Untitled

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 14 August 1937, Page 8

A severe jolting earthquake was experienced in Taranaki a™> u t p.m. yesterday, states a New Plymouth Press Association telegram. Of short duration, it came without warning, and quickly died away. No damage was reported.

Made possible bv the discovery of over 50,000,000 tons of dead coral in Moreton Bay, near Brisbane, a bridge has just been built over the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point. The cement of which it is composed has been made from lime from the deposits of dead coral which is of a very high grade. The discovery of the coral, givinor rise to a flourishing industrv was due to the research scientists of the Great Barrier Reef Committee, which has done so much to disclose the wealth which the reef is able to contribute to Australian industries.

“We have 20 men working under the subsidised employment promotion scheme in the county.,” said tho engineer (Mr J. T. H. R rewstor) at yesterday’s meeting of the Horowhenua Cjpunty Council, “and I feel it is only right for roe to tell the council that they are doing splendid work.” Mr Brewster went on to say that in these days when there was so much discussion about labour it was pleasing to pick up 20 iilen who were indeed one hundred per cent satisfactory. Cr. A. M. Colquhoun remarked that the engineer’s report was very gratifying and such men deserved encouraging.

The shining cuckoo, heralding the advent of spring in New Zealand, has been heard in Auckland.

Two hoys reported missing from the Weraroa Training Farm yesterday were apprehended last night not far from the institution, to which they were returned.

“One has only to travel in other countries to realise what the newspapers of New Zealand do for the sport in this country,” said Mr J. R. McKenzie at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association. “It can be said that they give the sport of trotting very valuable assistance indeed.”

“1 ain not alarmed about the supply of coal for the rest of the winter. Although there is a shortage in Wellington and other parts of the North Island and the railways are running on short supplies, the position is not serious,” said the Minister of Mine? (Hon. P. C. Webb), speaking at Christchurch this week.

At the half yearly general meeting of the Palmerston Nortli branch of the Wellington Storemen, Packers and Warehouse Employees’ industrial Union of Workers, held in the Trades Hall, Cuba Street, at which there was a representative gathering of members including members from Dannevirke and Fending, a motion was carried that “This branch accords its support to the Federation of Labour and supports the formation of a Trades Council in Palmerston North.”

The Hastings Borough Council is instituting a test case to recover rates on a property on which rates have not been paid, and on which the Crown holds a mortgage. The council has already obtained a judgment for rates', which are five years in arrear. It is pointed out that as a result of. the recent decision the council lias power to obtain judgment for outstanding rates on properties mortgaged to the Crown, and in the event of 'the judgment not being settled to sell the property, subject to the Crown mortgage, provided the consent of the Crown to these proceedings is obtained. The Otaki level-crossing on the Wellington main highway is at present being eliminated by a deviation of the road, and the erection of an overhead bridge. At. yesterday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council a letter was read from the Public Works Department suggesting that the old crossing be closed to vehicular traffic. “I wouldn’t stand for that,” remarked Cr. F. J. Ryder. “While the elimination of the crossing so far as it all cots through traffic is a wise step,"the crossing is not so dangerous that it should not be used at all,” lie added. “To close it down would cause considerable inconvenience.” The council decided to advise the department along those lines. One of the party of South Africans who have been accompanying the Springboks on their tour is finding the New Zealand winter too cold, and has made arrangements to return home next month. He is -Mr Robert Steplienson,- of Capetown, who has been a resident of Cape Colony for twenty-six veal's. “During that time I have never had a cold,” he said, “but coming across to Auckland from Sydney 1 caught a cold, and in Wellington I got "a not her—a n d Lam not a young man.” it is understood that Mr Percy Day, manager of the Springboks, will also return to South Africa, leaving the team under the control of the deputy manager, Mr de Villiers. In shop and office, at every street corner, on crowded bus and train tlieie has been one main topic of discussion : '“Can the All Blacks win?” Yesterday on an early morning train to Levin passengers were drawn into conversation on the one absorbing topic. Such matters as the Spanish war or the cricket Test were of little moment; on eveiy side there was the vital question : “Can he All Blacks win?” At the Horowhenua County Council meeting there was a convenient lull in debates oil highways and by-ways to discuss the matter: “Can the All Blacks win?” and on the way home a prominent farmer refused to be drawn on questions of dairying prospects and lambing percentages; all he would discuss was the ’Jest, match to-day.