NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 240, 10 October 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

{EfeSS r-'fesw Slip on Orange Skin. To slip on a piece of orange skin and break Her ankle was the misfortune of Miss K. Ballin, of 13, Fairfax Road, Epsom, on Saturday afternoon. She was walking down Constitution Hill when the accident happened. She did not see the orange skin, and fell with her leg under her. She was admitted to the hospital, where her condition ie reported to be not serious. Our Grass Seed Wanted. "Do try and induce New Zealand farmers in suitable localities to grow all the Hawke's Bay ryegrass and all the Akaroa cocksfoot they can for seed purposes, because we can absorb as much as they can grow in the next five years, and there will also be a demand from the Continent as well." This request was made to Lord Bledisloe, j when he set out for New Zealand, by Professor Stapleton, whom his Excellency considers the! greatest authority in the Empire upon the science of herbage production, Homing Pigeons Shot. Complaints are again made that homing pigeons taking part in races have been shot at in the Hamilton district. The Point Chevalier Pigeon Club held a race from Taumarunui to Auckland on Saturday. One bird reached its loft well behind time, badly shot, while a number of birds failed to arrive. Two months ago quite a number of birds were shot at while on the wing, several arriving home shot in the breast and wings. Other never reached their lofts. It is believed that someone on the other side of Hamilton is .responsible. The combined clubs have offered a handsome reward for information leading to the discovery of the culprit. Mayor's Busy Day. The Mayor of Devonport, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, probably holds the local record for speech-making, for on Saturday afternoon he attended no less than five tennis club openings and a bowling club opening, and at each centre delivered an address. Prior to starting, he arranged his itinerary with the respective clubs. He commenced by opening the Hinemoa Club, and at the end of each _20 minutes was at a different club, finally completing his tour at the Stanley Bay Bowling Club at '4 p.m. Mr. Meikle concluded the day's programme by attending a dance at Devonport and later in the evening one at Takapuna. Taxis Outside Theatre. The ban of the city traffic* department on taxi-cabs plying for hire outside His Majesty's Theatre evoked the displeasure of many grand opera patrons on Saturday night. They found that even for ordered cabs they had to walk either to Wyndham Street or Victoria Street. "The position is that with cabs parked outside the theatre, perhaps three or four deep, it docs not give people an opportunity of making their way to their own cars or to tramcars in safety," said Mr. C. R. Hogan, chief traffic officer of the Auckland City Council, when asked for the official explanation of the ban. He said that the move was in the interests of public safety and convenience. Mr. Hogan also pointed out that with taxis parked outside the theatre there would be added danger if the fire brigade were called out when they were there.

St. Helier's Sideshow. Glen Innes Club on Saturday staged a weird and wonderful Soccer match at St. Helier's between "veterans" and "players" of the club. Escorted on to the ground to bagpipe music, and arrayed in motley uniforms, the veterans at half-time were leading by three goals to one. Heroically the oldtimers endeavoured in the second spell to reproduce the efforts of their palmy days, while the spectators wildly applauded successes and uproariously laughed at failures. Two shots by the Players were home through tile posts but for the timely foot of a kilted piper, two of whom were giving moral and active support to the Veterans' goalie. The decision of the referees favoured the old-timers, who were cheered on to victory. By-law Regulating Signboards. A new by-law setting out the conditions under which advertising signs may be painted upon walls and other places, is to be considered by the Auckland City Council at its meeting on Thursday evening. The present by-law on the subject was declared unreasonable by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in a case that came before him, hence the necessity for a new one. The old by-law set out in detail the colours that were permitted tb be used, but the new by-law simply says that before a sign is painted the council must approve the colour, form and contents, full particulars of which are to be forwarded with the application. The by-law will also prescribe fees for permits for electrical signs, an annual license fee of 1/2 a square yard for hoardings, and prescribes the sort of sign that may be put up on premises by business firms. Ratana in Wellington. The headquarters of the Ratana party at present visiting Wellington is at Queen's Drive, Lyall Bay, and is - a very busy place. There is usually a group of natives sitting or standing about the grounds, and motor cars with full, loads of Maoris are arriving and departing at intervals. Most of the party are very well dressed, and well-educated young men, who appear to be thoroughly enjoying their sojourn in Wellington. The majority wear in their lapels the symbolic Ratana star badge. When asked by a reporter the meaning of the assembly at Lyall Bay, one young man replied: "We are here to give support to our member, Mr. Tirikatene, in his fight for the restoration of Maori .rights under the Treaty of Waitangi." Motor-body Building. The assistance of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation in opposing any move to abolish or reduce th§ duties on imported motor bodies is being sought by local motor-body bulding firms. They informed the conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation that there was reason to believe that motor import,ers operating in New Zealand intended to take steps in the direction indicated, on the ground that the work of assembling the component parts of bodies factorymade overseas would provide employment for men in New Zealand now out of work. It was asserted that any such action would do great harm to the motor-body building industry in the Dominion, which was already in a precarious state owing to lack of support from motor traders and the* action of oversea motor manufacturers in pressing importers to purchase cars complete with bodies. The matter was referred to the executive of the federation.

Bullock at Large. Some time before the weekly stock sale at Opotiki commenced on Thursday a rather wild Hereford bullock, with a fine spread of horns, broke out of the saleyards with a tremendous crash, mingled with the shouting of excited men. The enraged animal made for the Waioeka main highway and raced along towards the dairy factory. One young man on a bicycle braved the fierce looks and advances of the bullock, and got safely past. Next the'bullock m?ide towards another young man pushing a cream can along on a handcart. The sight of the bullock was too much for him, however, and he made a wild dash over a gate. The animal continued along the road, and was followed by a youth on a bicycle on his way to the factory. A well-known stockman tried to Stop the animal, thinking it was being driven by the youth, on the cycle. After being greeted with a few yells and waving of arms, the bullock to&sed his head and decided to turn back, and with a finfl turn of speed made a wild dash straight for the cyclist. The latter decided that discretion was the better part of valour, dropped from his machine and fled. Hhe quite expected to see his cycle smashed to pieces, but the wild beast leaped right over the machine, and, finding his quarry gone, continued his way along the road, to be eventually rounded up and put back in the saleyards. .