NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 285, 1 December 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Education For Leisure. "In the present machine age the use man makes of his leisure is one of the pivotal factors in the success o r r.on-success of civilisation," said Mr. Frank Milner, C.M.G., rector of Waitaki Boys' High School, in an address to Kotarians at Tiniaru (states the Christchurch "Press"). "There is need for sound international education for leisure. If boys and girls are taught to have aesthetic tastes, useful hobbies and wholesome recreation, civilisation can be saved. Primarily education must be liberal and humanistic, and only on this foundation should vocationalism "be built. A wider endowment of vision and leadership in required." Mountaineering Season Opened. The first high climb of the season from the Franz Joeef Glacier was accomplished last week 'by Mr. Goodfellow, of the English Alpine Club, with Guide J. Cox, when the Minarets and the do la Beche, both over 10,000 ft, were climbed. The ascent was made from the Aimer hut. The weather and the snow conditions were perfect, and splendid views were obtained. The party had a wonderful ski run back from Graham Saddle to the hut after finishing their climb. On the same day Miss Theomin, of Dunedin, with Guide Peter Graham, also ascended the Mount Drummond and St. Mildred peaks. Pansies in the Park. There is a remarkable show-of pansies in the Albert Park at the present time. The long bed border facing Princes Street is edged with a fourfold fringe of very fine specimens of this attractive flower. If they were planted in a. single row, they would reach from one end of Khyber Pass Road to the other—an even mile—and they are probably a record for the number of pansies grown at the one time in any one garden or park in Auckland. Each row is a separate colour, white, yellow, purple and variegated, or "brindle," as a farmer would call them. What strikes the non-gardening citizen is that every plant has come true to colour, so that each of the four rows is perfect. The flowers are just at their best at the moment, and the effect is very fine. Thoughtless Motorists. During a visit to the coast, the A.A.A. Gisborne patrol received complaints from tho workmen engaged on the contract held by Messrs. W. Goosman and Company for the reconstruction of tho coast road on the Gisborne side of Tolaga Bay. The men stated that considerable damage was being caused to the completed sections of the work through motorists travelling at excessive speeds, while the uncompleted portions of the work were being damaged also by the same cause. The men stated further that some motorists showed a lack of consideration for the men engaged on the roatr, some of whom had received minor injuries from loose metal spurned from the wheels of cars passing at high speeds. Sunday Tennis. The playing of tennis on Sundays on school courts controlled by the Auckland Education Board is prohibited, but the practice is not altogether unknown. A letter received by the board from the Ngararatunua School Committee yesterday admitted that games had been played on Sundays, but stated that action had been taken to ensure that the offence would not be repeated. A request by the committee that the board should supply a copy of the letter, of complaints was declined. "There are quite a number of schools where tennis has been played on Sundays," reported .the secretary. "One letter informed me that matches were liot played, but friendly games were allowed." The board decided that the regulation prohibiting Sunday play should be enforced in all cases. Cutting of Trees. ' ' . '.;•.*' In view of the controversy which has arisen over .-the beautifying of Rotorua streets, the following extract from a letter written by a lady visitor recently in Rotorua, who is now travelling in California, ie of interest, despite the fact that her condemnation of the Rotorua streets appears to be rather eweeping: "We wont through San Raphael, San Auselino, Ross and Neill Valley. Ross is just beautiful. These are all little towns running into each other, but all are so pretty. The trees are so beautiful—lovely shady streets something like Rotorua would he if it were not for that everlasting cutting of the trees. Hero people protect the trees, and the houses are built among them. It makes me shudder when I think of the hideous Rotorua streets, and compare them with these small towns and Honolulu. Why ie it New Zealand people think that a tree is there to be cut down?" "Brett's Almanac." "Brett's Auckland Almanac" for 1933 contains a wide range of feature information for business men, farmers, housewives and private citizens. In office or home this book will be found an invaluable guide for its streets and postal guide, its maps, showing the boundaries of the new postal districts, its provincial index to more than 1000 places and its local directory. The tide tables covering the whole year include the addition of half an hour for summer time from October to March, and this will be found only one of many ways in which the almanac is made a book of quick reference. The index of contents is much expanded, and the grouping of political, Business, social, religious and sports bodies has been improved with the same purpose of helping the ueer. Many women's organisations have been added, and, as a, special feature for women, a list of recipes is igiven in the household expenditure section. Northcbte's Departed Glory. Every Sunday, for some time past, and for many of the week-days, Northcote wharf hae been a scene of activity. Kahawai have been reported plentiful, and they have attracted fishermen, even from so far away as the city. The wharf has been lined with rods, some of them really good rods, some of them home-made—a piece of Irnmboo and some string. But they all catch fish. Then further along towards the road end of the jetty they have been catching piper. It is surprising how popular this fish, is, bony and attenuated as it is, but fishermen will come a long way if they hear of the presence of piper. It is Jiot long since Northcote was a real Mecca for fishermen. Kingfish, with their great, powerful surging rush, were by no means uncommon, and they used to be caught by means of tridents thrown from the wharf. Kahawai were small fry compared with them; piper were for the nonce irniored. But the building of 'breakwaters has spoiled all that for Northcote, and to-day they talk of the size of the kahawai, not the kingfieh. Farmers and Hard Times. Some amusement was caused during a visit by Hospital Board members to the northern end of the hospital district, where they met many settlers in' connection with matters pertaining to tho district nursing services. The farmers were complaining about the hard times through which they were passing, and saying they worked as hard as the old pioneers, who first settled at Port Albert and other localities in that district. "Now, look here," observed one of the members, "how many of you fellows have motor cars?" and a general smile came over the faces of those present, and it was candidly admitted that motor cars seemed almost a necessity for farmers in these days. They were getting, splendid roads now, so different to those the pioneers had to travel, and why should they not use theni ? Anyway, the members left with the impression that the farmers were worthy successors to the early settlers, and when good times came again they would reap a rich harvest because of the way they were developing their land. When the Dome Valley road was completed, that would be the greatest transformation, in roadmaking the district had ever known, and it would link many districts much j