NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 139, 14 June 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Enterprising Youth. It would be unwise to say tliat the Fijian is not a business man, says the "Star's" Suva correspondent. A. case in the Police Court recently proved that at least one native boy has the business instinct. He was charged with stealing a push-bike. While he had it, he was proved to have been hiring it out at one penny a ride. He was sentenced to six strokes of the birch, which was a sorry reward for his enterprise. Poisoned By Hapuka Liver? Is the liver of that delectable fish, the hapuka, poisonous, is the question which has been suggested by the experience of four Mercury Bay fishermen. After partaking of a meal consisting solely of hapuka livers, they alleged that this caused them to be poisoned. As they were recovering, each broke out into a rash, some on the backs, and some on the arms and legs, this rash lasting in some of the cases for a week. If the poison is attributable to the liver, they hope that this warning will save others from a similar experience. Footballer's Fall. To fall a distance of nearly 30ft and escape without serious injury was the experience, yesterday, of Murray Kay, the Y.M.C.A. and Auckland representative Soccer football player. Mr. Kay is employed at the depot of the Shell Oil Company, Freeman's Bay, and he fell from the top of a flight of steps 011 an oil tank to the ground below. He was very badly bruised and shaken, but a medical inspection showed that no bones were broken. Mr. Kay was taken to his home at New Lynn, where he is confined to bed. It is not likely that lie will be able to play football for at least a fortnight. Power Poles on Farms. At the monthly meeting of the Wairere Electric Power Board, in the King Coui.try, a settler wrote requesting the removal of a power pole which was close to some shelter trees 011 his farm. It was stated that the pole Was placed in its position without the settler's permission. The engineer stated that under the Power Boards Act owners of properties were called upon to prevent trees coming in contact with power lines. Some members contended it was fu:- from reasonable to ask farmers to cut dow.i shelter trees, which meant so much to stock during both winter and summer seasons. After further discussion it was resolved to ask the farmer to pay half eost of the removal of the pole. Trophies in Sport. "Trophies are the curse of sport, and they should all be buried," said Mr. F. W. Jennings, president of the Wanganui Primary Schools' Rugby Association, at the dinner given by the Wanganui and Old Boys' Football Club on .Saturday night to say au revoir to A. G. BullockDouglas. If trophies were done away with, they would have far better football, he said. A lead in that direction had been set by the primary schools, who had wrapped up all their trophies and given them to the Wanganui Education Board. Game after game was spoilt by trophies. "Confound trophies, and consign tliein to perdition, and let us play the game in the spirit in which it should be played. Make yourselves the best players you can, and never mind the trophies at all," he added. "A Great Name." Many certificates and awards won by members of the St. John Ambulance Association were presented by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at the annual meeting of the Auckland Centre last evening. The hall was packed, and occasionally successful members experienced difficulty in making their way to the platform, from which his Excellency made the presentations. One young member who had to pick his way from the back of the hall evidently thought his delayed appearance might make it seem that he was not present, for, to the amusement of Ihe packed attendance, ho sang out: "Coming, sir." His Excellency had a few words for each of the successful members. To one whose Christian name was Joft're he remarked: "You have a great name to live up to, my lad." Sacking of Auckland. People who were living in Auckland do not realise the full extent of the happenings during the "riot" when some of the unemployed got out of hand. Mr. William Gaw, of Auckland, got a letter from friends in Hamburg by the last mail, and they hope that he was not injured during the "outbreak." When the affair reached the Hamburg newspapers it seems that Auckland was practically sacked. There were 400 windows smashed to smithereens, and the casualties ran into hundred's. Xot so many years ago any bit of news that savoured of yellow journalism was always put down to the United States, but it seems that the habit of exaggeration in order to get a touch of sensationalism into the news has become acclimatised in other parts of the world.

Concrete Power Poles. Even hardwood rots after being in tlio ground a certain time, and the Auckland Electric Power Board has decided to experiment with reinforced concrete poles to carry the overhead cables. At yesterday's meeting of the board the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, recommended making 100 concrete poles as a trial. If they were a success, the board could be satisfied tlmt it had found a pole that would be there "for keeps," and in future the present hardwood poles when their life was ended would be replaced by the concrete ones. Prices for making the poles had been received from two Auckland firms, the price for 30ft poles being £4 each. Mr. Bartley's recommendation that 50 poles be ordered from each of the linns waa adopted by the board. Worms Like Snakes. One thing leads to another, and when the fact that a large centipede a foot long had recently been found in the Grafton Gully was being discussed by n pressman and an Australian, now resident in Auckland, the latter stated that in Victoria, Australia, and in only one other place in the world, Brazil, are found worms as large as big snakes. The Australian said that ho had handled them up to 3ft Oin long, but that there had been rare instances of some being found a* long as Oft. They were .quite harmless, and resembled our familiar common garden worm in all respects, other than size. At night they made a peculiar sound. The pressman, who thought that he "was having his leg- pulled," referred the matter to the curator of the Museum, Mr. Gilbert Arehey, who corroborated in the main what the Australian had stated, saying that specimens had been found up to a length of sft. Ho said also that worms had been found in New Zealand more than 12in long. Important Hospital Board Conference. "I have presided over many this was the most important of its kind yet held, said Mr. W. Wallace, president of the Hospital Boards' Association of New Zealand, when referring to the gathering of hospital board representatives held in Wellington last week. Mr. Wallace said every delegate showed that he was impressed with the seriousness of the position, and fully alive to the many difficulties confronting hospital boards. He had been improved by the candid expression of opinion and by the intense enthusiasm and interest every representative took in the welfare of his particular hospital. The Kev. W. C. Wood, who also attended the conference, said the Auckland delegation had submitted an important memorandum, expressing the unanimous view of the board on the question of hospital reform. Among the recommendations submitted were reduction of hospital districts, development of the metropolitan and base hospital ■system, and reduction of resident accommodation for nurses in training.