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Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 96, 24 April 1926, Page 8

Surprise was expressed at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclima"-! tisation Society last evening when a letter was received from the Wellington Zoological Society asking for two live > pigeons; Assuming that it.was native pigeons that were required and not the fantail or tumbler variety, one of the members said that there * was a much better prospect of getting the birds close ' to Wellington. Another member men-! tioned the general scarcity of the' native pigeon, and said that it was a*i matter of common knowledge that on • one occasion the Maoris gave a feast hi honour of Viscount "Jellicoe at Tokaanu when 1700 of the birds were cooked.

There was a "run" on the Auckland banks this -morning. ■So great -was the rush, and so densely packed was the throng, round'the windows, that in more than one case a humorously-disposed participant was heard to observe that the banks must have gone "broke." Inquiries, however, showed that there was a very simple explanation. Yesterday was a bank holiday, and so is Monday. The result this morning was that .the business interests and those with private accounts had to cram three days' banking business into two hours. Normally, a Saturday morning- is a busy period in a bank, but when there is added to it the business of a previous day, and financial arrang-aments for the following Monday, it can easily be understood that the volume of business is likely to be a great deal more extensive than usual.

A liltle-known industry in the Auckland province is the destruction of hawk». in connection with which the Auckland Acclimatisation Society offers a reward of sixpence per pair of feet. During the past four weeks the society has paid £27 10/ for hawks' feet, this representing the destruction of 1104 of those predatory birds. A further £500 has been set aside for the purpose, as it is realised that this particular work is of more importance than the liberation of pheasants. At a meeting of the council of the society last evening one member said that on a recent occasion he had seen a hawk hovering over a lagoon, and repeatedly swooping down at a flock, of wild duck.

"If we cannot obtain an adequate defence scheme, then let us increase our man-power, and this can be done by the introduction of our kindred from the United Kingdom," says the "N.Z. R.S.A. Review." "Immigration and defence go hand in hand, both are insurance policies and both are dependent upon the support of the general public for their success. Once again does the matter resolve itself into co-operative effort. Let not only the various local bodies and organisations, but the leading public men of this Dominion support this effort to assist our country and our Empire and everything is possible. It must be whole-hearted co-op-eration by all, if these problems of redistribution of British population and the adequate population of our Dominion are to be solved effectively. , '

Amidst what appears to be the interminable confusion in China, much controversy has raged round the name of General Feng, the "Christian General." General Feng has been accused of being in league with the Bolsheviks, and he has been quite as heartily defended against that charge. Dr. John R. Mott, who is visiting Wellington just now, is friendly towards General Feng. Speaking at Wesley Church on Thursday night. Dr. Mott stated that General Feng had 50 chaplains working in his army, and an order for 8000 more Bibles had been placed with the British and Foreign Bible Society. Dr. Mott said that he repudiated utterly misleading statements made about General Feng. The general had certainly purchased war material from Russia, but that was due to military necessity, and because he had no cutlet to the sea.

Two welcome gifts of wireless sets ' liave been made to the Blind Institute, ' a four-valve set from Messrs. Abel,

Smeeton, Ltd., and a three-valve set I from Mr. C. H. Furness. These were

!in full working order for the first time [on Thursday night to the intense j interest of all at the Institute. The j inmates were fascinated at hearing the I striking: of the Sydney Town Hall clock, orchestral pieces, songs, monologues and vfather reports from Brisbane. Sydi ney. and Auckland, and the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders Band at DunI edin.

The Government Labour Bureau's return for the past week shows that there is a fair amount of unemployment in the city. A total of 203 applications for work has been received. The figures show that 77 of that number are labourers, while cooks anrl hoted workers with 19 applications are next on the list, followed by motor drivers with 13. Tradesmen 1 appear to be in demand, there being but I few applications. During the week 27 ; men were assisted to private employj ment. 22 of that number being labourers.

After having been absent from Auckland since April 12. the Pacific Cable i Board's steamer Iris is expected io re-

•turn to port at 9 o'clock to-morrow ! morning. "The vessel was dispatched ! hence for a position in the Tasman Sea, 1 pnnroximately 370 miles distant from Wellington, a fault having occurred in the Eastern Extension Company's cable between New Zealand and Australia. On arrival in harbour to-morrow morning, • the Iris will go to her usual moorings ■ off Devonport.

The flags on the Devonport Ferry Company's building 9 were flying at halfmast yesterday out of respect to the memory of the late Mrs. Emma Scott, widow of the late Matthew Scott, who died yesterday at the great age of 93. One of her sons, Mat. Scott, has for many years been in the employ of the Ferry Company, and is one of the bestknown captains on the Devonport run. Other sons are Tom, John and William., all well-known men in Auckland.

Since the discovery of escolar, a newfish, which was recently caught at the Bay of Plenty, efforts have been made to get a specimen for the Auckland Museum. Arrangements were made for a couple of escolar to be forwarded, but as it transpired that the fish were cleaned after being caught they could not be of any use to the institiition. It is expected that further specimens will come forward in due course.

Australia has been selected for the first tour under the auspices of the Church of England Council on Empire settlement, whereby British schoolboys will be g.ven an opportunity of seeing the Dominions. There will be about 100 boys between 16 and 19 years of age T „ cha / ge \of Major-General Sir Robert Porter, in the party. They will leave England on August *3 and will be away about six months, which will permit of their staying from,ten to fourteen days in each State.

Of late the native pigeon has been often seen m flight in the Waitakere Kanges. and it has been accepted as a sign that they are short of food. These birds in the Auckland district rely to a large extent on the berries of' the pnnri and taraire. The former are finished, and the latter are not yet ripe It is announced in the "Gazette" that Empire Day will be celebrated on the K -?X S Bjfthday, 3rd June. That day will be observed as a public holiday in the Government offices throughout the Dominion.

n Zrt T¥ a s,nall fla ß Bta *ion near Cambridge this morning a railway engine was derailed, and the local traffic was delayed for about one and a-half Sine engi " e Was re P lace « on

Nowtoto King, Limited. X ew Plymouth, will conduct an auction sale of r el '™ r J "<* oJ-boring plant on Monday May 10, particulars of wWch will be found in another column.