NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Liner Prom London. Probably for the first time in lier career, the well-known Home liner lonic arrived at Auckland from London this morning with her holds empty. The vessel, which is at present on her seventy-first voyage to New Zealand, came out in ballast, so that she was able to commence loading as soon as she berthed at the King's wharf to-day. The liner, which brought 63 passengers, experienced a fine, uneventful trip. Mutton For Fiji. One hundred and twenty sheep were included in tlie deck cargo carried by the steamer Waipahi which left Auckland for the Islands this morning. The sheep, which will be sold to Suva house-! | wives as prime mutton, had as companions for the voyage a number of pigs, the majority of which will also be landed at Suva. On nearly every one of her tri|« to the Islands the Wai-| pa hi carries live stock of some description, sheep being the most common. More Government Interference. "During the past, eighteen months a magnetic truck has operated over our highways and has picked tip an average of about 400 nails, and tacks per mile. I do not suggest further research, as it may lead to a realisation that this service is just another case of Government interference with private business," said Mr. A. Tyndali, engineer to the Main Highways Board, in a lecture on modern highway research to the technological section of the Wellington Philosophical Society. Island Loading Difficulties. Heavy seas were running at Mangaia, in the Cook Islands, when the motor ship Hauraki, which commenced her discharge at the Prince's wharf this morning, loaded 3400 cases of oranges there last week. A number of canoes laden with oranges capsized while being paddled out to the motor ship, their occupants being thrown into the water. Being strong swimmers, the natives had little difficulty in reaching the shore, but some of them were cut and bruised on the coral reef which surrounds the island. As the result of the unfavourable conditions the Hauraki's loading at Mangaia occupied two days instead of one. Overseas Liners' Schedule. When the Monterey loomed through the mist before breakfast this morning, she inaugurated the new time-table for the Oceanic Steamship Company's liners. Hitherto; they have arrived at this port from Los Angeles on Monday, and on the return trip from Australia on Tuesday. In future they will arrive regularly from across the Pacific on Friday, and from Sydney on Saturday, sailing again on the evening of the same days. The Monterey was a light ship this morning, having under a hundred passengers, which reflects the customary falling off of tourist traffic in the winter months. She will be joined by 110 passengers before she sails this evening.

Ambulance's Splendid V/ork. In the annual report of Colonel G. Barclay. Chief Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in New Zealand, on the work of the brigade in the Dominion, it is stated that members attended to 4f>7o accident case* during the year, as compared with 4041 in 1931-32. In Auckland 4989 patients were carried by ambulances a total distance of 54,19,") miles. Christchurch ambulances attended 2015 cases, over a total distance of 19.807 miles. In Dunedin 1373 cases were conveyed a total distance of 9921 miles. In England 380.283 patients received attention from the St. John Ambulance Brigade. German Jews' Degradation. In the latest issue of the "Jewish Chronicle," London, are two photographs illustrating the ignominies to which the Jews of Chemnitz, Saxony, including lawyers, doctors and prominent business men, were subjected by the Nazis, who forced them to street cleaning tasks. One shows them whitewashing a wall in the business quarters of the town. In the other is shown a Jew, who refused to demean himself, being publicly paraded through the city in a scavenger cart. His expression is one of patient suffering. The paper states that these pictures would never have been seen by the outside world. Martyrise the Moderator. During a discussion of ways and means of meeting the church's missionary obligations, at the Wellington Presbytery's meeting, one of the women delegates present suggested a novel method of enlisting the support oif church members for the cause. "I am sure," she said, "that if the Moderator of the General Assembly were to announce that he will fast until the money is all in, it would speedily be forthcoming. Our people are us ready as any others to respond to a noble and self-sacrificing gesture." Neutral, When a witness was being cross-examined in the Supreme Court in an action heard before Mr. Justice Smith, counsel mentioned that the witness was on defendant's side. "I'm not on any side," said the witness. Counsel explained to the witness that he had been called by the defence, and it was customary to refer to a witness as being on the side that called him. The witness still emphasised he was not on any side, and even when his Honor explained that it was merely a way counsel had of referring to witnesses, the witness must still have entertained some doubt, because he said: "Yes, your Honor, but you know I'm no*. on any side."

Slip On Tamaki Drive. A slip occurred on the cliff abutting the Tamaki Drive, just past tlie Orakei wharf, this morning, and about a ton of the papa rock was strewn across the waterfront road. The precipious cliff is continually slipping down in minor falls, and though there has not been anything serious there is always an element of danger to traffic. This morning the slip occurred right at the top of the cliff, and the steepness of the bank precipitated some of it right across the road on to the footpath, a lump weighing a couple of hundredweight coming to rest against the embankment wall. Another piece, which four men could Hot shift, came to rest in the middle of the road. Reckless Motorists. "Pedestrian" writes: —One of the city by-laws which should be rigidly observed and enforced is that which compels motorists to stop behind a| tram which has pulled up to set down or take up passengers. Far too often the regulation is ignored. A tram is slowing down to pull up at a stopping place, and a motorist will accelerate to pass the tram before the stop is reached. Then there is real danger. Many an accident has been caused by a pedestrian stepping off the footpath in an endeavour to catch a tram. The motorist often takes the risk, thinking that he can race past the tram before it comes to a stop—a definite form of "road hogging." There can be no excuse for the motorist in circumstances 6uch as these, for as soon as the brakes on the tram are applied, the red "Stop" sign on the back of the tram lights up, which should be enough warning to any driver.

Music From the Tog. From the harbour this morning, for the first time since the approach of winter, there came anxious voices of many sirens. Everything was Shrouded in a mantle of fog. It was a busy time for the ferries, because all the business people wanted to come to work, and the routes converge as the tees are approached. Hence the responsibility of the captains was reflected in the call of the vessel's whistle. Though not so dense as it sometimes is, the fog was sufficient to give an £(.ir of mystery to the harbour crossing, and all the young fry aboard was clustered as near the bow of the vessel as was permitted. Out of the white opaqueness from somewhere in the city, marine suburb dwellers were astonished to hear the sound of music. It came just out of the fog, and sense of accurate direction was lost. From nowhere it seemed to come. As ferry travellers drew into the city they learned that it came from the loud-speakers on the Oceanic liner Monterey, Pleasing to the ear, it sounded strange from out of the dense whiteness. •