NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 164, 13 July 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Case of Distress.

A cheque for £2 from Mrs. Ellen La Trobe, le Atatu, Henderson, has been received by the Star' for the fund that was opened to assist the distressed family of a returned soldier living ill St. Paul Street. The cheque has been handed to the trustees of the fund. A donation of 2/6 has also been received from "Anonvmous,"' Grey Lynn. • Departmental Delay. Delay in connection with the provision of accommodation for infectious diseases cases at 1 the Auckland Hospital is attributed to the Health Department by. the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace. Negotiations with the Department, he said, were still "hung up," and he regretted that the DirectorGeneral of Hospitals was not in Wellington when he was there this week. "The block is now hopelessly overcrowded," said Mr. Wallace, "and we are at our wits' end to meet daily requirements." Social Problems. "lhis question of illegitimacy is one that should give people great concern," said Archj bishop Averill at the annual meeting of St. . Mary's Homes, Otahuhu, yesterday. Unfortunately, he said, there was never any lack of ' patients to fill the homes, aud he attributed this , to a lack of parental control. It was the society's duty to emphasise that fact, and if parental control were to become less the homes would become fuller. A weakening sense of religion was also a contributory cause, and other influences tended to break down natural modesty. "Boy Wanted." A bright little story with a moral was told by Sir Alexander Roberts at a Rotary Club dinner at Mastcrton. In response to the "boy wanted" advertisement of a commercial firm, he said, a big contingent of boys turned up. They were lined up in a long queue, and while the interviewing of applicants was in progress the manager of the firm received a note, which read: "I am the kid at the end of the line. Don't do anything until you have seen me." "Needless to say>" said Sir Alexander, "lie got the job. He used his head." Fish in Reservoirs. In spite of being discouraged by the Auckland City Council to prosecute its campaign for the introduction of trout into reservoirs, the i Auckland Acclimatisation Society shows no intention of allowing the matter to drop. At last night's meeting the chairman (Mr. F. E. McKenzie) reported that the council some time ago rejected a scheme to introduce trout into the Xiliotupu and Waitakere reservoirs, but he suggested that it might be possible to do something in other parts of New Zealand. The advantage of trout in reservoirs, he said, was that they kept down the vermin. It was decided to send a remit to the forthcoming conference of acclimatisation societies suggesting that the Marine Dejiartinent be urged to make inquiries as to the possibility of introducing trout into reservoirs. Reports from abroad had shown that there had been numerous cases of the successful stocking of reservoirs with trout. Money in Hawks. That there is money in hawks is shown by the fact that an active war is being waged upon them, particularly in certain parts of the Waikato, where a considerable sum is obtained annually by the sale of the claw feet to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society for sixpence a pair. Since April last the society has paid out £114, and before the end of the financial year it is expected that the allocation will amount to £500. During a discussion at a meeting of the society last evening on the desirability of killing hawk*, the secretary said that the majority of the feet came from Matamata and districts in the vicinity of Cambridge. None were received south of Te Kuiti. and very few from the Auckland peninsula. It was mentioned that the Rotorua Society was also paying sixpence a pair for hawks' feet, though it did not appear to be widely known in the country district*. "The Promised Land." "What a glorious view:*' said the Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, yesterdav afternoon, as he stood at the top of Coates Avenue in the Orakei Garden Suburb and surveyed the sparkling Waitemata, with Rangitoto in the blue distance. At his feet lay outstretched a panorama of delectable sections and "desirable residential sites." purchased by the fortunate few who had been able to afford the cost. A network of new streets making up a total length of over three miles, the first house on the subdivision in course of erection, and the new routes of communication—the waterfront roadway and the railway deviation—were inspected by the Minister and a party that included the Mayor, Mr. CJeorge Baildon. and the Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland, Mr. O. N. Campbell. School Savings Banks. Mr. Ernest Lilly, chairman of the Belmont School Committee, has received a communication from tho manager of the Auckland Savings Bank stating that it has been noticed that considerable discussion seems to be centred round the proposed establishment of the schools savings banks scheme at Belmont School. The last letter received from the committee was to the effect that, as the headmaster and teachers were unfavourable, it was not possible to proceed further. This was accepted as final, as it was fully realised that without the co-operation of the headmaster and teachers the scheme would have little chance of fulfilling its objective. The desire of the committee to see the scheme established at Belmont School was appreciated, and it was no reflection on their efforts that the introduction of the scheme was not possible. Christchurch Basketmakers. For many years Christchurch has been the centre of basketmaking in New Zealand, and it was in Christchurch that, up till two years ago, all the hampers used by the Post Office were made. As about 400 of these hampers were required every year, staffs and materials were kept by the three local basketmaking firms in the hope of getting the contract. The making of hampers is a trade requiring a great deal of skill, and one for which special tradesmen were employed by the Christchurch basketmaking firms. For the last two years the Government has made its own hampers in Wellington at a cost, according to a local maker, at least 20 per cent higher than they could be bought on tender from private firms. The contract price was generally about £3 15/, and it costs the Wellington factory somewhere over £5 for each hamper. Christchurch makers declare that the article turned out in Wellington is not up to the standard of the Christchurch product. Maori Dairy Farmers. The Maoris on the East Coast, between Omaio and Cape Runaway, are demonstrating that they are just as capable of making a living by dairying as are their European brethren in more favoured districts. Land which used to be practically worthless, and covered with manuka scrub, is now under the plough, and instead of scrub only being seen, green pastures catch the eye with numerous crops of mangolds and turnips and good areas of lucerne. The event which worked this great change was the erection of a | butter factory at Te Kaha, a native settlement 1 about 40 miles from Opotiki by road. The building was erected in 1925, and commenced operations with 15 suppliers, the of butter being 10 1 tons. In 1925 the number of suppliers reached j 27, and the output increased to 21 tons. During the season just closed 43 suppliers have sent ! cream, the total manufacture of butter - being .35$ tons. To show that the natives are intend- ! ing to stay jn the business, it may be mentioned that only two of the original suppliers have 1 withdrawn. During next season it is anticipated ! there will be about 60 suflpliers. Large quantities ] of manures have been sent along the coast, which means greatly improved pastures, with consent esq* ifcW . _ |