NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Jury Service. The priority taken by jury service, except in exceptional circumstances, was commented upon yesterday in the Supreme Court by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers). "If in the case of a Government Department, or, for that matter, of any business, it is shown that the attendance of the person who is called is a matter ,of really serious moment, I am always ready to consider it," said his Honour. "Otherwise, the view I take is that everyone,''whether he is in a large business or a small one, whatever his employment may be, is liable for jury service, and if one is too free with the exemption it means that others have to perform double duty, as it were." Karori Beauty Spot. Some degree of finality had been reached with the proposal that Johnston's Hill at Karori should be acquired as a city reserve, said Mr. H. S. B. Fletcher at last night's meeting of the committee of the Wellington Beautifying Society, An option had been secured over the' property for six months from November 12, he said, and now the society was free to enter into negotiations with the City Council so that the 70 acres, including 40 acres of virgin forest, could be set aside for the people of Wellington. A deputation of a joint committee representing the society and the Karori Progressive Association would wait on the City Council on March 7. Old Fire Station. A protest against the action of the City Council in repairing the old fire brigade station, which was described as "old, dilapidated, and unsafe," was made at last night's meeting of the committee of the Wellington Beautifying Society, which recommended that the building be pulled down, and that the society be allowed to beautify the section.' It was suggested that a winter garden be built on the site of the building, which the City Council ,is having repaired for use by its officers. Age of Clergymen. Inquiries made at the various church offices reveal that there are more clergymen of a ripe old age in the Presbyterian Church than in any other church in New Zealand. The oldest is the Eev. Win, Ham, who will be 94 on March 22, and who still occupies the pulpit in the course of his visits to various localities. The next oldest is the Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, of Wellington, aged 88, who retired eighteen months ago from the position of Clerk to the General Assembly. There are seven other ministers over 80 years of age. The Rev. Alexander. Greig died in Dunedin last week in his 100 th year. The oldest clergyman in New Zealand is believed to be the Rev. Robert Young, aged 94. He was Vicar of Masterton for many years. Archbishop Julius is 90. The oldest Methodist minister is the Rev. Thomas Fee, of Christchurch, who is in his 87th year. Beauty Propaganda. "A few pounds spent near, the city is better propaganda for the Beautifying Society than £50 spent out in the suburbs," said the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie) at last night's meeting of the committee of the Wellington Beautifying Society, when advising the committee to make a grant towards the cost of forming a pathway and seats beneath the overhanging footpath on Carlton Gore Road. The society had suggested the work to the City Council, which replied that the reserves committee would consider the proposal if the society would make some contribution to- the estimated cost of between £30 and £35. The committee decided to make a donation of £5 5s towards the cost of the work. Fitness Campaign. Some discussion on the question of physique in schools took place at the meeting of the Wellington School Corn-. mittees1 and Educational Federation" last night, and a motion was passed: "That this federation trusts that in tho educational physical fitness scheme of the Government provision will be made for the introduction of the scheme into the schools." The discussion was started by a suggestion by the chairman (Mr. J. Fyfe) that school committees should assist schools in the purchase of gymnastic appliances. In other centres, he said, schools were, or had been, well equipped with gymnastic appliances, largely as a result of the efforts of the parents. In view of the fact that more attention was now being given to physical training It would be quite in order for school committees and educational association;; to help in this direction. Several speakers expressed themselves es being in accord with Mr. Fyfe's views.

