NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 262, 4 November 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Cat as Foster-mother. In the general store at Tokanui, a Southland country township, there is a cat which is mothering two rabbits as well as her own kittens. She displays even more zeal .in protecting the rabbits than her natural offspring, spitting vigorously at all who attempt to fondle the rabbits. In Grandfather's Footsteps. When T. G. Fowler, Waitara, won the 100 yds and the 220 yds races at the sports at New Plymouth last week he was responsible for an unusual repetition of sporting history. Exactly 50 years ago Fowler's grandfather, Mr. Thomas Taylor, who was then 18 years old and a well-known athlete, won the 100 yds and 200 yds at a meeting held on the New Plymouth racecourse, "Keep to the Left" Rule. Ia motor-car parlance the footpaths of Queen Street last night were "streamlined." The white line along the centre of the thoroughfares is another reminder of the local "Keep to the left" slogan, observance of which during busy hours certainly tends to reduce to a minimum the irritating confusion and delays which occur when there is no system for the benefit of pedestrian traffic. Workless, Old and Young. Members of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, at their annual meeting, were reminded by the president (Mr. A. C. Mitchell) that "the unemployment problem is by far the most serious matter calling for solution to-day. The total of 73,000 registered unemployed does not by any means represent the true position, since it takes no account of unemployed women or girls or the young people leaving our schools and colleges every year who are unable to find employment of any kind." The 58th Regiment. An interesting ceremony connected with the early history of the Dominion will take place on Sunday, November 13, at the War Memoria' Museum, when the colours of the 58th Regiment will be handed over to the Museum authorities by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison. The colours have been in the City Council's custody since they were taken 1 over frcm the Supreme Court many years ago. They have had an honoured place in the Public Library. Steps have been taken to get in touch with the descendants of the men of the 58th, and 300 people have already applied for invitations to the ceremony. Patea's Iron Sands. Requests from Montreal, Canada, have been received by the Patea Harbour Board for samples of the black iron sand at the Patea Beach. Mr. Alfred Stunsfield, Bilks Professor of Metallurgy at the McGill University, Montreal, wrote asking for the samples, which were sent to him and received safely. Several instances of the wonderful properties of this iron sand have been received by the board recently. It is understood several attempts to commercialise the manufacture of the sand into metal have been made. The result of the McGill University's experiments with the sand will be watched with interest. Marooned in Lees Valley. The plight of the Lees Valley settlers, in the shadow of the Southern Alps, when flooding in the Upper Ashley cuts off communication, made a deep impression on two Christchurch men who have just returned to the city after being stranded in the valley for a period of six days. When they drove through on a shooting expedition the river was 2ft <>in deep, but when they attempted to return a few days later there was a rise of nearly Bft, and it was hopeless to attempt a crossing. They Rot through on foot six days later, but had to leave their car in the valley. By then, they said, the settler? had been without mail for a fortnight, aml_ were running very low in supplies. Northcote School Improvements. The improvements effected in the grounds of Northcote district high aiul primary schools through the medium of relief workers was a subject of commendation by Messrs. T. U. Wells (chairman), A. Burns and R. A. Rew, members of the Education Board, in the course of an official visit of inspection yesterday. At the high school a football field, a chip tennis court and three basketball courts luive been put in, as well as a practice area for cricket, etc., the laying out of ornamental plots and the erection of sheds for storing bicycles, tools and gear. The work at the primary school i« yet unfinished, but will include terracing aud making footways, and a football area. Taranaki via Stratford. A correspondent wishes to know what difference the new Okahukura-Stratford line will make to distances between Auckland and Taranaki. By the present route, via Marton, the distance from Auckland to New Plymouth is 442 miles, 1(5 miles longer than the distance from Auckland to Wellington. The Stratford connection will bring Auckland within 288 miles of New Plymouth. The distance from Auckland to Waii"-anui is practically the same via Marton or via Stratford, the exact figures being 338 via Marton, and 330 via Stratford. As between Auckland and Hawera, the Stratford line will save 127 miles. Apprentices. This year's legislation permitting employers of apprentices to apply to a magistrate, in cases where trade conditions render it impracticable for them to carry out their apprenticeship contracts, is referred to in the annual report of the New Zealand Employers' Federation as having worked very well in many cases. Employers have been given mucli-needed relief. It did not, however, make any pretence to effect ail improvement in the conditions of employment of apprentices in future. The advisory board of the federation has therefore made representations to the Government on the question of further amending the Apprentices Act, and it is understood that a bill is now being considered." Waipoua Forest Preservation. "Hands off the forest; that should be our policy," declared Mr. E. J. Phelan at last night's meeting of the City Council, when a letter was read from the Auckland district council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture requesting the council to appoint representatives to attend a meeting of the Waipoua Forest Preservation Committee. Mr. Phelan said no attempt at commercialisation of the forest should be attempted, and the council's representatives should be instructed to that effect. , Mr. F. H. Leonard said the forest should also be made a sanctuary for birds. Messrs. J. B. Paterson, F. H. Leonard and E. J. Phelan were appointed to represent the council at the meeting. Tramway Rate Proposed. During a discussion by members of the Christchurch Tramway Board upon a scale of increased concession ticket fares, decided upon at the last meeting of the board, the car owner who gives his friends a morning lift to work came in for his share of the debate. One member placed a large share of the responsibility for tramway finance difficulties on ihis shoulders; in fact, he said that the "whole trouble to-day was that the motorist was picking people up and bringing them into town," and he was not being penalised; something should be done to make him bear part of the loss. Another member: "Then you are right out in favour, of a rate?" "Yes, it is the only way to bring these people to their senses." The increases decided upon vary from a, third of a penny per four-section trip to just under a penny per trip for longer distances, but there are some compensating concessions, as in the availlability of the cards on Sundays and hi^idays.