NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 189, 11 August 1928, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

New Lynn Horticultural Show. The recently-formed New Lynn and District Hoiticultural Society have decided to hold their ° novem ber 24 next. An attractive schedu.e has 'been adopted by the society, which includes amateur and other classes. Apart from the staging of an industrial section, special classes will be provided for competition bv the scnool children of the district. The Calves Came First. From Hamilton comes a story of a farm girl who was asked why she didn't drink more milk. TO»y. there's hardly enough for the calves," she replied. This sounds hard to believe, but Dr. Henderson, Medical Officer of Health, reports it as a fact that 10 per cent of the children of | sharemilkers whose condition he investigated never drank milk. Auckland's A. and P. Show. Auckland s 75th jubilee A. and P. Show will be held on November 23 and 24 this year. It 1 had been proposed that it should be a three-day i fixture, but the executive yesterday decided otherwise. To celebrate the occasion Mr. A. J. Stratford, a member of the executive council, has presented a silver cup for an essay competition amongst scholars 15 years and under attending all schools in the Auckland Province. The subof the essay is "Auckland's Seventy-fifth Jubilee Show." The Trout of Arapuni.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society has decided not to allow trolling for trout in Lake Arapuni. The Te Awamutu Society has been informed that the arguments against trolling far outweigh any considerations in favour of it, the chief objection being that too many tish are killed by this method, and that it would be harmful to the fishing, particularly during the first season. Cup for Takapuna Grammar School. The action of the staff and pupils of the Epsom Girls' Grammar School in presenting a handsome silver cup lor competition among the pupils of the recently-established Takapuna Grammar School is another example of the excellent spirit and goodwill that exists among the five Grammar Schools in Auckland. The cup was presented on Thursday afternoon, after the two schools had played a spirited game of basketball. The allocation of the cup is to be decided upon by the headmaster, Mr. C. M. Littlejohn. Many Coincidences. An extraordinary series of coincidences was revealed in the Supreme Court Wellington. Two of the petitioners for divorce advanced the same ground in support of their petitions, and it was stated that both were involved in an accident last year as a result of which thev suffered similar injury. They occupied adjacent beds in the hospital, and were each awarded the same amount of damages in the civil action which followed their discharge. Each separated from his wife in the same month. In addition, both were represented by the same counsel in the several Court proceedings. No Homework.

Happy are the scholars of the Mount Eder School, where the principle of no homework has been established. The headmaster reports that the system is working quite satisfactorily. It has 'been in operation for the past 18 months, and is appreciated by both scholars and parents! The scholars are free to enjoy their evenings untrammelled by school worries, while parents do not have to wrestle with knottv problems or plan their evenings to fit Johnny's homework requirements. It is stated that the standard of school work has not suffered in any way by the introduction of the system. Rosella of the Ranges. The gaudy-hued Rosella parrot, an Australian migrant which has become very plentiful on the Waitakere Ranges, was a subject for discussion at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, when it was said that the bird at times came down on the lowlands and damaged gardens and orchards. It was said that the bird made good eating, was not protected, and therefore could be shot at any time. Since the Rosella has taken up its home on the Waitakeres, the parrot—a very aggressive bird—has waged war on the native pigeon and tui, and as it feed® on the berries of the native trees some I good New Zealanders are well on the wav to extermination. So Unconvincing. Three times at the Police Court this week men have appeared on theft charges to state that a man whom they did not know gave or sold them stolen goods. On each occasion the accused were told by the magistrate that their stories were too old. Again this morning the same old tale was told by Henry Samuel Johnson (24), who denied stealing a lady's dress valued at £10 10/. He said that he met a man who agreed to give him half the money if he sold the dress. This was sold to a second-hand dealer for 12/6. \our explanation is one I cannot accept," Mr. McKean told Johnson. "It is so common and so unconvincing." Accused, who had been in trouble previously, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Repairs to Waitomo. It has been decided to replace the Waitomo s tailshaft, broken in a storm in the Tasman Sea, without docking the vessel. Picked up by the Kaitoke 400 miles off Westport, the Waitomo arrived at Auckland last week after a tow of 850 miles, and she has been discharging her cargo of Newcastle coal at the King's wharf. She will be towed to the Western wharf, where the remainder of the cargo in her after hold will be unloaded, while that in the for-'ard hold will be left. By this means, and by trimming the water ballast, the stern will be lifted out of the water and the propeller, with the broken piece of tailshaft attached, will be drawn out and the new one will be lowered into the shin and pushed through the stern hole.

Sunshine for Children. The many helpers who threw themselves with enthusiasm into the campaign for the raising of funds to equip a sunshine school for frail children in Auckland were rewarded when the final count of the takings last night revealed a yield of approximately £750. The counting was done by members of the staff of the Auckland Sayings Bank, the institution which recently contributed £2000 towards the purchase of the building in which it is hoped to establish the sunshine school. As a next step in the project, the Auckland Community Service Association is proceeding with the negotiations for the purchase of the building in Nelson Street, the use of which was recently discontinued as a primary school owing to receding population in the city area. It ia hoped by the promoters that a sunshine school will soon be an accomplished fact in Auckland, j Bed Ruin in Customs Street. A startled shout, the sound of a fall, a quick clash of brakes—and a motor lorry came to a sudden stop in Customs Street late yesterday afternoon. Just behind the rear wheels could be seen a recumbent form, and sensing a tragedy a large crowd came running quickly from all points, and formed a circle round the lorry. Strong men shivered, and tender-hearted women stifled a scream, as peering through the throng there could be seen a gradually widening pool of ■crimson, from which trickled a blood-like stream into the watertable. "What happened!" "Who is it 1" "Where's the ambulance ?" were queries excitedly passed from one to the other. Strange to say, the centre of the crowd seemed least perturbed, and those on the outskirts pushed through to get busy. Their horror-stricken eyes there beheld the tragic, brilliant stream still flowing, while the lorry driver stooped over what had fallen, vainly endeavouring to staunch the bright flow from the broken side of a five-gallon drum of red roof paint.