NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 9

NEWS OF THE DAY.

"Some Motor Trip." Many stories were brought back by the Auckland bowlers who have been touring the Old Country and the United States. A good one from the States concerns a stranger who at one of the matches was obviously deeply interested in the visitors but could not quite place them. Going up to one of the Aucklanders tat last, he said: "Look here, gentlemen, what State do. you hail from 1" "Oh, we como from New Zealand," was the reply. "Waal, I can't say that I know it, but if you tell me how long it took you to motor over I might get a line on your locality." Four Generations at Wedding. Age was no bar to the attendance of a great-grandmother at an evening wedding held in Auckland this week. Hale and hearty at the age of 82, she had journeyed from Te Aroha to take her part in the celebrations. With pardonable pride in her position as the senior member of the party, she duly honoured the toasts, and showed keen interest in the healthy representative of the fourth generation, a curlyhaired girl of two. Among those present were also a number of grandfathers and grandmothers, and the reminiscences included many events of the pioneering days. Apathetic Ratepayers. Apart from his criticism of several branches of the Auckland City Council's work, Mr. H. P. Taylor, one of the speakers at Thursday's gathering in the Town Hall, laid much stress on the appalling apathy of the ratepayers and voters generally, as shown by the recent polls on some very important questions. He specially instanced the poll for the by-election. Mr. Taylor said it was unthinkable that ratepayers should take so little interest in the management of their city. At tho present time there was more need than ever for vigilance, and every voter should make it his duty to go to the poll. Any Spare Books? The Mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, desires to make an urgent appeal to citizens for magazines and books for Christmas parcels to exsoldiers and others in the backblocks and country hospitals. There is not sufficient coming to hand to supply requirements, and the Mayoress is anxious that those expecting parcels shall not be disappointed. It is explained that it does not matter if the magazines are coverless or require repair, as willing helpers are prepared to work overtime to put them in order rather than turn those distant friends empty away. Magazines may be placed' in the book bins around the city, or will be received at the book room in the' Town Hall. Gay .Christmas cards and used calenders are also highly acceptable. A Pat on the Back. Tennis enthusiasts in New Zealand, players and otherwise, very favourably impressed the manager of the British touring team, Mr. H. A. Sabelli. Before the visitors left for Sydney yesterday, Mr. Sabelli said that nobody could wish for more enthusiastic spectators- or more sporting opponents than those his team had met in New Zealand. "I wish to express my. deep appreciation of all the arrangements made by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association and by the associations in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Rotorua in connection with our matches, and of our comfort and entertainment during our visit,. and we wish, to thank most sincerely officials, friends, players and 'tha public for their very fine reception to us on all occasions," Mr. Sabelli added.

Presbyterian Viewpoint. It is the opinion, of Presbyterian ministers in Auckland that the coming Assembly, which is to bo held in Auckland this month, will be one of the most important in the history of the Church. Not only will schemes for the reorganisation of Church control, upon which opinion seems greatly divided, bo discussed, but also important matters concerning x thc appointment of professors to Knox College. The compulsory military training remit still has much in it which may lead to a spirited debate. There is an air of anticipation as to what will be the outcome of the Assembly's deliberations, and in some quarters it is thought that a broadening influence will be felt. One prominent leader of Presbyterianism said to-dny: "Our Church is at the parting of the ways; we have to. mark time, and that means losing ground, or we have to go forward, infusing new life into the Church by modern means with a new vision for the future." Hearing London To-morrow. Thorough attempts to pick up and rebroadcast various Armistice Day services from London will be made by the New Zealand broadcasting stations to-morrow evening and on Monday morning. The first service, that from the Cenotaph, should be received shortly after 10.30 p.m. on Sunday. Times for other services are: —Trafalgar Square,. 2.30 a.m.; St. Martin's-in-the-Felds, 7.55 a.m.; and Albert Hall, 9.5 a.m. Previous experiments in the rehroadcasting of the London short-wave station, SSW, suggest that success is highly probable with the 2.30 and 7.55 a.m. transmissions, which will be sent out at times when conditions hero are most favourable for reception. The first and last transmissions will be more subject to the vagaries which affect short waves, but the officials at IYA are hopeful that the elements will be kind, and that a rebroadcast will be possible. At any rate, the station will be on the air at the times specified. A One-man Magazine. "The Wairoa Churehes" is the title of an admirably written, illustrated and printed pamphlet which is the work of one man, the Rev. W. H. Rattray, vicar of Clevedon. It is a sketch of the story of St. James' Church, Ardmore, and All Souls' Church, Clevedon, linking the days of Bishop Selwyn with those of the present generation. Alike from a literary and a technical point of view, "The Wairoa Churches" is a notable little production, and the vicar, who compiled, printed and published it, must be complimented for his enterprise and. very obvious ability. With the exception of one or two photographs,- every part of the pamphlet is a one : man product. An interesting paragraph deals with the Maori War of 1863, and it is mentioned that troops, who were sent to the Wairoa spent their first night there in the shelter of All Souls' Church. The Rev. V. Lush, who was vicar at the time, continued his ministrations through the troubled days of war. ■ "Archaic" Bankruptcy Law. "The Bankruptcy Act is archaic. More than any statute in New Zealand it needs revision." These were the words of a leading member of the Bar in Wellington after dealing with a bankruptcy matter in Court. "The Act should be amended to bring it into conformity with English law," said the barrister. "The English statute provides for the appointment of a receiver and an inquiry as to whether a man shall be made a bankrupt. In New Zealand there is nothing between the ordinary status of a trader and complete bankruptcy. In the Old Country men who get into difficulties may straighten their affairs out by this method, and when their debts are discluwged they will receive what is left over. 'The statute makes it possible to dispose of their assets to better advantage than our own, which results in a forced sale and a lower price than assets are worth.' Also, in England a inan may satisfy his creditors without-being made a bankrupt. In New Zealand there is no machinery for doing anything in the matter until you., have adjudicated your man. That intermediary stage is essential, and should be introduced- as early as possible,"