THE NEXT OLYMPIAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 4

THE NEXT OLYMPIAD.

The chairmen of the Auckland War Memorial Fund Citizens' Committee, Mr. .T. H. Gunson, states that the success that has attended the. personal canvass has led to a decision to continue it for several more months before launching the appeal to the public. The fund has now reached £145.000. including the amount already invested, £110.000. which is earning interest at 4J per cent, and outstanding donations and money on deposit. The actual subscriptions' to-date total £137.000. The object of the Citizens' Committee is to add a further £1.5.000 or £20.000 to the fund, thus bringing it to £160,000 beforp the public appeal is made for the balance of the £200,000 required for the work. The date for the launching of the appral to the public is not yet fixed, hut it will be early in the spring, probably about August. A letter has been received by the Mayor from the director of education under the London Architectural Association, Mr. R. Atkinson, expressing pleasure at the success of Messrs. Draffin and Grierson, who are old students of thn association's school, and congratulating them upon their fine design for the memorial museum. The writer added that New Zealand students are by far the best of the overseas students that pass through the school.

A small boy, about. (5 years of age, had a narrow escape from drowning yesterflay afternoon, and had it not been for the prompt manner in which Captain Scott, of the Devonport Ferry Co., dived into the wator fully dressed, the lad would have lost his life. Apparently the hoy was fishing unde# the Albert wharf, nsar the old Hobson wharf, and fortunately was accompanied by a friend about his own age. He overbalanced whilst sitting on the stringer*, and his friend immediately made frantic cries for help. Captain Scott had just berthed the Goshawk, when he heard the cries, and immediately dived into the weter w«<hout even waiting to take.off his The boy had been in the water for more than a minute, no one apparently hearing the cries: but after Captain Scott had applied artificial respira'ion he was little the worsn for his narrow escape. The last thing the captain heard of him was that he was dry? ing his clothes in the sun. He was "too frightened to tell his mum" of his exciting experience. This is the third occasion recently that Captain Scott ha* rescued children from almost certain drowning.

The Auckland Zoological Park has only teen open to the public for a littie more than two months, yet four of its small collection have already been done to death, either through deliberate malice or from ignorant foolishness on the p?rt of visitors. O n the day the zoo was opened the sea-lion was killed by a pea-rifle shot, and two of the tnatara lizard* were shortly afterwards so badly mutilated that they died. On Saturday one of the ostriches died, and a postmortem examination revealed several copper coins, a. silver coin, two large pieces of lead, end a small coil of wire in the body of the bird, which had died from metal poisoning. In addition to these deadly attentions to the animals there has been a gTeat deal of vandalism in the shape ot damage to the flower beds and rockeries. The evidence of deliberate mischief has become so pronounced that the city authorities have decided to adopt rigorous measures in bringing future offenders to account. The Mayor states that a stern example will be made of the first one caught in any wanton act either against the exhibits or against property in the park.

Councillor H. T. Morton ie to move at the next meeting of the To Kuiti Borough Council: '"That the Te Kuiti Borough Council urges the Government to give early effect, to the recommendation of the Licensing Committee in reference to local option for King Country." The councillor when giving notice advocated the opening up of aq hotel, under municipal control, for the sale of alcoholic, liquors. His colleajrues showed a disposition to treat the matter as '"a source of innocent merriment," but Mr. Morton gave them to understand that so far as he was concerned, the project was suggested in all eerious. nese. Another councillor warmly supported him with argument «c to the desirability of public ownership of such a place.

A modest tribute to the Press was revealed during the Eden election judicial inquiry yesterday afternoon, when it was discovered that an important piece of evidence was missing from the official notes. Mr. C. P. Skerrett, counsel for respondent, learnt that the. "Star" representative had a record of the evidence desired, and asked tha.t the court might be favoured with this assistance. His Honor (Mr. .Justice Fiskingl bowed assent, and the pressman rose and quoted the required passage from hi* shorthand notes.

The Mount Albert Fire Brigade received a call to a tram car in Mount Albert Road this morning it 8.30. There wag trouble in the fupe box, but the application of chemical preparation was sufficient to overcome it.

The Chief Po»t Office advise that the nine bags of letter mail for Auckland. which were brought to Wellington by the Manuka, should arrive by the express early to-morrow morning. The Kaiwarra it bringing six bags of mail for Auckland. She left Newcastle last Saturday night, and should arrive next Friday."

