NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Revenue from Fisheries. Referring to the Taupo fisheries, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) stated in the House of Representatives that the revenue obtained during the las.t fishing season showed an increase over that derived from the previous season. The total of £2279 6/S, the Minister said, represented an increase of £194 13/11 on the previous season's total. He, of course, was referring to fishing in the Taupo waters only. Sharks and Dogfish. A paragraph in this column regarding a haul of sharks in a fisherman's net at Shoal Bay has caught the attention of a. New Plymouth naturalist, who points out that it is scientifically incorrect to describe small sharks as dogfish. Dogfish and sharks, ho states, are entirely separate species of tcleostcan iish. Dogfish have no teeth and cannot bite so as to cause harm. They i live on small crabs, prawns, etc., and if the bellies*' of a thousand of the species were opened nothing but small crustaceans would be found therein. The fish that cause havoc amongst edible fish are

probably true sharks and barracouta,

Ships' Boat Races

To "avenge the defeat" of their cadets' boat, the firemen of the steamer Hororata challenged those of the Northumberland to a boat race, and beat them. The race was rowed yesterday on a course from the Sheerlegs wharf to the Central wharf, a distance of about a mile. The Hororata's boat got home four lengths ahead, their time being lHm 555. The cadets of the two vessels held a swimming contest in the tepid baths last evening. All three events, a relay race, a sprint, and an undor-water race, were won by the Northumberland's boys. Timber for Fruit Cases. On the motion of the Hon. W. B. Taverner (Minister of Customs), the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of .Representatives has been directed to inquire into the use of imported timber for New Zealand fruit cases, and to recommend the best means of securing the uso of New Zealand-grown timber for this purpose. The matter was raised with the Minister some time ago by the New Zealand Timber Millers' Federation, and it involves a fairly large business, as almost the whole of the overseas export of New Zealand fruit is sent away in Canadian hemlock eases. The order which has gone to Canada for the coming season totals about 750,000 cases. Kind-hearted Inspector. A woman appeared at the Auckland Magistrate's Court recently to answer a charge of having allowed her cows to stray on the public road at Takapuna. The inspector gave evidence in support of the charge, and then his chief stepped forward before a line could be imposed and said: "Your Worship, this woman is lighting a hard battle. Her husb;tnd is suffering from war disabilities, and she is keeping the home going. The cows were on the road, and wo have to do our duty." Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., said: "Under such circumstances I will only ask her to pay the costs."

Hooked a Car. To have his car caught up on the rear bumper of one of the; municipal buses and carried for nearly 20yds was the unusual experience which befell a motorist in Gladstone Road (reports the "Poverty Bay Herald"). It is the custom for bus drivers in the Mangapapa service to turn their vehicles in a wide sweep almost opposite the Post Ollice in order to draw up at the stand. While one driver was in the act of doing this recently a light car, which was proceeding up Gladstone Road, drove into the back of the bus, and was held fast through the bumper catching on to the front bumper of the car. The bus completed its turn, and came to a standstill before the driver was aware of the other man's unfortunate predicament. With the assistance of several amused onlookers, the vehicles iv#i-e separated, and the car drove away undamaged. Links with Waterfront. The question of the subdivision of the Auckland railway station site is still under consideration by the Government. A telegram received at a meeting of the council of the Chamber of Commerce from the Minister, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, stated that no decision had been reached by the Department. The chamber was strongly of opinion that provision should be made in the plan for direct communication from Customs Street, giving a link between Quay and High Streets. Commerce and Gore Streets should he extended through the station to the waterfront, the chamber considered. Some time ago it was rumoured that plans approved by the Railway Department did not contemplate subdivision along these lines, and the telegram from the Minister was the result of the chamber's request for information to allay public anxiety. Rest Home on the North Shore. The Hospital Board this week discussed the question of a women's rest home on the North | Shore. Tho matter cropped up chiefly because of the board's solicitors' opinion in regard to the Takapuna Women's Memorial fund of some £700. This fund was collected for the purpose of erecting a maternity home in memory of the women who gave their lives during the war period, and a Supreme Court injunction had been sought to change the purpose of the memorial and make it fill the purpose of a women's rest home and an institution where many organisations in connection with women's activities might be carried on. Mrs. W. R. Wilson had donated an acre of ground i for erecting the building on. Tho board passed i a resolution, on the recommendation of the North Shore representative, that no opposition be offered to the proposed alteration of the allocation. "A Dominion Institution." "This is a Dominion institution, not a local one," stated the committee of the Veterans' Home in a special report presented to the Patriotic Association yesterday, when it was decided to ask the Government for special assistance towards the maintenance of the home. It was ' stated that last year there was a deficiency of £228. In the current year this amount would be substantially exceeded, owing to replacement of a considerable quantity of essential equipment. These deficiencies for several years past had not been subject to any Government subsidy, but it was felt that the time had come when the matter should be again represented to the Government, otherwise the. amount must become, as authorised by law, a charge upon the funds of the association, which it was desirable to avoid. Such funds could be used to the fullest amount available for other pressing needs. The report was adopted, and mention was made of the excellent work which was being done by the recently appointed superintendent of the home (Major J. A. Wallingford).

Drive Up One Tree Hill. A long, wide stretch of newly-turned earth 011 tlie lower north-eastern slope of One Tree Hill gives promise of a future motor drive to the top of that popular vantage point. Through the enterprise of the Cornwall Park trustees, a continuation is being carried out of Cornwall Park Drive, the beautiful tree-lined avenue which sweeps in from Manukau Road toward the hill. The existing roadway, which winds round the hill to the pinnacle, is somewhat rough, and for this reason motorists who take visitors to enjoy the panoramic view are looking forward with pleasure to the time when they will be able to drive to the crest under conditions similar to those which now exist in Cornwall Park Drive. On the other hand, members of the Maungakiekie Golf Club, who for many years have found keen enjoyment in following the fascinating white ball up and down tlie grassy slopes of One Tree Hill, are sorry because sooner or later their enjoyment in that 'quarter must come to an end. Realising the position that would arise, the club in recent VG avs has prepared excellent links at Titirangi, and 'with the passing of the old the new links will come into more general use.