NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tasmanian Wasps. The Tasmanian wasp, which has been reported from time to time in districts fringing the foreshore of the upper Waitemata, appears to be spreading over a wider area, and has now been reported in North Auckland districts. The Tasmanian wasp is pugnacious, and is more fatal to the native honey-eating birds than the bee. For that reason its wider field is a matter both of concern and regret. New Playing Areas. It is probable that a new playing area, nearly three acres in extent, and suitable for either football or cricket, will be available at Nicholson Park, Mount Eden. At present the particular locality. looks anything but a prospective playing field, as the rock shelf is at least loft in depth at places. An arrangement has been made by the Mount Eden Borough Council for a contractor to remove all the rock to a permanent level, and the work will be carried out free of cost to the local body.

A Sad Scot. A Scotsman in a little group that was disthe new tram fares had a melancholy expression, and displayed no enthusiasm when it was explained to him that he would be able to ride a section for a penny, whereas a section trip previously cost him twopence. "You'll be able to save money now," said one of his friends, cheeringly. "X©; mon," said the saddened Scot. . "I used to walk and save tuppence, and now I'll only save a penny." Electric Power Defect. An interruption to the tram service and a dimming of the electric lights occurred in Remuera and the neighbouring districts last evening through a defect developing in the Remuera power transmission line. It was about twenty minutes before trams were again running and the lights had regained their full strength. As soon as the fault occurred, the safety device on the main feeder at the King's wharf power station opened the switch automatically, with the result that Remuera, Newmarket, parts of Mount Eden and Epsom were affected together, j

Good Arterial Roads. Auckland's arterial roads are, in the main, good," said Mr. G. S. Keesing, of Sydney, at the Auckland University College last evening. The visitor considered that this should be a matter for much satisfaction on the part of the local bodies, for there was not the criss-crossing of traffic that occurred in some cities, but the future, if each of the local bodies continued to work for itself, independently of what was being done elsewhere, would only be chaos. There were few traffic problems of a serious nature, and thev could be easily overcome, as alluring solutions suggested themselves at the 'present time.

A Kindly Act. When he read of tlie thoughtful action of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association in getting a shelter made for a T.B. ex-soldier out in Rawhiti Road, One Tree Hill, an electrician went out to the house and very kindly connected up the electric light. The R.S.A. had the shelter built, taken out to the ex-soldier's home, and later on got together a band of ex-soldiers and placed it in position t on his section. Owing to hi's complaint, he is compelled to sleep outside. The Pensions Department refused to renew an 'old worn-out tent he was using, and it was then that the R.S.A. took the matter in hand, and showed its very real interest in the men who suffered for their patriotism.

Sanctuary for Birds. "The mountain is a sanctuary for birds,'' said Mr. G. L. Taylor at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening. "There is a tremendous lot of pheasants there, and they should be protected. I have put up eleven of the birds, and the caretaker says that occasionally, during the winter, he has counted over forty in on© lot. The birds are thriving under natural conditions, but as they are now nesting, small boys and dogs are a nuisance. Every care should be taken not to disturb the birds." Mr. R. McK. Morrison said that he had seen native pigeons and tuis on the mountain. The poor things were looking round for something to eat. It would bo delightful if the native pigeon could be encouraged there, and the planting of clumps of taraire and maire to provide berries, should be proceeded with. It was evident that the pigeons came from Waiheke Island in search of food. The town clerk said that the mountain had alrcadv been gazetted as a bird sanctuary. Pleasing Prospect. The present unpleasing state of Prospect Terrace led to a large deputation waiting upon the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening, which learned that the prbspect was quite pleasj ing, as it was intended as soon as possible to put the terrace in good order. The leader of the deputation put his case with a sweet air of resignation, spoke of the high hopes that the residents had, and said that although the councillors seemed to have forgotten the existence of the locality, there was one who had remembered them—the town clerk—who regularly and faithfully sent out the rate notices each year. The leader said that longevity was a feature of life in the terrace, and he urged in the interests of septuagenarians and octogenarians who took a daily walk that better footpaths should be provided. The speaker described the road as a series of lakes in the winter, and like) a dried-up river-bed in the summer, a series of reefs of 'rock.

