NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8350, 10 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The newly-appointed Wellington Jus* ticos of tho Peace wore sworn in by Dr A. McArthur, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning. At his political meeting at Recfton a questioner asked tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, “Why, being a leaseholder, have you joined the freehold party?” He replied, “ Because consistency is a refuge of fools. I had a right to change my mind, and would do it again.” Seldom was calm so profound and the suggestion of mellow summer glory so rich and strong as when the fire of sunset lit up the western heavens last evening. . Overcast at its entrance, doubtful at its noon, brilliant in its decline, Sunday illustrated the poet’s con. solution: “ Tho day that broke with a cloudy dawn, in golden glory at last may wane,” and the silent stillness or the air, broken only by tbe music of belfry and steeple, was eloquent of a full maturity of the season. The afternoon had been sweltering, and tho shades of evening were grateful to parched lawns and gardens. Such days as Sunday remind everybody that summer has its moments of late ripeness just as have the fruits of tho earth. Green-fields worshippers and seekers of the sunshine trooped in large numbers to the seaside, and the city’s Parka, and open spaces were thronged. When, the sun had declined, scarlet clouds, melting into pale purple higher above the horizon, fed a resplendent twilight, while smoke just tumbled away lazily to tho west. “Some districts in the roadless north of Auckland have made astonishing progress during the last thirty years." In these words Mr J. Vigor Brown, member for Napier, in the course of a conversation with an Auckland “Herald” representative, summed up his impressions of his recent toiir through the northern districts of the Auckland province. Amplifying his statement, Mr Brown said that VVhangarei was an example of a township which had improved out of all recognition. He was particularly struck with the progressive appearance of Whangarei and Kohiikohu, and expressed the opinion that a big future lies before the former town. Tbe speaker was also loud in his praise of Kamo. He said that he could not understand why Auckland should allow such a valuable health resort to lie idle when it could easily be made into one of the best of the Dominion’s tourist and health resorts. The springs there had remarkable curative properties for rheumatic complaints,, ho said. Tho trouble appeared to bo that tho springs were too near to Auckland. If they were situated over the seas, where a visit to them would of necessity be a costly luxury, they might becpaM i famous as & health rssorfc,

The Petone Primitive Methodists held a picnic at Silvorstream on Saturday, tho outing being thoroughly enjoyed. The Otaki Hospital Committee, Messrs Mooro, Hihdmarsh, Baldwin, Nash, Gardiner, and Freeman held a meeting at Otaki on Saturday to inquire into recent purchases of stock for the institution, regarding which it is alleged there were certain irregularities. Tho committee’s report will bo placed before tho Wellington Hospital committee at its meeting on Ihursday next. At 2.25 a.m. yesterday the fire brigade was called to attend an outbreak in the bakehouse of Mr G. K. Matlneson, 465, Adelaide road. The contents were badly damaged. It is not 'definitely known what was the cause of tho fire. Tho building, which is owned by Mr C. A. Briggs, of Abel Smith street, is insured in the Commercial office for £IOO, but the amount of the risk on the contents was not ascertainable yesterday. As a motor-bicycle, ridden by Mr T. Tracey, tho well-known boxer, to which •was attached a side-car containing Mr George Charles Gordon and Mr Tracey’s daughter, was proceeding along tho Hutt road yesterday morning, the front portion of the side-car became detached from tho motor-bicycle. The accident took place near the Grand National Hotel, Petone, and, luckily, the pace at which tho machine was travelling at tho time was slow. Mr Gordon and tho little girl were thrown out of tho side-car, considerably cut and bruised, and their clothes almost torn off them. Dr Ross attended to the sufferers, and_ later they were able to return to their homes. Messrs W. T. Mills -tu^ Hickey, members of the Unity Congress committee, gave addresses concerning recent press criticism of the Labour movement at tho Empress Theatre last evening. Mr M. J. Mack presided and there was a largo attendance. Both speakers referred to tho bitterness that had characterised some of the articles that had appeared in New Zealand papers concerning tho recent Labour movement and they declared the aim of tho writers was to try to keep Labour divided so that it would not ho