NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tasmanian Farmers' "Visit. The party of 25 ' Tasmanian farmers which arrived at Bluff on Sunday on a visit to New Zealand are due to reach Auckland on October 31 for a two days' stay. They will be entertained by the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union. White-coated Police. That police on point duty should wear white coats, especially at night, was advocated by Mr. E. J. Jackson at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Automobile Association. ''The policeman doesn't wear a red tail light," the speaker remarked, "and you are liable to hit him." (Laughter.) He said that white coats were worn in England. The suggestion was noted for consideration by the executive. A Wholesale Robbery. A particularly audacious piece of thieving was perpetrated recently in Napier. In the hours of the night someone evidently endeavoured to break 1 open a pillar box, in which it has since been estab- , lished there were several letters, and at least one containing a cheque. Apparently, however, the , thief failed in his attempt, but, not to be denied, he coolly unscrewed the box from its fittings and made off with the whole box and contents. It is i said that despite the police investigation, nothing has since been heard of either the pillar box or the letters. Resident Constable Wanted. A request is to be made by the Manukau County Council to the Police Department for one of the constables of the Otaliuhu station to reside in the Mangere Riding. At yesterday's meeting of the council Mr. S. W. House said several cases of theft and damage to property had been reported recently,'and it was felt that to have a constable living in the district would be a deterrent. The engineer (Mr. .T. R. Page) stated that during the last week-end a tool shed near the Mangere Mountain quarry had been broken into. The action seemed to be the work of larrikins, and had been referred to the Onehunga police for investigation. i. The Government's Difficulty. "It is considered that the acquisition of these volcanic cones is more a matter for local authorities than the Government," wrote the Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes), in regretfully declining a request by the Auckland Town Planning Association that a sum should be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for the acquisition of , part of Pigeon Mountain as a scenic reserve. The Minister added that he fully appreciated the great interest which the association took in regard to the preservation of volcanic cones in and around Auckland, but his difficulty was that the amount allocated for scenery preservation this year was very limited. "I am afraid that many of the proposals which have already been brought forward for consideration will have to be postponed," added Mr. Forbes. Donations to Hospital. "It is pleasing to see the gratitude of' the Chinese people for what has been done for them," remarked Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, when a donation of £21 10/ was received from the lvwong Cheu Club at the meeting yesterday. Mr. Wallace said it was gratifying to see that the Chinese community of Auckland appreciated the benefits received from the hospital. He mentioned as a notable fact that the Chinese of Pukekohe had not failed to send an annual donation since the epidemic of 1918, in appreciation of the services given by the board during that time. A donation of £10 was also received from the Colonial Sugar Company. The chairman stated that both donations would carry a £1 for £1 subsidy. An Objectionable Clause. Hospital boards in New Zealand are in favour of rest homes for the aged and needy, said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman, at the Auckland Hospital Board's meeting yesterday afternoon. He added, however, that care should bo taken not to admit undesirable characters. There was a possibility that the Government might take advantage of a provision in a bill now before Parliament, enabling certain institutions controlled by hospital boards to be declared rest homes, and destitute persons who came before the Courts might gain admission. The homes would then be a form of prisoni, and much distress would be caused to persons at present receiving attention. Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., had informed him that the bill would not be passed with the objectionable clause, he said, and members expressed satisfaction with this assurance. The hoard decided to approve the bill, except for the clause in question. Selwyn's Buildings. "I should lie very sorry to see any artisans let loose in this building," said the Rev. H. T. Steele with some indignation, as last night he looked round the rather inconvenient but historic old library building at Bishopscourt, where the Synod was meeting.. Its memories go back to the "great Selwyn," but tiiere was a vandalistic motion before Synod to make alterations to suit the new order of things. In the past the Synod used to do its business in St. Mary's Hall, and use the Bishopscourt building as a refectory. This year the plan was reversed, but St. Mary's Hall is much more suitable for the business part of Synod, the only objection to it being that the acoustics are bad. The Synod last night threw out the motion to make alterations in the library building, but affirmed the desirability of erecting a Synod hall and a cathedral library hall, and referred the matter to a '''special committee to investigate. •" More Radium Wanted. Consideration is being given by the Auckland Hospital Board to a proposal for spending £7500 to increase its present supply of radium to one gramme. The board received an offer of £5000 from the Cook Hospital Board, of Gisborne, yesterday afternoon for the purchase of additional radium. The amount was a gift to the Cook Hospital by Mr. J. Clarke, and is subject to % . Government subsidy of £2500. A suggestion that the money be given to the Auckland Hospital authorities had met with the approval of the Cook Board, provided cancer patients from its district ■ were treated free in Auckland, and subject to the : additional reservation that the money was to be • returned if the Gisborne Hospital became large enough in the future to have a radhnn plant of its own. Mri W. Wallace, chairman, said the financial aspect should be carefully considered. ■ The acommodation at Auckland was fully taxed, and there was the possibility of Auckland patients being unable to gain admission. No one could questjon the need of the radium. It was decided to obtain a report from the Finance Committee.

Marsden's Memory. As the llev. W. Panapa, of Kaikohe, mentioned at the Synod last evening, it does seem strange that, with the exception of a brass tablet in the church at Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, there is 110 monument to the memory of that pioneer missionary, Samuel Marsden. On the motion of Archdeacon Hawkins, Synod decided to draw the attention of church people to the importance of the centenary celebrations to be held at Waimatc North in January next to commemorate the founding of the inland mission in New Zealand; and endorsing the request for subscriptions towards putting up a worthy memorial to Marsden and the early missionaries. The resolution was cordially supported. It was explained that it was/intended to erect a lych-gate in stone at Waimate North. Mr. Panapa said tiie cost would be between £300 and £400. It was estimated that about £500 would be required for the entertainment ;of the isrge number of Maoris and others who .were expected. Some of the speakers regretted that the approaching centenary was not attracting so much attention as the occasion demanded. The Rev. W. E. Lush suggested that if hakas and pois were arranged and well advertised, the thing would be a huge success. During the discussion the name of Henry Williams, first of the noted church people of that name in New Zealand, came up, as a matter of course, and Archdeacon Hawkins mentioned the fact that among the Maoris he was known as Wiremu-mata-wha ("Four-eyed Williams"), because he i wore glasses.