NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1928, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Expresses Delayed by Derailment. Principally due to the derailment at Pukekolie which delayed the down expresses from *\ uc^. an ? evening, both the first express and he Limited were behind schedule in arriving in uckland this morning. The first train was an hour and five minutes late, while the delay occasioned to the Limited was over half an hour. , Porridge. A Scots sharemilker in a coastal district with the usual liking for porridge for 'both himself and his family was seen by his employer feeding a pedigree bull calf with the family oatmeal. The employer then offered to purchase a bag of oatmeal for the calf, and this done the sharemilker received a letter from his employer with the abrupt request: "See that this all goes to the calf." The sharemilker is in high dudgeon that his employer should suggest that he would feed his family on calf-feed! The Art of Dodging. When is a motor car going at a moderate speed is a question that perplexed a witness in the Wellington Magistrate's Court recently. Finally he gave the answer: "Well, sir, a motor car is travelling at a moderate speed when you can dodge it." By-laws in Auckland suburban areas limit the speed to 15 or 20 miles an hour, according to the locality, but in Auckland city the by-laws in regard to traffic generally arc considered sufficient to preserve public safety. In the circumstances, the art of dodging is fairly well advanced. Summer Tangis. The constant movement of natives to tangis of excessive dry weather and extreme heat are becoming a menace to health. The deepest respect is felt for the old and honoured Maori customs, hut modern ways have rendered the tangf a positive danger to, not only the native race, but to general district health. With improved transit facilities crowds can gather that completely overtax the accommodation of the native pas and render sanitary supervision impossible. It is to be hoped that the Maoris themselves will give thought to this matter and restrict movement at times when there is, as at present, need for special care. Choir Uniforms. The uniform worn by many of the choirs in the Waikato Diocese was adversely criticised recentlT by Bishop Clierrington, who said that the choir at Paeroa was a pleasing exception, because of the tasteful and becoming choicc made. He added that surplices and square caps were not an ecclesiastical adornment for women, and that the black vesture reminded him of mutes at a funeral in Mauritius. In Auckland the choir ladies in most of the churches wear surplices, which is described as quite wrong, as this is a male ecclesiastical garment. At the Epiphany Church a grey-coloured uniform is worn, similar to that adopted in New South Wales, and probably very like the one used at Paeroa. At St. Paul's and All Saints' the gowns are black. It is considered difficult to make a change of uniform immediately where another type has found favour, and at present there are numerous styles in regular use. "Geddup!" "Geddup!" The butcher said it quietly. Then he said it loudly. He also used a whip. But his horse had stalled in the middle of Queen Street, and the stationary cart was blocking the traffic. Finally he had to get down and lead the recalcitrant animal. One of the spectators was a white-whiskered citizen, who became reminiscent. He spoke of Queen Street in the days when it was more or less a metalled track, when horses that refused to budge were quite common. He added that the practice of those times was to twist the tail gently, or to put a stone in one car. Another possible way of starting a horse was to place a newspaper beneath and apply a match, but it was a proceeding regarded as lacking somewhat in refinement, with the added possibility of the steed going a long way before it stopped, and incidentally shedding the harness on the way. Fishermen's Luck. A good story at the expense of a local solicitor is being told in Wanganui. Two fishermen at Castlecliff were having a great run of luck, and consequently could afford to be generous with the harvest they were reaping. They descried in the distance the car of their friend, a lawyer, and one of them, giving a small boy sixpence, told him to take a bundle of flounders and leave them in the vacant motor. The boy left, but before he arrived at his destination he was met by the owner of the car, who came striding along the beach road. "What do you want fpr the flounders, son?" he queried. "You can have them for three bob," replied the boy without hesitation. The legal gentleman paid out, instructing the young vendor to "put them in the car." Later, when he met the fishermen and made no effort to thank them for the flounders, the story leaked out. War on Sandflies. Those who have had the good fortune to visit the Milford Track, Stewart Island, and certain South Island lakes know, from bitter experience, what misery can be caused them by the attention of sandflies, which are to be found in myriads where there is a combination of bush and water, states the Christchurch "Press." While it is a fact that some people who live in such districts appear to be more or less immune from the bites of the insects, on the other hand, visitors are often caused such annoyance and pain from them as to declare that they will never return so long as the pests are allowed to exist. Mr. A. F. Wright, of Christchurch, who has been a victim of the insects, forwarded a letter to the executive of the Canterbury Progress League on the subject, in which he urged that steps should be taken to deal with these pests. It was decided to thank Mr. Wright for his letter, and on the motion of Mr. C. H. Clibborn it was resolved to approach the Government to ascertain if the Government entomologist was moving in the matter of eradicating the sandfly. Some Flowering Trees. A beautiful pink-flowering tree in a garden at the corner of Cyde and Manukau Roads, Epsom, is at present arousing great admiration. It is named the calodendron and is a native of South America. Like many flowering trees which make a good showing, the flower is somewhat disappointing on close inspection, being spindly and of the orchid type. Five narrow outer pink petals enclose a smaller orchid-shaped flower, each petal spotted with deep carmine and stamens of pale pink and carmine. The flowers, clustering closely, make up bunches of the rhodondendron type. The leaf is also similar, not so long, perhaps, with waved border and very glossy. The tree is a <»reat height and estimated to be at least fifty vears of age. It is deciduous. Another tree of rare beauty and flowering at present in A garden opposite Cornwall Park gates is a jacaranda (Mimosaeofolia). A native also of South America, it has adapted itself well to Auckland conditions. It is a large tree with fern-like foliage similar to mimosa "and in flower a mass of delicate blue clusters, each flower bell-like in shape. It is also deciduous. Another rare tree is the catalpa, which flowers in November. A magnificent specimen is in a garden in Great South Road, elose to the Junction. It is a tree of our karaka tjpe, large and symmetrical, with a smooth trunk and branches and glossy leaves. The flower is a blending of heliotrope and purple, large and bellshaped, like the gloxinia. Few trees are so rich in perfume, this being elusive, penetrating and undeniably sweet. Lovers of trees would be interested in a magnificent Italian oak in an Onehunga garden, in Quadrant Road- it was planted over half a century ago by its veteran owner, now in his 97th year, who still enjoys its shade and surveys it with justifiable pride.