NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 252, 24 October 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

White Heron Appears,

It is reported that a white heron has made its appearance about the lower reaches of the Waimea River, in the Nelson district. This beautiful bird is now extremely rare, and only about six specimens have been seen in this district during the past fifty years. There are still a few remaining in the Okarito district, where they were formerly plentiful, in Westland, but whether this specimen came from there, of course, it would be difficult to say. A heronry there was visited by the naturalist, Mr. Potts, and his sons in 1871, when he saw over twenty nests firmly made with sticks and containing three or four pale green eggs. New Zealand Climber For Everest? Application has been made by a well-known New Zealand climber for inclusion ir, the party to attempt the ascent of Mount Everest. Mr. A. P. Harper, president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, said last week that on behalf of the applicant he had cabled Home, but had received a reply from the committee saying that it was a difficult matter to settle by cable, and asking him to send the qualifications by post. He had then written to General Bruce, the leader of the last two expeditions, and to the committee, sending the full particulars and qualifications of the applicant, which should be received by the committee in a few days. Dacre's "Double-Figure" Innings. There was an air of festivity at Devonport Domain on Saturday, when local cricket enthusiasts welcomed Ces. -Duere back to his old club. The one "fly in the ointment" was that Daere made only two runs. He fell to a real "fizzer from Kerr, of Grafton—a ball that kept low and that would have troubled the great majority of batsmen. However, the incident had its compensation in humour, and he took his chaffing with characteristic good nature. "Cheer up," said one wag, "you 'got into double figures,' anyway!" A Giaftonian added the dry comment: "It's all very well for Ces. to make centuries at Lord's; it's a very different matter when he has to face the Grafton attack." And Daere grinned again. Then He Woke Up. A good story is told by a Wellington reader of an elderly gentleman, who, shortly after a visit to Wairoa during the earthquake season, was making the trip to Lyttelton by the Rangatira. "I awoke about half-past three in the morning feeling everything trembling and rocking," he complained. "My first thoughts were for the safety of my wife and son, who normally sleep in -the front of the house. In hopping out, my head struck the iron railing of the berth above me, and I let out a yell, under the impression that the earthquake was knocking down the building. . . . The next thing I heard was a stewaid explaining to someone in an alleyway: 'S'orl right; only some old joker with the dingbats.' " The Motor Jaunters. Folk from the city, who went by motor westward for their extended week-end holiday this week, had somewhat the advantage of those who sought East Coast holiday spots up to a point. Sunday's downpour developed from the east, and the rain did not reach the West Coast holiday centres until a good three hours after it had set in along the East Coast. As a consequence the West Coasters had enjoyable holiday weather up to 4 p.m. yesterday, and weatherwise motorists at places north of Piha promptly terminated their holiday at this stage, and got away on roads in good condition. Those who waited had an added "picnic" in negotiating the clay road approaches to the beaches under unpleasant conditions. The East Coasters had less trouble with the roads, to make up for the loss of three hours' fine weather. Rights of the Road. Why pedestrians in small towns persist in walking on the bitumen roadway when there are footpaths available for them is a question that exercises the minds of many motorists. This dangerous "jay-walking" is particularly noticeable in Eastbourne and in Upper Hutt. A warning to such thoughtless pedestrians was issued by the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. S. F. Fisher) at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last week. He said that motorists at Eastbourne had a very difficult task in negotiating the bitumen, particularly in the morning and evening. People walked all over the place, and absolutely refused to move, he said. The council had power to prosecute such people for obstructing traffic. Questioned by Mr. A. Walker as to the advisability of bringing a test case, the Mayor said that probably that would be done.

A Curb on Generosity. » Legality of the Masterton Borough Council s practice of granting the use of the municipal halls rent free to worthy local organisations and societies was questioned recently by the audit inspector, and, as a result, a ruling solicited from the Auditor-General came before a meeting of the council last Wednesday evening. The Auditor-General stated that the council was under a legal obligation to collect the whole of its revenue, and it could not remit any portion of those revenues except by way of unauthorised expenditure. A request was made for an assurance from the council that all remissions of rent granted by the council in the future in respect of the use of the halls for objects other than those 011 which the council is by law authorised to expend its funds, would be cliargcd against unauthorised expenditure. An assurance was given that in future'effect would be given to the ruling of the Auditor-General. Destructive Hikers. A strong protest against damage to the countryside bv "mystery train" trampers was made at a meeting of the Wellington Horticultural Society and suburban societies on Thursday. An instance was given of a property-owner at Titahi Bay allowing "mystery train" trampers to pass through his property. The beautiful native flowers that had adorned his estate had been taken away by the trampers. It was stated that his experience was similar to that of other property-owners, who generously allowed the Railway Department to take trampers over their estates. Lovers of native bush had made representations to the Railway Department, but were tokl by officials that the Department could not control 1000 or more people. It was decided to send a deputation to the Minister of Railways asking him to pass legislation similar to. that in operation in Australia, whereby it is an offence for trampers wilfully to damage native bush or flowers. Last of the "Cabbies." Few people in Masterton are better known and know more about the town and its doings than Mr. Jack Wallace, the veteran "cabby," who still conducts a regular business with his familiar landau and pair. Mr. Wallace believes that he is the last "cabby" in New Zealand to be driving, a four-wheeler, though he says that he lias heard there are yet one or two hansom cabs in Cliristchurch. Veteran of two wars, the Boer and the Great, Mr. Wallace first took up his stand in Masterton when lie returned from South Africa, now more than 30 years ago. Since then, with the exception of three and a half years overseas after 1914, he has plied for hire in Masterton regularly. Mr. 'Wallace receives the big majority of his patronage from the commercial travellers. He states that at present ; he entertains no thought of giving up business, _ antiquated though it may seem to people living in the big cities. The horses are veterans, too, both having seen a good seventeen summers. Though not so smart as in days gone by, they can still rattle along at a goodly pace, and look to the uninitiated good for a few more years to come.