NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 215, 11 September 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

As Yon Were! At least one system of traffic amazed Tom Heeney's brothers when in New York. That was the underground system of transit. Pat Heeney, on inquiry how to reach a certain destination, found himself travelling by tube. After a "journey' of three chains he left the train, and found to his bewilderment that he was alighting at the station at which he had started! Disposal of Firebells. No difficulty has been experienced by the Mount Eden Borough Council in disposing of firebells, which are no longer necessary owing to the installation of an electric fire alarm system. One bell wa a sold to the Brixton Road School for £2, and another has been disposed of for a similar amount to St. Chads Church, Edendale. lhe communication on behalf of the Church naively added: If the-council would present the bell his Worship the Mayor would be offered the honour of ringing the firßt peal. This bell was also sought on behalf of an Anglican church in far-away Kohukohu. Hospital Auxiliary Busy. August was a busy month for the Auckland Hospital Auxiliary, there having been a great increase in the quantity of orders and clothing issued, mainly owing to the activities of the Visiting Committee, who dealt with 137 cases. •T°i n ™ dred garments were issued to the hospital, 30 to the infirmary, and 50 to St. Helens P o^ L earl y 90 ° garments, 61 bags of coal, and 336 orders for meat and groceries were given to the sick and needy. Men's clothing and boots are urgently required, and will be gladly accepted at the depot. r Real Enthusiasm. For keenness in following the progress of the Southern Cross, the example of a North Shore resident would take some beating. Tuning in at six o'clock last evening, he heard every word of the excellent broadcast from IYA until half-past one in the morning. He made a 40ft connection with the receiving set, which enabled him to wear the headphones in any part of the house, and when he rose, at 6 a.m., he listened-in once more. The final stage was seen after breakfast, when he wore the headphones at his front door, reluctantly abandoning them to catch his bus.

Trousers as Evidence. A claim for £3 was received by the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening by a gentleman who alleged that he tripped in a hole on a footpath in Burnley Terrace and damaged his trousers. Some time ago the unfortunate local body had to recompense a resident for damaged trousers as the outcome of tripping over a load of gravel dumped on a footpath, and more recently had to recompense a lady who failed to see a hole in a footpath, and as the outcome of a fall damaged one knee and a pair of silk stockings. In connection with the present claim, the council decided to get further evidence, this to include the damaged trousers. Orakei Reticulation. It is anticipated that an early arrangement will be arrived at between the Government and the Auckland Electric Power Board in regard to the proposal to reticulate the Orakei Garden Suburb. The board has communicated with the Government intimating its willingness to put the necessary work in hand and make installations m keeping with the general standard of work at Orakei, providing a guarantee of £300 per year m made to meet interest and capital expenditure till such time as the estate becomes revenueproducing. While some definite conclusion to the negotiations is expected within the next few days, it will be some little time before actual work will be commenced at Orakei, because special poles win have to be procured for erection by the board. Orders in this connection have been deferred pending instructions from the Government to proceed with the work. Education "Too Bookish." "Visiting teachers from Canada and England bear testimony to the high standard of primary education in New Zealand," states the annual report of the Minister of Education. "While undoubtedly the type of education in both primary and secondary schools has been somewhat too bookish, it must be remembered that, wherever possible, manual training, consisting generally of woodwork for boys and domestic arts for girls, has been freely provided." The report mentions that not less than 68 per cent of the pupils who qualify for secondary education avail themselves of the privilege. In 1912 only 64 secondary sch««l pupils gained higher leaving certificates (the possession of which gives free University education for three or four years), whereas last year 756 certificates were gained, and of these successful pupils 459 embarked on University courses

Motor Regulations. Protests against the notice boards at the entrance to the borough limiting the speed of motor cars to 15 miles per hour were received by the Onehunga Borough Council last night from the Onebunga-Manukau Chamber of Commerce and the Retailers' Association. The council decided to remove the boards, and that the other two boards be rewritten to read: "Borough of Onehunga Welcome." Mr. T. Moor explained that the boards were not in accordance with the resolution of the council, which provided that no restriction should be named on them. The council were working under the Motor Vehicles Act, which fixed the rate of 25 miles per hour through every borough in New Zealand, to be reduced to 15 miles when passing schools, including Sunday schools, hospitals, and any street intersection. The Mayor, Mr. W. C. Coldicutt, said the average motorist ought to know these regulations. However, the council would take down these notice boards, and the onus of observing the Motor vehicles Act would be on the drivers when passing through the town. Sport as a Panacea. ' According to New Zealanders just returned from the Homeland, conditions are much better there than they are painted. Still, there is much unemployment. One traveller put it this way:, 'The great interest taken in sport seems to offset material worries. Cricket and tennis were the main topics when we were there. For instance, everybody was talking about the Test team for Australia long before, it was chosen. London also went mad over the Wimbledon tennis championships, which, although All England contests, are considered to be tantamount to world championships. Queues were waiting at 5 ajn., though play was not timed to start until 1 pm. It was thought Tilden would be making his last appearance. When the New Zealand 1926 champion, E* D. Andrews, of Palmerston North, defeated the American crack, F. D. Hunter, it created a sensation. However, the excitement calmed down as the Frenchmen came at it and literally scooped the pool." The "Hello" OirL Who would have been a "hello" girl in the days when.the old telephone exchange system was in operation! Even a few hours at the "Star' office last night, when inquiries about the trans-Tasinan flight were being answered, brought forth enough ridiculous comments from "the, other, end" to give the . operator a iair idea of what exchange attendants of a few years ago must have had to tolerate. To the curt information .that 'plana is expected to reach'Christchurch about 9 ajn.," came such remarks as "Oh t Don't you think.that's just too beautiful?"; T won't believe it, ifß too soon"; "WhaU time will they be in Auckland}" and "That's But the pearl of them all must surely hate been intended as some form of joke. "WhertV it Christehurchf came a voice, whieh waa eerta&jj not that of a juvenile.