NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 225, 22 September 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

No Time For Conventions. During the earthquake at Gisborne about six o'clock on Saturday evening, a young girl was having a bath. "Mother, mother!" she yelled. "Come liere." But mother had rushed on to the lawn outside, and in a second or so, out followed the bather hurriedly. Foreign to the Soil. Mr. W. K. Morris. Oakura, near New Plymouth, made the interesting discovery on his farm the other day of a largo piece of marine mine. Some years ago, it will be remembered, a German mine cast adrift by the raider Wolf came ashore at Oakura, and an expert was scut from Wellington to explode it. After the explosion not a sign of the mine itself could be found. While cleaning up some gorse over half a mile away from the spot, Mr. Morris found a large section of the case, which had been carried that distance by the force of the explosion. Private Kindergartens. One of the consequences of the raising of the school age, the rapid growth of private kindergartens, was discussed at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Primary School Committees' Association last evening, when a remit was received from the Vauxhall Committee suggesting that some system of registration for such ■schools and their teachers should be introduced. Several members spoke appreciatively of the work of private kindergartens, but it was also stated that the Health Department had had to take action in at least ono case of an insanitary building being used. .The matter was referred to the executive. • Missionaries Farewelled. Four missionaries who arc leaving for Sydney to-morrow by the Maunganui, and who aro en route to mission stations in the Anglo-Egyptian, Sudan, were farewelled by a large gathering at the Baptist Tabernacle last evening. The missionaries wore the Rev. F. H. Wilson and Mrs. Wilson, and Mr. and Mrs. W. Keelty. Mr. and Mrs. Keelty are going to the field for the first time, but Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are returning after ten years' service. The Rev. J. W. Kemp presided over the gathering, and gave farewell messages to the departing missionaries. Messages were also given by representatives of the Sudan United Mission and the Bible Training Institute. In Moments of Stress. Even the 'quake has its humorous inclients, and a well-known minister of the Gospel in Gisborne now laughs over his experience early in Friday morning. His sense of direction is not his strongest point. He was awakened by the house rocking to and fro, and noises in all directions. His wife had made a hurried exit, but he was unaware of the fact. Groping in the dark, he mistook the knob of the wardrobe door for that of the bedroom door. He opened it, ' clutched a dress and asked anxiously: "Are you ' safe? Don't be afraid." Receiving no answer, he at first feared the worst. Then, still groping, ■ he felt all over the dress, ascertained it was empty, and made a rush through the bedroom ; door to find his wife on the lawn waiting for ' him. :

Daylight Saving Favoured. A resolution favouring the introduction of summer time a month earlier than at present, and the extension of the daylight saving period for a month later than in previous years, was carried by the One Tree Hill Borough Council at its meeting last evening. The Suburban Local Bodies' Association asked if the council was in favour of amending the Daylight Saving Act so as to bring it into operation at the beginning of September each year, instead of in October, as at present. It was claimed .by the association that if that suggestion were adopted, relief workers would have more time to devote to the cultivation of their vegetables. Several members of the council expressed the view that the beginning of September might be a little too early for the commencement of the daylight saving period, and gave the opinion that a start a month earlier than at present' would be a sufficient advancement. "I don't quite see how the longer period will be of any great help to the relief workers," commented the Mayor, Mr. I, J. Goldstine. Native Flowers. .« There is plenty of evidence that the public keenly appreciates the efforts of the staff of the Auckland "War Memorial Museum to bring the benefits of the institution more closely into touch with the people. The special collections displayed from time to time have been most popular, and the Sunday lectures have been well attended. At the present time there are two special collections on view, the Oriental china and other objects, and the postage stamps illustrating natural history, ethnology and so on of different countries. A scries of tour lectures on natural history has been arranged for Sunday afternoons during next month. An exhibition of native spring flowers is being arranged by Miss Cranwell, the Museum botanist, for October 0, 10 and 11. The number of people interested in New Zealand plants and flowers is steadily increasing, and this exhibition will give many people a chance of seeing flowers they might not otherwise know, as the bush is not handy for townspeople, 'and many of the New Zealand flowers take some finding, even when one gets to the bush.

Start of Yacht's World Cruise. A start in her world cruise was made by the Auckland yacht Heartsease, with her crew of six, last evening. The yacht slipped quietly away from her anchorage in Mechanics' Bay shortly before six o'clock, and made a pretty eight as she rounded North Head, bound for Kawau Island, wherCvgear will be stowed and the final preparations for the cruise carried out. At mid-day yesterday it wa« not expected that the yacht would be able to get away until to-day, but the final work was completed earlier than expected, and the crew took advantage of a fine evening to set off on a cruise that may last well over a year. From Kawau the Heartsease is to go to Suva and later she will probably visit Tonga before making "for Australia by way of the Solomons. From Australia the yacht is to go to the East, and finally will work through the Mediterranean to England. The party on board the Heartsease comprises Lieutenant-Commander W. C. Julcr, who sailed the yacht Rangi in the trans-Tasman race, Captain A. J. D. McArthur, of Wellington, Mr. G. Douglas, of Havelock North, Mr. H. Dixon, of Wellington, Mr. T. Silk, of Wanganui, and Mr. R. F. G. Hutchison, of Mastcrton. It will be seen that the crew is rcpresenative of a large part of the North Island. Dangerous Traffic Domes. "Traffic domes are essential in most places because •' they are a guide to motorists when turning in or out of a road." This opinion was expressed by Mr. P. H. Hollingsworth, One Tree Hill traffic inspector, in a report to the local Borough Council last evening. The domes at present in use in the borough, however, said the inspector, were dangerous, as they stood as high as five inches above the road surface. In his opinion the best dome was a block of concrete about 18 inches in .diameter raised one inch in the centre and let in flush with" the road. With such a dome, no accident was likely to occur. The concrete dome also had the advantage of showing up against the black surface of the road, and required "no maintenance. At the present time there were 18 domes in the borough, and he suggested that others might be installed at the corner of Market rjid Great South Roads, at the corner of Banfurly and Manukau Roads, at the corner of Mount St. John Avenue and Manukau Road, and at the corner of Rockfield and Great South Roads. The council decided to lower all the present zones so that they would not be a danger to traffic, and also to install new zones at the points suggested by the inspector, ...... _a a_l iaUutld ■"■"