NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Oaasht in the Bain. Many of the picture-goers were caught in the rain last evening when homeward bound, while the tramcars carried extra heavy traffic. During (lie night the rainfall amounted*to M\n, making the total rainfall for the present month 2.:i3in Ihe barometer was fnirly steadv this morning, the reading being 21MH52. Unusual Accident. While standing on the platform of an outward bound tramckr last evening in Eden Torraee, « passenger, Mr. Eric Tattersall, ii resident of Paico Avenue, Mount Albert, was s-truck by a tar barrel which fell from a passing motor lorry, and his left arm was badlv fine tu rod. Tramcars In Collision. While proceeding to the city viu Town Hali tins morning, tra incur So. Jl, which left the Kemuera terminii* at 8.25 a.m., came into col liaion with car No. 2UO just before reaching the intersection oi Jtemuera Koad and Broadwav. Fortunately both cars were travelling «t "a moderate t>pct>d, and although the passengers received slight shock, no danißge was occasioned. Tho cms were a bio to proceed on their iouruev after very slight delay. Improvements at New Lynn. Permanent, road construction was commenced at New Lynti with the concreting of the Northern -Main Highway. Thi e work was subsequently sup ported by tho raising of a loan tor the construction of footpaths on either side of the Ureal North Koud, and the sum of £2M«) wae expended The board is now engaged in kerhing and channelImg the full length of the main highway, together with the business areu on Totura Avenue the sum involved In-ing £2.,00. When completed, this work will mark a great improvement in the district, especially from a drainage point of view. Sewage In Harbour. A report, prepared by the engineer (Mr. I). Holderiiess) and the harl>ourmaslcr (Captain H. H. Sergeant) in connection with the disposal of sewage in the Waitemata Harbour, came before the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon, when tho board in committee recommended that the particulars affecting the different local bodies concerned should bo forwarded to them for perusal and comment. It was decided not to make tho details of the report public at the present juncture, the chairman Mating that it could be published after the local bodies had considered t >>•..• mutter. Maori Place Name*. The Waiiganui Hiver Trust ha» decided to make an effort to replace European names along the Wunganui Kiver with the proper native names, and thus Wadc'e Landing, tho outlet for a large block, that was taken over some years ago for soldier settlement, will in future be known as Ketaruke. In Mime instances the natives themselves changed names. "What do Atene Hiid Koroniti mean?' , inquired a tourist on onu occasion. Jl« wus considerably surprised when h Wan-jiiiui Ki\er Maori replied: "Oh, Athens and L'orinth, two rather well-known places." "Ti" or "Tea , *? "That should be 'tea tree, , shouldn't it?" mildly interposed a councillor at the lust meeting of the Malumata County Council, after a report had been read which contained a reference to the humble, New Zealand shrub. "There is no such Maori word hs 'ti-tree,'" he continued. "The name wax given by tho early settlers and spelled "t-e-u. . Thin name was giveir because, in the curly day.-, when supplies oi tea ran short, the pioneer* u»cd the dried leaves of the ten-tree plant to eke out their supplies." "Oh. well, we will call it manuka, and settle any difficulty," added the engineer, amidst laughter. Delayed Warning. The recent depredations of a Maori's pig in ft neighbour's kumara plantation caused the owner considerable concern. When giving evidence in u civil action at the liisborno Court an to his reason for "laying the pig aside, ,, he told the Court that he had warned the animal's owner that if the porker was not kept off his propcrtv he would kill it. "I'll kill you if you do." was the cheerful retort. However, the pig was enjoying himself in the native's garden again, so he rang the police. '"Hiixe you warneu the owner:" asked the |H»li<t\ "Ves,* , replied the Maori. "Oh. well," came the voice, from police headquarters, "kill the pig and warn the owner afterwards.' . Shelter for the Homeless. An application for a grant to the Auckland City Mission in connection with the shelter for tluj homeless which has been established in Federal Street came before the Auckland Harlwur Board yesterday afternoon, wiicii the City Missioner (the Rev. Jasper Caldcr) stated that it was proposed m make similar requests to other local bodice, including the Auckland Power Board, who would be asked to provide, lrce lighting. The chairman (Mr. H. It. Mackenzie) moved thm the matter should !«• referred to the board in committee. Mr. T. Bloodwonli *«id that it »■, somewhat <>t u di..grace. that a .-heller had to Inestablished in Auckland, but tiiere wan need of it, also immediate action. It was then decided to give the board in committee power to act. Seed Guessing. When the Otago farmers who went to Christchurch by special truiu last week were on the train, they lm.l a M«cd und grasses identification coni|»etitiun. Twrnty-four varieties of seeds and gras.-cs v re displayed in tubes, ami clues to the identilu.. nof each were provided. Italian ryegrass was described as "grown in Mussolini'*, garden." The winner ot the competition was Mr. 1.. Christie, of Ware pa, who succeeded in naming IS *|K;ciiiieJis correctly. Not one of the farmers on the train could put a correct name to a teat tube of darnel seed. Tho competition aroused great interest, jin.i attracted very large entric*. The winner was presented with a pair of pipes, the gift of the executive of tho OtHgo Farmers' Union. Another Community Bus. A community bus service, which is being run on the principle of voluntary contribution. has been inaugurated for the benefit of the residents in the. vicinity of Parnell Park. The first community biix vvßs started on the Dominion lioad route six months ago. and with development of the movement there arc now ten community buses on various suburban route?. The Panicll venture is u sequel to the recent raising of bus fares to Parnell Park and Point Resolution, and :«)0 residents signed a requisition to the Suburban Transit and Social Club to provide them with means of transport. As with the other community service*, passengers arc not asked to pay fare-. A contribution lx>x is kept in a prominent place on tho bus. and the invariable practice on the part of passengers is to put something in it before getting out.

Level Crossings at New Lynn. "We liuve a circular or letter from ibe Railway Department.' , remarked Mr. W. It. Lovie (chairmaii) :it lu»t night's, meeting of the New Lynn Town Board. The letter was in reply to the hoard's recent request for the insinuation of warning l*-ll«. Nt the level crossing on Portage. Ko;nJ. and the crossing at the railway station on Totara Avenue. The Department'*" reply wo« that the erodings referred to had been " placed on the li*t of those to be equipped with warning belle. The |>oliey of the Department \v«« to equip the crossings with warning bells in order of urgency, and. as there were many croimings more in need of attention than those in Totara Avenue and Portage. Road, it was regretted that nothing could be done at the two cruising* referred to in the meantime. "The tam« old reply," stated the ch'iirniiiu. While agreeing th«l the Port»«.. Road crossing wa« not of great urgency, it could not be disputed that the crowing at Totnrn Avenue was mo»t dangerou*. remarked Mr. Lovie. Other members referred to the recent accidents and the shunting <n«onitinn,, that take place ut the. station, alto the large number of children that cross the line going to t-chool. The board decided not to let the matter re*t, and to communicate further with the Department, the Minister of Railway*, and the member for the district, Mr. H. G. R. Mason.