NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Graduation Ceremony. The annual graduation ceremony of the Auckland University College has been fixed for the afternoon of Wednesday, June 20. Price Sixpence. '"Refreshments will be provided after the meeting," remarked the chairman of a gathering held in the city last evening. A smile of gratification spread on the faces of the members of the audience. '"The price is sixpence," continued the chairman. Film of Tanpo. Two photographers employed by the Government Publicity Department are at present at Lake Taupo making a motion picture of trout fishing. Every type of fishing to be enjoyed on the lake and its tributary rivers, the natural beauties of well-known trout areas, and the Tongariro River sport, will be completely dealt with. The cost of production is estimated to be under £1000. Bad Road for Motorists. Motorists complain bitterly of the state of the portion of the New North Road between Mount Albert tram terminus and Avondale, particularly the portion nearest Avondale. The intention is to reconstruct this particular link of roadway, but any decision has been deferred until the point is definitely settled whether the tram lines will be extended from Mount Albert to Avondale. Lawn Goes Skyward. Recently at Tokaanu an elderly Maori woman, the sole occupant of a five-roomed dwelling, had a narrow escape from a horrible fate. During the night practically the whole portion of her front lawn was blown skyward. The gap was a good 10ft deep. Mud, inches thick, was scattered in all directions, and the house top was smothered. The wahine was evidently a sound sleeper, as she slept peacefully through the disturbance. Caretaker's Cottage. "It is essential that we have a resident caretaker, as there are all sorts of characters about at night," said the Hon. George Fowlds (chairman) at a meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday afternoon. '"It is important that premises such as those of the college should have someone in charge." It was estimated that a cottage could be erected at a cost of £1700. It would be an appropriate building, in keeping with the surroundings. There was a suitable site in the little bend behind the Government House stables. The council approved the suggestion, and decided to ask the Government for a grant to cover the cost. A Lesson in Swimming. The way nature teaches its children to swim was illustrated at a lagoon adjacent to Hyderabad Road at Napier. A terrier dog was observed taking a well-grown pup to the water's edge, from which it promptly chased the youngster into deep water, and then left it to get out as best it could. After a few yelps of fright, the pup began paddling vigorously for the shore, but was driven back time and time again by the mother, who, with almost human intelligence, kept her offspring to the test, meanwhile providing entertainment for a gathering of about a dozen interested spectators. At the end of about a-quarter of an hour, evidently satisfied that the pup had mastered the art( the mother allowed an exhausted youngster to crawl wearily ashore. Architecture Popular. Eulogising the work of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in assisting the Auckland University College Council to set up a School of Architecture, the chairman of the council (Hon. Geo. Fowlds) stated yesterday afternoon that a grant of £300 had been given, and a further donation of £65 was given this year. It was good to have the practising architects in close harmony with the college. There were more attending the lectures in Auckland than there were in Sydney, and the bulk of the students were fulltime. It was satisfactory to know that Professor Knight had got the door open, allowing Auckland students to compete in Imperial examinations. Those examinations should prove not only a good comparative standard, but a source of inspiration. Homies as Philanthropists. "We have quite misplaced the Homies hitherto, apparently. The "New Zealand Smallholder" says that the much-heckled immigrant is not at all a trespasser, after our billets, but a philanthropist come to share our debts. The magazine's logic, under the heading, "You owe £1000," puts one view of the question thus: "New Zealand," it says, "carries a national debt, due to Government borrowing, totalling £251,000,000; in addition to a further £5,000,000 just borrowed in London. This huge debt is equivalent to £200 per head of the population, or £1000 for every five-head family. Every misguided immigrant who settles in New Zealand shelters with us under this enormous mortgage. It is curious that we sometimes abuse the 'Homies' as trespassers, when they thus come as philanthropists to share our debts. The additional £5,000,000 borrowed would be excellent news if we could believe it was intended for small farmers and others of the hard-working class, who need it, instead of the big men, who seem to get first pick, or for erecting costly edifices in the cities." "An Outrageous Thing." The Marine Department has refused to continue its recognition of approved University College courses for exemption from the Government examination when a candidate is applying for a third class marine engineer's certificate. The recognition was first granted by the Minister of Marine in November, 1907. Commenting on the matter yesterday afternoon, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, chairman of the Auckland University College Council, said it was a complicated question. Other colleges were 'being treated in a similar manner. It was an outrageous thing to attempt to stop the recognition after 20 years. The matter has been left in the hands of Mr. Fowlds and Professor Lamb, who will attempt to win back the recognition that has been enjoyed for so long. Farmers' Excursion Trains. Two years ago the Railway Department ran a farmers' excursion train from South Auckland and Waikato districts to South Taranaki, thus enabling farmers in the course of a pleasure trip to visit the South Taranaki Show and study farming methods. This train was the first of the kind in New Zealand, and was quite a successful venture. Last year the Department ran a similar train from Hawera to Hamilton, and this year will see a further effort to bring farmers of the great northern district into closer touch with their confreres from the south at the Waikato Winter Show at Hamilton next week. Two farmers' excursions have been arranged to Hamilton—one from Hawera, and the other from Whangarei. The latter is the first train of its kind from Northland. With a view to making these excursions popular, fares substantially cheaper than holiday excursion issues have been arranged for to Hamilton and Rotorua from all stations, Opua to Mount Eden inclusive, as well as from stations on the Kaikohe branch, also to the same stations from all principal stations in the North Island south of and including Taumarunui. Intending passengers from north of Whangarei will join up with the farmers' excursion party at Whangarei, and those beyond Hawera will transfer to the special farmers' train at Hawera, while, passengers from south of Marton will join the special train at Marton. The Waikato Winter Show Committee is co-operat-ing with the Railway Department in every way. The Agricultural Department is arranging for members of their staff to travel on the train, deilver lectures, and give all information possible to those interested in farming pursuits. The secretary of the show will arrange accom- , modation at Hamilton for those who wish him [-to do eou