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Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 6

Breaches of tbe regulations dealing with the flying of Hags were committed by some of our most responsible institutions during tbe week in the exhuberance of their cordiality towards our naval visitors. Among others one big bank and one club have laid themselves open to prosecution for flying ashore without warrant the blue ensign with the Southern Cross on the fly—New Zealand's own special naval ensign. Only Government vessels can fly this handsome flag, and it must not be flown promiscuously ashore, even when intended as a compliment to the Navy. People that want to fly the New Zealand ensign ashore are restricted to the use of tbe red ensign, which of course, also has the Southern Cross on the flyWhether intended as a sign of grief at the departure of the Fleet or whether it was one of those frequent mistakes that mere landlubbers make with flags, one of the leading clubs this morning had the blue New Zealand ensign hoisted upside down, which is the uni-versally-acknowledged signal of a ship in distress.

"Happy? Happy I am happy," said one of our Fleet visitors last evening, as he beamed upon tbe amused occupants of the tram. "I told my cobber this mornin'." he continued, "that I shall desert ter-morrer. I'm goin' t'stay in New Zealan', I am." When the conductor went to him for his car fare, "Watch yer want?" be shouted. "Well, I haven't got it." He searched every pocket, rolling this way and that, standing up being too difficult. The conductor insisted, but was very patient. At last Jack produced a handful of paper money and thrust the whole of it upon the conductor, who waved it away, Jack searched again, and reproduced his notes. The conductor surrendered, and found change for one note, and placed it in Jack's wandering hand. "Bring 'em aboard' Bring 'em aboard. Oh, but I'm happy," said Jack, slept a moment upon the back of the seat, then rose unsteadily and lurched out into the night. He seemed indifferent as to bis destination, but it was "New Zealan'."

At Friday's meeting of the Te Awamutu Power Board it was reported that wild swans Hying into transmission lines at night had been responsible for the dislocation of the service on several occasions lately in the Ohaupo district.

"With the wind shrieking through the electric light cables overhead, the search, lights sweeping across the sky, and the excitement of the people "that had nocked out to see tbe sight, the display by the warships reminded one very much of the times of the air raids in London,'' said a man this morning to a "Star" reporter apropos of the memorable spectacle of last night.

In the claim of Thomas Christian Mikkelson, of Otamarakau (Mr. Richmond), against Edith Emma Sykes, of Otangihakou (Mr. Hogben), for £350 damages for failure to provide access to a farm purchased by plaintiff from defendant, a jury at the Supreme Court yesterday awarded the full amount claimed. Under other heads, claiming —130 damages, the jury fixed the amount at £60. Judgment was deferred pending argument on law points raised by counsel.

A question was asked of some of the old people at the Costley Home yesterday whether old magazines would be of any use to them. '"Of course they would," was the reply, "and tbe older the better, there is nothing we like better out here than the old illustrated magazines of fifty years ago, full of pictures of the wars of those days and short stories which remind us of our youth. We prefer magazines with pictures in them to any other kind."

An unusual point came up for consideration by tbe Conciliation Commissioner in connection with a case in which the Christchurch metal workers' assistants were applicants. The question was whether or not a Dominion industrial dispute should take precedence over a local dispute. The Commissioner considered the filing of the local dispute quite in order, but decided to pass the case on to the Arbitration Court for a recommendation.

A Wellington car with its face towards Palmerston is lying on its side down a ten-foot bank held up over a deep pit of .water the wire fence at a bend midway between Linton and Palmerston (states the "Manawatu Daily Times.") A lady and two gentlemen who were in the car escaped with a shock, and came to the town in another car. It is stated that a cart without lights was passing after dark, and tbe motorist swerved to avoid a collision. I Most people were only too pleased to hurry out of the gale and get near a big fire with a book and a pipe, but last evening one strangely constituted individual chose last night for a dip in the harbour. *T thought it was someOne trying to commit suicide," said a passenger by the 5.30 ferry to Stanley Bay. As the ferry pulled alongside the pier a perfectly naked individual could be seen by the lamplight taking a Reader off the Harbour Board's punt that is I moored there in connection with the 1 pile-driving operations. It made the ! passengers feel cold to see him take his header, and he was not satisfied with doing it once, but was in and out several times before the steamer went on- His persistency was only equally by the apparent enjoyment he got out of his chilly pastime. A man at the Costley Home caused much amusement yesterday by telling a story of the sporting proclivities of the persons of the old days, who had often to ride long distances on Sundays between the different preaching stations. The ministers as a rule knew a good horse, and one old Presbyterian, who had a poor salary, at one race meeting entered his horse for the chief event, and had trained his steed to such perfection that he proved a winner and won the big race. "The parsons' of the old days were a fine lot of men," he added, "and took the greatest interest in the everyday life of the people, and entered fully into their joys and their sorrows, and their influence increased accordingly."

The story of a "heckler" who always took the opportunity of subjecting the speaker to considerable criticism on the prohibition question at his meetings in a certain West Coast town,, was told by Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., at a meeting at Carterton last week. The "heckler" contended that the Labour party should support the prohibition movement, "but," said Mr. Holland, "I told him that the Labour party, which included prohibitionists, State controllers, and continuance men, left the issue to the public to decide. Some time later I again visited the town, by missed my old friend, the heckler. I asked the chairman of my meeting where he was, and was told: 'Oh, he's sold his property here, and bought the pub down the road.'" (Loud laughter.)

The Auckland University students anticipate appearing before the Auckland public 'in their annual extravaganza, which is to be produced about the second week in June. The play is an original production from the pen of Mr. M.- R. Grierson, and contains many topical allusions. Mr. Jack Coppard, already well known to Auckland theatre-goers, is taking one of the principal parts. The play is being produced by Captain H. J. Redmond, assisted by Mr. H. All Kew. The musical side of the extravaganza is under the direction of Mr. T. Burnand. Rehearsals have been in full swing for several weeks, and good progress has been made. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. R. A. Wright) questioned as to what results were being attained in the raising of the new £59,000 city loan (for repayment of an old loan), which is being issued locally at 5V per cent, stated that the result had been surprisingly good. The loan had already been taken up to the extent of £47,000, and it was thought that within the next few days the full amount would be applied for. It is reported* that quite a number of the electric power,, poles erected in Cambridge district by the Public Works Department are rotting away, and that some have already had to be replaced. The Cambridge Power Board has evidently been more fortunate in this respect, no rotten poles having yet been reported. A petition that Albert Lister, farmer, of Putaruru, be adjudicated a bankrupt, has been filed at the office of the Official Assignee by a creditor. The first meeting of creditors will be held at Hamilton on May 26. When the creditors in the .bankrupt estate of a Maori met at Waipawa the other day, it was reported (states an exchange) that the assets consisted of a gun and a motor-ear, forming part of tbe security of one creditor. At the Auckland Unitarian Church to-morrow night, the Rev. A. Thornhill continues his popular course on "Great Confessions," and deals with the faith of that versatile writer, H G. Wells, as expressed in "First and Last Things" and "God the Invisible King." Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., City lecture in the Strand Theatre on Sunday on "Found Guilty," beirg an indictment of the Massey Administration. A number of grand musical items, both vocal and instrumental, will be rendered during the evening.