NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Bankruptcy Oases. , During the past year 212 bankruptcy petitions were filed in the Wellington provincial district, the petitions in the different centres being as follows :— Wellington city and suburbs, 81; Wanganui, 41; Palmerston North, 47; Pahiatua, 5; Masterton, 22; Taihape, 16. The bankruptcy cases in the Wellington centre involved the following amounts:—Under £50, two; from £50 to £100; two; from £100 to £250, 17; from £250 to £500, 10; from £500 to £1000, 15; -from £1000 to £2000; 15; from £2000 to £5000, isseven;-.£5000 and upwards, four; total, 81. Breeze as a Target. The coastal steamer Breoze which was damaged as' a result of being stranded near Port Eobinson during a fog on the niorning of 18th December, is to be sunk by gunfire from the sloops Veronica and Laburnum next Wednesday. The Veronica left Auckland for Lyttelton yesterday, and the Laburnum will arrive at Lyttelton on Wednesday morning. She. will be met off the shore by the Veronica with tho Breeze in tow. The sloops will then carry out firing practice on the hull. Both sloops carry two 4in guns and will fire 20 rounds from each gun, making 80 rounds in all. Six rounds from each gun will be shells filled with high explosive, which is unusual ammunition to use on a- practice shoot, but without which it would not. be possible to sink tho target, an end not sought at ordinary target practice, but desired in this case. It is hoped the high explosive will sink the ship, but if she should still be afloat when all rounds are ilred, an explosive charge will be placed aboard her, and she will be blown up. . A Rhododendron Walk. It is likely that in the near future a rhododendron walk will be constructed from Carlton Bridge to the Bhodos street footbridge, Fendalton, a distance of approximately 500 yards, states the Christchurch "Press:" The Beserves Committee reported to a meeting of the City Council that a letter had been received from the Christchurch Beautifying Association stating that it was anxious to find work for unemployed returned soldiers, the Beturned Soldiers' Association having £50 available for the purpose. It was suggested that if such a walk were formed, the work of trenching, preparatory to planting would be suitable for the labour available. The Beautifying Association understood that in the event of the council authorising the work it.would bo carried out under, the direction of the Superintendent of City Parks and Gardens. The committee reported that it had written agreeing to the proposal. ■ Change of Title. Information has been received from London that the title of the Associated Board B.A.M. and B.C.M. has been changed to "The Associated Board of the Boyal Schools of Music, London." The original title has been in use since the formation of the Associated Board m the year 1889, and the change which was foreshadowed by Sir HughAllen when he visited New Zealand in 1930,- is made for the sake of convenience; tho original title being so unwieldy, even when reduced to initials as used by Licentiates. ' Slackness In Freezing Industry. As a result of unusual slackness in the freezing industry for this time of the year, many of tho freezing works m the Canterbury district are working half time. Discussing conditions in the industry, the secretary of tho freezing works, Mr. H. 'C. Bevell, said that business was dead except at the Kaiapoi and Belfast works, says tho "Timaru Herald." The other works were working barely half time, the dry weather having affected the supply of stock, f There is some .talk of a big reduction in the number of men who are at present employed at ono of the works," ho stated. "The proposal is regarded by the men as most unfair, as they were probably taken away from other employment to see tho companies over the rush periods of Christmas and tho months immediately following it. Now that things havo slackened off, one company is discussing putting off half its men, and wanting them to bo available when required later on "in the season, when the peak of work arrives. Tho proposal to reduce staff in the circumstances is likely to bo strenuously opposed by the men in the freezing, works, as they prefer" sharing the .work that is offering."

