychology was supplying the lack. There w»s no follower of John Wesley but would confess, he said, the need for a religious education that would give a true estimate of the facts of life, both material land spiritual; and a tribute was due to the valuable work in this direction of the Methodist Young People's Department, in kindergarten, Sunday school, and Bible class. That work could be effectively supplemented'by Methodist parents giving the Bible its due place ill the home.

A Lesson in Geography.

On his arrival Homo the new High Commissioner (Mr. Wilford) gave London journalists tho information that thero were twelve hundred differences between • Australia atd New Zoaland, but those differences jwere inorely the twelve hundred miles if sea that divided tho. one country ifrom the other. Taking up . the point ' that people in Europe often confussd New Zealand with Australia, Mr. Wilford thought it was duo to tho use oi the word "Aus: traiasia." He hoped that in tho near future letters would liot be addressod, "Wellington, New Zealand, Australia.?-'

Unbiased Evidence,

Some amusement was caused in the Supremo Court at Auckland by the outspoken remark of v witness who was describing an accident in which a young woman was. run over by a lorry driven by a Chinese, states the "New Zealand Herald." He summed up his views by saying: "I do not stand for Chinese at all, but this was just a plain accident and could not be avoided." "You need not express your political views here," remarked Mr. Justico. Smith, smiling. Mr. Goldstine, one of the founsel in the case, said it was pleasing that witness was showing no bias in his evidence.

"Send Up Some Bugs!"

Complaints about unkempt footpath's were, made at a meeting of the Devonport Borough Council, reports the "Auckland Star." One lady, living at the- end of a street, declared that the only footway she had was a track 9in wide, through which she had to thread a devious way among blackberries and thistles, with the- accompanying discomforts of torn stockings and wet knees. Another resident complained of the rank growth of nut weed in front of his location. The Mayor, Mr. E. Aldridge, explained the difficulties of eradicating the pest./ Neither fire nor weed-killer was effective. ! The root tendrils sprang from a nutty bulb, which went down top deep for any superficial treatment and any attempt at digging out these "nuts" apparently spread the weed. The council discussed the whole problem of weed extermination, and finally de'eided to remit a request to tho Agricultural Department for information on the matter. "I've got it," said Mr. J. Hislop. "Let's ask the Cawthrou Institute to send up some bugs!" This testimony to the efficacy of tho modern methods of the Nelson institution was received with smiles, but it was decided to place the problem before these scientists also. .

Work, Not Play.

"You are here to work, not to play bowls," remarked, amid laughter, the secretary to the Methodist Conference last night, when reading a cordial invitation from the secretary of the Wellington Bowling Club to visiting bowlers amongst the delegates to play bowls on that club's green. (Laughter.) Benewed laughter greeted the announcement by' a member of the Hataitai Bowling Club that iis club extended a similar invitation to visiting bowlers. A number of the members; of the conference, lay and clerical, were playing bowls on the Wellington Club's green yesterday afternoon. .

A Cow to the Aero!

Divorso opinions concerning the proposal to inaugurate a small farm competition in South Taranaki were expressed at a meeting at Hawera recently. Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., presided over an attendance of 22, which represented tho Farmers' Union, the Department of Agriculture, the Chamber of Commerce, and other Government departments, as well as the farming community and the townspeople. It had been stated that a farmer at Hurleyville had successfully carried 18 cows on a 20-aere section, said Mr. L. A. Ablett, the originator of the scheme. A number of farmers had become interested, and it was discovered that a farm of 140 acres was carrying 80 cows, while one of 10 acres was carrying 14 cows. This had led to the proposal for a competition. Mr. Ablett suggested that farms be grouped—those up to 25 acres in one class, those from 25 to 50 acres in another, arid those over 50 acres in a third.. A similar competition might also be instituted for • householders working small suburban areas of up to five acres. He knew there were difficulties in the way, but he would like those present to discuss the proposal. It was. decided that tho meeting be adjourned for a month to enablo the views of the farming community in South Taranaki to be obtained. ,' " ■ ' The Public's "Response." The Mayor of Christchurch, the Eev. J. K. Archer, recently made a public appeal for funds ', to enable the beach patrols to be retained, states tho '' Christchurch Star." Not a single subscription resulted from the appeal, however, and this finally seals the fate of the patrols. Mr. W. H. Benson, a member of the Canterbury Surf and Life-saving Association, stated on Wednesday that the association, under such circumstances, could accept no responsibility for midweek accidents. "If the public won't find the'money we can't possibly keep the 'patrols going,"*he said; "Last Sunday's experience should make people think. When experienced swimmers can get into difficulties it shows how easy it is for thoughtless and careless, people to do so, particularly when bathing on a low or, falling tide, especially in nor'-west weather." Tho.New Brighton patrolman will have to go off,in about a week's time. The Sumner patrolman has already left, and the man at North Beach is to go very shortly. ■■..•".-

When a Cow Rocked the Boat.

A rather unusual happening took place at Tomohawk: Lagoon, Dunedin; on Tuesday night, says tho "Star." Obtaining a boat, a fisherman and his friend rowed across, the lagoon* to ;d° some fishing. The boat was moored at the water's edge under a bank acme 15ft high. Shortly afterwards some cows on the bank above began horning one another, ans one was pushed right over, landing on its back on the boat, and completely smashing the side of the boat to matchwood. After being some five minutes in its strange position the cow was liberated, and ambled away apparently uninjured. The boat was towed back to Mr. Clarke's boat shed, where it now lies in a much damaged condition.

Looking For His Master.

A fine black retriever is now wandering about at Taylor's Mistake, a picture of misery, says the Christchurch "Press." The retriever, which ig obviously well bred, was noticed at Taylor's Mistake on Sunday night, and, presumably, it was left there by one of the many motorists who visited the bay for the Surf Club's opening on Sunday last. The animal has been wandering about miserably ever since, and has refused food and friendly overtures from one or two people living at the bay. Each time a car appears the dog.gives a pleasant bark, which changes into a doleful howl when ho finds it to be the wrong car. . Unless the owner is discovered the dog will probably die within a few days.