able to present a solid front to capital and monopoly. However, tho unity scheme would shortly ho an accomplished fact. Labour would then be thoroughly organised, and would be tho controlling body in New Zealand. Tho death roll of infants admitted to tho babies’ ward at tho Auckland Hospital since the beginning of the month has been unusually heavy, averaging no less than one per day for tho six days ending February 6th. This information was conveyed to the hospital Board at a meeting of the committee last Thursday, by tho aotingmedloal superintendent (Dr. Maguire). The superintendent added that the present summer sekson had been unfavourable to infants, and had resulted in a great many cases of internal disorders. So great was the number of this class of case that ho had been compelled to decline to admit babies for surgical treat)rent, as they would probably also oonl act similar troubles & placed in a ward where there were numerous oases of contagious complaints. There were sixty infants In the hospital at the present time. It is not generally known that an order has been placed with New Zealand by tho Argentine for 20,000 cases, of apples, at least. In conversation with a Christchurch “Press” reporter Mr W. A. Boucher, Assistant Director of Orchards, etc.; stated that he hoped tho order would bo met, as tho offer was ft very good one, viz., 6s a case, f.o.b. port of departure, cash against documents. Mr Boucher said that when New Zealand growers shipped fruit to Homo markets, they took all the risk, but'undor tho Argentine's offer they took absolutely no risk, once tho fruit was delivered. The order, Mr Boucher believed, was being taken up largely, it baying been divided amongst various organisations. “There is really a good market for New Zealand apples in the Argentine,” remarked Mr Boucher, “with this one great advantage, that cool storage in. transit ia not necessary, consequently tho oost of transit is considerably less than to the Homo market.” Tho “Qreymouth Star” says: “It is quite amusing to note how a few journals of reactionary Toryism have magnified tho visit of the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher to the West Coast, at the special request of a little coterie of ‘reformers’ Into a political event of first importance. To judge by tho glowing array of superlatives employed to emphasise the all-conquering nature of tho invasion of tho ‘Seddonian stronghold of the last, thirty years,’ we must conclude that the Conservative press regards Westland as tho political pivot of tho Dominion. The idea seems somewhat out of joint to our _ conception, but wo can quite appreciate the reason for tho outside journals arriving at an inverted idea of tho nature of the Fishery triumph. The Americanised version of the tour as published in other parts of tho Dominion is picturesque enough to set the West Coast era into convulsions; the reports certainly do credit to the author’s imagination as well as to his facile penmanship. The unconscious humour of tho whole situation is admirable.” The Wellington Woollen Company employees held their annual picnic at Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, on Saturday, the attendance numbering over 500 adults and children. Among those present were Mr W. H. P. Barber (chairman of directors), Mr A. E. Donne (secretary to tho company), and tho heads of the mill and wholesale departments. The spacious grounds provided ample room for a sports gathering and well-sheltered nooks for those who enjoy a quiet outing. Arrangements had been made for tho supply of hot water, fruit, milk;, and sugar, and each child’s heart was gladdened by the toys presented. Tho results of the sports events got off during tho day for mill and wholesale employees were as follow: Boys’ race under eighteen years (Petono) —. Lepper 1, Montgomery 2. Youths’ race under twenty years (Wellington)—Keene 1, Nichol 2. Girls’ race under eighteen years (Petone) — Miss A. Wilson 1, Miss E. Smith 2. Men’s racei over twenty years (Wellington)—Read 1, Lowe 2. Single Ladies’ race (Petone) —Miss I. Hume 1, Miss N. Hume 2. Men’s open raco (Wellington)—Keene 1, Wilkinson 2. Mill handicap—Ramsden 1, Lepper 2. Married men’s race (combined) —H. Senior 1, Fish 2. Married ladies’ race (oombinefl) —Mrs Fleet 1, Mrs Andrews 2. Apprentices’ race (Wellington)—E. Bassett 1, A. Cook 2. Grand combined handicap—Dent 1, Ramsden 2. Thread-the-noedle raco (combined)—Miss O. Luff 1, Miss I. Hume 2. Machinists’ race—R. List 1, O. Durant 2. Table hands’ race—W. Smith 1, J. Christensen 2. Ladies’ open race—D. Cook 1, E. Bassett 2. Committeemen’s race— Rushbrook 1, Dent 2, Price 3. Messrs Landridgo and Pender wore joint secretaries, and a committee of sixteen saw that the comfort and pleasure of young and old were well provided for. .

