NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good Friday. There will be no publication of the "Auckland Star" to-morrow, Good Friday. The advertising office will be open until nine o'clock this evening for the receipt of advertisements for Saturday's issue. Building Returns Up. All increase of nearly 100 per cent in the value of building permits issued last financial year by the Devonport Borough was revealed in a return presented to last night's meeting of the council by the engineer, Mr. A. T. Griffith's. Permits issued, 110, were five fewer than those for 1932, but the total value increased from £7512 to £14,808. Fees collected, £88 15/, exceeded those of 1932 'by £32 17/(1. One Shilling Tax On Wage of 5/. After representations had been made to the Government, the Auckland Boys' Unemployment Committee had received advice, stated Mr. N. U. Gribble at last night's meeting, that boys of 10 and over working 011 farms and earning not more than 4/ per week, would be exempt from wages tax. Boys earning 5/ per week, however, received only 4/j as the Unemployment Board estimated their board as worth 15/ per week, and taxed them, accordingly, 1/ per week, as if they were earning £1. Voting Power Tells. For the annual teachers' parliament held in Wellington during the May term holidays, Auckland this year will be represented by ten women and six men. In previous years the male delegates at the general meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute have been in the majority, but 011 this occasion the women seem to have realised and utilised their voting superiority, and when it comes to discussions upon topics affecting their profession the Auckland voice, at least, will be predominantly a feminine one. Nelson's Fruit Export. The total fruit export from the Nelson Province up to last Saturday was approximately 010,000 eases. It is anticipated, owing to the fruit reaching maturity earlier than usual, that all the fruit will be received from the orchards by May 6, though the official closing date is May 12. On Monday and Tuesday 10,000 cases went forward to Wellington to make up a shipment by the Huntingdon for South America. The Port Fremantle is due to arrive in Nelson, to take a direct shipment of 50,006 cases for London, 6n April 14 or 15. Loading will commence after tlie Easter holidays. For this loading 20,000 cases will be assembled at Motueka, 15,000 at Mapua, and 15,000 at Nelson, Nearly Left Behind. An exciting incident occurred 011 the Auckland railway station last night, when two young women, who were farewelling friends departing on the Limited, were discovered to be in one of tlie carriages as the train was beginning to move out from the platform. One woman was able to jump off, but the other was not able to do so, owing to the rapidly-increasing speed being got up by the powerful "K" engine. Meanwhile the guard, who had been accidentally blocked by a young man from boarding the train, was obliged to run vigorously after the retreating van to save himself from being left behind. Having noticed the other incident, he immediately applied the emergency brake on boarding tlie train, which was "brought to a halt half-way down the platform. Studying Medicine at 15. Master L. R. Jury, of St. Paul's Street, Randwick, who has not ydt attained his sixteenth year, has the distinction of being the youngest undergraduate in the faculty of medicine at Sydney University. Young Jury is the son of a former Thames resident, Mr. Bert Jury, and th 6 nephew of Mrs. Mulcahy, of Thames. He Was 'born at Kandwick on June 15, 1917, and was a pupil at the Randwick Public School until the age of nine, after which he attended the Coogee Preparatory School. He then attended a city coaching college, and later was instructed at Sydney Technical College in science subjects. He matriculated in February, passing in Latin, English and modern history at the higher standard, and in French and mathematics at the lower standard. His Dog Companion. There arc do-y fanciers who will say that the dog is often a better companion than a human being, certainly more faithful. Perhaps a very good illustration of this dog and man companionship is to be had in a local case. There is a seller of art union tickets in the city who has a dog that sits on one side, of his table just as long as his master is obliged to remain there to sell his tickets. The dog, a Peruvian Pomeranian, a breed somewhat rare in this country, becomes absorbed in the passing stream of people and busy life around. If his master wishes to leave his chair and table for a brief period, the clog remains on guard. It is an intelligent animal, and when prompted by its master can give a very n-ood imitation of a cat mewing. It will sit up and beg in the most appealing style, and has a repertoire of other small tricks.. Secret Transfer of Land. A person could transfer a section of land to another without the second person's knowledgs, said Mr. N. H. Moss, in reporting to the Stratford Chamber of Commerce on the conveyancing of land (says the "News"). He did not know of any cases where it had been done, and wondered whether it was worth while taking any action. Mr. J. B. Richards maintained that it would be a simple matter to make it compulsory for the person to whom a property was transferred to sign the transfer before it became Ifegal. Such provision could do no harm, and would be a safeguard. The matter was referred to the Taranaki Law Society. At a previous meeting of the chamber Mr. Richards suggested that land not worth the rates payable could be transferred secretly to a second party, making that party liable for the rates. Middle of the Road. As an important principle was involved, the council of the Automobile Association last evening decided to support an appeal against the conviction of a motorist at Coromandel for failing to keep to the left of the centre of the road. Rule eleven of the motor regulations provides that every driver of a motor. vehicle shall keep as far as possible to tho left of the centre line, which is defined as the middle line of that portion of the road used, or reasonably usable for the time beiifg, for vehicular traffic in general. Counsel for the convicted motorist wrote stating that there was 15ft of grass on one side of the road, and that the constable who gave evidence for the prosecution admitted that he had never seen any traffic on it, and, further, that although it might be safe at the particular spot concerned in the case, it would not be safe to travel for any distance on the grass. Drought at Marlborough. Conditions are so dry", in the Awatere, Flaxbourne and Marlborough. East Coast districts generally .that the farmers are beginning to regard the depression as almost secondary to drought (says the "Marlborough Express"). Old settlers say "it is over 30 years since the countryside has borne such a parched, bare-appearance, and it is evident that winter pasturage is going to be extremely scarce unless there is an early break in the weather, with a good soaking rain followed by reasonable growing conditions. The Awatere River is a mere creek at present, .and although residents say they have seen it as low ■or lower, they doubt if the country has been drier for many years past. Some long-established wells are recording a first failure. Some of the streams that have been quite dry in past seasons are still carrying a little water, but this is attributed to isolated rainstorms that haye occurred only on the higher levels.