Home-grown Tobacco. Tobacco is being grown, in many gardens in the Wanganui district this season. One tradesman remarked that it was a sign of the times, and was practically the same as people making their own home-mado brew. His firm had sold thousands of tobacco plants this season. A customer called early in the season and asked to bo supplied with some young tobacco plants. The firm raised a good supply of plants in boxes, and.they were all sold. Derating. ■A resolution was carried by the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, yesterday urging the Government to proceed with the derating of farm lands'for roading purposes, and to regulate the prices of petrol by refusing to allow the oil companies to charge extortionate rates, thus enabling, the consumer to benefit by reduced prices for petrol and the producer by the expenditure on roading of an adequate petrol tax. Large Trout Caught. Fishing on tho ; 'Mataura Biver on Saturday morning, a few; chains below the Ferry bridge, Mr. J. Bobertson, of Wyndham, caught one of the best trout taken in the' district this season, states the' "Otago Daily Times." The fish, an excellently conditioned brown trout, was 28Jin long, 17Jin in girth, and weighed 121b. The bait,used was the silver-headed Willesdon minnow, and the angler had a thrilling battle-with the fish. The same sportsman secured a ,7.ilb.trout from the Mataura a short time ago. * Land Work for Boys. A big percentage of the boys who attended the recent camp at Penrose, Masterton, have proved themselves capable of taking positions on farms, and positions are gradually being found for them. " Mr. Ij. J. Greenberg, who was camp commandant, expressed satisfaction yesterday at the result of the training camp and said that he would like the work of finding jobs to be accelerated by the co-operation of citizens both in the icity and country. "There are," he saia, "excellent boys available for farm positions; all of good character, and the majority possessing some qualifications for the work. Befofe these lads again settle down to a long period of unemployment in the city, it is desirable that they should bo transferred to suitable work in the country. _ All that is required is suitablo housing accommodation and a small amount of pocket money." Some boys, ho added, had not qualified for farm work, and amongst th'eso wore many excellent lads who had benefited by camp life. It was to be hoped that some kind of jobs, even at a small remuneration, could be found for them in the city. Insignia Demand. Up to 31st March, 1931, the State plantations included 158,407 acres nf pmus insignis, and afforestation companies' plantations included 200 618 acres thereof; or, in aggregate, 359,025 acres.. Insignis is 51 per cent, of the State plantations, 94.8 per cent, of the companies' plantations, and 69 per cent, of the whole. In some quarters, damage by pests is feared. On the other hand, the trade demand, on the container, side, is good. A summary of a report on the insignis industry by Mr C. E. Dixon, M.Sc, State Forest Service, appears elsewhere in this issue. In the last two years, while indigenous timber has halved its production, that of insignis has increased by 20 per CtUt, of Peal of' Sells. - , A gift of £500 toward the purchase of a peal of bells for.the., new, AH Saints' Church, Auckland, Tsy the "lafe Mr. James Stichbury, who died at Auckland on 12th January at the age of 89 years, is now made public, states the "New Zealand Herald." The money was 'handed over to three trustees, one'of whom is the vicar of All Saints',, the Rev. W. W. Averill three years ago, a condition being that the donor should remain anonymous until after his death. Mr. Stichbury always took a keen interest in All Saints' Church, at the opening of which he was .prcfient, and he attended the 65th anniversary service at the end of last year. He also was interested in bell-ringing, members of his family haying-been bell-ringers for many generations in England. The fund for building a, new church, although substantial, is not yet sufficient for the purpose, wlile the present time ia not considered opportune to make a general appeal-to the. congregation for further finance. Mr. Stichbury's gift wasinvested, N and has already grown.to £600. If the erection of the church is dclaved much longer, it may accumulate to such an extent as to provide tho' nucleus of a fund for the payment of a ringer. It was Mr. Stichbury's wish (that any surplus should be devoted to this purpose, while he also desired that the bells should be ■ provided with mechanism enabling them to be rung by-one man from a keyboard. He drew up an inscription to be placed in the belfry recording the gift. New. Plymouth's Dredge. , Tie fate of the New Plymouth Harbour Board's dredge Paritutu. is hanging in the balance after nineteen years' service in, as one New Plymouth paper puts it, carving a deep-sea harbour out of practically nothing. In many ways the Paritutu is still a very well-fonnd craft. Her engines are in splendid trim, and her big boiler U as sound as a bell. The "nigger in the woodpile" is that she requires between £5000 and £6000 expended on her hull before she can qualify again for a certificate, and even then her overhaul will cost £4000 or £5000 every year. The New Plymouth Harbour Board considers that this expenditure is too high. As an alternative to the expenso of reconditioning or taking the Paritutu out to sea and sinking her, the board is making a strenuous endeavour to sell her. If the' money were spent on her she would still have many years of usefulness, and at the present time she is under offer to two New Zealand harbour boards and numerous boards in Australia and Tasmania. Meanwhile she is costing, the New" Plymouth board between £500 and £1000 a year for maintenance and depreciation, and is making no return. Two Peaks Climbed. • Two first-class peaks in the Mount Cook region were climbed recently by a party consisting of Dr. J. C. Bradshaw, Guide Alf Brustad, and Mr. L. Murray, of Timaru, states the "Christchurch Star." On 12th , January, Aiguille Eouge, a mountain of nearly 10,000 ft, east of tho Tasman Glacier, was climbed. On -14th January an attempt was made .on Elie do Beaumont, but after reaching the Lendenfeldt Saddle, the party was driven back by bad weather. Two days later, however, a successful ascent: was made, the summit of Elie (do Beaumont (10,200 ft) being reached six hours and thirty-five minutes after leaving:■ the Malte Brun hut. More than an.'hour was spent on the summit enjoying a view probably unsurpassed in the world. Tho .weather was perfect, .and buildings vat the Franz Josef Glacier were clearly distinguishable. On 18th January, an attempt was made of Mount Darwin (9715 ft), a peak which has not been climbed for many years. The hut was left at 3.10 a.m., and at 10 a.m. an altitude of over 9000i?t was registered by tho aneroid. A sudden change in the weather necessitated a return, and from .8000 ft the descent was made in a snowstorm with a visibility of often only a few feet. Dr. Bradshaw now has a record of nine first-class peaks in the Mount Cook region.