NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 162, 11 July 1930, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Beer as Fire Extinguisher. Beer was put to a novel use the other day when a bus. driver on the New PlymouthWaitara route was endeavouring to extinguish an outbreak of fire caused by a back wheel bearing seizing. A passing motorist with a bottle of beer came to. the rescue by pouring the beer on the flames and extinguishing them. Message from "Johnnie." An acknowledgment by Miss Amy Johnson of a message of congratulation recently sent by the Akarana Maori Association was read at a meeting of the association last evening. The letter thanked the association for its action, Miss Johnson expressing regret that she could not visit New Zealand. The reading of the letter was followed by warm applause. Takapuna Flag Day. The Takapuna. Ex-servicemen's League will hold a flag day to-morrow, when it will collect on the streets of the borough and also make a house-to-house canvass. It is hoped to raise sufficient funds to provide work in Takapuna for unemployed ex-servicemen resident in the borough. Last year the effort produced fSO. The amount collected will carry a £ for £ Government subsidy. Shark "Out of Season." In a spirit of levity it was announced on the menu of the Maori dinner to the British football team at Wellington that the dishes out of season were mako shark, swordfish, marlin, preserved maize, toroi, kouramara, piparau, taro, fern root, ■ and other choice foods. The dishes "prohibited by the pakeha" were enumerated as: "The h'sh-of-Tu, pigeon, koko, and other ancient relishes." Rangitoto's. New Road. The newly-formed road round Rangitoto Island will be inspected to-morrow by members of the Domain Board. The party will include the Hon. E. W. Alison, of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, and Professor SperrinJohnson, botanist to the board. A number of "baby" cars will be taken to the island, and the party will be driven round the domain. The road is about ten miles in length, and except where it ascends toward the summit, is practically level. Prison labour has been employed on the construction of the hand-packed scoria surface for a number of years. The date of the opening of the road has not been decided. At the Show. " Show time is a happy time for all children. The novelty appeals to them, and they love the noise and the bustle. There are all sorts of novelties to be picked up, and some of them are free. In any case, a "lucky dip" cost/, only threepence. Appearing round corners unexpectedly a sedate adult sees a small boy with the large headgear of Red Indian feathers for a hat. Another wears an extra pair of ears, and the effect is impish.. Some have the audacity to wear b'oth. A popular instrument of noise is the trumpet which slides in and out as it is blown. One elderly gentleman wondered how a ball could hit him on the back, rebound and disappear. The explanation was a piece of rubber attached to the ball and held in the hand of a small boy. It seems to be the latest in popular toys. Plight of Arapuni Trout. It is believed that thousands of trout were killed when the water in Arapuni Lake was released. At last night's meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society the theory was advanced that many had been sucked through the crack in the headrace, while others had been destroyed by the great pressure in the diversion tunnel.. Some members considered that the fish, warned by the increasing current, fled to the other .end of the lake. Some of the trout had reached the pool below the fall, but as yet it was apparently impossible to net them, owing to the depth and the stony bottom. Further investigation of the pool is to be made, in the hope of saving these fish. Attractions of Helensville. Special efforts are to be made to advertise the attractions of the Helensville hot . springs .during the coming season. Considerable improvements have been effected to the Domain grounds. The bowling greens have all been top-dressed, and the men's swimming bath thoroughly renovated and repainted. A new pump for cooling purposes is also to be installed. At a meeting of the Domain Board the chairman, Dr. Matheson, reported that an invitation had been extended to the British Rugby team to visit Helensville while in Auckland if arrangements could be made. The Auckland Rugby Union wrote stating that, if it were at all possible, the invitation would be accepted. Rewa's Moorings Recovered. The two large anchors which were left in the bed of the harbour when the barque Rewa slipped her moorings prior to being towed to Moturekareka Island last month were recovered yesterday by the Auckland Launch and Towboat Company. The anchors are of the old-fashioned type, each weighing about three tons. News from Moturekareka is that the old ship, which is now a breakwater, has developed a pronounced list to port, and her decks are at an angle of about 45 degrees. The caretaker, Mr. G. A. Bennett, was aroused by the movement of the ship in the early hours of the morning, and he had some difficulty in getting to the shore. He climbed along the land-line from the stern. It is stated that the ship now appears to be safely stranded. Staunch Liberal's Passing. With the passing of Mr. John McCarroll, whose death was reported yesterday, there disappeared one of the staunchest Liberals in the Dominion. Mr. Car-oil's homestead at what is now known as McCarroll's Gap, 28 miles south of Whangarei, was an open home for any Liberal leader or Minister while in the North, and during his life the old pioneer entertained at various times all the great leaders of the party, from Seddon t<s Ward. It is interesting to recall that when Sir Joseph Ward paid his first visit to the Northland in connection with the proposed railway line he was the guest of the old Irish stalwart, who has now so soon after, followed him to the Great Beyond. What is a Farmer? ■ In the effort to re-form the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the quegtion .has arisen: "What is a farmer?" There are in the area concerned poultry keepers, apiarists, market gardeners, fruit growers, dairymen, nurserymen, tobacco growers, retired "farmers, floriculturists, horticulturists, viticulturists, strawberry growers, rabbit and pig farmers, as well as agriculturists, and. pastoraliets. ' Years ago a; flourishing-branch of the union existed in Auckland, representing the-district as far as the boundaries of Kumeu on one side,, anddevedon and Papakura on the other. Now many of those, concerned have their own organisation. However, 500 names have been chosen froih" the New Zealand directory, as representing those likely to be interested in the farmers' that has been called for Friday, July 18. ' All those invited are defined as farmersJn.- the. directory. Widening Waterfront Road. Plans for widening the jraterfrbnt road •between Mission Bay and Kohimarama were discussed yesterday,, when members of the Works Committee'of the City Council met a deputation of St. Helier's : Bay and Kohimarama' residents at the place where: the alteration is required. The road on, the Mission Bay side-of the Kohl-, suranut wharf is curving and narrow. Further on- there is a narrow concrete surface, and the whole section is considered unsuitable for motor bus traffic. The committee and deputation considered plans prepared by the city engineer for forming a. wide roadway similar to that at Gower's Point,.between Kohimarama and' bt. Helier's Bay, which was lately completed as an unemployment relief work. It was pointed out that no provision had been made on this year s estimates for the work now proposed. However, it was agpfeed that the committee should go , further into the question.