NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Soldiers Want a Leader.

A leader is wanted for the Tongan Army, thirty picked warriors, who form the bodyguard of the massive Queen Charlotte. The soldiers are to be drilled on British Army lines, and therefore the Tongan Government is "inviting applications in New Zealand for the post of instructor. The successful applicant will also hold the position of chief of police at Tonga. Fine Sea Views. From the locality of Campbell's Point, when the new traffic outlet to Parnell is formed, motorists of the future will enjoy a fine view of the sea, across the harbour and the more distant waters of the Hauraki Gulf. In regard to this aspect, the Mayor (Mr. Geo. Baildon) said yesterday that in no part would either Gladstone Road Extension or Balfour Road Extension be without a fine view. Another splendid waterfront drive would be that across Hobson Bay and along the foot of the Orakei cliff, fringed in summer time with flowering pohutukawas. £500 Harbour Smash. Repairs to 'the wooden steamer Tiroa, which was holed amidships when she was rammed by the Hikurangi while alongside the King's wharf on Monday afternoon, are expected to cost approximately £500. A portion of the hull, about 15ft by 6ft, will have to be renewed, and the work will probably occupy about ten days. A preliminary inquiry into the cause of the accidtat was held to-day by the local Superintendent of Marine, who will 'forward particulars to Wellington. It is not expected that the aeddent will be the subject of a nautical inquiry before a magistrate. Passengers as Ballast. "Marco Polo" writes with reference to the old ferry Takapuna, and eays: "Over thirty years ago the Takapuna used to be on the night run between Auckland and- Devonport. She had a high-pressure engine, with a wheezr noise. One evening she left Auckland, in the teeth of a heavy easterly blow. After the ferry cleared the wharf she got pretty lively, and the skipper requested some of the passengers to shift to the other side, so as to trim the ship a bit. One old chap was incensed at the request, and said that he was not going to be converted into a piece of ballast to trim a bloomin' boat. However, shifting passengers round was quite a common thing those times." Samoan Hurricane Utrailefl "Shellback" writes: "The little Aucklandbuilt cutter Lancashire Lass had made a good passage of 15 days from Auckland, and was almost within sight of Western Samoa when a dead calm and a rapidly-falling glass indicated a heavy gale. All sail was taken off, and she lay with bare sticks awaiting the blow. The hurricane came up with terrific force, and the little trader drove before the wind, swept continuously by sheets of spray. Three days later the Lancashire Lass reached Apia and a scene of desolation, five warships being piled on the reefs. A sixth warship had escaped, H.M.e. Calliope, fighting her way out to sea, a triumph of scassanship, and a tribute to the good qualHr ui tie New Zealand coal in her buckers. National Gams For Girls. The annual report of the New Zealand Basketball Association mentions that there are approximately 2880 basketball players in the Dominion, and eight centres have associations affiliated to the New Zealand Association. Wellington has 81 teams in the field, and Auckland is next with 59. Canterbury follows with 41, and then come Otago 37, Southland 24, Hawke's Bay Iβ, and Ashburton 10. It is the hope of the parent body authorities that basketball may coon be regarded as the national game for girls, as Rugby is looked upon as the national game for men. The present interprorineial tournament is attracting considerable notice (says the Wellington 'Tost"). There is no lack of interested spectators while matches are in progress, and few could fail to be impressed by the swift play, smart uniforms and athletic grare of the different teams.

Money in Tosauma. His own cunning matched against the trapper's ingenuity, bat unwittingly finding hit greatest enemy in his own insatiable curiosity, the Taranaki opossum now breathe* freely again after being vigorously warred on by man for two wet and dreary months. But the campaign which ended at the close of the season last Wednesday has sadly depleted his ranks. On the Pouakai and Kaitake Ranges alone the trappers licensed by the Egmont National Park Board hare secured approximately 2500 opossums, and at this season's ruling average price of between 8/ and 9/6 a skin, the total value of the bag is over £1000. Tossum snaring is an art in itself, but, though for two months' work the individual profits have in some cases been quite considerable, it is difficult to imagine a more arduous occupation. To the craft of the true bushman the trapper must add a high order of physical fitness and capacity for continuous hard toil. The story of trapping on the Egmont National Park reserves is a very interesting one, but the lot of the trapper is one which few men envy. Spread of the Weasel. After investigations in the bush country on the head waters of the Wanganui, the opinion is expressed by Mr. T. W. Downes, of Wanganui, a well-known naturalist, that weasels are numerous. He said that the animals frequented the great forest reserves, and w«r» often seen on the river banks, sometimes swimming the stream itself. These small animals were very quick, and usually reached cover before pig dogs could get them. Whether they were responsible for the destruction of native birds had not been proved, although it was quite probable that auch was the case. Mr. Downes said that among the larger birds the pigeon was still fairly common, while the bellbird was apparently increasing. In the bush regions the hitter provided a glorious chorus in the early mornings. The tui was not eo plentiful as formerly, but the North Island crow could still be found in limited numbers on the high ridges of the back country. The call of the kiwi was still heard on most nights, but this bird was becoming more scarce. The birds whioh had actually vanished of late years in this part of the country were the kaka and the kakariki (parrakeet). Red and Gold. Along the banks of many streams and near the seashore one may see this month one of the most beautiful and characteristic eights of the New Zealand spring. Owing to the almost universal prevalence of evergreens in our forests the landscape lacks that lovely change from bare branches to the tenderest of green mantles that makes the charm of this season of the year in the Old Land. But the shower of gold that clothes the kowhais in September is surely one of the most beautiful sights in the Dominion. In its way it is quite as beautiful as the more praised dress of scarlet which the pohutukawas don for midsummer. Sophora tetraptera is the botanical name of the yellow kowhai, and it ia rather interesting to know that the same tree, or one very similar, is also found as far away as South America, showing, so the scientists contend, that in the remote past there was a land connection between the two countries. There is another kowhai in New Zealand that is even more handsome in some respects than the yellow, and that is the well-named kowhai ngutu-kaka, "the parrot beak kowhai." Botanists know it as the Clianthus punitieus. Some people think it is not a native of New Zealand, but it is just as good a New Zealander as the Maori himself. It is very rare in a wild state, but round Lake Waikaremoana it may still be found in a few localities. Kowhai ngutu-kowhai is one of the non-eatable things the Maori need to cultivate for its beauty alone It was frequently found in the old days in Maori settlements—a fact that reminds us that Hone was net altogether a naked eevage.