NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 259, 2 November 1931, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Northcote Water Supply. Most of the houses in Northcote were without a water supply last evening, owing to a break in the large main which delivers the water from the lake at Takapuna to the 'reservoir at North - cote. Repairs were immediately put in hand, and the full supply was restored early this morning. Community Fireworks. A move to minimise the danger attaching to the indiscriminate use of crackers, rockets and other fireworks, so popular in the celebration of Guy Fawkes, on Thursday evening, has been taken by the Papatoetoe Town Board authorities, who, through the band committee, have authorised the holding of a big bonfire at the local park, where all residents are being invited to bring their fireworks, and set them off together. Whilst the celebration proceeds in the light of the blaze, the •band will play in the rotunda.. A Busy Sunday. Three overseas ships arrived at Auckland yesterday, giving the port authorities a busy day. First came the Ruahine from London, with 322 passengers, and as soon as she had been cleared by the port health officer, Dr. Russell, and the Customs, the Golden West showed up from Los Angeles with'general cargo. Within three hours the Aorangi arrived from Vancouver with 314 passengers, making 676 people to reach Auckland by overseas steamers in one day. Customs officials worked till late last evening clearing the piles of luggage from the passenger vessels. Early Pohutukawa Bloom. Visitors to Rangitoto Island in the past few days have noticed a pohutukawa spray in full bloom on a tree on which the other buds are no further advanced than elsewhere in Auckland. Miss L. M. Cranwell, botanist of the Auckland Museum, who saw the crimson flower last Wednesday, said to-day that a pohutukawa was rarely known to burst into bloom before the end of October. She had seen only the one spray this spring, but it was a good specimen and was in a conspicuous position on a tree near the Rangitoto wharf. Aorangi's Big Passenger List. With one of the largest passenger lists for many trips, the Union liner Aorangi arrived at Auckland from .Vancouver, via Honolulu and Suva, shortly after 3 p.m. yesterday, and berthed at the Prince's wharf at about 4.30. The number Of passengers in all classes was 314, of whom 149 landed here. At Suva 37 passengers embarked for Auckland and 48 for Sydney. Since the Mateon liners have left the direct Suva-Sydney service and diverted their ships to Auckland, many more Fijian passengers bound for Sydney are now seen at this port. The Aorangi had- fine weather throughout her voyage. She will continue her journey to Sydney at 10 p.m. to-day. Tennis Club Veteran. Few men continue playing such an energetic game as .tennis to the age of 70 years, but such is the record of Mr. T. Macky, president of the Devonport Tennis Club. Last year, with hie son, he won both the championship and the handicap doubles. He has been president for some 30 years, in fact, he stood guarantor to the club at its inception, and he has fostered its interests ever, since. Last year saw the club attain a longcherished ambition —to be free of deJjt on its property, which is one of the best equipped in the Dominion. At the official opening of the club on Saturday, special reference was made by Dr. F. 0. Pope to Mr. Macky's long and happyrecord of service to the club. The Piper Season. On many wharves and similar places during the week-end now anglers are to be seen with, rod and line fishing for that miniature-like swordfish, the silvery piper, which is the especial dainty of the shallow water fisherman. A full tide and a warm, bright day with a light wind ruffling the waters are ideal conditions for indulging in this pastime, which, after ci .morning or an afternoon's patience with the rod. generally yields the fisher a good catch. Last week-end was ideal for piper fishermen, and many of them were seen scattered on the various wharves on either side of the harbour with good catcliee. Owing to the j>eason being early, the piper arc not yet all that is to be desired with regard to condition. Merritt's Cricket Engagement.

A week or so ago a cable from London said that W. E. Merritt, a member of the New Zealand cricket team, would return to England to play for a Lancashire League club. When Merritt arrived by the Ruahinc yesterday, he said that the message had evidently created, a false impression. It was true, he said, that he had entered into' a tentative agreement with the Ki'shton Club to play- with them for. 20 weeks next season, but the agreement was subject to ratification by the Xcw Zealand Cricket Council. Business, as much as a desire to play cricket, would take him back to England next year. He had no idea of qualify? ing. to play for, an English county, and his chief desire was to play the game in New Zealand as long as possible.

Killer Whale Captured. An unusual catch was made in the Maliurangi River, near Warkworth, yesterday morning, a creature which is believed' to be a small killer whale being landed after a strenuous tussle. The fins of what was at first thought to be a huge fish were seen in shallow water below the falls about eight o'clock, and later the visitor became entangled in-the piles of the wharf; Its tail M-as lassoed, and by means of a derrick from the scow Jane Gifford, the whale was landed. . A photograph of the catch was shown to Mr. L.' TV Griffin, director of the Auckland Zoological Gardens, who said it was probably a killer or grampus whale, of the species "Orca gladiator." He hoped it would be possible to obtain it as a specimen for the War Memorial Museum. New Cricket Precedent. A subject • ipf general . discussion among cricketers in Auckland during the week-end was an incident, in the King's Old Boys-University ■match, in which the teams declared in their first innings after the opening ba11.5. In each instance the result was four byes. University then batted and scored 67 for their second innings. King's Old Boys made 69 for one wicket, and declared their second innings closed, and thus won the match by nine wickets. It was a six-point victory. From beginning to end the match had taken just three ■ hoi;rs. All precedents in Xew Zealand cricket were broken by the unusual declarations, but there was the example of Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, who last season created this precedent in English county cricket and caused a great.deal of comment. "Aβ their action was clearly within the laws of cricket, there was no call for a ruling from the M.C.C. King's Old Boys are playing in the senior grade for the first time this season, and now stand at the top on points, with a four points over Parnell.

Flagstaff Missed

"Old-timer" writes: "I was rather surprised that no voice was raised in protest against doing away with the signalling station on Mount '■Victoria. From a busine -, point of .view, there is nothing to say against the economy, as the shipping companies are in close touch with the ships by wireless, and the Harbour Board also has the same advantage, plus the signal station at Tiritiri, which also uses wireless. But there arelote of people, living where they have a view of the familiar old flagstaff, who sadly miss the cones and flags that told them what was corning in: Of course, there is no room for sentiment in such a body as the Harbour Board, but surely some antiquated sailor could be induced to take.iip hie residence on that lofty look-out, and' act as amateur signaller, just for the love of his old calling and that passion for messing with, ropes, tar, flags and other things nautical —a passion that the old sailor never loses. The idea is probably fantastic, but if the Harbour Board ds agreeable there is no doubt about being able to-find the old Jack Tar." '