The necessity for providing, schools with ambulance outfits in case of accidents to children was urged at a meeting of the Canterbury Education Board by Mr. A. Peevrill. He said that the department should supply outfits according to the size of the schools. A number of the schools were applying for outfits, and the St. John Ambulance Association was unable to bear the expense. On his motion the board decided to make repre sentations to the department in the matter.

A thunderstorm which passed over the Ashburton County last week caused quite a sensation at Lagmhor. A farmer stated that his ?on wa? grubbing in a naddm-k at the time, and was about to unyoke the horse*, when a flash of lightning struck the grubber, and something hit the ground about four chains away, causing foil and smoke to be thrown into the air to a height of about four feet. The noise was terrific, and caused tlip team to run away, resulting in the wheel of the grubber being smashed. The lad received a severe shock. The farmers daughter, who was ironing in a room fronting the storm, was thrown back against the wall by the lightning striking the iron. It is surmised that the body which landed in the paddock was a thunderbolt.

According to statistical returns there are 29.503 males and 22,082 female? in New Zealand engaged in professions, •VUW males, and 20,601 females following commercial pusiiit.s. while 08,613 ma Ipp. and 20,310 females arc engaged in industries. The primary producers number 142.736 males, and 9,200 females. In April las* there were 405,401 children in the Dominion under the age of Iβ years. When the census was taken it disclosed that out of every eleven children one child had lost, either one or both of its parent-. There are •317,237 persons in 'he Dominion who have insurance policies on their lives, the approximate amount of insurance cover beinjr £55.-V24,000. This sum represents £00,310.000 on male lives and £5,214,000 on females lives.

The Auckland Hairy Employees' T'nion is contemplating putting before the City Council a scheme concerning the municipalisation of the city milk supply, much on the lines of wliat has been in vogue in Wellington for some time pact. The secretary of the union Uae recently made investigations in regard to the Wellington scheme, and is greatly in favour of it. Last year the Wellington City Council, he states, mnde a profit of £13,000, and besides this their scheme of delivering the amount* required in bottles ensures hygienic condition* and makes for the better health of the comrauni y especially infant?. It is also und< Jtood tlirt the Wellington Council now ->ntrole SO per cent of the output, and Lhe scheme lias heen so satisfactory to date that it will not be long before the whole of the supply is under it* supervision. The secretary ascertained that the price was id per quart less than the local price, and this, combined with the purity of the milk, makes the scheme doubly commendable. It i* a1«o stated that'a. considerable amount of data has been collected by various organisations in Auckland concerning the economic and health aepeet of the city taking control of itp fnilk supply, and "the union hopes that when they approach the City Council they will receive the support of ►'•~ee bodies.

A good consignment of Aucklandgrown apples will be shipped- by the Niagara, to Honolulu on Tuesday. Two similar shipments have been made in the last ti»v years but a little later in the. seasc*. |,'owever the present time is said to "c <mich more suitable. It is a pity that pore of the growers' assoeia» tions do not go in more for such experimental shipments. As one interested in the industry remarked to a '•Star' , reporter to-day, "there is no doubt about it we have the stuff and we should, instead of growling so much about low prices, show more enterprise end seek out suitable markets for ourselves in regard to apples. But some organisation is necessary in regard to the sale and distribution' of stone fruits end that cla*e of pip fruit not exportable."

■\\ hat may be termed a malicious false alarm was given to the Mount Eden Fire Brigade last night. The alarm spread to the Dominion Road picture theatre, where one of the firemen happened to be, and it w«* announced thet there was an outbreak jn Prospect Terrace. The fireman immediately set off to join the brigade, and with him went many residents who live in the locality. On arrival nothing untoward was discovered in the terrace, and it became evident that the whole thjng was a hoax. It was certainly a consolation to the perturbed patrons of the pictures to know that, their domiciles were cafe and sound, but they had other feelings towards the individual who found humour iv disturbing them from their enjoyment at the "movies."

At. , a recent smoke social in a country town enthusiastic reference was msde Iβ the work of the borough council and the toast of the Mayor was ronplrd with the. words ''and the Mayoress."' It happens that the Mayor in question is a bachelor and rising to reply he generously acknowledged the trihute

"especially," he added with tWtlng smile "the concluding portion of the toast."

The Orchard Department has been kept pretty busy this season dealing with amongst many other activities in the interests of the fruit industry, the suppression of firebliprht which at'times has given considerable trouble. Although there is every need for continued vigilance by growers, the real danger of firpblijrht is past this seaeon. Still « number of isolated cases are rrportod. and prompt notification i? a mutual help to grower and department alike.

