NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Bonfire Dangers. The danger of leaving a bonfire before ascertaining that it is properly extinguished was illustrated at Murray's Bay during the holidays when a small boy had both his feet badly burned through treading on the ashes of a fire which had been burning many hours previously. Similar mishaps have occurred on other beaches, and parents will be grateful if holiday makers will bear the fact in mind. First Glimpse of Sea. Some of the children who took part in the Waikato children's camp at Port Waikato saw the sea for the first time. One youngster was by no means impressed, and sea-bathing and sand had no particular attractions for him, but he was overjoyed at the sight of a small creek with numerous waterholes in it. "This is more like what we've got up our way," he said to a visitor to the camp, ''and it will do me." Back to Work. The Christmas and New Year holidays ended for most people to-day, when the offices of members of the legal profession and of the Auckland Stock Exchange re-opened. Architects' offices will be re-opened to-morrow, and those of the local branch of the N.Z. Society of Accountants on Saturday. Banks and insurance offices resumed business last Wednesday. "Mondayitis." Auckland awoke to a grey and dripping world this morning, and "Mondayitis" was very evident amongst passengers on ferry, 'bus and tramcar. City skies were dull and overcast, and the Waitemata Harbour, so gay and sunlit yesterday, was overhung with a mantle of mist. Those who returned to work to-day had at least one consolation, however, for the holidays ended yesterday in ri<»ht royal fashion. It would be difficult to imagine a more perfect day, and lovers of the great out-o'-doors took full advantage of it. Fall from Cliff. Injuries to the nose and a fractured leg were the result of a fall by Benjamin Johnson, aged seven years, at Pine Island yesterday. The boy had been taken to the island for the day by his mother and grandmother; and the three had just climbed the hill above the wharf when he fell. He was taken by launch to Beach Haven and by car to Birkenhead. When the city was reached at three o'clock he was taken by the St. John Ambulance to the Auckland Hospital. To-day he is doing well. Pokeno Hill Subsidence. The Bombay Road deviation was the scene of a subsidence yesterday afternoon. It occurred on the Bombay side of the Pokeno Hill and about 4ft of the outside of the road has fallen away. The patrolman of the Auckland Automobile Association on duty yesterday afternoon placed barricades around the slip and motorists travelling on the deviation are advised to slow down when approaching this spot. Provided motorists exercise reasonable care no danger ia likely. The fault should soon be remedied by the Public Works Department workmen. Only Hay Fever. "No, 'taint the 'flu'," said a Papatoetoe resident this morning as he snuffled into a large handkerchief. After sneezing three times in quick succession he explained that he had hay fever," something that he got ''just as regularly every year as a Christmas box." On Saturday haymaking was in full progress at Papatoetoe and in surrounding districts, and on the principle "the better the day the better the deed," some of the farmers were at it again yesterday. To-day's rain will not be welcomed where hay has been cut, and it will have to be dried before it can be gathered in. The fortunate ones were the farmers who literally made hay while the hay shone, and got their crops under cover. Safety First. He sat on the roi.-ks at Narrow Xeck Beach— a tiny kiddy in a big bathing suit, and a still bigger sun-hat. From the long stick which he held, a piece of string dangled in the water. An elderly gentleman, with complete piper-fishing outfit, including gentles, stopped to ask, "Any luck?" 'Not yet," replied the boy. "What kind of hooks arc you using?" the man inquired. "Only a pin," lie was told, and, anxious to see if the comic artists were justified in vaunting the superiority of crude methods, stopped to watch. .Suddenly the boy exclaimed, "Bite!" and whipped his line into the air. There was no fish on it, but when the onlooker stopped to examine the pin '"hook," he found a tiny brass safety pin, and that closed! It would need flit enterprising piper to hook himself on such a lore.

Sanctuary for Birds. Kahukura Aroha, the name which has been given to the area of 40 acres at Waikato Heads presented by Mr. Edward Spargo, one of the old residents of the district, as a permanent camping ground for the children of the Waikato, is to be declared a sanctuary. In the valley near the camping ground there is a big area of native bush containing large rata trees, ngaio, whau, titoki, rewarewa, puketea, manuka, with a wealth of ponga and mamaku ferns. In this secluded epot the native birds flourish, and the pigeon, tui and kaka are often seen. It is to keep both the bush and native bird life that the decision to have the area gazetted a sanctuary has been made, and thus one more bit of New Zealand in its natural state will be preserved for all time. The "Old Stone Jug." The "Old Stone Jug" on the Great North Road is an interesting link in the early days of Auckland, and it is good to learn that it is to be preserved. The building, which has been unoccupied for many years, is to be utilised as a chemical factory by Mr. R. A. Dutton, manufacturing chemist, who will live on the premises. The new tenant intends to repair the building and renovate the interior. The ground floor will be used as a factory, and the walls are to be decorated with Maori paintings. The "Old Stone Jug" was erected as an inn 71 years ago, and the building was used as an outpost during the Maori wars between 1860 and 1866. It was a well-known rendezvous for the militia stationed at Point Chevalier, and such well-known soldiers as Major Von Tempsky, Lieut. Chevalier, Lieut. McDonnell and Major Gundrey were often seen within its walla. The Elusive Toheroa. Any overseas tourist taking his first look at Muriwai Beach on a fine Sunday might be pardoned for jumping to the conclusion that the adult population, of New Zealand has not out-grown the juvenile joys of building moated castles in the sand. The spectacle of scores of men and women digging for dear life, to the accompaniment of gleeful shouts, such as "Gee! Here's a beauty!" or "Look at this whopper!" is typical of North Auckland west coast beaches only. Those who dig have no thought of sand castles, for they seek the elusive toheroa. Burrowing deep into the sand, the toheroa does his beet to conceal his ■hiding place, but he can't live without an airhole, which gives the clue to his whereabouts. Thousands of beach worms live alongside him, and though the toheroa'e neighbours leave holes, too, the practised eye of the beach diggers can distinguish the difference. Most visitors to Muriwai take a hand at digging, for the toheroa makes wonderful soup. Indeed, when the Prince of Wales had finished a plate of toheroa soup he immediately ordered more, thereby setting a new standard in table manners as far as this delectable flish is concerned. The export trade in toheroas ie increasing yearly, and in other parts of the world toheroa *oup is the mo«t expensive procurable, with the possible exception of genuine