NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 188, 10 August 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Haunted Race. "Whenever a native dins in a Solomon Island hospital," said Dr. Edward G. Savers in . an. address to the Canterbury Club oil Friday night, "every other patient immediately gets out of bed and runs for his life. Dr. Savers explained that such a hold had dread of the unseen on the native mind that their whole lives were spent in mortal fear of the deadly effects of the spirits of the departed. Sales Tax Record Yield.

Sales tax collections during June amounted to the record total of £241, though experience is that mid-vear yields are not the highest. This figure was higher than the yield.of June, 1930, by £44,083. Over the three-monthly period of this financial year the total collections were £700,138, an increase of £120,270, or 22 per cent, over the same period last year. The Minister of Finance budgeted for a return of £2,900,000, but if the rate of increase is kept up the yield should be over £3,000,000. League Test Souvenirs.

The presentation of lion mascots, in the form of lapel badges, was made to the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, and the captain of the New Zealand Rugby League team, Mr. Steve Watene. by the joint manager of the English team, Mr. W. Poppelwell, at a sportsmen's gathering 011 Saturday evening. Mr. Watene, he said, was a "true leader of the game today." Mr. Poppelwell called on the English team to sing a refrain which included the lines, "Stand up, bovs of England, here's to 'Ernie.'" The football used for Saturday's Test was later autographed by all present, and was presented to Mr. Davis by Mr. G. Grej Campbell. Successful New Zealander.

The degree of doctor of philosophy and also the Ackroyd Memorial Fellowship at Leeds University have been awarded to a Xew Zealander, Mr. Kenneth Maclaurin Rudall, who left the Dominion two years ago to undertake research work at that university. Graduating from Auckland University College in 1931, Dr. Rudall took up research work at Alassey College on a Sir James Gunson research" scholarship and a national research scholarship from the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research. His work is to be drawing the attention of scientists in America and Europe. Dr. Rudall is a nephew of the late Professor R. C. Maclaurin, who became president of the Boston Technical Institute. Three Buses to Town!

Some suburban bus passengers liad the rare experience this morning of having to ride to the city in three different buses. The first bus was obviously ailing, and when it reached a long climb up a hill it was on its last legs, or wheels, so it gracefully "expired." After a few minutes a second bus made its appearance, and many of the passengers piled out and piled into the second, but not all there wasn't enough room for them; then, after a wait of 20 minutes, another bus came along. The waiting passengers _ joyfully descended upon this vehicle, which soon proved itself to be asthmatic. So when it reached a further stage on the journey, the much-worried driver hailed an empty home-ward-bound bus, which picked up the remaining passengers, and safely transported them into the city. / What Happened to the jam? "Householder" writes: —-What will your readers think of this for a tale about mice? A pot of blackberry jam made some time ago was placed at the back of a pantry shelf in a suburban house. There is remained for some time, for there seemed to be no demand for blackberry jam. It might be added that the pot was not covered. Then, one day, the pot was discovered, or rather rediscovered, but when it was lifted from its high place on the shelf in the rather dim light of the pantry, it was considerably- lighter than a pot of jam had any right to be. Though the family might not have wanted that particular kind of "jam, it was evident that other residents of the house had. Every single berry in the entire pot had been eaten, and the jam-lovers, with due regard for the simple rules for household cleanliness, had left all the seeds in the pot. In fact, blackberry seeds were all that the pot contained. Of the jam itself there was never a tVace. The lovers of blackberry jam—the uninvited guests, as it were— had been mice. Missionary's Warning. A note of warning regarding the mosquito menace was issued by Dr. Edward G. Sayers in the course of an address on the Solomon Islands at a meeting of the Canterbury Club on Friday evening. Dr. Sayers, when a boy in Sydenham, Chriatchurch, volunteered for missionary work, and after taking his degrees in medicine in Dunedin was sent by the Methodist Church authorities to the Solomon group, where for seven years he had charge of the Roviana Hospital, on the island of New Georgia. There he classified no fewer than 30 different species of mosquito, but he stated that of these only one variety was capable of spreading malaria. This particular breed, he continued, was so virulent that very few of the native children were immune from its deadly attacks; with the result that the child death-rate in the Solomons was abnormally high, a factor which largely accounted for the population remaining practically stationary. If, by any chance, he continued, that in the development of fast air services this particular species of mosquito should find its way to Auckland, the results would be appalling. He pointed out, however, that the medical authorities were fully alive to the danger, and constant vigilance was being exercised to prevent the importation of the pest, which up to the present T»id_ not made its appearance in the western Pacific. Children's Playgrounds. During a lecture at the Peoples' Universitv yesterday on the subject of the education of the. child, Miss A,lice Grcville, well known as a pioneer worker in the open-air schools movement, drew attention to the fact that Auckland children have few places to play compared with other cities—only five public playgrounds, as against the 10 or more of Wellington. As traffic becomes denser and faster "and the residential districts more congested, the need for planning for children s needs for the future becomes urgent stated the lecturer. "It is quite obvious that the present mild boom in building is removing site after site which might have been conserved for play or recreation areas, and the failuic to keep for community benefit such sites, foi example, as the old Parnell school site-now advertised for sale-will cost us very dear one day n manv parts of Auckland city one can travel for half a mile without meeting any plavinc ground for children other than the KK "areas surrounding sehools-themselves now wholly inadequate for more than a thud or fourth of the pupils Many of I'eP'ese'it park spaces are separated from the most populous neighbourhoods by arterial roads crowded with swift-moving buses trams and motor cars—roads which small children cannot cross unaccompanied; moreover, mothers cannot trust small children far away from home. If as a community we are to place the welfare of the child first and foremost, it seems as though we must watch ceaselessly lest unreplaceable sites for playing grounds be paved and built upon, for though buildings may later be removed it takes years for shady trees to grow again."

