NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 284, 30 November 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Whale Washed Ashore. A whale 27ft long was washed ashore on the beach between Reporua and Tuparoa, near Gisborne. The Maoris lost no time in cutting up the carcase and obtaining the oil, which will be utilised in the feeding of weaner calves. Plants of Himalayas. To-morrow night at S o'clock an interesting lecture will he delivered by Professor Arnold Wall, of Canterbury College, who has chosen for his subject "People and Plants of the High Himalayas." Professor Wall recently spent seven months in Northern India and Kashmir collecting especially high mountain plants suitable for rock gardens. He went as high as 18,000 ft in the Himalayas. The lecture will be delivered at the University Hall. American Visitors. During last week several parties of American tourists, who arrived in Auckland by the liner Mariposa recently, visited Rotorua, and have been most enthusiastic regarding the thermal wonders of the district. The visitors speak very highly of the facilities now provided by the Matson Line of steamers, and consider that the luxurious travel now available will do much to stimulate the tourist trade from the States to the Dominion. Bull Causes Trouble. A Taranaki farmer recently had an exciting experience when a dehorned bull broke from its tethering chain and for a time defied attempts made for its recapture by horsemen and others. Another bull was brought from an adjoining paddock, but was put to flight with a broken horn. A third animal also had a severe battle, but won, driving the enraged bull into a stockyard, where ifc was roped to a post and the nose chain adjusted to ensure its control. "Magic Words." "We felt all along that New Zealanders were really privileged in England," remarked Mr. C. E. Wheeler, who returned this week with Mrs. Wheeler by the Maunganui from Sydney, after an absence of eight months abroad. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were fortunate in having the best summer England had experienced for six years, and received the most charming attention from everyone. Access to buildings was readily given, and the magic words, "New Zealand," even opened up the palace of the Knights of St. John at Malta, where the local Parliament was held. Taking No Chances. Au amusing incident relieved the sense of tragedy at a sitting of the Supreme Court at Marlborough recently. A bank teller was giving evidence, and produced £200 worth of banknotes, which were handed round the jury, each member of which, at the beginning, had either a £10 note or a £20 note. The various notes were passed round the jury box and then collected and handed back to the registrar. "I think," drily observed his Honor Mr. Justice Blair, "that before we go any further we should get the witness to count the notes again." The witness and the Court sighed with relief when he reported everything all right. Points of View.

"Common fallacies" associated with the primary industries of New Zealand were touched on at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commercc council, called for the purpose of discussing the chamber's attitude toward the move to raise the rate of exchange. "People are very apt in this country to confuse the idea of sheep farmers with wealthy men," said Mr. W. K. Matlieson. "There are perhaps 3000 wealthy men among the farmers, but there arc 50,000 small men, who last year were not getting wages." The chairman, Mr. J. P. Luke, president of the chamber, said that in liis opinion another common fallacy was that the farmers kept the cities. . "They never have, and the 7 never will," added Mr. Luke. An Unusual Dog. Not the least important or attractive of the passengers brought from Home by the Eangitane on Thursday was a young black and tan dog of the Saluki breed, belonging to Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson, of Wellington. It is the first of its kind to enter New Zealand, and the impression it gave was one of speed and grace, as well as purity of breeding. It is claimed for the Saluki that they are the oldest pure breed in the world, and that there has been no change in the characteristics they possessed when first used for gazelle hunting in the East many centuries ago. A Saluki dog in his prime has a speed of well over 40 miles an hour. Although the breed has been established for such a long period in Syria, Arabia, Persia and Egypt, it was not until 1895 that it 'was introduced into England. Even now representatives of the breed are comparatively few there.

Restoring Eangitoto. Much damage has been done on Eangitoto by the introduction of pakcha plants and weeds that are upsetting the balance on what should be a unique botanical area, and. also by introduced animals. The Domain Board, which has control of the island, is taking active steps to remove the exotics that have got a footing and to prevent the introduction of any fresh ones. A party of people interested in preserving the unique character of the island is going down at the week-end to weed out some of the foreign weeds. Outside help would be welcomed, and if any public-spirited Aucklanders wish to go down by either the Saturday or Sunday morning boat they may obtain particulars of the tools, etc., needed by ringing up Mr. N. R. W. Thomas, secretary of the Institute of Horticulture, or Miss L. M. Cranwell, of the Auckland War Memorial Museum staff. Nelson Cathedral Nave. Although the consecration of the new beautiful and graceful Nelson Cathedral is not to t&ke place until Saturday next, December 3, the nave has been in use . since July 31 this year. There is much fine work in the nave, the interior of which is faced with marble up to tho higher levels, other parts being faced with a surface made of fine concreted marble chips, bush-ham-mered. It is stated that high-class craftsmanship is shown at every turn in the building. For instance, examples of splendid carving workmanship are the masques, by Mr. George Miller, on the southern end of the nave. The masques are situated at the terminals of the window labels, and, represent His Majesty the King, Bishop Selwyn, Bishop Patteson and Bishop Averill, the King representing the State, and the Archbishop the Church, i Other masques at the doorways in the central arch represent, on the left, Bishop Suter, and on the outside right, Bishop Mules. There are two. more yet to be carved, and they will represent Bishop Hobhouse and the present. Bishop, Dr. W. C. Sadlier. The nave is spacious, 95ft by 63ft, the height up to the: apex being 57ft above the floor. * • Methylated Spirits Addicts. A vigorous appeal for stern action to be taken to prevent the drinking of methylated spirits was made by. Commissioner Cunningham, territorial leader of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, in an address to the New Plymouth Rotary' Club (reports the "Taranaki Daily News")- The speaker affirmed that the making of the spirit; poisonous would cure what he said was a great evil. "Many men come .to our shelters in the cities of New Zealand who have gone beyond the drinking of such spirits as whisky and brandy," he said. "Ordinary spirits are no longer sufficiently strong for their palates. They crave a stronger sensation, and they become addicted to methylated spirits. They have reached such a stage that they will not tell the truth, and they will steal absolutely anything," he added, in sketching a vivid picture of some of the men he had encountered. "Twenty years ago I went to Holland. There they had the sair.2 problem. Tlicy solved it by making every bottle of methylated spirits green, by labelling it poison, and r what is more, by making it poison." J