NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 48, 26 February 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sea Lions for the Zoo,

Oil Lrr last cruise to the Southern lighthouses, the <Jovermnent steamer Tutanekui a uchon d jicar beaches where sea lions were seen ""mbers. Six of these interesting creatines were captured by members of the crew" and they were brought safely back to New Zea- • 1 urre of them were, presented to the Auckland Zoo. and they are now in the pond as companions t<> the .-penmen that has been there for >;",,e months. The new arrivals are somewhat Hunter ui colour than the tir-t.

College Farming. Although a long spell of dry weather caused a great deal of anxiety to the Wesley College authorities in the early part of last year, the annual report submitted at the Methodist Conference yesterday afternoon stated the year had in geiiei.il been a good one. During the past few months the college has made 800 tons of hay and IN) tons of ensilage. Over 0(H) fat lambs, 35 stud lams and 40 stud ewes have been sold, and the annual clip amounted to Ibales of wool. The dairy herd has improved steadilv, and this rear four cows have secured the certificate of record. A tint her two are under test, Agriculture has been commenced this year, and a well-equipped honey-house has been established in connection with the apiary, which now has 60 hives. The report adds: "We believe that within a few years there will he few better farms in Xew Zealand than ours.''

A Modern St. Joseph. A striking tribute to Father Langerwerf, Roman Catholic priest of the village of Waihi, w ak l T aU& PP oar » i» the latest issue of the atholie limes' (London). It is from the pen o I athei ( . ( . Martindale, 5.. T., who recently ;V U Zealand. Describing his visit to Uaihi, Father Martindale writes"Maori cliildren, joyous and gentle, salute us; and from the wooden presbytery, built by himself, a genial priest comes forth. Like those whom for a dav or two we shall meet, he comes from Cardinal vaughari's generous-hearted College of Mill Hill. He, like many more, is Dutch. Carpenter, mason, plumber, electrician (a tall waterfall just beyond the village gives you light for nothing':, as happy iy the great sawmill as on the farms above— small wonder that a testimonial hanging on his walls is adorned not with the cloying repetition of lilies, eiboriums. crosses and crowns, but the saw. saddle, lime-bucket . . . all the equipment of St. Joseph."

j "The Hatless Brigade." j A anganui delegate made a protest at the Methodist Conference yesterday against clerical (clothing being discorded by many ministers. He said there appeared to be a foolish and mistaken notion among some of the clerical members that ! the wearing of the ministerial dress was a bar to freedom of speech and action in certain classes of the community. He thought the dignity that attached to the ministerial calling was not increased by the omission of the official dress and by the looseness of attire of some of the ministers. Ihe Church, he considered, was losing bv such an attitude. The ltev. Dr. C. H. Laws, piincipal of tlie Methodist Theological College, said he had no power to dictate what others should do, but it should be an unfailing rule that a minister s dress should never be slovenly. He regretted having seen a member of the clerical profession standing on a Sunday evenimr in the city in hatless lion-clerical dress. Dr. Laws added: "I find a growing tendency among many ministers to join the "hatless brigade." Immediately after this remark by the principal, the Rev. A. N. Scotter ((secretary of the conference) said that one of ("he lay members had lost his hat on Sunday, and was perforce a member of the hatless brigade for the rest of the day. Loud laughter greeted thie announcement.

Welfare for Ex-Service l&en. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association has decided to investigate the need for the establishment of some sunt, of home, colonv, workshop, or institution to provide for the present and future welfare of ex-service men, and the assistance of local bodies is being solicited for that purpose. In a lettec from the headQuarters of the association at Wellington to the j Onehungu Borough Council last night. asking for its co-operation, it was stated that "the magnitude and merit of the endeavonr may to some extent be realised by the fact tjiat for the past live years the (iovernment of New Zealand had expended in the vicinity of £3.j0,ff00 to ex-soldiers by way of economic pension. Nat a tap of workhas been done in return for such expenditure, and the recipients, who constitute but -one section of those on whose behalf the commission is investigating. have urged repeatedly that some employment within the range of their abilities should be provided." The problem of cairing for the industrially disabled has been solved in other countries, and the scheme for ex-service men in New Zealand provided for those wiho otherwise would find it most difficult to earn sufficient to maintain themselves. The letter was received, and the town clerk instructed to furnish the necessary information required.

Getting Over the Slump, '"A very small interest on the part of prospective purchasers of property is now becoming apparent,'' states the Wesley Training College Trust Board in its anmial report. Owing to the [depression in the property market, the year 1928 j was a most difficult one, so far as th& board's suburban properties were concerned. There were practically no sales of suburban properties in the , last twelve months, and, under these circumstances, it had been impossible for the board to realise its sections and reimburse itself for outlay it had incurred in subdividing and developing its suburban properties. Everything possible was done by the trust to find prospective bujrers or lessees, and the sections it had for sale or lease had been in the hands of at least six well-known Auckland land agents the whole year. The cost of draining and roading undeveloped properties was heavy, and a cautious policy had Ibeen adopted, which would enable the various subdivisions to be brought on the market with tb» least possible delay when suburban land is selling freely. During 1928 £1150 was expended in forming roads and improving drainage systems, [and the sum expended by the board on improvements to its suburban properties during the past four years amounted to £12,770.

Popularity of Helensville.

J Helensvillo is becoming very popular with Auc-klanders who desire to pet out of the <rity for a change at week-ends. Lately all the principal boardinchouses at Parakai have provided their own mineral baths, and, consequently, tjhe Domain Baths have suffered a good deal loss of patronage. Advantage of the visit of tie Hon. Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Intern.-tl Affairs, to Helensville last week-end, was taken by the Town Board and Domain Board to aslt whether the Government would be prepared tc* assist the local authorities in providing for theupkeep of the Domain. It was pointed out that the revenue derived from the Domain baths and bowling and tennis was about £1000 a year, and it cost about £700 a year to keep all in order. The Domain Board, in conjunction with the Town Board, desired to make progress and provide continued attractions for the many visitors to the town and its resorts. A grant from the Government was necessary. Mr. West (chairman of the Town Board) and Dr. Mathieson (chairman of the Domain Board) urged upon the Minister the necessity for Government assistance. The boards, they said, were doing their best to provide for visitors, ami a little help from the Government would assist materially. Mr. de la Perrelle marie an inspection of the Domain with members of the deputation, and afterwards said he would see the Bight Ho.n. Sir Joseph Ward. Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts, and ascertain whether the desired assistance could be LTatrted. He was very pleased with what he bad seen at Helen--vi'l e: lie had sampled the Parakai Baths. and had felt Their benefit. He would do what he could to assist the resort. ....... i