City's Best Sportsman. "Auckland has more sportsmen to the square yard than the rest of New Zealand has to the square mile," said Mr. A. A. Baker in replying to a toast at a function 011 Saturday evening, -.when the touring English League team was entertained at a sportsmen's dinner by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis. "The best sportsman in-Auckland is our worthy Mayor." Busy Week-end for Ambulances.

The St. John ambulances had an exceptionally heavy time last week-end; they attended between 50 and 00 eases. Of a total of 31 calls 011 Saturday, 13 were for accidents. On Sunday, however, there was only one accident, but there were an unusual number of cases of pneumonia. Visit by Bishops.

Archbishop Averill, the Rt. Rev. G. F. Graham-Brown, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, and the Rt. Rev. H. W. Williams, Bishop of Waiapu, visited King's College yesterday. Archbishop Averill conducted the early Communion, and at the morning service Bishop Graham-Brown spoke on his work in Palestine. Bishop Williams conducted the evening service.

Herald of Spring. One of the best-known heralds of spring, the shining cuckoo, lias been seen in the garden of a resident of Te Papapa for the past week. This bird leaves its native bush at the first sign of spring, and conies to the gardens and parks to let the world know about it. Perhaps we can now look back on winter without regret.

Good Dairying Prospects. There are prospects of a good dairying season throughout the province. In the north, the winter was not as severe as last year, and although there has been some check to growth by frosts, the present outlook is good and there is already an increase in the cream supply. The Waikato district also felt the effect of frosts, several being severe, but better weather has been followed by great improvement in pastures. In most instances good crops of hay and ensilage last season provided ample fodder to carry dairy stock through the winter. Pastures are now beginning to show signs of strong growth, and the outlook for the approaching season is distinctly encouraging.

Woman Barrister in Court. History was made at the Supreme Court ill Auckland this morning when a lady barrister, Miss Marion Hollwav, appeared in an action for the first time. Miss Hollway was the first of her sex to be admitted as a barrister in the Supreme Court in Auckland, and recently Miss Nelson, a daughter of the Hon. 0. F. Nelson, of Samoa, was also admitted. Several other women have been admitted as solicitors. Miss Holhvay's task was a formal one this morning, for she merely appeared for a party when an application was made for the adjournment of a probate matter before Mr. Justice Callan. Women wear the conventional wig and gown that- males don in the Supreme Court, and the collar of their blouse forms a cravat.

