NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Entomology. It is proposed to form. an entomological society in Auckland. Mr. A. J. Stratford, J.P., is the prime mover in tlie project, and he is working in conjunction with Mr. Robertson, of Wanganui, who is also an enthusiastic entomologist. The insect life of the Auckland province is so rich and well varied that the society may yet extend to Dominion status. Its success as an Auckland venture should be assured. Mr. Strat- ! ford lives at 4, Domain Street, Auckland, and he will be glad to hear from intending members. Pumping Out a Mine. * ' The water in the Hikurangi coal mine, which has been flooded for some months, has been lowered to a depth of 14ft, and it is expected that to-day the mine will be completely un.watered. The flooding of the mine caused great hardship among the miners of the district, as well as among the people of the township of Hikurangi, for the mine gives employment to a large number of men. During the w6rk of unwatering the Mines Department has given assistance to the owners of the mine, and a special pump was brought from Muir's Reef, Te Puke, to facilitate operations. Cause of American Twang. An unusual theory to explain the American accent or twang, which has proved most detrimental to the development of the American talking picture in other countries, is advanced by Mr. R. Joughin, of Waihi, who returned recently after a two years' tour abroad. He says (reports the "Star's" Waihi correspondent), that there exists in California, and beyond that great State, a definite fog-belt, which affects the nose and throat, ultimately causing tonsilitis and adenoids, and the development of the nasal twang. When in California, he and his family were beginning to feel the effects of this fog. The American people, he added, were doing everything possible to encourage the speaking of correct English. Band Conductor's First Appearance. The first opportunity for Aucklanders to hear the Municipal Band under the leadership of its new conductor, Captain G. Buckley, will be given next Saturday evening, .when a concert will be held at the Town Hall. Invitations to attend have been issued to members of various local bodies throughout the Auckland district. Captain Buckley, who formerly conducted the Queen Alexandra Band, Wanganui, comes to Auckland with a very high reputation as a bandsman and conductor, and he is widely known in musical circles as a capable arranger and composer of music for bands and orchestras. The first Auckland, concert he is to conduct will include many interesting numbers, classical and popular. The Funnel Standard. Recently H.M.s. Lupin was relieved on the Persian Gulf sector by the sloop Folkestone, and British prestige was lowered. , The tribesmen at once noticed that the sloop possessed only one funnel, whereas the Lupin had two, and they concluded that this failure to provide the Folkestone with a second funnel was due to the poverty of the British. And, strangely enough, it is not only the tribesmen on the shores of the Persian Gulf who are prone to judge a vessel by its funnels. Trans-Atlantic travellers soon showed that they disliked the ships that had either reduced the number of funnels or had reduced the size. It was found necessary, by some lines catering for the tourist traffic, to build dummy funnels and turn the space inside them into quarters for the crew rather than spoil what these travellers considered the proper look of an ocean liner. "Kapai te Kai." At Maraetai last Saturday afternoon, on the lawn of Mr. 11. Pollard's residence, a kapa Maori was held to assist in meeting obligations in connection with the community hall. Te kapa Maori was most interestingly carried out by a couple of Maoris from a nearby settlement, ably assisted by a committee of Maraetai residents. First a circular hole, about four feet diameter was dug in the earth and lined with small stones, a fire of tea-tree being made over it on which were placed more stones. After a couple of hours' fierce burning, the stones became white hot and were then ready for the "cooks" to perform their tasks. Meat—pig and lamb—and potatoes were the menu items. Nearly three hours were allowed for cooking, and by this time about a couple of hundred people, young android, had assembled to view tlio opening-up of the "kapa." It was an object lesson to the civilised pakehas present to see the method of cooking. It was said that three or four times as much "food could have been cooked on this kapa, and for fully 24 hours after it was still hot. Rush to Pay Rates. When the city treasurer's department reopened yesterday after the holidays, there was a rush of ratepayers anxious to meet their obligations before the enforcement of the 10 per cent penalty on unpaid rates. The penalty will be imposed as from Thursday, January 15, in the case of ratepayers who were among the first on whom the demands were served, but the date will be a little later for those who received their notices subsequently. Over £70,000 was paid in rates last month. This is considered to be very satisfactory, being well up to the amounts of previous years. Of the total rates collectable, namely, £541,000, no less than £184,000, or one-third, has been paid. The balance outstanding, £357,000, is now due, and will incur the penalty if not paid within the period of" grace. Judging by the promptness with which rates were paid in December, the Town Hall authorities are confident that the cm-rent collections, in spite of dull times, will be as satisfactory as, if not better than, last year. The total-number of assessments on which rates are due is 34,628, compared with 33,994 last financial year. Although rates are at present greater by |d in the pound than those of the previous year, many householders have found that the extra burden is more than offset by a temporary reduction in water rates and charges. The municipal valuation, upon which rates will be assessed for 1931-32, has not yet been completed. It is expected that the work Will be finished some time next week. Devonport's Historic Cemetery. Recent reference to the clearing-up of the Albert Road Cemetery at Devonport has brought an interesting letter from a correspondent. Among the pioneers who are buried there is Mr. T. Duder, who was a seaman on H.M.s. Buffalo when . she was. wrecked at Mercury Bay, and who, from 1843 to his death, was signalman on Mount Victoria. Another is Johnny Reid, who made the first contract, in 1854, to carry on an open sailing boat ferry service to Stoke's Point, Northcote, Flagstaff, Devonport, and, when tide permitted, to Barry's Point. His mother was related to Rauparaha, a man whose name will outlast New Zealand history. Visible from the main road is the stone that marks the grave of Patuone,,the friend of Sir George Grey and of the Government, and , defender of the pakebas- in the North. The Governor induced Patuone to settle on the strip of land that is now the Strand, Takapuna, that he and his might be a living barrier against possible attack from the restless northern tribes. The epitaph bears witness to the gratitude of . the New Zealand Government, which erected the ; stone. Not far away is the grave of Captain ( Gladwyn Wynyard, the name of whose father, ; Major-General Wynyard, lingers in that of • ; several city and suburban streets. Another stone ] marks the resting place of a gallant, young third : officer of a ship in the Waitemata harbour, who ; was drowned in a futile effort to rescue the t occupants of a-boat that capsized under - the ; counter of his ship; his mother and sister < journeyed from England to New Zealand to see j where* he Avas bui'ied, i