NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 246, 17 October 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

"Hateful Courts."

"The most hateful things in this country" was the way Mrs. Maguire, Reform candidate for City East, described the Children's Courts. She expressed deep distaste for the courts, and said she firmly believed that the admirable training now being given in the kindergarten schools, such as at Myers Park and other establishments, would eventually render these objectionable courts unnecessary.

Shrine of Remembrance. Stonemasons in Dunedin arc talking about a great spurt that their craft will enjoy in Melbourne during the building of Victoria's Shrine of Remembrance, on which. a start has been made. The shrine is to have & granite base and freestone superstructure, and the cost, with statuary, is to bo £178,886. Of this sum about £150,000 is in hand. The contractors, Vaughan and Lodge Bros., are returned soldiers with distinguished and they will give preference to returned soldiers for unskilled work. When the work gets into full swing, 300 men will be employed directly, and 200 indirectly.

Harbinger of Spring. The long-drawn, plaintive call of the pipiwharauroa, or shining cuckoo, is now being heard in Auckland suburban gardens. The pipiwharauroa is a, beautiful bird, with mottled breast and bronze green wings, and being shy and silent in flight, it is more often heard than seen. It js one of the migrants from the South Sea Islands, which regularly fly to New Zealand in the early part of the spring, just as it returns to a warmer clime when the cold weather comes to New Zealand. The pipiwharauroa has no nest. Like the cuckoo of Great Britain, it imposes upon some friendly tomtit or other small bird, the strange egg appears to pass unnoticed, and cuckoo junior waxes fat and strong in the care of a foster-mother. Hatchet Now Buried. A reference to the time when Hongi and the Ngapuhi tribe came down from the North with startling effsnts among other tribes of the North Island was made by the Rev, W. N. Panapa, of Kaikohe, in endorsing a proposal before Synod to send greetings to the Rev. F. A. Bennett on his appointment as Bishop of Aotearoa. "There has been considerable feeling against the Ngapuhi tribe in the past," said fhe speaker, "but lam pleased to be able to assure the members of Synod that at a recent gathering of the tribes at Ananui, on the East Coast, the hatchet was effectively buried for all time. I can also assure the mem bars of Synod that when Mr. Bennett does come to the diocese every man, woman and child will receive him not only with opan arms but also with an open heart."

Quick Ferry Passage. A remarkably quick passage was made this morning by the ferry steamer Toroa. Leaving Dcvonport wharf at 8.35 sharp, she was alongside Queen's wharf ten minutes later, berthing at 8.47. The conditions were all in favour of safe and speedy steaming, the harbour being as calm as a mill pond, with the tide coming in. Nevertheless, it was a good trip, a tribute to the Toroa'a engines, and yet another testimony to the comfort and safety of the ferry service. Good weather or bad. the steamers are seldom more than a minute or two out of their scheduled time. Some time ago the Mayor of. one of Auckland's suburban boroughs was heard to sigh in admiration of the simplicity and of tiio North Shore services, "if only you knew 'how lucky you were!" he said to a -:d at Devon port.

English Soys Hake Good. "I should like to state publicly.'' eaid Archbishop Avcrtil at Synod last evening, "that the Immigration Department in New Zealand is bo pleased with the way in which our scheme for bringing public school boys from England for farm work is being operated that they have offered to do all in their power to assist U9 in the work. They do assist by providing free railway transit from the ports of landing to the places of destination, and also by arranging with the shipping companies for the boys to remain on board the vessels if necessary for their first night in the Dominion." The Archbishop assured Synod that a large percentage of the boys were making frood, and that the scheme was producing excellent results. Synod commended the work to the interest of laity and clergy.

Work for Devcnport Unemployed. For ilie relief of local unemployed the Dcvonport Borough Council has bean actively prosecuting various works in the borough with the aid of Gavernment subsidies for the relief of the workless. Over £650 has been spent in the making of Melrose Park, the original funds for which consisted of contributions from various agencies: The Watson bequest for the formation cf a seawall along King lidward Parade promenade lias also been utilised, the unemployed in the borough being given rotating terms of work on these cm-rent jobs. Mr. Alex. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, has now informed the Borough Council that by his instrumentality further subsidies aggregating £370 have been authorised for works within the borough—on t.!»e Stanley Bay croquet lawn and on the Watson bnquest work. This money will be spent in continuing the borough policy of local relief.

Dress and Politics. Even when tliev take part in polities,, tlia women cannot prevent the feminine note from creeping in. At Sirs. Maguire's meeting in Parnell last evening the candidate prefaced her , specch by a sartorial explanation—just by way !of clearing the air, as it were. "At my la6t meeting," she remarked, "I understand that some of the ladies were very "curious as to the back of my dress." In order to set their' minds at rest, so that they could «rive their undivided attention to politics, Mrs. Maguire said she would turn round and satisfy their curiosity. She did so, and the back of her dress was absolutely devoid of trimming. As she again faced the audience there was a burst of laughter. Another genuine laugh was raised when she was picturing the sort of future she would like for the workers. "I would like,", said she, "to see every man with his little motor car.". "Oh, yes,* said a voice at the back of the ball, "more work for the doctors!" As everybody knew that the candidate w?s the wife of the genia! head of Jhe Auckland. Hospital, the bon m6t was quite . a success. • > ?

Summsr School Movement. Tea elver 9 from all parts of the Dominion will assemble at Oaiftaru from January 14 to 24 for the fourth session of the New Zealand • Teachers' Summer School. The buildings and extensive grounds, of the Waitaki Boys' High ~ School ha been...placed at the scrvice of the executive by the Board of Governors. In New Zealand, as in Great . Britain, the Continent, and in' America, the summer school movement has made great strides'during recent years. The combination of an exhilarating and> inspiring holiday in pleasant surroundings, "togytljor with full facilities for intellectual, athletic and social recreation, never fails in its appeal. In a forei word to an admirably produced booklet, "The i- . Summer School Journal," Mr. F.- Milner (presi- ' dent) emphasises the fact that the object of the i executive is not;'the promotion of educational i jtechnique, but the . idea is rather to provide an - \escape from the schoolroom atmosphere, to deinterests, and to open up under the interpretation ,of qualified experts new province's Of thought and scholarship. Rightly or wrongly, they believe that' the. elaboration of i professional knowledge is ■ secondary to the aim f of inspiring intellectual interests in. art,'science, I &terature and international problems; A refresher school has never teen the objective of/the teachers' executive., . -