NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 133, 7 June 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Progressive Takapuna. "It is evident that Takapuna is once more coining into its own," said Mr. J. W. Hayden at a public meeting last evening. He said the number of building permits issued in the borough during the last six weeks constituted a record for any similar period during the last three years. The value of the new buildings would be nearly £8000. No More Cold. A complete hot water heating service is to be installed in the Seddon Memorial Technical College. Advice has been received by the Board of Managers to the effect that the Public Works Department had accepted a tender of £2344 for the purpose. Of this sum, equal shares will be paid by the Education Department and the college. A Bridegroom's "Howlers." One of the questions to be filled in in the official notice of marriage form is ''condition of bride," requiring information as to whether the lady is spinster, widow, or divorced. The other day a prospective bridegroom, without reading the explanatory bracket, wrote, "Good." A more amusing mistake was made in regard to the query entered as "length of residence in district'" The ardent fellow scratched his head reflectively and said with all solemnity: "Well, I don't know the length of it, but it is a plain four-roomed house." Harbour Bridge Inquiry. The personnel of a tribunal to make preliminary inquiries in connection with the harbour bridge project was decided upon last evening at a meeting of the Harbour Bridge Association. It is to be suggested to the Prime Minister that the tribunal should comprise the Director of Town Planning (Mr. J. W. Mawson), the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr. F. W. Furkert), a judge of the Supreme Court, and a prominent business man. Winter Exhibition. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Mitchell, Massey, Finn,\ Findlay and O'Donnell waited upon the Prime Minister to-day in reference to arrangements for the opening ceremony of the Winter Exhibition. Sir Joseph Ward expressed his regrets that he would be unable to perform the ceremony himself, owing to it being the first week of the new session of Parliament, but said that he would endeavour to arrange for the Minister of Agriculture or the Industries and Commerce to officiate.

Purity of Lake Water. "Your board is charged with the conservation and protection from contamination of the waters of the lake," said Dr. Chesson, Medical Officer of Health, in a letter to the North Shore Water Board. The board, he said, was now vested with authority to control the lake effectively, and the ensuring of the purity of the water demanded the immediate prohibiting of bathing, boating or fishing on the lake. Officers controlling the shores of the lake should be appointed. The board was now in a position to go ahead with its own by-laws in respect to the prohibiting of building on sections subdivided on the area it controlled. Takapuna Improvements. The proposed expenditure of £12,000 at Takapuna, money collectively availablei from loans and Government subsidy, was explained last evening by Mr. J. W. Hayden at a public meeting at Takapuna. He said that it was proposed to provide tarred footpaths in all the streets of the borough at a cost of £14,100, including money from the borough ordinary expenditure. The scheme would be spread over two winters, and every unemployed man living in the borough could depend on employment during the present winter. Altogether 77 men had applied for employment. By motion, the scheme as outlined by Mr. Hayden was unanimously endorsed.

Land for the Government. A number of farms within a radius of 15 or 20 miles of Wanganui have been offered to the Government for closer settlement purposes (reports the Wanganui "Herald"). Mr. J. T. Hogan, the member for Eangitikei, has been giving the matter close attention since his election, and has brought under the notice of the Government five or six properties which the owners are willing to dispose of, including one of ;5000 or 0000 acres. The Government's attention has also been drawn to large areas in the Waitotara and other districts, and the member for Wanganui, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, is prepared to recommend the purchase of any estate for cutting up, provided the land is suitable for closer settlement and the price is within reason. Old Masters. Difficulties to be met with in identifying old paintings were referred to last evening by Dr. E. B. Gunson in a public lecture. The speaker said there were, in European galleries alone, seven-times as many paintings attributed to Rembrandt as that painter could have made in his whole lifetime. Science was coming to the assistance of the expert, he added, in the critical examination of pictures. Modern work could be identified because aniline pigments, which were first used about the middle of' the nineteenth century, transmitted the rays of light rather freely.' The mineral pigments of the old masters were* comparatively opaque, with the result that an examination of the pigment was a useful guide in identifying the work of particular painters. •Lantern slides shown by Dr. Gunson, with ordinary and X-ray photographs of the same picture side by side', revealed, in some cases, one painting made on top of another. Concerning an Appointment.

Matters concerning the appointment of a part-time instructor were discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Secldon Memorial Technical School. Mr. E. H. Barter wished to know why a man who had only been live weeks jn New Zealand should have received the position of instructor in the mechanical side of motor cars. He maintained that the Motor Mechanics' Apprentice Committee should have been consulted. Mr. Barter also asked that the committee should be invited to visit the classes, because he was not too sure that the work being done was satisfactory. At the direction of the chairman (Mr. H. S. W. King) the principal (Mr. G. J. Park) explained the position, and said, on account of the resignation of one instructor, and also the fact that there was only a fortnight to the term holidays, the stranger had been appointed temporarilv, because no other suitable man was available. The man's credentials were of the best, and he had had experience which was of benefit to the scholars. Sailors' Farewell. There were kisses and caresses and tears in tinv handkerchiefs last evening, when a large number of naval ratings left for Wellington, where they will embark for England. That tne Jack Tars of the Veronica and Laburnum had made manv Auckland acquaintances during the sojourn oh* the New Zealand station was shown by the large number of people who gathered to say good-bye to their sailor friends. In many cases it was an affectionate parting. In the bold way that sailors have, they openly embraced their best girls and promised to drop a line from the first port, on the homeward voyage. Amid cheers and tears the express pulled out into the night". There were calls of, "Good-bye, Alf," and "Don't forget to write, Henry." At the moment Alfred and Henrv were framed in a carriage window Jointlv they waved a muffler, and hung so far out tliat some people became apprehensive. There were manv sad faces when the express disappeared round the first bend. Many of the sailors are coming back., At least, they hope to.