NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Eucharistic Pilgrims at Mass. A wireless message received in Auckland from the Marama, which left last week for Sydney with a large number of New Zealand delegates and visitors for the Eucharistic Oongress in Sydney next month, states that two Masses were celebrated on the vessel last Sunday morning. The Kev. Fathers Martindale and Holbrook officiated at these Masses, which were attended by 91 of the passengers. Entertaining Business Men. The Thames Chamber of Commerce decided to seek the co-operation of the Thames Borough Council in extending hospitality to the touring members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, who are expected to arrive at Thames by special train on October 30. The visitors will be shown over A. and G. Price's ironworks, and later entertained at an official luncheon. In the afternoon a motor tour of the Hauraki Plains and Thames coast will be provided. City Rates. Rate notices from the Auckland City Council are now being distributed, and in all about 30,000 individual demands will be sent out. It will probably be the end of the month before all the notices are circulated. The rates are payable six months and two weeks from the time of demand, which will make the due date near the end of next February. This year the rates were struck nearly a month later than last year, and fixed at 3/IU, an increase of a halfpenny. Additional work was entailed to the council staff through the amalgamation, of the Tamaki and Avondale districts with the city. Sneak Thief at Monnt Eden. Great was the surprise of a lady living at 7, Bourne Street, Mount Eden, last evening when she entered a front bedroom and saw a man disappearing through an open window. She next discovered that £2 in cash was missing. It is now known that for several days a sneak thief lias been operating in the vicinity of Valley Road. Two nights ago £3 10/ in money vanished from a house close to Bourne Street. Other residents have also had their places visited, and various small things of value have disappeared. Apparently the time chosen for the visits is between 7 and 9 p.m., whon the average family is congregated round the fireside in the living room. Registered Workers. Returns furnished to the Government relative to the number of affiliated unions and members of industries registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act at December 31, 1927, reveal that in the Northern Industrial District there are 34 unions of employers and 100 unions of employees, engaging 20,079 workers. Hotel workers predominate with 2776 members, while other industries and callings well supported are building labourers 1406, local body labourers 103, engineering trade 1035, carpenters and joiners 1161, seamen 1015, clothing trades 1426, waterside workers 1313, and coal mine workers 1020.

Old Students Gather. The annual reunion of the Training College Old A's Association was held on Wednesday at the college, Mount Eden. The usual hockey, football and basketball matches were played between teams representing past and present students. The hockey match was won by the past students by the odd goal in three. The present students proved too good for their opponents at basketball and football, winning the matches, 12—2 and 27—3 respectively. In the evening a social and dance was held, and was well attended. Two innovations this year were that the whole function was held at the college and held on the same day. Mr. H. G. Cousins, principal of the college, said that it was the most successful reunion held for several years. Record Dairy Season. All records for dairy production in the Auckland Province bid fair to go by the board this season, for the output continues at a much higher level than the record-breaking basis of this time last year. It is particularly satisfactory to note that cheese is now aiding butter in building up the big total, this denoting the complete recovery of the dairy herds from the dry spell last summer and autumn. The number of boxes of butter and crates of cheese received into the grading stores of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company represent an increase of 21.43 per cent in the receipts for the last fortnight, compared with the same period of 1927. Stocks on hand are only a very little heavier than they were a year ago. Lost Its Attraction. The drone of racing motor car engines will not be heard on the sparkling ironsand of Muriwai Beach any longer, for at a meeting of the Sports Committee of the Auckland' Automobile Association yesterday afternoon it was decided to hold the next motor race meeting on Mr. George Henning's dirt track speedway at Mangere. Mr. Henning's generous offer to allow the association to hold its races at Mangere, when the track is properly formed, was accepted. The general opinion of members was that Muriwai, being situated so far from the city, had lost its attraction, the attendance at the last annual races held there having fallen off considerably. It was thought* that dirt track racing would be immensely popular in Auckland. On the motion of Mr. G. W. Spragg, it was decided to cancel the Muriwai meeting and to authorise the committee to discuss means of introducing dirt track racing early next year.

Sports at National Park. The full extent to which the accommodation at Tongariro National Park is now being mado use of is indicated in letters which are reaching Auckland. Many of those now indulging in what they believe to be the king of winter pastimes are members of the teaching profession. They state that conditions for climbing are good, and that in every way the sport this year is excellent. The annual winter sports meeting of the Ruapehu Ski Club was to have been held at this time, but when the committee made application a year in advance they found that the accommodation in the huts at Whakapapa had already been booked by two other clubs with smaller parties. The Ruapehu Club will therefore hold its winter sports meeting during the ten days commencing September 19. In future the allotment of accommodation will be by ballot. The club has approached the National Park Board for permission to construct a ski course, commencing near Glacier Hut and finishing on Lower Scoria Flat. As the course will be available to the public, other clubs are being asked to assist with the project. PapatOwtoe Traffic Problems. Traffic problems in the Papatoetoe district have received the attention of the Papatoetoe Town Board during the past few months. In the original layout of the roads, varying angles were introduced at the intersections, without any particular attempt at town planning, either on the radial or rectangular systems. With the progress of settlement and the formation of new streets, steps have been taken to remedy some of the mistakes. Also traffic zones have been placed at some of the most important intersections. In the vicinity of the railway bridge, however, the. position is still regarded by the Town Board as unsatisfactory, as the point is the terminus for buses and is a busy intersection in rush hours. To minimise the danger of collisions- it has been decided to remove the bus stop to the railway ramp in Shirley Road, replacing the stop that has been used for the past four years.