Tho following vessels aro expected to bo within wireless range of_ Wellington this evening: Maunganui, Matatua, Navua, Tutanekai, Remuora, and uiimaroa. The Mahcno, which arrived at Auckland at 3.30 p.m. yesterday, brought English and Australian mails, which left Sydney last Wednesday. > Hie southern portion of the mails will arrive at Wellington by the Mam Trunk express shortly after 4 o clock this afternoon. One the three juveniles who were brought before the juvenile court last Tuesday on charges of thieving from shops on two Sundays in succession was caught in tho office of Messrs G. Thomas and Co., produce merchants, Allen street, on Saturday. The youngster, who is only eight years old, is stated to have obtained ingress to tho premises by means of a skylight. On his last appearance before the court ho was ordered to receive six strokes of the birch. Ho will appear again tomorrow. Tho Federal-Shire steamer Tyrone, which arrived at Auckland on Friday afternoon from Liverpool and way ports, brought thirty-two third-class passengers. About twelve landed, the remainder being booked to various parts of Now Zealand. Amongst them are several tradesmen, while a number of young farmers have come out with tho intention of taking up land in this country. On hoard the steamer Morayshire, which arrived at Auckland on Saturday from Liverpool, there wore 10 saloon and 100 third-class passengers, tho latter being looked as follows:—Auckland 33, Wellington 23, Lyttelton 10, Dunedin 20, Bluff 4, Napier 3, Westport 2, Nelson 2, Camara 2, and Wanganui 1. The members of the Prisons Board were much impressed with the new Invercargill prison, with its modern arrangements, permitting fresh air and light to enter practically every oell._ A great work is being done at this prison with its reformatory treatment, so a Christchurch “Press’’ reporter was informed. and it is proving extremely beneficial both to the people of_ Invercargill and the prison authorities, inasmuch as the prisoners are reclaiming a large area of land. The Invercargill corporation are contributing £15,000 towards the cost of reclamation, which will give them a large area of valuable land and the Prisons Department 640 acres. All tho work is being done by prison labour, and members of tho Prisons Board were impressed with the manner in which the prisoners were doing their work. Mr Donald Fraser, of Paxawanui, one of the first whit© men to settle in Rangitikei, when welcoming the Hon. W. H. Henries, Minister of Railways, to the district last week, said ho would like to impress upon the Minister the fact that if one hundred miles along the coast between tho Manawatu and Waitara rivers and fifteen miles inland from the seafront were taken he would find there was nothing in Australasia equal to it for agriculture and pastoral purposes. Tho Minister admitted that the country through which he had travelled from Foxton to Marten was a revelation to him. With the exception of the Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay Bats, he had never seen better country in the Dominion. Even Waikato, with its great reputation, had not the extent /of tho magnificent country through which he had travelled that day. Mr W. H. Skinner, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Marlborough, who has returned from a visit to Southern Marlborough, observed that a successful season had been experienced in that part of the province (says the “Express). From tho Awatere to the Conway pastoralists. and agriculturists had been favoured with good conditions, and the returns from the sheep, excepting in the case of higher altitudes covered with snow last winter, and from the crops would be very satisfactory. The country in that direction is wearing a less dry aspect than in parts of Northern Marlborough. The Kaikoura district is looking remarkably well and stock axo thriving. Some of the rich river flats, growing mainly rye-grass and clover, are running as many as ten sheep to the acre, and the dairying results are very profitable. Tho Raonford settlement is in good heart. Occupiers of sections of 25 acres and even less are making an excellent living out of the milking industry. The Bluff correspondent of tho Dunedin “Star" says: Tho wireless operator on the s.s. Delphio made an unsuccessful attempt to get into communication with Macquarie Island last Thursday night, but got the Awanui station (North Cape) without difficulty. Macquarie Island ia 1200 miles away, and Awanui 1000 miles. In speaking to Awanui at 10 p.m., the operator at the latter place said ho had not tried to get Macquarie Island, but would do so. Later, at 10.80 p.m., Awanui was overheard speaking to Macquarie Island, at a distance of 2000 miles. Awanni also got Brisbane at 1600 miles, completing a compass of 8500 miles, but failed to call up Suva (Fiji) at 1200 miles. The Delphic’s operator (Mr Emery) spoke Perth on nearing Australia on January 7th at 1100 miles, and as Thursday night was very favourable, he considers that Macquarie Island received his call, but that the Delphio could not receive a reply. This womd be due, he said, to Macquarie Island having unlimited space for receiving wires, whilo”~a ship like the Delphic had a very limited area available. That tho present Canadian-Austra-lian mail service carried on by the Union Steamship Company is a most popular one with the travelling public, is shown by tho heavy booking of New Zealand passengers for the outward voyages from Auckland for tho next three months (remarks the “New Zealand Herald”). Up to the present time between sixty and seventy first, second, and third-class passengers have booked at various places in New Zealand by the R.M.S. Zealandia, which sails from Auckland on Friday, February 14th, for way ports and Vancouver. The Zealandia will also bo carrying a targe number of Australian passengers, and with the additions of those joining at Auckland, and tho largo quantity of butter and other Dominion products to be loaded at this port, she will be a full ship by tho time her day of sailing comes round. The next steamer of tho line to follow the Zealandia on the outward voyage will be the Marama, which is timed to leave Auckland lor Vancouver on March 14th, and already over seventy New Zealand passengers have booked by this vessel. By the Makura, which leaves Auckland for way ports and Vancouver on April 11th, nearly one hundred people have already secured berths, while by the magnificent new 13,500-tonner Niagara, which sails from Auckland on May 9th on her maiden voyage to Vancouver, about ninety people have booked passages.