NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Labour Day. The "Auckland Star* will be published as usual on Monday next, Labour Day. Advertisers requiring display space should make their arrangements at once, to" permit as many as possible of our staff to participate in the holiday. Money in Grass Seed.

Grass seed cutting along suburban and coun--try roads and along the railway lines ia a source of profit to industrious workers in the summer season. Last evening a request for permission to cut seed on the roads in the Avondale district was granted by the City Council. Meola Creek Bridge. . Yachtsmen and residents of Point Chevalier petitioned the Auckland City Council last evening to remove or raise the small bridge over Meola Creek at the bottom of Meola Road, Point Chevalien The city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush) reported that the bridge was serving a useful purpose, but it should be raised about 2ft and thus would permit yachtsmen to take their boats under the bridge to the upper reaches of the creek. The estimated cost of raising the bridge and improving the apprMches was £30. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. The Gate-crashers. The gentle art of ''gate-crashing"—getting into a party without presenting an invitation card —is evidently not unknown in Auckland, though fortunately its manifestation is more amusing than sinister. Here is an extract from the report of the Auckland Tramping Club's bocial Committee: "The climax of the social season was the fancy dress ball, and although the expenses were heavy, they were fully justified. The only defect in the arrangements was the insufficiency of the supper. Of 150 invitations issued, nine people accepted, and 200 arrived. Had our members possessed the gift of prophecy, more refreshments would have been provided."* Speed Limits. The Legal and" By-laws Committee recommended to the City Council last evening that section 354 of the city by-laws, fixing a speed limit of ten miles an hour at certain principal city intersections, should be repealed, in view of the fact that since the by-law was made traffic control had been extended, and the Motor Vehicles Act and regulations had come into operation and sufficiently covered the matter. It was also recommended that the attention of the Minister of Public Works should be directed to an anomaly existing in regard to speed limits on certain boundary roads. The recommendations were adopted. King's Empire Veterans. Feeling reference was made at yesterday's meeting of the King's Empire Veterans to the death of the late Captain H. J. Archer, who for a number of years had been commanding officer. Members paid a tribute to the keen interest he had always shown in the association. On the motion of Lieutenant G. H. Powley, the meeting unanimously elected Captain James Stichbury to the vacancy. For the past 25 years Captain Stichbury has been secretary of the association, and members, in supporting his election, spoke highly of his splendid services on behalf of the veterans. Lieutenant Powley was appointed to sign cheques with the secretary. Other business included the granting of a distress gift of two guineas to the widow of a deceased member. Hospital Board Takes Action. Commenting on the decision of the Fees Committee of the Auckland Hospital Board to take legal proceedings for the recovery of fees in 35 cased, an official of the board states that it is the experience of the committee that business men who are in a small way often find it harder to meet their obligations than those who are dependent upon wages. In the case of business men, they are forced to give credit, and run the risk of accumulating bad debts. At the last meeting of the committee a larger number of debtors than usual put in an appearance. Nevertheless, there seemed to be a feeling of confidence as to a greater degree of prosperity in the near future, as well as willingness to make definite promises for the reduction of amounts owing. "We take this as an interesting sign of brighter times in Auckland," raid a member of the committee.

Aurora Australia. Aurora Australis, or the Southern Lights, afforded a brilliant spectacle from One Tree Hill and other high parts of the city last night. A semi-circular area was coloured a bright pink, with brighter rays shooting up at intervals. The lasted nearly half an hour, dying down about eleven o'clock. A display of Aurora Australis is rare in the Auckland district, but occasionally there is one at the time of the vernal or autumnal equinox. The cause is generally believed to be that electrical radiations from the sun enter the earth's atmosphere and excite similar electric or magnetic disturbances among the charged elements of the upper atmosphere. The phenomenon differs in formation from the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, which are common in the Arctic regions, and are frequently seen in Norway, the Shetland Islands, and even the North of Scotland. A Spectacular Smash. The strength of one of Queen Street's ornaments, namely, a safety zone, was fully tested, even over-tested, when a heavy five-seater motor car, driven by Mr. T. M. A. Nairn, of Karangahape Road, crashed into it, and partly demolished it. It was, to say the least, sadly bent. Originally it stood near the Victoria Street intersection, on the west side of Queen Street; after the argument with the car, part of it still stood there, but pieces had travelled to different points in the thoroughfare. One of the concrete buffers was reduced to a crumpled mass and scattered all over the roadway, while the red light which brightened it was literally "ironed out." But the car did not come through the conflict unwounded. Its lights, buffer, and radiator were moved to a position nearer the front seat, and the windscreen was smashed and the steeringwheel torn away. More Protection Needed. A recommendation to the authorities to consider the advisability of putting three or four strands of wire along each side of Grafton Bridge was made by Mr, F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning, in returning a verdict of suicide in connection with the death of Arthur George Taylor (36). Mr. Hunt said there had been several cases recently of men climbing on to the side of the bridge and jumping off, and the addition of some wire obstruction would make this more difficult. The evidence at the inquest showed that Arthur G. Taylor, who lived at 529, New North Road, Morningside, had been in good health and spirits when he left his home at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, and that he had been s:en disappearing over the side of the bridge shortly before 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Edith Taylor, his wife, could give no reason for his committing suicide. He was on good terms with her, and they had two children. There were no financial worries. League of Nations Union. A year of steady progress caine under review last evening at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the League of Nations Union, when Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., presided over a large attendance in the Y.M.C.A. concert hall. An address on the Kellogg Peace Treaty was given by the Rev. W. G. Monckton. The Gover-nor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) was reelected patron; Sir George Fowlds, vice-patron; and Mr. Cutten, president. A resolution expressing the appreciation of the union of the services rendered by the Rev. Albert Thornhill, who has accepted a* call to a Sydney church, was carried unanimously, and a resolution was also passed expressing sympathy with Mrs. F. C. Jackson at the sad circumstances of the disappearance of Mr. Jackson, who had acted as the union's secretary. . v—*'" >- - . ;.*.y ;»Xv«.Wv . ; ;