LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1932, Page 6

LATE LOCALS

The Blackball Goal Cov. has installed in its mine at Blackball a new pump, the internal parts of which are ot “Stavenger” steel, which is stated by the makers to be impervious to the acid water encountered in the mine. Tn the past the company has experienced some trouble with their pumps, some of which lasted only a few hours in active service in the highly impregnated water.

An interesting discovery which aff'cts the returned soldier and the taxpayer has been made, states the "Dominion."

Records of observation on over 2000 New Zealand returned soldiers who came back to their country in Al condition prove that many returned soldiers are now found to be suffering pulmonary damage by poison gases inhaled in 1916.18, although they showed no such symptoms during the time they were on service. In commenting on this a medical journal slays" Recent Press comments express the opinion that gas in warfare is a merciful weapon, and that casualties caused thereby are for the most part no severely injured. While ithis may be true, it is clear that it is a lethal weapon, the late effects of which are highly injurious to the taxpayer, who has to foot the 1 pensions bill until the war generation has passed away.”

It is 79 years since the former colony of New Zealand obtained representative institutions. It was on January 17th., 1853, that the Governor, Sir George Grey, proclaimed the Constitution Act, passed by the Imperial Parliament the previous year. The Act provided for a General Assembly for the entire colony, consisting of a Legislative Council and a House of Representatives. It also abolished the provinces of New Ulster and New M'unSter, which had been set up under the charter in 1847, and replaced them by the six provinces of Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago. The Councils were elective and each of them was presided over by a superintendent. These Councils, which had restricted legislative powers, lasted until 1876, when they were abolished by an Act of the General Assembly. The first General Assembly summoned under the Act met in Auckland on May 24th., 1854.

The action of the New Zealand Government (states the ‘‘Year Book”) in temporarily suspending, from ear y in 1927. the major portion of ds scheme of granting assisted passages to migrants from the British Isles, is chiefly responsible for the decreases shown for the last four years in the number of immigrants intending permanent residence, when compared with the figures for 1926. The number of assisted immigrants for 1930 is 1405, as against 1878 in 1929, 2220 in 1928, 5899 in 1927, and 10.766 in 1926; while the number of those who migrated to New Zealand without State assistance amounted to 5512, 4465, 4119, 5428, and 7102 lor the years 1930, 1929. 1928, 1927 and 1926 respectively. The departures recorded during 1930 numbered 28,321, as compared with 31.643 in 1929, 01 these 2449 were shown to bn Now Zealand residents departing temporarily, and 13.273 visitors to the Dominion departing. For flavour, strength and purity insist on Sharland’s Vinegar. A New Zealand-made quality product. All grocers. In bottle or hulk.—Advt. Rachel Hair Tonic restores original colour In fair, dark or auburn hair, 7s 6d bottle. W. E. Williams, Chemist. —Advt.