Tribute to Maoris."The captain of the Kew Zealand Rugby League team, Mr. Steve Watene, must be proud to lead the team," said Mi'- R- !'• Anderton, joint manager of the visiting English team, in speaking at a sportsmen s dinnei tendered by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, 011 Saturday evening. "Our boys are very sorry that we could not arrange with the shipping company for cancelling our berths 011 the Akaroa, so as to be able to wait for a match against the Maoris," he continued. "We shall certainly ask the New Zealand Board of Control to see that a match against the Maoris is arranged in the next itinerary." Replying to a toast later in the evening,. Mr. Watene said he was glad to say that the race to which- he belonged had accepted his captaincy as a, fine gesture. He' could' best repeat the wordfe of the lute Sir .Tames'Carroll, "Tatou, tatou —we are one people."

Motorists of Low Mental Age. "Lifetime Pedestrian" writes; —Two experiences in one day (Sunday) have convinced me that there are some motorists whose mental age is less than five years. About 0 p.m., meaning to cross a main road, I looked for car§. One, travelling at 35-40 miles an hour, passed me, and as the next car was fully 100 yards off 1 stepped across the road. I was amazed, when two-thirds across, to see the car nearly upon me. I ran, and the car swerved slightly, and missed me by 2ft. That car was travelling at a speed nearer 70 than (!0 miles an hour. It was impossible to get its number. About 11.30 p.m., at home, I was called out to sec another car, winch had crashed through a fence at the end ot a blind road. The driver had driven about 100 yards up that road, which is unlighted and has a rough surface, yet he told me lie thought he was on the main concrete road. I leave it to your readers to judge whether the drivers of those two cars should be allowed to hold a license.

Maori King's House. Maori carpenters and carvers are making steady progress with tiiu work of preparing accommodation at the pa, Xgaruawahia, for King Koroki Muhutu te Wherowhero, writes a» Hamilton correspondent. The building is an addition to the existing meeting house, Te Mahinarangi, and is 72ft long and i>oit wide. A verandah 47ft long is provided. The building consists of a dining room, a caretaker's rooiii, a kitchen, and three bedrooms. In one corner a pentagonal tower is built. The main construction is completed, but a great deal remains to be done in the interior. European and Maori designs are combined in the construction, the finish being in Maori style. Leadlights, roofing and walls will be decorated with Maori designs, and some fine carved figures are being prepared by Maori artists. Over the main door the King's coat-of-arms or paki-o-matriki, will be suspended. Clematis. pohutukawa and kowhai will figure in the leadlighting in the door leading to Te Mahinarangi, the existing meeting house. The opening of the King's dwelling has been fixed for March next, and the Governor-Oeneral, Lord Hal way, is expected to perform the ceremony. A great gathering of natives will mark the opening, when Koroki will move his residence from Huntly to Ngaruawahia.

Interesting Gallipoli Souvenir. An official document of a unique character was produced recently by a man who joined the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association. He was Ir. «T. Neil, of Muidoch Road, Grey Lynn, and his proof of service consisted of a sheet of Government writing paper, on which was written a certificate in French and Turkish stating that he was engaged as a non-combatant, and claiming the provisions of the Geneva convention to permit him to do his work as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps on the last day on which British troops occupied the Gallipoli peninsula. That was January 8, 101 G. Mr. Neil was one of a small sound of the 27th Division medical corps, which remained at V Beach until after the last of the troops had departed, and the certificate was issued, in order to facilitate work on enemy territory in the event of there being wounded left behind. As history has recorded, however, the evacuation was carried out secretly and with wonderful success, there beinpr not a single casualty. Mr. Neil, who was on the peninsula from .Tune, 10ir>, till the date mentioned, was one of the few men saved from the auxiliary vessel Hyde when she was rammed and sunk near Lemnos by a troopship, which collided with her in the darkness. He mentioned that one of the last jobs he did on Gallipoli was to carry an empty Turkish shell which his commanding officer, Colonel Preseott. had "souvenired." It weighed nearly 801b, and I'm not likely to forget it," he said.