NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 228, 26 September 1930, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mushrooms at Devonport. • A Devonport resident a few weeks ago planted mushroom spawn, and was agreeably surprised yesterday morning to discover a dozen lai'ge mushrooms in readiness for his breakfast. Is this an indication of an early summer? Yachtsmen Making Ready. With the approach of an early summer the owners of the 50 craft drawn up on the North Shore slipway are full of activity, and a large numbor are engaged in putting the finishing touches to their yachts and launches. Those nearest the slipway are particularly busy, as they will be the first to push off. Most of the boats have had the paint completely burnt off, and the new dressing presents a very pleasing picture. "Poppy Day" Preparations. A decision that the poppies for sale on Poppy Day should be made in Auckland by returned soldiers and not purchased from England Avas made at a meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. A sub-committee was appointed to make arrangements and report on the scheme. It was decided that the work should be given to the most deserving cases and preferably to men who, although disabled, were not receiving pensions. Official Brevity. "It would appear that the Valuer-General is practising economy in words, if not in stationery," remarked Mr. W. Bongard, Mayor of Thames, at a meeting of the Borough Council this week, when a letter was received from the Valuation Department with the laconic, message: "I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter." Mr. Bongard remarked that this was really no answer at all. They wrote asking for a new valuation, and the brief reply was all they received. It was decided to instruct the town clerk to ask for a more definite answer. Insurance for Sailormen. Commenting on the sinking of the Tahiti and the hardship of members of the crew who lost their belongings, a Wanganui man who was at sea in the 'nineties said that in those days a man could insure his effects for a voyage for an amount of £.30, on Avhich was paid a premium of 2/G. If an accident of the sea robbed him of his possessions he collected his insurance, or else was fitted out afresh, up to the limit of his policy. "We Mere getting.£2 10/ up to £3 a month then," he said. "Nowadays they draw anything from £20 to £40 a month." Cancer Campaign. Satisfaction with the first stages of the campaign was expressed 'at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society yesterday, when it was announced that the theatrical committee had obtained the use of His Majesty's Theatre for a week and that the band and musical committee had secured the co-operation of various musical societies. It was decided to ask permission from the Minister of Internal Affairs to draw names where two or more highest tenders of the same amount are received for goods in the manufacturers' display at the Queen's Arcade. Registered Packages. The United States postal authorities disclaim liability for registered packets that ark lost after their arrival in the United States and before their delivery to the person to whom they are addressed. This fact was revealed at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, when the question was raised by a letter from a member Of that body. The secretary, Dr. E. P. Neale, said he had approached the Chief Postmaster at Auckland and was told that the facts were as stated. He had asked the postmaster if he could not retaliate by disclaiming liability for any registered packages from the United States, and he was told that no such packages were ever lost.

New Butter Box. Members of tlie Assistant Dairy Factory Managers' Association, who held a conference in Auckland yesterday, were greatly interested in a new type of butter box which is at present being tested by the trade. The box is made of pulp board, and is packed flat. It can be built up, by means of four staples and a wire band, in a very short time, and it is claimed that it is as strong and durable as tlio best wooden box. An important advantage is that of lightness, the package representing a saving of eight tons in a cargo of 100 tons weight. Tho boxes were inspected yesterday at the Government grading store, and it was stated that several of the principal exporting firms were giving them a trial. "Knifey" in Theatre. "Knifey" has always been a popular sport among schoolboys, who delight to demonstrate their prowess on every occasion. Just now the sport has a great vogue in Auckland and the boys are occupying every minute of their spare time throwing their knives. However, it came as: a surprise to many in a city theatre last night, when at the interval, a crowd of boys in the front rows brought out their knives and began a game. Crawling all over the floor, they crowded round between the rows of scats and began spinning their knives into the wooden floor. The interval came to an end all too quickly for some, of them, who were enshrouded in darkness while in the midst of an exciting contest. Children and Armistice Day. A suggestion that a ceremony for children be held annually on Armistice Day at the Cenotaph was made by General Sir George Richardson at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. Sir George said that as Armistice Day was not a public holiday, a public function could not very well be held, but it would be of educational value to childreli if each school were represented by two pupils at a ceremony. At 11 a.m. the children would lay wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph, an appropriate hymn would be sung, and a short non-sectarian ceremony would be conductcd. The children would then be taken through tho Hall of Memories. Headmasters would also be invited to address their pupils at tho schools on the meaning of Armistice Day. Tho proposal was approved by the meeting, and it was decided to circularise the schools, seeking their co-operation. Junior Universities Suggested. "There might be room here for a purely academic school governed;'by the University Council," said Mr. F. A. Garry at the Auckland Educational Conference last evening. Schools of that type, although not mentioned in the Recess Education. Committee's report, existed in some parts of the world, and were known as junior universities. If similar institutions were introduced to New Zealand they would provide many of the opportunities which a large number of advocates of academic schools now desired. He felt it would be unwise for 'the various high schools and grammar schools 'now established throughout the country to enter into competition with academic schools of the type he had in mind. The recommendation of the committee suggesting further consolidation of schools and classes where practicable seemed to make room for such academic schools within the system recommended by the committee. All the fifth and sixth forms of the grammar schools in the city might be concentrated in one school in the same way as the fifth ' and sixth'standards of the primary schools were to be. grouped in the proposed intermediate schools. Mr. Garry also suggested that if it were good for purely academic schools to be closely allied with the university, such an alliance would be equally good for the technical schools.