NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 255, 28 October 1929, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Boy's Life Saved. When his scooter collided with a pile on the wharf leading to the vehicular ferry at Devonport on Saturday afternoon, a hoy rider fell into the water. Two youths, Clifford Hayson and M. Jackson, dived to his rescue, and after a strenuous battle against the strong current they succeeded in bringing the boy to the shore. Clifford Hayson, whose age is 19, was so exhausted by his great effort that he almost collapsed. Those who witnessed the rescue were thrilled by the plucky and determined achievement. Not Pighting Sick Men. Some indication of Labour's attitude to the present Government was given by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour party, at the P. and T. Association's annual reunion on Saturday evening. He said he regretted that the illness of the Hon. J. B. Donald, Postmaster-General, had prevented the Minister being present. Mr. Holland also said the illness of the Prime Minister was to be regretted. "After all, no matter how strenuous the fight, the Labour party likes to fight people who are well," said Mr. Holland, amidst applause. Wreck of the Wairarapa. Thirty-live years ago to-day the steamer Wairarapa, while on a voyage from Sydney to Auckland, was wrecked on Great Barrier Island with the loss of. 127 lives. The steamer ran ashore at about midnight on Sunday, October 28, 1894, and the survivors were on the rocks for over 30 hours before they were discovered by Maoris, who conveyed them to Catherine Bay. Captain Mcintosh perished with his vessel. News of the disaster was received in Auckland with deep concern, and everything possible was done for the survivors when they arrived by the j steamer Argyle early on the fourth morning after i the wreck. Trout-fishing Season Opens. In anticipation of the opening of the troutfishing season to-morrow, various parties of anglers have gone to Rotonia and Taupo during the Labour Day -week-end. At these two resorts the season will continr until May 31, which is a month later than I * g is permitted at other resorts in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's district. At Taupo last season there were many catches of 121b and over, while the average for the six months was 71b. Favourable reports by rangers and the fact that the trout spawned this year six weeks earlier than usual have given rise to hopeful anticipations by those who are setting out to initiate the season's sport. In order to better cater for visitors, the Government Tourist Department has opened a new information bureau at Taupo.

Both "Expired." An extremely convincing reason for not having renewed the license for her dog was sent to the inspector of dogs in Napier in reply to a notice received from the latter. The lady couched her reply in the following terms: "I understand that my dog license has expired. Your notice regarding same js unfortunate, and unfortunately ineffective, for the dog has emulated the license, and lias also expired. Respectfully and regretfully, ——." Attempt to Fire a Forest. It would hardly be thought possible that anyone would deliberately attempt to fire a forest, but it is reported that at Auburn, California, an incendiary contrivance was found in the mountains. It consisted of a small magnifying glass placed upon a wire pedestal set in such a manner that the rays of the sun would be reflected upon paper underneath. Grass and sticks were found arranged so as to carry the fire. In this instance the paper had been ignited, but failed to start a fire in the grass and sticks. Massive Machinery.

; Four large transformers, which arc to form ! part of the equipment for the supply of Arapuni ; power to Auckland, will shortly be assembled at the Penrose sub-station. Each weighs about 25J tons. Two have already been delivered, and it is 7 hoped that the other two will be removed to Penrose this week. Part of one transformer was i taken to Penrose in a special motor lorry. The transformers are to supplement the equipment for ; breaking down the power for the city supply. At ' present there are two "banks" of transformers at • Penrose. If a fault occurred in one of them , there would not be sufficient power to meet city demands, but the new equipment will ensure safety in this respect. Visiting Hours at the Infirmary, Although there are rules governing the visiting days at the Auckland Infirmary, more than ordinary latitude has been granted to those who wanted to sec their friends, and every day has for some years been a visiting day. The institution has been growing at such a rate that there are usually 400 residents there at one time, and this has resulted in an increased number of visitors coming at irregular hours, and has hampered to a great extent the work of the medical officer, the nurses and other members of the staff. The matter was gone into very fully at last week's meeting of the Infirmary Committee after hearing a report from the medical superintendent on the subject, when it was decided to submit recommendations for the board's approval, bringing the visiting hours within reasonable limits. Another Use for Old Tyres. Modern methods of using derelict motor car tyres-are many and various. Not so many years ago the tyres were allowed to rot and fall to decay on rubbish heaps, where, incidentally, they formed an ideal breeding place for the pestilential mosquito, but it was not long before dwellers in the country district discovered that sections cut from the side of a tyre would serve admirably as boot leather, or the owners of launches used for strictly utilitarian purposes found the circular combination of rubber and canvas made an excellent fender when hung against the side of the boat. Not so many months have elapsed since old tyres were dropped over wharf piles to act as shock-absorbers at sea instead of on dry land, and to be seen doing good service on the waterfront of Auckland and of Devonport. The latest manifestation of tyre utility is for use as a garden fence, a row painted white being looped*'together by strong wire and staked round the demesne of a Glen Eden resident. It may be . recalled' tyiat a London firm inaugurated the method by which the rubber from old tyres was devulcanised and then remade as crepe rubber for , shoe soles. A Avell-known London newspaper '. immediately appeared with the headline, "Tyred , Feet." !

French Flowers. ' "Colon" writes: The sight of some wellgrown hunches of lilies of the valley in a Queen Street florist's reminded me of a charming custom in Paris when this flower comes in . On the first dav of May all the shops,- -except-- those connected with the matter-of-fact businesses, make quite a show of the flower in their windows. The pavement flower markets, notably the Quai aux Flenrs, all make a wonderful show of bunches of the lilies, with their distinctive leaves, and also of pots of it. The French name for it is muguet, and as it is one of the very popular flowers there are several other popular names for it.. "The Flower of May" is one of them, and "Porte Bonheur" is another—"The Luck Bringer," the French regarding it much; in the' way that "Scottish people look upon heather-and the Irish upon the shamrock. Even the chemists make a show of muguet on May 1, dressing their windows with sprays of the real flower, and drawing attention to the scent of the' same name. Another flower which is very, popular .with Parisians and other French people is the hortensia (hydrangea), which is extensively grown in pots, and in early spring the sidewalks where the markets are held are a lovely sight with masses of the flowers. The French have brought the hydrangea to a wonderful state of perfection. They prefer the pinky shades to the blue (which is more common in New Zealand), and their plants have much larger flowers than ours, the petals being quite twice the size.