AUCKLAND NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1932, Page 3

AUCKLAND NOTES

(From our correspondent)

When anyone in Auckland says Arapuni just now, the-remark is apt to be misconstrued as a mild form of profanity. More trouble has developed there. ' ' ... u: - The Auckland Saving- Bank, is offering /£lo,opo (conditional;, on another £IO,OOO beipg subscribed by /iyhe public) for placing unemployed iM on Waikajp lapel, under the sing}!;,., s^ e ”? ent scheme. The trustees of pose further'- to grant...;£2oCO,-,at once,, for fhe purchase of land for .the, traipr-. ing ajid" settling of boysi and will advance if necessary, £20,00). within the dext five years purpose. Government sanctipfij probably be necessary, but there should f be ho question of this being gi'qimecl,' as the trustees are proposing patriotic action and a practical move for whiqli the, Government and the people gener-,. ally should be grateful. A huge dragline excavator has^just been built by a local firm of engi|ieer s and is being shipped to the BUiff. It is for use in Central Otago for e.xcaYating shingle on the property pf* .tljo Nokomai. Gold Mining , Comph’py. it. is stated to be the largest inaelnnfe' of its kind yet built anywhere, : /rtind js. constructed entirely of steel sectionte, eiectfically. welded. Its guaraiiteed cap-. acity is 540,000 cubic 'yards; per' but it is anticipated there would, be go difficulty in , excavating ‘over a: ifiillion yards. . '/’■ '

. Since the. beginning. of/the year thirteen gold mining cpjmpahifes’diave' been registered in Aueklarid; -the- "nominal capital involved in : the ventures, being £256,674. Very keep interest is {level 1 ;, oping in gold mining/, imd'Yfhe ppiniqn is gaining ground 7 that when the present depression lifts it ivill be largely, due to the revival ; of/the minjng Industry. When we remem her/that in thirty years from 1865 to 1895 gold (at average price of • some - £3/18/- an ounce) to the value of £42,353,808 was entered for duty for from New- Zealand it. shows tjfe which to-day with gold •, over £5 an ounce, and vastly improved facilities for/mining, may reward well directed, effort. I ■■■«;;

•As ai direct outcome of ,the rioting, in Auckland in'. April?last, 15 men have stood their tfial in the Supreme.: Court. Six (including J. H. ' Edwards) .received the maximum sentences s. ;;,pfevtwo years’ imprisonment ; .threej receiyed year; one, two months; and t\vo were one-;-.one, two,,months.;,..and/itwo;^w.ere. acquitted.. In addition a : ;;larae;; number received sentence in the.-ipplipp/court for minor {fences. This;-;; practically closes the. history of/thisi/mpst deplorable . outragg.. Tn sentencing Edwards, b’V. Honour, Mr justice Hfivffipan said: ‘‘ft/is fortunate for you,/that no lives v -ere lost. , Had that//happened yon would have.'.heen stan{lingv ypur‘/trial for something more serious than riot-. As,,it/is, >y»i d w l th you must responsibility forinflictipg injuries yipopr- police officers from which they may never, wholly recover j./for, the destruction of thousands of pounds’ wQrth f/ of. propert.y; qnd for bringing the name of a country of t/yvbicb w? are proud-into disrepute.

. : . . T 'hope that the punishment T am inflicting upon you and ether law breakers-will, make men' like you ffnderi' stand how disastrous and fptile-epndpch such as youfs'is, and that, ’ when; fit,' V indulged in .the law, and inexorably, punishes tlie']pw.r fbreak©rs wi.|h a heavy hand.’.’ i"-' 1 Whether the prompt punishment which overtook a section of the thievCs; hooligans and rioters involved in - the riot and looting in April last had a. effect on' those criminally 'jmf dined.; or whether the more adeq'u|i|e . steps new - taken ' to suppress'daMesip ; ness in its incipient stage s ; havexacted as a . deterrent, the policed report ' tbit a remarkable . decrease in '-crime has been experienced in Auckland during the past few weeks. It is'stated'rfewer Complaints have been made to the" police than at any other time during the year, and there is much less .criminal activity than - last: Wider '.’provisions for the relief of unemployment .and the establishment'; bi schemes may hqve been factors "to so'itic extfent. 'Blit it ib’ 'pretty clearv.ithat lawlessness and disorder' does not iginatO With- those' suffering- hardship through uneipployinent,' :V but';'with"ag)' - t’ators .who for their own ends" siiread disaffection and sow the ,sefeds::bf revolt against irder, prosperity and the Whole system upon which community life is based. ‘ ‘ ‘ Tlie sad news of the death of Miff J Breeze was received with sincere regret ’ by' a large number ■ of West Coasters' in Auckland. There are few who were residents of the Coast in the earlier days who have not pleasant recollections of the kindly and geipal “Jack” Breeze. Most of, those who Ijad the pleasure of knowing him feel that with his passing away they have lost a good friend—one whose memory long remain as a sterling citmen and a pioneer of the very bestutype. ■Smcerest sympathy is expressedunot enl} with the widow and family irF- their bereavement, hut the Hokitika people generally who, with the dea i o one of .tljeif most active and energe ic townsmen have suffered an iriepara loss.