NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 August 1930, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Early Holidays. -The Point Chevalier School was yesterday closed down for the term holidays, a week before the ordinary date. This step was taken owing to the prevalence of diphtheria among the children. . The action was authorised "by the Auckland Education Board, which was approached by the school committee on .the advice of Dr. T. J. Hughes, Medical Officer of Health. Now that the school is closed, the health authorities will be better able to deal with the outbreak, which is now well under control, "A Non-expert Committee." ''The proposals have been made by a nonexpert committee, but they are so drastic that they must be given serious consideration," said Dr. H. Ranston, discussing the second report of the Education Committee at a meeting of the University College Council yesterday. "The report, indeed, shows the acceleration of a movement which lias been going on for some time — that the .universities should become an appendage of the Education Department." The 'names of the members of Parliament on the committee were read out almost immediately after. "I notice," said Mr. H. J. D. Mali on, "that there are not many university graduates among them." Public Administration Course. The results of the course of lectures in municipal government had proved so gratifying that it was proposed to establish a diploma in public administration, said Sir George Fowlds, at a meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday. A course of subjects was submitted by Professor H. Belshaw, head of the commerce department, who .stated that the course was designed to meet the needs of local body officials, but it was hoped it would later appeal to Civil servants. The diploma would cover nine subjects, including political science, economics, book-keeping, statistics, public finance and public administration The council decided to refer the proposal to the professorial board for consideration. Supper Door "Crashers." At a recent dance in Eltham a member of the committee "who has had a great deal of experience _in their control decided that in view of previous happenings it was time to deal with the supper door "crashers." He endorsed on the back of the supper tickets a code word in bold letters, and the doorkeepers were instructed to peruse each ticket presented, to ensure that people did not gain entrance before their turn. It was afterwards ascertained that fully thirty people endeavoured to enter for the first sitting with tickets manufactured from cigarette packets, old theatre passes, or a'/iything of the correct colour; but in this instance the doorkeepers were too alert to be caught by such artifices.

Veteran Town Clerk. The distinction of being the p oldest town clerk belongs to Mr. G. Mclnnes, clerk to the Te Ktfuwhata Town Board, who is over 80 years of age. 'Mr. Mclnnes was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on February 6, 1850, and came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Percy.in 1809. He went to Thames and then settled at Miranda, where ho remained for 20 years. In 1892 he removed to Maramarua, where he owned and worked a farm. Fourteen years ago he removed to Tβ Kauwhata and became clerk to the Whanjramarino Road Board, a position he held until the road district became merged into the Waikato County three years ago. Upon the constitution of the Tβ Kauwhata Town Board district IS months ago Mr. Mclnnes became clerk. A Canvas Stretcher. Considerable interest has been aroused in alpine circles by an entirely hew type of stretcher for use on mountain or bush country. It has been constructed by officials of the Egmont Alpine Club, particularly for use on Mou'at Egmont. The stretcher is made entirely of canvas, and may be carried by two or more persons in either single or double file, with or without poles. It is possible to manoeuvre it over difficult country which would prohibit the use of the standard type of stretcher. Aiiother advantage is that the patient may be completely covered in without any discomfort, as full protection is afforded against the weather. Stretchers of the new type will be used on the mountain in future.

A Calf's Experience. . One would have thought that the days of driving cattle through city streets had ceased long ago, hut this morning, at 8.5, to the surprise of many who emerged from the Ferry Buildings, a small herd of cows and calves confronted them, and for a brief space blocked their passage across the street. They were ambling leisurely along towards Quay Street West. A driver, seemingly quite unconcerned by the humour he and his cattle caused, brought up the rear. They had not gone many steps towards the west when a motor car bore, down o'n them. A calf, about a week old,; unused to the ways of a hard, unsympathetic world, decided to keep to his course and ignore the motor car. It was only when the pair collided with a soft impact that the animal decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and so gave way, frightened and 'nonplussed by the turn of events. Thus a call had learnt early that courtesy on the road ia very necessary. German and New Zealand Students. "Too little is known on the Continent about New Zealand, and the younger generation is particularly a'lixious to learn more about the Dominion, in order to understand better her people and ideas," states a letter from Dr. K. Mehnert, of the University of Berlin, who has communicated with the Auckland University College Cou'ncil on the proposed exchange of students between Germany and New Zealand. Germany carried out a student exchange with several countries, stated Dr. Mehnert, and would be pleased to invite a New Zealand graduate for the next academic year if a German student were accepted in exchange for the same term. Foreign guests would have room, board and tuition free, but would have to pay their own travelling expenses. Discussing the project, Sir George Fowlds said the question was one of fina'nce; the cost to the council in meeting, the exchange would amount to £200 a year. Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie said he thought the scheme would prove very valuable to New-Zealand stude'nts in science and philosophy. After ■ some discussion it was decided to defer the niatter' until next meeting.

Lingering Spring. ~. Although a few peach trees and plum trees have-burst into bloom, the spring is by no means early. A good "thermometer" to go by is the coral tree, an exotic that comes from the East. As a rule it is one of the first trees.to. show colour. Afew seasons back it was splashed with red in July, but that was abnormal; the middle of August is its usualtime for flowering. The coral tree is one of the few in which flower precedes leaf. There is a very good-specimen on the Bowen Avenue front of Albert Park. At present its brown branches are quite bare, with the exception of three red buds at the tip of one branch on the sunny side. When the flowers are fully out, the tree looks rather like a giant relation of the handsome red kowhai. Even when the flowers are over the tree is quite an ornament to a plantation, as the, leaves are large, handsome, and of a'n. attractive shade of green. Another park tree in which the flowers come before leaves is |he japonica up by the fountain. Owing to this peculiar habit of the japonica in not wearing leaves and flowers at the one time many visitors to the park.would be nonplussed if you asked them to point it out when;in, leaf, as the:foliage is not unlike several other biishes in the vicinity, and identification is difficult unless one be a bit of a gardener, or has-watched the transition closely. . , ■ V..