NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 176, 27 July 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Narrow Escape. Mr. F. Illston, of Tiriraukawa, Mataroa, had a very narrow escape from what might have been a very serious accident. A companion, J. Bates, was examining a rifle in the same room, when the rifle was accidentally discharged. The bullet wag deflected off an iron bedstead and struck Mr. F. Illston, shattering two of his fingers, and grazed his leg and entered the floor. Not the Funny Bone. Speaking at a Wellington Rotary Club luncheon, Dr. H. Kenrick Christie told an amusing story about a candidate at a medical examination, who was asked what bone he would press in the event of a certain hemorrhage occurring. Another student, wishing to be of service, whispered to the other: "The bone taken from Adam to make Eve." The candidate, in a flash of understanding, thereupon turned to the examiner and said: "The backbone." TL; Directives' Bill. Professors of education and philosophy in Auckland, Canterbury and Otago have sent a telegram to the Minister of Health requesting the Government to delay the passing of the Defectives Bill pending comprehensive scientific inquiry. The object of tl\e message is "to secure a thorough re-examination of the whole question in relation to all the issues involved." The request is signed by Professors W. Anderson, F. W. Dunlop, A. B. Fitt, R. Lawson, C. F. Salmond and J. Shelley. Infcc'.lcv Diseases Block. The new infectious diseases block at the Auckland Hospital will be the subject of a conference when Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, visits Wellington next week. Mr. Wallace will confer with Dr. T. H. A. "Valintine, Director-General of Health, and he hopes to make some definite arrangement in connection with the building of the block. In the meantime, the position at the hospital has eased somewhat. A few infectious disease cases have been discharged during the week, and there has not been any appreciable increase in the number of cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria. .vtion cf Clothing. Amongst other institutions in the city that benefited as the result of the recent drive for clothing was the Returned Soldiers' Association. Five lorry loads of garments fell to its lot, and during the week the task of distributing them to "diggers" and their families who are feeling the pinch of the inhospitable winter months has been proceeding. Since Monday, according to the secretary of the association (Mr. E. H. Sharpe), over 500 people have been attended to at the distributing depot. "I knew there was much distress in the city," said Mr. Sharpe this, morning, "but I did not know it was quite so widespread. The drive has done an enormous amount of good." Our Japanese Guests. Supper is, after all, to be provided for our Japanese Navy guests, who will be entertained to a civic "At Home" on Tuesday evening. The Finance Committee* had recommended that the repast should be dispensed with, but when the matter came up for consideration at the City Council's meeting last evening it was decided to reverse the provisional decision. Miss Melville's protest that the dignity of tbe city was involved carried considerable weight. If funds did not permit of supper being provided, she said, the money might be provided by members of the council foregoing their customary light refreshment at the end of meetings for the balance of the financial year. Rr.'zfall Vagari::. \ The vagaries of the rainfall in the Waikato district is made most marked by the difference between the fall at Te Aroha and Matamata. Although the towns are only 20 miles apart, over 12in had fallen at Te AroZia from Saturday to Wednesday morning, while at Matamata for the same period less than 2}in fell. The recent fall of nearly 20in of rain in four days, at Waihi, constitutes a district if not a Dominion record, the previous heaviest fall being 18in in five days ■ during 1907. What is known as the "old man flood" occurred in 1910, when 12.5 Gin fell in 24 hours, also probably a record for the period in ■ question. It is estimated, on the basis of 100 tons of water to the acre for every inch of rain, that the recent fall meant approximately 2000 • tons of water per acre.

Renaming Green Lane. The City Council last evening approved the scheme whereby Green Lane is to be more clearlv divided for postal and other indicative purposes, lhe One Iree Hill Road Board had expressed willingness to change the name of their portion of the roadway to "Green Lane West," provided the council would fall into line by renaming the part from Great South Koad to Remuera Road "Green Lane East." It was stated that at the present time considerable confusion existed, partlv owing to the length of the road, and partly through the locality between Green Lane and'the Harp of Erin being known as Green Lane for postal purposes. The city engineer reported that as far as the council s portion was concerned the numbering commenced at Remuera Road, and was carried to the Great South Road, and the calling of Green Lane by the addition of the suffix "East" would be no disadvantage, so far as the council's portion was concerned. A Fog Significance. The gloom of to-day's fog was a topic of conversation in the city. When such a subject arises, London comes into the picture. Though the Empire metropolis still has its extreme visitations, they are not nearly as bad as in years gone by, according to a Londoner who was discussing the matter. "The advent of electricity, smokeless engines and smokeless factories has eliminated the agency which used to blacken the London fogs," he declared. "I do not say that the misty palls are any less unwelcome for their depressing effect, but the fogs they get in London to-day are certainly not the grimy and impenetrable kind that used to prevail. Anyhow, to Londoners," he concluded, "these New " Zealand fog 3 are-mild reminders of the Homeland." To New Zealanders they are reminders of the joys of blue skies and sunshine. Zoo Casualties. It was reported to the City Council last evening that there had recently been four casualties at the Zoo, namely, one female kudu (Souta African antelope), one male reindeer, one female beaver, and one Canadian tree porcupine. The kudu had been examined by Dr. BevanBrowii, who agreed writh the curator thafc the animal had probably been worried by dogs at night. Steps have been taken to prevent° the incursion of dogs into the park, and it is hoped there will be no similar tragedy in the future. The death of the tree porcupine was the natural result of advancing age, but the reindeer and the beaver will be the subjects of post-mortem examinations, though no sinister cause of death is suggested. It was stated that the general health of the collection is satisfactory, but the weather of the last two months had considerably increased the difficulty of keeping the animals in good health, particularly those from tropical ; climates. Vessel Returns with a Stowaway. A stowaway was discovered on board the . collier Kaiwarra about an hour after she sailed ] for Newcastle yesterday afternoon, and she re- i turned to port to land the man. The Kaiwarra 1 had been laid up, and came out of dock yesterday ] morning with a new crew. She berthed at the < Prince's wharf, and it is believed the stowaway < found his way on board during the final prepara- t tions for departure. The stranger was found £ wandering about below decks. The captain was < notified, and a wireless message was sent to t King's wharf stating the vessel had put about s and asking that the Union Company be informed. 1 It was also requested that a launch should meet c the vessel on her return to port. The Kaiwarra remained under steam on returning tp the liar- a bour. A launch with a constable on board was \ sent out, and the stowaway was placed under f arrest and brought back to the city. The Kai- c warra finally left port at about J o'clock. js