NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 24 August 1939, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Earthquake at Opotiki An earthquake shock lasting only a brief period was- felt in Opotiki about 7 a.m. on Sunday. The tremor was sufficient ti> cause lights to swing. Choral Concert Arrangements have been made by the Diggers’ Choir to present a programme of vocal and instrumental music at a concert to be held in the Majestic Theatre on Sunday evening. The Diggers’ Choir and the Gisborne Choral Society’s choir are combining to present a selected group of numbers. Heavy Motor Taxation The recent increase in the petrol tax has made New Zealand one ol the most heavily-taxed countries in the world, in respect of both petrol tax and other motor taxation, says an editorial in the current issue of “The Radiator,” motor trade journal. Statistics are quoted to show that in New Zealand petrol costs more than in any other country except Germany.

No Competition The inclusion of a class for dance orchestras in this year’s schedule Of the Gisborne Competitions festival did not have the effect aimed at. When the class was called on last night, only one of the two entries appeared, this being Mr. Stuart Sheets’ group of instrumentalists. The audience in the Opera House heard from this band a spirited rendering of popular dance music, despite the fact that the class was eliminated owing to lack of competition.

An Anti-British Movement

“The Congress movement in India is Bolshevik and distinctly -anti-British. Its aim is to get the British out of India,” declared Mr. Eric Johnston, a missionary -from Southern India, in the course -of an -address at the Baptist school hall last evening. The movement, he explained, had been established by Mahatma Gandhi, -but it had greatly outgrown its founder, who, however, was still consulted on certain matters. A recent cable message from India stated that the -Congress had protested a'gainst the sending of Indian troops overseas, and in the event of an outbreak of 'war it remained to be seen what effect the Congress would exercise in this connection. The Indian princes were reported to toe loyal to Britain, but the fact remained that the Congress movement had made great progress amongst their people. As regards Christian missionary work, Gandhi had stated that if the Congress obtained 'control he would give the missionaries seven years to finish up in, unless they remained for purely educational and medical -work.

Miner Reinstated The president of the Ohinemurl Mines and Batteries'' Union, Mr. J. Bincham, has been reinstated in his position by the Martha Goldmining Company (Waibi), Limited. Ship's Veteran Mascot A sea-going life of nearly 13 years is to the* credit of Ginger, ship's dog on (the Ba:ilc_Line vessel Interbank, which is now at Auckland. The dog, which boasts no elevated ancestry, joined the ship in England as a pup and has travelled with it for about 750,000 miles. Strict customs regulations prevent Ginger from landing at most ports, with, the result that the dog has very rarely been ashore in his wanderings. Off For Blenheim The Poverty Bay women's hockey team left to-day for Blenheim, to take part in the New Zealand hockey championship tournament, which will commence on Saturday. The Gisborne members of the team left the Roebuck road corner shortly before 10 o’clock, and were joined by country players at Miakaraka and Muriwai, while two more were to join the party at Wairoa. They will travel as far as Palmerston North this evening, and reach Blenheim to-morrow night.

Christchurch Art Gallery Construction of the new art gallery which is to be '-built for the Canterbury Society of Arts in Gloucester street may be delayed- by the refusal if the Christchurch City Council’s town-s-plarmung committee -to ratify the plans on the ground that the proposed building contravenes the provisions of the city’s town planning scheme. Tenders- if or the building, which will replace the existing gallery, soon, to be demolished to make room -for the new Law Courts, have been called -by the Public Works Department, which prepared the plans.

Theft Charges Preferred Two charges of theft, involving a ruby and small sums of money, were preferred against a Maori, Jury Ngeringeri, when he appeared before Messrs. C. F. Smith and J. P. Guthrie, J.P.s, in Jhe Police Court in Tolaga Bay on Tuesday. It was stated that the accused had entered a wbare on Paroa station and stolen 10s from- one of the station employees and a ruby and 3-s 6d from another. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was 'convicted and fined £1 on the first charge, an order for the restitution of the -money being made. On the second charge he was convicted and discharged, an order for the restitution of the stolen property being made. —Special.

Boy Scouts in Emergency Instructions for Boy Scouts in the event of emergency have been issued to Wellington Scout leaders- by the metropolitan 'head-quarters of the movement.- It is -stated that all troops have organised -arrangements, for quick 'communication between members in emergency. No detailed arrangements -have been made for wartime service, and the problem, if it arises, will -be tackled- according to requirements and -circumstances. The general standing -order is that, in the event o-f a severe earthquake, every Scout who, taking into -account- individual circumstances, is free for general services, shall go a® quickly as he can in uniform to his respective advance dressing station and report for duty. World’s Radio Listeners Tiie number of listeners in the world -has increased 1 in the past two years by about 33,000,000, according to -figures announced at this year’s summer meeting -of the International Broadcasting Union. Information supplied to the union by 88 countries Showed that the -total number of receiving sets in use in those countries bad increased from 69,000,000 in 1937 to approximately 78,000,000. The present critical situation in- the short waveband, caused by the increase in the number of stations and power used, -was stressed in- a report presented by the president of the technical -committee, R. Braillard. The committee suggested -that the attention of governments* should be drawn -again to the gravity of the situation- and the urgent necessity of taking measures to improve it.

Air Trade With United States American tradie -can again, count upon an important time advantage in its ibid for increasing commerce with New Ze-aland and Australia as a result of -the inauguration of the Pacific air -service, according -to -a statement issued l from the San Francisco 'headquarters of Pan- American Airways. It is explained that the establishment of a regular -air service on schedules similar to those followed -by the Clipper ships to -the Philippines and the Orient will bring the Dominions to within four travel days of California, which is 15 days faster than the best existing transport time. It is added that New Zealand and .Australia together constitute the fourth most important world -market for American trade, representing at the present time approximately 10,000,000 dollars a month. Art For Men and Women “dn connection with the group dancing, I was pleased to notice that though there were one or two laughs in the audience when a male dancer appeared on the stage, they died out quietly,” said Madame Eugene Dennis, judge of dancing, at last night’s session of the Competitions festival. “Dancing is an art (or men and women, and there should not be any amusement in seeing a male dancer performing. In ancient days, men and women danced before they developed the art of music, to express their sense of the beautiful.” Madame Dennis added that the male- dancer seen i n this class -showed a great deal of talent., and should persevere, even though he might encounter opposition. “I hope that he will be strong enough to follow his art, for he has signs of great taient,” concluded the judge.

If Pioneers Chose Memorials What centennial memorials would be chosen if the decision rested, with the pioneers was mentioned by Mr. J. Acland, a grandson of -Canterbury pioneers, during a -centennial meelting at Geraldine, states the Press. A few weeks ago, Mr. A-cland said, he had been looking through the register of burials at the Mount Peel cemetery and had been shocked to see that of the first 22 burials 16 were of children, nine toeing toalbies of less than a year. “If the pioneers could 'be asked what form they would like to see the memorial take,” (Mr. Acland said, "I feel sure they would say: Make it something which will save our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren some of the worries and heart-burnings which we endured. Build Plunket rooms to save your children or swimming baths’ to teach them to swim, or libraries for their education and entertainment.”