NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 207, 1 September 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Newmarket Proposed Loan. j The Newmarket Borough Council considered: at its meeting last night a proposal to borrow from the Local Government Loans Board £4750 for paving with concrete that portion of Carlton Gore Road between Victoria Crescent and. Park Road,'and of Huntly Avenue, off Khyber Pass. After discussion, it wae decided to defer the matter until the next meeting. "His Worship." • Stating that he would be "letting his forefathers down," Mr. J. Macdonald said, at a meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council last night, that he objected to calling the Mayor "his Worship." "I do not like the term," added Mr. Macdonald. "I do not object to 'sir,' but 'his Worship' sounds servile." Referring again to his forefathers, Mr. Macdonald declared that, if he used the term there would be a great rumpus among them in heaven. "Stowed Away" From New Zealand. Eleven stowaways from Wellington, New Zealand, were each sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment at Southampton on July 20 for "stowing away" in the liner Port Wellington on June 11, states the London "Daily Mail." All pleaded guilty. One of the prisoners said conditions in New Zealand were absolutely deplorable, and the majority of them had only had one meal a day for the fast four or five months. "Not Poverty Stricken." "We are not poverty stricken; in fact, the borough is in a better position than at this time last year," said Mr. G. D. Hardy at a meeting of the Devonport Borough Council last evening, when an application for a contribution to the Trades Hall Labour Day celebration committee was being discussed. "1 wish you were right, remarked the Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, dnly It was decided, however, to make a donation ot £2 2/, the same as in previous years. Roller-skating Annoying. The council! of the Newmarket Borough considered a complaint at its meeting last night that the roller-skating rink in Khyber Pass constituted an annoyance to residents in tlie vicinity. The general opinion of the council wae that the complaint was somewhat extreme, but, nevertheless, it was decided to refer the matter to the "■eneral purposes committee, which would make a report after having looked into the matter and inspected the locality. Firm Farmyard Friendship. The firmest friends on a farnilet in Bcntley \vemie, Avondale, are a sheep and a Sander. They have been pals for over 18 months. .During the day they arc together about the yard or in the paddock; at night they sleep together. Where one goes, the other follows. When they play, the sheep sometimes good-naturedly butts its: companion off its feet, but they never light. The_ zander is the sheep's senior by two and a half years. "They arc such great pals that I would not have the heart to kill either of them,' said their owner, Mrs. Brooks, this morning. No Donations From Birkenhead. The Biikcnhead Borough Council decided last night to refuse to make any, donation* to any cause", however deserving, until after the end of the present financial year. Discussion arose out of a request from the Birkdale Show for the council's usual donation. The Mayor, Mr. G. Mills had reviewed the financial position of the 'borough, and had called it serious. Mr J. Prickett, recalling the Mayor's remarks, ea:d that the council ehould not give away other people s money when It had so little. Let the individual councillors support causes if they liked. Opinion was divided on the matter, but the motion wae passed. Births Exceed Deaths. There were 233 births registered at Auckland last month, and 210 deaths. In comparison with the same month last year, there was a decrease of 29 births and an increase of 30 deaths, a balance which has been consistently noted in the vital statistics during the past eight months. The total births to date this year are 1048, as asrainst 1919 for a similar period last year, ami dfaths 1301 as against 1204. The number of marriages during the month was 132, bringing [he total for the year up to 1143, compared with 1201 for the first eight months of last year, lne registrar last year officiated for 43 couples and so" far this year 19 marriages have been solemnised by him. *■ Danger of Sensationalism. The Devonport Borough Council last evening received a letter from the Nelson City Council, in which it was urged that the Government should be pressed to prevent exaggerated and misleading reports of New Zealand happenings bein<r sent to the Press in other parts of the world Particularly reference was made to tne Hawke's Bay earthquake and to the nots in Auckland and Wellington, of which it was etoted grossly alarmist and sensational, stories had been published. "The trouble is that New Zealand doesn't get enough publicity of the right sort said Mr. G. Falla. "It would be a eplendid thing if European newspapers, gave prominence to the fact that our primary production hae established a record, and so on." M.r. H. J. Hutchings said the exaggeration took place at the other end. Many of the London newspapers had gone in for sensationalism during recent years, and seemed to be -obsessed with the "stunt" idea. I think it is generally recognised that the standard ot the New Zealand newspapers is very high," eaid Mr. Hutchings. "Personally, I think they are far ahead of many in London." Dangerous Section of Road. The unfavourable comment made by Mr. A. Grayson, president of the Auckland Automobile Association, yesterday, on the nature of the Papakura-Bombay route, with particular reference to the danger from loose metal, led a motor cyclist, who is forced to make occasional tripe to Hamilton from Auckland on business, to relate a recent experience on the Papakura-Bonrbay section. He had just rounded a corner and was taking an incline, where the loose metal was particularly hazardous, when a car travelling at a fair epeed sight. When about eight or ten yards away from the car, his motor cycle skidded to the right on one of the ridges, which characterise loose metal, directly in the path of the car. By a great effort he steadied his cycle and jerked it to the left, in time to be thrown just clear of the oncoming vehicle. The motorist jammed on the brakes immediately, but the car skidded dangerously for some distance before it could be brought to a standstill. Run on Savings Bank. Thirty-nine years ago to-day there was a bit, more excitement outside and inside the Auckland Savings Bank than one usually sees at that popular institution. In the early 'nineties Aucklanders were not quite as sophisticated ae they are to-day, and rumours made them nervous. Round about September 1, 1893, a whisper went about that the bank was in difficulties. The matter arose quite simply over the misunderstanding of a rule of the bank that before a sum of over a certain amount was withdrawn the withdrawer must give due notice, of his intention. Some flighty individual got the impression that because a withdrawal demand was not paid right away the bank must be "in queer street." The rumour grew, and on September 1 there developed the only "run" that has ever been e3?peVienced in Auckland. It was useless to tell the excited customers that there was nothing :wrong; they , -: wanted their money. Those were the 'days-ibf" gpldyvand the only, inconvenience to the bank' sta'ff a certain number had to be told. off. to cart "gold .•frpm., the Bank, ofNe'w Zealand arid briiig if into the" Savings Bankby the back door , in: , Lome Street/ :The\ ; resf<,of. the staff were, kept'busy payi.ng..out.- Gradually the public woke up."'.to the fact' that; the' ..bank "actually" Ava's "safe, and'within a day or two --all the "deposits were back jn the vaults ■