Entrance to Gardens. The difficulty of ilndiiif! 11)0 Uphincl Road entrance to llio JJoUmlcal Gardens was commented upon ul a muo-U ing of the committee of tho Wellington Beautifying Society last ni/,'ht. und it was decided to draw the attention of the City Council to the mallei*. Members said that visitors found souk; difilculty in finding their way into the gardens from the top of the cubic-car track., Infectious Diseases. Eleven cases of infectious diseases, and one death from pulmonary tuberculosis, were reported to the Wellington office of the Health Department for the week ended yesterday. In the Central Wellington area, six cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, two of erysipelas, and one each of diphtheria and septic abortion were reported, and in Nelson-Marlborough one case of acute poliomyelitis. Topping: the Trees. "It's the old policy of Wellington: as soon as a tree gets anywhere near mulurity cut it down," said a member of the committee of the Wellington Beautifying Society at its meeting last night when the City Council decision to top the pine trees near Fairlio Terrace was being discussed. Though the society has already protested twice to the City Council against interference with the trees, it was decided to ask the council again if it would receive a deputation from the society on the subject. Books from Windsor Castle. An interesting addition to the treasures of the Turnb'ull Library is a small collection of books from the Royal library at Windsor, formerly the property of Queen Mary. Her Majesty considered that they might be of some interest to- New Zealand, and her gift was gratefully accepted by Mr. Jordan, the High Commissioner. They include a copy of Mailing's "Old New Zealand," showing Queen Mary's bookplate as Duchess of York, Tregear's "Maori-Polynesian Dictionary," autographed by Mr. Seddon, and speciallybound copies of souvenirs of Royal visits, one with Queen Mary's autograph. Dangerous Practice. The dangerous practice of boarding a moving train was exemplified as the Auckland-bound Limited moved out from Paekakariki on Sunday evening. Two young men made a dash for the train as it started; one got into a carriage safely, but the other found difficulty in opening the carriage door, with the result that he was left standing on the step, hanging on to the door handle with one hand while he attempted to attract attention by knocking on the nearest window with the other. Fortunately, his plight was observed before the express cleared the platform, and the train was stopped. Had he not been seen, his position would have been extremely dangerous, as the train's next stop was Palmerston North—nearly two hours' run. "High-handed Action." Criticism of which he termed the "high-handed action" of the Taita Cemetery Board in deciding to meet only in Lower Hutt and not alternately in Petone and Lower Hutt, as was formerly the case, was made by Councillor D. M. Dickson at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening. He said that criticism had been made about Petone representatives not attending the board meetings, but from what he knew of Messrs. G. London and W. G. Lodder, Petone's representatives on the board, he would say that few were more assiduous in attending meetings. Councillor London explained that the letter notifying him of the date of the meeting had arrived too late. It was decided to express confidence in Petone's representatives on the board. Illegible Writing. The application of a juror for exemption in the Supreme Court yesterday was held up for several minutes because the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) could not read the signature on the letter from an officer of a Government Department. Neither the Registrar (Mr. W. W. Samson) nor the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. W. H. Cunningham) could understand it, and the juror said he knew the man in the position .mentioned but did not think it was his signature. "A public officer who is making an application to the Court ,in writing should at least write his signature in such a way that the Judge may be able to read," commented his Honour. Seopc of Bible Society. The universality of the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society was stressed by the Rev. G. W. Sheppard, who was until recently secretary of the society in China, when addressing the annual meeting of the Wellington auxiliary of the society last evening. He commented that the designation, "British and ' Foreign," sometimes seemed to make an unfortunate distinction that was the very reverse of what the society intended. The explanation was that the society had first begun in an endeavour to provide Bibles for the British people in the days when they were not purchaseable by the poor. It was then seen that there were other lands where there was an even greater heed of the Bible. The Chinese had a. significant name for the society; they called it the "Ten Thousand Nations Holy Book Society." Traffic Near Woollen Mills. A letter had been received from the Automobile Association (Wellington) stating that numerous complaints had been received about pedestrian traffic from the woollen mills on to the Hutt Road in the late afternoon, said the report of the reserves committee presented to the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening. The suggestion was made that a pedestrian crossing be painted on the road opposite the exit from the mills. The Railway Department had notified that at the intersection of the cycle track and the footway with the railway crossing it was prepared to seal the crossing and set back the existing fence to enable pedestrians to enter the reserve recently constructed by the council, provided that the council was willing to form the necessary footway across the lawn of the reserve on the south side of the railway crossing to the site of a proposed pedestrian crossing opposite Miller's Service Station. It was decided to agree to the propo* sal in the report and to thank the Automobile Association for its interest. Those Scorching1 Bay Stayers. The delay in the forming of a reserve at Scorching Bay was mentioned at last night's meeting of the committee of the .Wellington Beautifying Society. Captain S. Holm said that seven or eight years ago the Government had handed the property over to the City Council as a scenic reserve ahd the council had then given the occupants of a number of small dwellings at Scorching Bay five years' notice to quit, but the time had elapsed and the people had been granted extensions and were still living there. ' They paid only a peppercorn rental of 2s a week, When asked to move they replied that they could get no place to go to. They could make that excuse for ever, said Captain Holm, who added that if ho was paying such a low rent he would want to stay. It was nothing to do with the Beautifying Society. To a member who raised the question of whether the tenants could be shifted under present legislation; Captain Holm raid that the people had no right to be in Scorching Bay; they luid built without permits.