NEWS OF THE DAY.

Old Clothing Needed. Gifts of meii's boots and clothing, either new or part worn, are urgently needed by the Down and Out Mission, Albert Street, where excellent work is done on behalf of the destitute and needy. The missioner, Mr. F. Williams, stated that during the last eight weeks no fewer than 136 men had been sent away to jobs, mainly on the land or with the Public Works Department, and very satisfactory reports as to progress had been received in all but nine cases. The headquarters are at the. Old Central Mission Hall, near the junction of Albert and Victoria. Streets. Mr. Victor Macky is lion, treasurer to the mission. Thames "War Memorial. When the Thames War Memorial column was erected some years ago, the committee went to quite a lot of trouble to get the names of those who were killed or went to the Great War from ■ that district. The recent appeal through the • Press for the names that may have been "left off I the memorial has brought in 190 names, 20 being ;of those killed and 170 returned. To make room ; for these, eight extra tablets will be needed and much more engraving necessary than was anticipated, which will entail an additional cost of about ■ £100. The committee, having no funds in hand, have been compelled to make a further appeal for funds to meet this extra cost. New Whau Bridge. The proposal to construct a new bridge over the Whau Creek was again an item on the agenda of the New Lynn Borough Council last evening. It had been hoped that an amicable settlement would be arrived at in respect to the ! proportion of costs to be borne by the interested local bodies, thus avoiding the "cost and delay ' caused by the setting up of a commission to deal with the matter. It now appears that at least j one authority is desirous of a commission sitting, and accordingly the New Lynn Council will take the necessary'steps forthwith. If possible, the | question of the width of the bridge will be | brought within the scope of the commission. The j borough inspector reported that three accidents had occurred on the bridge during, the week-end. How to Find a J.P.

A deputation from the Justices of the Peace Association waited on the Postmaster-General (Hon. J. B. Donald) yesterday, and stressed the necessity for justices being available in cases of need. Mr. S. Donaldson, who led the deputation, said the lawyers of Auckland, and also the general public, were experiencing a great, deal of trouble owing to the difficulty of finding a justice when needed. He suggested that the association should compile a list, giving names, addresses and telephone numbers of justices, to be placed in telepliono directories. In reply Mr. Donald sugested that the difficulty might be overcome if a list were given to "Information" at the telephone exchange. This suggestion did not meet with approval, and the Minister said that he would go fully into the matter at Wellington and give his decision later. Temper or Temperament.

An amazing machine demonstrated at the Medical Congress in Australia was the psychogalvanometer, an instrument which registers human emotions for what they are. To an audience of nerve specialists and alienists, Dr. W. J. Dawson said the value of the instrument might not be apparent,, but it was nevertheless valuable in the detection of malingerers in nervous disorders—people who sought to convince themselves that their nerves were in shreds. It could distinguish between temper and temperament. The patient merely took hold of. a handle, and emotional reactions were set forth immediately on a chart As a result of the use of this machine in New South Wales mental hospitals it was found that insane people were gravely defective in emotional feeling of any kind, while literature, drama, shock, horror or affection left them equally indifferent. The speaker raised a hearty laugh when he said it would prove whether a weeping woman was reallv distressed or "just putting it on." How to Get Rid of Gorse.

A New Lynn correspondent writes: "Having read of a good many cases where owners of sections have been fined for allowing gorse to thrive on their property, I thought it not inopportune to give all and sundry ray mode of getting rid of the pest in an inexpensive way. When cutting the gorse, bring the most of it to where the growth was thickest and pile up enough to make a great heat, first having cut the space upon which the fire will be made. In this manner the whole section will be cleared of gorse in a few seasons at no more expense, because the stuff has to be cut in any case. Where these bonfires have stood, it will be found afterwards that the native clover will spring np, and the fire has been fierce enough to kill all the gorse on the patch. Next season move the heaps of gorse on to other areas, and repeat the process. To sow down these patches with grass seed gives better results still, especially as soon as possible after the surface is cold. If this is done, while the ash.is fluffy and not beaten down by rain, the grass seed will have a better chance, getting down under the ash and escaite the ravages of small birds." •

New York Talks to Antarctica,

The radio concert broadcasted from New York on Sunday afternoon for the benefit of Commander Byrcl and other members of the South Pole expedition was picked up and rebroadeasted by 2YA, Wellington, and IYA, Auckland. It was one of the greatest achievements of the kind so far as New Zealand is concerned. A large number of friends of Commander Byrd, his officers and crew had gathered together in the New York studio, and listeners-in heard that some of the finest artists had volunteered their services. The musical items, which came through very well, had no feature of special interest, but the short speeches were distinctly entertaining. There was no difficulty in following the various speakers, the first of whom congratulated the commander in having passed so well through the long and tedious Antarctic night, and went on to talk about the possibilities of "flying." Dr. J. H. Kimble, meteorologist, made a few congratulatory remarks, and Miss Dorothy Stone, now playing at the Theatre, sang, "Do What You Do." The proceedings so far had been "quite American," but the next speaker was of different nationality, although he spoke in English. "The announcer didn't tell you I -was a Russian," he said, "but when you hear me talk you soon will know. lam no great singer, but I will play a mandolin accompaniment to a little song." At this stage IYA interpolated .some delightful : music by Chopin, but later went back to the New YorkByrd'talk, which continued much on the lines previously indicated. A Contented Schoolboy Settler.

A very interesting letter from .an English schoolboy who came to New Zealand under the Church of England settlement scheme two years ago appeared in a recent issue of the ■ Hampshire 'Telegraph and Post," published at Portsmouth. "New Zealand," says the writer, "is not a country of cannibals, nor it is a land flowing with milk and honey. It is simply one where a man who is willing to work, and works hard, 'gets a good wage. Most New Zealanders are good-natured, and want to be hospitable to you. But it is no use coming out here as a tradesman or in a profession, because the country is already overstocked with men and women who have degrees, and men who are experienced tradesmen. The best job of the lot is that of the farmhand. Once you are in New Zealand and have a job, settle down, and keep out'of the towns, and don't listen to the mau who says you ought to be getting 30/ a week and keep. That is why he is out of work,-and sooner than work for less he would beg for food that he is practically sure to get. Work hard. Get into it and keep at it, and you are sure to get on in New Zealand."