Claims for Damages. Motor car collisions and similar accidents are as often as not followed by a claim for damages on the part of the person who believes himself to be in the right- In numerous cases these claims are for but a few pounds, but the money may mean a lot to the persons concerned. It is, however, regrettable that motorists and others very often take considerable time to make up their minds to take the matter to court. It is most difficult for a magistrate to decide which is the true account of an accident when he has to rely on a witness' recollections of what happened nine or ten months before. Reference to this was made in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., when he was presiding over the hearing of a claim for damages arising out of a motor collision which happened just over a year a«o. Mr. McKean said that it was very unsatisfactory that matters of this kind should be left for twelve months, when the recollections of the witnesses were of such great importance. Coastal Survey.

Question has been raised from time to time by navigators and others as to the correctness Admiralty charts of certain portions of our coasts. The existing Admiralty charts have been produced mainly from the earlier surveys by H.M. ships during the years 1848-55. These charts, which were comprehensive and sufficiently correct for the class of ship and method of navigation in vogue many years ago, have been found in later years to be in error to some extent. Some parts of the coast have, since 1848-55, undergone re-examination, but from a survey point of view the only work of any real value is that of the H.M.s. Penguin in 1901-05, towards which the New Zealand Government contributed a total amount of £29,698. The result of this work enabled the Admiralty to republish charts of the localities resurveyed—namely, Poverty Bay to Mercury Bay, and Hauraki Gulf within a line from Te Arai Point to Port Abercrombie (Great Barrier). These charts are quite satisfactory. In 1911-12 some surveying work of modified extent was carried out by the Terra Nov# in the localities of French Pass and Three Kings IslandsThis was at the expense of the New Zealand Government, and of these localities were republished I>y the Admiralty.

AlMdPa. «In order to show what a model pa—one of the native kind—should look like, the Te Okarana Maori Association ia taking steps to have one built on Mount Eden. The matter came before the Mount £den Borough Council last evening, and v.as referred to a committee.' Stunners In Cool Storage. In order to test the keeping qualities, there are at present in cool storage at Westfield 17,000 cases of Sturmer apples, which were grown in the Hawke's Bay district. The apples were stored in March last, are in fine condition, and it is estimated that they will keep satisfactorily until next Christmas.

Registration of Orchards. At this time of the year orchardists usually receive registration forms, which are sent out by the Agricultural Department. The. new registration period is to be from January next, instead of from September of the present year, and the forms will be sent to orchardists in due course- The new Orchard Tax Bill is at present before Parliament. Rhodes Scholarship. Auckland's two candidates for the 1927 Rhodes Scholarship will be selected by the Professorial Board of the University College next Monday. Four candidates were approved by the Students' Association last Friday. Their names are:—J. C. Andrews, L. H. Briggs, B.Sc., G. G. McLeod, 8.A., and E. F. Thompson. When the board has made its selection the names will be sent on to Wellington for consideration in competition with candidates from Victoria College, Canterbury College and Otago University.

Port's Busy Day. Four overseas steamers arrived at Auckland to-day. At seven o'clock this morning the Tofua returned with passengers and a large fruit cargo from Western Pacific Islands, and two and a-half hours later the Maryland arrived witli a sugar cargo from Cuba. The Ulimaroa, with passengers, mail and cargo, from Sydney, made port shortly before mid-day, while the fourth overseas steamer, the Pacific Transport, carrying a cargo of Nauru Island phosphate, dropped anchor this afternoon. Keeping Together. „ ". The more we are together the better it will be, ia evidently the motto of the Auckland Power Board with regard to its new offices in vjueen Street. This mild paraphrase of the Froth Blowers' Anthem" is suggested by a brisk little discussion which took place at yesterday's meeting of the board, when Mr. T. Bloodworth asked that it be placed on record that he had objected to the board's offices and showrooms being housed on the third and fourth floors of the new building. The chairman said that it was far better to have the offices all together, and that could not be done if the showroom was on the ground floor. There would be three lar«e lifts in the new building, which would be one of the finest in the city.