NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Anzac Day. There will be no publication of the "Star" on Saturday next, Anzac Day. A Veteran Society. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society is in its G3rd year of continuous and active existence. Mentioning this fact at the nttnual meeting last evening, the president, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, said it was a record of which any organisation might well be proud. It was the oldest acclimatisation society in New Zealand, and possibly the oldest sueiety of any kind in the Dominion. Judge Goes North. Two compensation claims totalling over £2000, made against the Minister of Lands, Avill be heard at Whangarei by Mr. Justice Herdman, who left Auckland to-day and is not expected back until the middle of next week. The claims arc made by owners of land in the Hikurangi swamp area, where a drainage work has been cat ried out. Good Attendance Records. . Attendance at school for six years without having missed a single day is the proud record of Douglas Waugh, a pupil of the Maungawhau School. The annual report of the school committee states that more pupils are gaining good attendance certificates yearly. In 1928 the number Avas 105, in 1020 it was 128, and last year the number reached 170. Libraries' Conference. Librarians from the main centres met in conference in Wellington yesterday. Mr. John Bar!, Auckland city librarian, was one of the representatives. One of the main purposes of the conference Avas to meet leading booksellers and discuss prices. Last year the discount allowed to libraries Avas reduced, and the fact that the Government subsidy has been discontinued has curtailed the libraries' purchasing power. It is the smaller centres that are most seriously affected, as their income Avas strictly limited even before the economy step. War on Stoats and Weasels. The decision of the Agricultural Department that stoats and Avcasels may be destroyed in areas containing not less than 50 acres of natural bush was welcomed at last night s meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, the president remarking that this Avas the most noteworthy achievement of the year's Avork. The society proposed to offer a reward of 2/0 a head. Mr. McKenzie remarked that in spite of the handicaps entailed by closer settlement and by the injudicious introduction of vermin in past years, the society could claim a further successful year, and prospects for the coming season Avere good. Takapuna Humour. An unusual application came before the Takapuna Borough Council last night, Avlien a Avoman sought permission to sing in the streets of the borough. "This looks like election propaganda. I wonder which candidate she avi 11 sing for," jocularly remarked Mr. J. Guiniven. "1 think the council should bring the lady on the legal and finance committee," said Mr. Bryce Hait. "She might bring us in a few notes. (Laughter.) I would further suggest that the lady and Councillor Guiniven might supply a duet for Cheer Up Week, he blowing his own trumpet." It was some time before the laughter at the council table died away. Pictures From Overseas. Inquiries concerning Avhat may bo done in the matter of obtaining a loan collection of pictures from overseas for the opening of the new Art Gallery in Christchurch next year are to be made by Dr. J. Hight, rector of Canterbury Colleg.'. in the course of his visit to England shortly. Dr. Hight said he Avas aware that there were difliculties, but one of them had been removed recently by legislation empowering the trustees of national collections to lend pictures and other Avorks of art to the overseas Dominions. Professor J. Shelley said that there Avas an abundance of pictures of historical and educational interest in the national collections at Home. Many of them were merely stored in vaults, and these Avould be greatly appreciated, not only by artists, but also by the general public, if they were exhibited in the Dominion. More About Vidal's Cab. Reference in this column to Vidal's cab, which Avas a Avell-known conveyance at Thames in the great goldmining days, recalls to an oldtimer, Mr. J. Gracie, of Sandringham, that the vehicle used to ply for hire between Scrip Corner and Shortland, the fare being sixpence each way. The stable for the old grey horse was in Albert Street, near the shop of the late Mr. James Hamilton Baker. The driver was a great whistler, and after having attended the Royal Theatre or the Academy of Music he would reproduce all the music very cleverly. "Those were the days that Thames avi 11 see no more," adds Mr. Gracie. ''They Avere the days Avhen the Caledonia, Shotover, Golden CroAvn and Manukau mines were in full swing, when the Golden Crown steamer used to carry big passenger cargoes. I Avas interested in the paragraph, for I had never previously seen the old cab mentioned in reminiscences. It Avas indeed a well-known institution at Thames." Many Customs Ministers. In consequence of Ministerial changes, the portfolio of Customs has been in the hands of iive v members of the Cabinet in the past tAvo years. This fact Avas mentioned in the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday during the hearing of an application for a Avrit of mandamus to compel the Minister of Customs to issue a license for a distillery to be established at Mahia, an outer suburb of Auckland. Tavo years ago, Avhen the application Avas first made, the Hon. W. B. Tavcrner Avas the Minister concerned. Then the portfolio passed in.turn to the Hon. J. B. Donald, the Hon. E. A. Ransom (acting), the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Hon. .T. G. Cobbe (acting), and back to the Prime Minister, Avho now holds it. Mr. Gould, AA r ho appeared in support of the application, said the present proceedings had revived interest in the Distillation Act, Avhicli had lain dormant, and there appeared to be a, possibility that it Avould be vitalised again. "Stepped On It." A motor car driving lesson in Auckland yesterday afternoon might easily have had fatal consequences. The pupil,- a woman, pressed hard down on the accelerator under the impression that she Avas applying the foot brake, and the car, a small brand-new saloon, crashed 20ft to the bottom of a small gully. Neither the Avoman nor the car salesman Avho Avas giving the lesson was injured. The place where the accident occurred was at the foot of Kingsland Avenue, where Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Barber Avere killed when their car got out of control a month ago. The Avoman driver had applied yesterday morning for her license, but had been advised to take further lessons. Her instructor had taken her doAvn the steep grade of Kingsland Avenue Avith the idea of letting lier turn round at the blind end of the street. She liad sloAved down, and Avas about to turn, when she put her foot on the accelerator in mistake for the foot brake. The car Avas near the edge of the gully, and in a flash it had jumped the kerb and Avas over the side. The salesman had just time to grab the wheel and prevent the car from falling into the gully at the exact spot where Mr. and Mrs. Barber Avere killed. The car hit the bank on the far side of the gully, and came to rest on its side, and its occupantswere able to make their escape through the sliding roof. One of the Avhcels was smashed, but the Avindshield and side windows were, not even cracked. ,