NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 283, 30 November 1931, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Disfigured Kitchener. After someone severed the- head of Kitchener from the body on top of the Oratia war memorial cairn the effigy of the great soldier stood headless for months, but now the rest of the body has been taken down and hidden behind the cairn. The figure wae made out of Oamaru stone, and was evidently in three pieces joined together mechanically. As the base on which Kitchener stood is a 'cairn, it still serves adequately ae a memorial. On the sides of the cairn is the roll of honour of the Oratia district. City Organist Sets Record. The whole of Bach's organ works have now been played by the city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett, who has thus set a record for solo musicians in the Southern Hemisphere. Yesterday's recital at the Town Hall included three choral preludes by Bach, which complete the series of compositions that have been rendered. They are contained in the Novello edition of the chorale preludes and variations, the trio-sonatas and concertos, and the Widor-Schweitzer_ edition of the preludes and fugues and other pieces—a total of 210 compositions in all. Severe Storm at Otahuhu. On Saturday at 6 p.m., when a heavy shower of rain fell in the city, Otahuhu was swept by one of the worst thunderstorms ever experienced in the district. Apparently it developed from across the Manukau Harbour, and, within a few minutes, Otahuhu was in almost darkness. A heavy thunderclap and alarming displays of lightning were followed by a remarkably heavy downpour of rain. This soon ceased, and, following a gloomy and eerie atmospheric period, rain streamed down heavier than ever. Electric lights went out, and animals were much disturbed by the severity of the disturbance. So far no unusual damage is reported in the district.

Tea-tree and Heather. The countryside round about Titirangi is white with the blossoms of the tea-tree—acres and acres of it. If the colour were purple instead of white, a Scotsman would feel quite at home, for the tea-tree and the heather have much in common. The similarity in growth—but not in s j zc —ig very noticeable on hill slopes that have been cleared and allowed to go back into native vegetation. The great patches of tea-tree, though irregular in shape, have distinctly-defined edges, just° as though the patches had been artificially planted. In places the patches are separated by lanes of other growth, and no person unfamiliar with the peculiarities of the scrub would believe that the roadway was not artificial. Heather has exactly the eame habit of growth in the Highlands. Malolo's Tasman Time. On her present voyage the Matson tourist ship Malolo, which arrived in Auckland yesterday, was hot asked to maintain such a high speed across the Tasman as was required on her first voyage in 1929. When she arrived at Auckland from Sydney about this time two years ago, she had crossed the Tasman in two days 21 hours, having maintained an average speed of 184 knots. Even this wae not asking a great deal of the vessel, as her ten turbines develop 25,000 h.p., which, transmitted to twin screws, gives her a speed of 23 .knots. From Sydney to Auckland this trip, however, she was scheduled to take three days, so she had ample margin to make up any delay ihat might result from encountering adverse w-eather.

New Guinea Bone Daggers. Queer things from all over the world are to be seen in the storeroom at the Museum. The thought that strikes one, seeing all those curios, is the ingenuity expended in the inventing of instruments of war. Possibly here, as ever, necessity has been the mother of invention. In the miscellany, one of the most interesting examples of ingenuity in war weapons is a collection "of daggers from New Guinea. They are made of the bone of the cassowary, and are as deadly as any of steel. They look as though they have been made from the leg bone of the bird, and they have been shaped with the grain of the bone, to give added strength. At the hilt end, the roundness of the bone is plainly visible, and the curved shape is gradually lost as the point is reached. About half-way down the blade becomes flat,, and- Jias been sharpened on both edges; and bone can be made sharp, particularly on the point. A missionary explained how the dacrger was used. The attack was made from behind, and the point only was used to sever the artery passing just under the collarbone. Malolo's Temporary Bank. When the Matson liner Malolo , arrived at Auckland yesterday morning on her third annual cruise of the Pacific, it was just after daybreak. Long before the sun was up many of her tourists were on deck having their first glimpse of New Zealand's coastline. Dr. Russell, the Port Health Officer, and the Customs officials gave the liner quick dispatch in the stream, and she berthed |at the Central wharf just on S a.m.* Those booked for trips ashore had breakfasted early, ,and wittfitt a few minutes of the gangway being down the huge vestibule on board was practically deserted for , waiting motor ears on the wlnirf. As. the liner wa*s coining up to her berth, representatives of the New Zealand Government Tourist Department were busily engaged in exchanging American and Australian money, into New Zealand currency. Four dollars were taken for a pound, and during the time the temporary b'ank was open close on £300 changed hands. Practically all that money, it was expected, would be spent in the thermal regions yesterday and to-day, and the tourists would be looking .for more. * ,