VS ith many eulogistic references, Mr J. H. Gunson wag unanimoush- reelected president of the Auckland Institute last evening. Sir Frfuj,, Mitehelson. M.L.C., and Hmi. C. J. p« rr ,„„ elected vice-presidents, Mr. 8. Cray w SS re-elected as honorary auditor, and the retiring members of the rounci] were re-elected after a ballot: — Messrs. H E Vaile and J. Kenderdine. Dr T \Y Leys, and Professor A. P. \V. Thomas. '

It is a tradition of the Hijfh Court l\J"tT T' V * int ° fine 'li'tinrtionp At the Eden election judicial inquiry to day conns* , ) end*d a comment with •"•'Hβ has a typewriter, the only one in th. district I underst.Md, and not a Rood one."' Hie Honor (Mr. Justice Hoekingi smilingly: "y ou , ay t c writer, I suppose you mean machine."

A meeting of the Headmaster?" \.. n ria/.ion will be held next Wedneedav afternoon to discuss with the Auckland Summer Carnival Committee details of displays by the school children f n the Floral Feto. which is being held on the Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday, March

EARLY PREPARATIONS. EMPTRE UNIVERSITIES SHOULD COMPETE. (By Our Special Correspondent.V ■ LONDON. January 11. The last Olympia game* showed a setback in British achievement, and those interested in spor*, here have made their minds up that by early organisation they may p'.ay a part in retrieving their position. The meeting of the British Olympic Association was held yesterday, and Lord Cadogan and General Kentish explained to the press their plans, and. there was every sioni that the preparations were going to be made with judgment and earnestness. No appeal for funds is being ma:i« throughout the press, but a letter is being ?ent to what General Kentish called "the top fellow" in every city. town, and district, asking for support on a basis of popula'ion. Already, it was announced. London has subscribed more than it quota, which iva? put at £3.000.

A veil was drawn <ver the error? of the past, and it was felt rather than expressed in words -hat the less said the better. There was. however, a very strong expression of firm determination to get good results at Paris in 1924. Sir Theodore Cook, who competed in l»0fi, and competed also as late ac 1920, said that though the days of Great Britain being schoolmaster to the world in sport ha<i long since gone out, at any rate tbe first code of international rules for all the sports at these meetings was given by England. He touched the fringe of past disputes with '.he phrase that "certain parts of the rest of the world, having tried both kinds (good and bad sport), had come to 'he conclusion that good sport was the best policy, so nothing more need be said." A famous runner. Mr. Baker, who has had international training in American, French and German colleges, stated tna' the standard of sportsmanship in every country in Europe was much the same. He had taken part in contest* in many countries in the presence of great crowds, and the teams carried through their matches in a spirit of sportsmanship not exceeded in London- In his whole experience he had never come across one single example of bad sportsmanship on the part of Americans. He hoped the country would support the Olympic team. It made all the difference to the team if they felt that tliey had their country behind them. They had had experience of lacking that support in the past. Mr. Rudd, another great runner, was obviously very nervous, and knowing bi» record one could believe that he was better on the track than in a public speech. He disagreed with those who thought that Rugby should not be admitted into the Olympic games -because it was such a fine sport." He argued strongly against the antiquated Henley ruling that no man who was an artisan could competr. it was high time 'hat that was ruled out. He was against the splendid isolation of Oxford and Cambridge. These universities should take a. wider part in the a'.hletics of the country, and should compete regularly with the other universities. The universities of the Empire ought to have regular contests with the universities of the United States.

Speaking of the difficulty that, newcomers had at first in keeping to the disciplined rules of the game, he told one delightful story about a Frenchman getting his second wind, and with a cry "Allons, done." catching Mr. KuHd hy the shoulder and pushing past. Afterwards he .came up sobbing with excitement, and wanted to kiss mc. explaining how it happened. Not being quite sure what he Raid," Mr. Eudd "I said nothing."

It might be added that the 'Echo dcs "ports" states that the Fi-onch Women's Sporting Federation has decided to reinclude a Pentathlon in the Women's gan»«s at.Monte Carlo. The entries sho«r.'- not exceed a maximum of 30. Tf> ,vomen'e Pentathlon includes runniii- ,-arM at 60 and 2-V> metres, high jump, putting the weight, (both right and l»ft handed, the weight to be eight English pounds, and throwing th<» javelin. The Czecho-Slovakian women athletes are practising with a view ie giving the English team a hard battle in this event. Negotiations hay« been opened with a view to arranging a rowing contest for women in connection with the games.