NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Hot Place. Gee! This is hotter than Svdney," a passenger on the Marama was heard to remark soon after the steamer berthed this morning. He was a .New Zealander, and had returned after a short visit to Australia. Numerous passengers, who had also seen other parts of the coastline during the summer, remarked that New Zealand had the same appearance from North Cape to Dunedin, and rain was badly needed everywhere. Sisters of St. Joseph. Tho dun and black habits of seven Sisters of St. Joseph stood out in sharp contrast with the bi lght dresses of other female passengers on the pi omenade deck of the Marama this morning, when the steamer berthed at the Prince's wharf. One of the seven was the Rev. Mother Lawrence, Mother-General of the Order in New Zealand. Four of the sisters have been on a, visit to members of their Order in Australia, and the other two are Australian nuns who have come to work in the Auckland diocese. "Hello, Darling!" Hello, darling!" Two man-o'-warsmen hiccoughed along the Devonport wharf last evening and became rather attentive to two young ladies, who were being escorted by a young Auckland gallant. Protests followed when the attentions became too insistent, and soon there was a general The civilian won the first round from the Isavy, and one opponent being practically "liors do combat" he set-to with the other, a more burly individual. When he began to get the worst of the contest several bystanders joined in. Most of the gathering had pacific intentions, and finally accounts were settled to the credit of the young gallant at the expense of a black eye and visible signs of wear and tear. More Holiday Vandalism. The reign of the holiday vandal still continues, the force of public opinion being evidently insufficient to prevent the defilement of Auckland's parks and beaches by scraps of paper, fragments of food, and—worst of all—broken bottles. Cheltenham Beach presented a deplorable spectacle of mess and untidiness last evening after the crowds of pleasure seekers had departed, and there was plenty of work to-day for the employees of the. Devon port Council to "clear up" after the holidays. More than one child at Cheltenham suffered cuts on the foot from broken glass. Again one wonders whether any of those who defile our beautiful beaches have children !of their own. Batana Village. Built on the lines of a Western film star, with a rancher's make-up and a cowboy hat, a young man of bronzed appearance was seated cowboy stylo against a house in liatana village, leisurely gazing across the country in the vicinity of the settlement. When a resident of Wanganui visited the Maori headquarters last week his attention was attracted by this particular individual as the most curious "hanger-on" attached to Ratana's following. "They seem to be an assorted nationality," said tlie visitor on his return to Wanganui. "Some are white men, but all seem to be living together contentedly enough, like an isolated community." Hire-Purchase. Butchers and grocers in Auckland have not escaped the disadvantages which are reported to arise from the hire-purchase system elsewhere. Once a coveted article is obtained, the payments have sometimes to be made in circumstances of unforeseen stress, and will only be met by allowing other commitments to bo neglected. The experience of many business men in Auckland shows that motor cars and pianos, as well as a number of articles that belong more or less to the luxury class are retained only by leaving over weekly or monthly bills, which are regarded by some people as a secondary consideration to the instalment which must, be paid in order to save the debtor from the pain of parting with a cherished possession. Late Matriculation Results. Matriculation examiners had a busy time during the recess, and the results were considerably overdue when they were announced on Saturday. Reports show that the papers had been in office since December 10. It has been the regular practice in the past to publish the results on January 20 or the day after. The delay of a week this year kept 4000 students in suspense, over 25 per cent of the total l>eing in Auckland. Applications for positions hinged upon the result of the examination in many an instance, and parents were in doubt whether they should arrange for another year's schooling or for a University course for a boy or girl of special aptitude. The position at the moment is that prompt decisions have to be made before the reopening of the schools and colleges. Three New Blocks. Three city blocks, at a total estimated cost of £110,000, are now being commenced in Auckland. The largest is an eight-storey building to the full city skyline limit, which is planned by Messrs. Smith and Caughey, Ltd., for the old Opera House site, the cost being £55,000. Mr. R. A. Lippincott is the architect. A five-storey building to cost £20,000, designed by Messrs. Holman, Moses and Watkin, for the Vulcan Buildings, Ltd., is proposed for the corner of Vulcan Lane and Queen Street, allowance being made for widening the lane loft on the southern side when the present building of Hutchinson Bros, is pulled down. A building for tho New Zealand Milk Products Co., Ltd., has been planned for a site at the corner of St. George's Bay Road and Cleveland Road, Parnell, by Messrs. Chilwell and Trevithick, the cost being £39,000. In each case the contractors are the Fletcher Construction Co. Church and the Weather. It is not long ago during a very hot season similar to the present that a clergyman from Australia, surprised a large North Shore congregation who had gathered to listen to him, by appearing in the pulpit clad completely in white clothes and a holiday collar, a very emblem of coolness and freedom, while those listening to him, clad in their best Sunday attire, perspired in heavy material and starched collars. While this did not actually occur in the extremely hot atmosphere on Sunday, a clergyman appearing in the same pulpit threw off a double gown he usually wore, and many in the congregation would have been relieved if he had asked them at the time he had disgowned himself to take their coats off. This feeling was intensified when the preacher gave out the text which dealt with the sea and whales. Births en Voyage. During the voyage of the Marama from Sydney to Auckland" the unofficial passenger list at one stage increased by three, and at another stage was reduced by one. The father and mother were taken over to Sydney by the Maunganui, but on account, off not having their registration papers in order they were refused permission to land. The authorities ordered them to return to New Zealand by the Marama. When the steamer • was a few hours out from Sydney, the mother i gave birth to triplets. Exceptional care wa§ . given her by various members of the ship's company, as well as by passengers, but one of the youngsters died, and was buried at sea. The father and mother and the surviving twins arrived this morning quite well and happy, and as the ship was berthing made their presence known by a series of hearty yelps. The party consisted of I a father and mother Pomeranian and their two 'EW.?* ~ -v