NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The King's English. Schoolboys and girls are taught that such words as "unique" and "infinite" cannot be used in the comparative or superlative degree. They will note with amusement that the Education Report on page 51 makes the Director-General (Mr. T. B. Strong) say in his evidence: "The system of educational administration in New Zealand is probably the most unique, as it is also the most expensive, in the British Empire." Birds Electrocuted. Instances have been reported lately of birds being electrocuted through establishing contact on bare electric power wires in Canterbury. A number of cases occur each year. Magpies, seagulls and birds of that kind are the victims, their size making them liable to'touch two wires at once with their wings or their beaks, when they have alighted on one strand. The sparrow, on the other hand, is immune, for by no possible stretch could his small form cover the space between two wires. . Hen Sold for £125. The Black Orpington lien Te Kawau Princess, which broke all the world's records in the Normanby egg-laying competitions by laying 361 hard-shelled 'eggs in 365 days, has been sold to an American fancier. Advice has been received by Mrs. M. Waddell that the fancier with whom she has been negotiating has accepted her terms. The price for the hpn is £125 and Mrs. Waddell has also agreed to sell a cockerel from this hen for £25. Both figures are" f.o.b. Auckland next March. Essence of Cheapness. "People will not buy motor cycles these days —they want them given away," said a defendant in the Magistrate's Court at Christchureh, when asked by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., why he did not sell his cycle, as he had been out of work for six months. The defendant blamed the general depression for his being out of employment. "So long as you own a motor cycle it is deemed that you can afford to pay a fine," said Mr. Mosley. . "I will make it as light as possible." A fine of 5/ without costs was imposed. Work for Devonport's Unemployed. Provided that the proposal of the Devonport Borough Council is approved by the Local Government Loans Board, a sum of £2700 will be available for unemployment relief work in the Melrose Park improvement scheme. The loan of £900, the interest and sinking fund of which has been guaranteed by ' the park committee, will carry a Government subsidy at the proportion of £2 to £1. It is estimated that 650 weeks of work will be provided; in other words, work for 65 men for ten weeks, at an average wage of approximately £4. The work will be divided equally among the unemployed applicants. Recreation Ground for Moerewa. Speaking yesterday at the annual nfeeting of tlio Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Mr. J. E. Makgill, the chairman, said that during the year the firm had completed the dedication in trust of about 15 acres of its Moerewa property as a public recreation ground, adjoining the public school property, for the Moerewa township. It had been named Simson Park, as a recognition of the important part the general manager had played in the development, for the North Auckland districts, of an outlet for their produce, not only in the establishment of the freezing works, but in the development of the port of Opua for overseas shipping. A domain board would.be appointed by the Government. A certain amount of planting of shelter trees had already been carried out. Moderator Establishes a Record. The Reverend George Budd, of Devonport, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, has established a record for the amount of travelling he has done in both Islands. He is now engaged on an extensive tour,- which will probably last nearly two months. He took part in the dedication of the Massey Memorial in Wellington. Describing that ceremony, which lasted exactly 35 minutes, he says that in a long experience in ecclesiastical affairs he has never seen a ceremony marked by more dignity or fine feeling. The memorial itself he describes as very imposing and beautiful, situated in a fine position, the views from which are superb.

New Zealand's First Plough. A letter, dated May 3, 1820, of which a photograph has been presented to the Greytown Early Settlers' and Historical Association by Mr. Mark Maxton, a vice-president of the association, gives an account of how the plough was first used in New Zealand. The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, who, with Lady Bledisloe, was the guest of the association at an At Home, instructed that the photograph should be framed in native wood, the setting being his gift to the association. The letter was written by Mr. J. G. Butler, a missionary, and describes how the plough had been put into the land at Kerikeri, Bay : of Islands. "I felt much pleasure, in holding the handles behind a team of bullocks brought down by the Dromedary," Mr. Butler wrote. "I trust this auspicious day will be remembered with gratitude and its anniversary kept by ages yet unborn. Every heart seemed to rejoice on the occasion. I hope agriculture will continue to increase and in a short time produce an abundant harvest." He Got the Job. An instance of eagerness and enterprise in seeking work is reported in an exchange. Last week a Poverty Bay sheepfarmer had to interview men who were replying to his advertisement for a married couple to work on his station. One of the applicants, who seemed otherwise suitable, had no children or sheep dogs, and the farmer stated that as there was a school close by he would give preference to a man who had at least two children of school age, also two good dogs. Within three hours the applicant Was back again to report, that he now had both the children and the dogs. "But I didn't promise you the job," said the somewhat astonished farmer. "Did you-get them son 'spec'?" "Yes, I was going to be ready for the job," said the man. It transpired that the children belonged to his wife's sister, who had a family of seven and was in poor circumstances. The- job was his.-- --- - ' - Naming the Road. ' : ... "Nothing has -yet. been done in the.'matter-of; finding a . name' ;for the new waterfront ;road. ->Vriting to the; "Star/' a correspondent, who •Signs • "Harbour Bays i.Tload,''; us. the' new..'., thoroughfare taps all., .the, f bays • 'along, 'that. part /of ' the ■ waterfront. 'He '.ppiiits' out that a popular . tourist- drive,- in-the-years.' to Come, will be along the new road, up over the Tamaki cliff road, round by Paninure, and eventually to Howlck, when the new concrete road to that place is finished. "Visitor" suggests.' "RangiMoana .Drive," "Eastern Parade," "The Grand Avenue," or, in view of the close connection between that part of tlie isthmus and the early history of the Church of England and the Melanesian Mission, "St. John's Way." This correspondent also suggests "Bays' View Road." Mrs. F. Bridges, of Grey Lynn, thinks "Kingsway Embankment" would be a good name, as it is near Queen Street. -Another name she sends is "Great Eastern Embankment," as eventually the waterfront road Will extend from Tamaki right along to Point Chevalier.