NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Boys , Band for Mount Eden. It is intended to form a boys' band in the Mount Eden district, and a strong committee has been appointed for the purpose. Mr. J. M. Melville is chairman, and Mr. H. Bransgrove lion, secretary and treasurer. Applications for band boys are to be called, the age limits being 12 and 14 years. A number of enrolments have already been made. Veteran Firebell. After 16 years' service the old fire bell at the corner of Great South Road and Panmure Road has been removed. It is now installed at the Otahuhu fire station, and will be used only in the event of the electric siren being out of order. The bell was made in Sheffield in 1883 by the firm of Vickerg and Sons, Ltd., and was first bung in Albert Street, Auckland. Glare in the Sky. A scrub fire on the hills behind Henderson caused a glare in the western sky last evening. It was visible from the higher parts of Auckland, and also from several places on the North Shore, and many people wondered whether a serious outbreak had occurred. The fire had been burning during the day, but it was not until nightfall that its presence was generally observed. No danger was threatened. Advertising New Zealand. Many inquiries have been received by the Government Publicity Office for further publicity material for distribution in the Far East, in such places as Shanghai, Yokohama, Tientsin, and the Malay States. Already these avenues can show a trail of New Zealand literature and photographs, and the fact that further matter is sought after is regarded by the authorities as a most satisfactory result. Bitten by Katipo Spider. A Taranaki paper states that Mr. N. Manssen, of the Public Works Department, who is camping with his family at the Blind Channel, was bitten in the neck by a katipo spider while asleep. On awakening Mr. Manssen felt some pain, and hie neck began to swell. A search of the bedclothes resulted in the discovery of the spider, and Mr. Manssen at once sought medical advice, as the result of which he was ordered to a private hospital. Glut of Potatoes. An exceptionally favourable early season has resulted in a glut of potatoes on the Auckland markjt. Prices are lower than for several years past, and there was a decrease of as much as _/ a bag in some sales this week. Requests have been made to the Government for permission to export to Australia, where a brisk demand may be expected. A prominent salesman states that over £20 a ton is now being realised in Sydney. Another auctioneer expressed the opinion that the glut was only temporary, and that the market would be much firmer next month. Cart Before the Horse. An amusing incident occurred at the Auckland broadcasting studio the other evening, when four University students were debating, for the benefit of listeners-in, the evergreen topic of education. To stress a certain point one of the speakers made the astounding statement, "You can't have your soap and eat your bath"—a somewhat startling variation of a familiar saying. The mistake appeared the more amusing by reason of the fact that the debater was speaking into the microphone, and laughter was strictly barred. However, a few subdued chuckles escaped those in the studio, and the outside world knew, that the mistake had not passed unnoticed. Letter's "Circular Tour." To tour South Africa in the wake of the All Blacks was the fate of a letter which was posted in Auckland last July and which reached the person to whom it was addressed two days ago. It was sent "c/o Thos. Cook and Son" to Durban, but by the time it reached that city the New Zealand team had gone. The letter followed by way of Kapstad, Kroonstad, and other South African centres, finally to be sent back to New Zealand. Considering that the address gave no obvious indication that the addressee was a member of the football party its safe, if belated, arrival reflects credit on the postal authorities of both countries. Nobody's Business.

There was a puzzled motor lorry driver somewhere in Auckland this morning. Aβ his vehicle was passing the safety zone on the south side of Customs Street East a large packing case, apparently full of goods, tumbled off and somersaulted to the concrete. In the rattle and roar of traffic the driver heard nothing of the bump, and his lorry continued its journey up the street and round a corner. Meantime the big case reposed in the street directly in the line of traffic. One watched it for more than five minutes, but apparently it was nobody's duty to move it. What the driver said when he reached the place where the case should have been unloaded is a part of the story that never will be printed. Belated Greetings. "Wishing' you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year" read a telegram which an Auckland newspaperman received this morning. Having recovered from the initial shock of this much belated message, the recipient cast about for reasons for the delay, and speedily found them in one mutilated word in the address. Marvellous what a difference the alteration of one word can make. In the holiday rush which jammed the telegraph wires, the word "Star" came out at this end "stn"—which might mean anything. Auckland postmen found that they did not know the journalist indicated, and stamped that fact on the front in red ink. Then someone got a bright idea, sent the telegram to the "Star" office, and the job was done. The "I" in Gladiolus. Now that a Gladiolus Society has been formed in Auckland it is not inappropriate to call attention to the fact that 999 people out of every 1000 mispronounce this rather awkward word. Nearly everybody calls it gladiolus to rhyme with holus bolus, but the correct pronunciation is with the accent on the "i," which is long, the word being pronounced "glad-eye-o-lus." Of course, it would be hopeless to expect people to correct the mistake at this late stage, and the flower will no doubt flourish just as well with the short "i" as a longer and accented one. There are thousands of similar instances of mispronunciation in the English language. For instance, if you were to tell many quite well educated people that the accent in acumen is not on the first syllable, but on the second, they would not believe you. Stowed Away in Ballast. "Tramper" writes: —Mention of the soil from the Civic Square in Auckland being taken away by the four-masted barque Olivebank as ballast reminds' one that in the old days when sailing ships were common this exchange of earth between very widely separated countries was a frequent occurrence. There is a rather noticeable reminder of this up on the Northern Wairoa. It will be remembered that when the kauri timber industry was the mainstay of that part of the North many sailing ships used to come up the river in ballast to load for European ports. When the ballast consisted of soil, as it often did, it was, simply dumped out on the river bank. Visitors to Dargaville may have noticed some magnificent clumps of greenery growing on the banks. They look as though they should be pampas, grass, but they are rather too luxuriant for that well-known plant. It is obviously a stranger to these shores, and is called "Elephant grass" up Dargaville way. I believe it came in ballast brought by a ship that came from Africa, but cannot say. for certain. Goodness knows how many more weeds have been, introduced in the same way. :