NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Good and Bad Old Times. "It is only ignorance that makes people long for 'the pood old times,' a term one often hears repeated," said the Rev. J. Harris, speaking at the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Cambridge Terrace Methodist Church, Christchurch. "Those who repeat the term would be the first to curse the good old times if they had them back. If we had those times back, it would have to be with reservations."

Caught Red-handed. Bird, lovers view with alarm the steady decrease in the number of our native birds and the depredations of stoats, weasels, hawks, owls antl wild eats, upon them. The sparrowhawk is recognised as a voracious bird eater. Recently there was displayed in an Invereargill shop window one of these birds, which was shot at Mossburn while in the act of devouring a small bird. Stilt firmly clutched in its talons is the unfortunate "rifleman" upon which it was making a meal when it was.shot.

No Constructive Ideal. In addressing the Christehurch Society foe Imperial Culture the other day 011 "Modern Tendencies in Drama," Professor Shelley prefaced liis remarks by defining drama as a serious attempt to portray the true facts of life. Through the drama the stage aimed at a constructive ideal. In Xew Zealand the professor had not noticed any constructive ideal to which the people contributed. The people of this country only sought material comfort. The speaker had looked everywhere, from the head of the Government to the boy in the street, for an ideal, but Could not find it.

Fowls Roost on Portable Perch. "I believe the beggars have been asleep-ail the time," said a back country farmer, on arrival at Hamilton last week, when 110 discovered two fowls holding ou tightly to the mud-covered backgear of his car, which lie had driven 30 miles in the dark, so that he could view the show next day. The lights of the city garage disturbed tlic fowls, and the proprietor said it was up to the owner of the car to present him with the chooks. "Not on your life," replied the farmer. "Those two arc the missus' two best fowls, and if she knew they were in Hamilton to-night she would not sleep a wink."

A Home On Wheels. Business men arc continually looking for opportunities to economise. One who was in Xew Plymouth last week was economising in accommodation expenses, and yet had a comfortable home continually with him. The business man and his wife arc travelling from Auckland to Bluff and hack 011 a sales commission, and use as a means of transport a motor caravan, which in its appointments is almost perfect (says tho "Taranaki Herald"). Kitchen, bedroom and sitting room are all there in one, and a wireless set, an independent electricity supply, and a cat and a dog make the home complete.

Appropriate Chimes. It is not often that r.n arliclc which forms a {rift at a farewell gathering makes itself heard during the function, but that occurred durifig a presentation by the Christcliurch police to Constable E. T. lioswortli and Mrs. Bosworth, who haYc spent tlie last 18 years in the district, lhe gift was a handsome chiming clock, and while Superintendent IX J. Cummings was eulogising the services of the retiring constable, just prior to the presentation, tlie clock appropriately showed its mettle. When the chimes rang out, the superintendent paused to let them run their course, and then dryly remarked: "It would appear as if my time is up." The interlude was amusing, and'allowed the presentation to prove its worth to all concerned.

"Best Eughy Team Ever." The chief steward on board the British steamer DalCroy, which arrived at Auckland with a sugar cargo from Java this morning, was in his youth a capable Kugby scrum half, and lie recalled to-day that he 'saw the match in which the original All Black team of 1000 was beaten by Wales by three points to nil. "The All Blacks of that year were a wonderful team, and in my estimation there has never been another team like them. Although Wales won—and they too had a great team in that year—it iis my opinion that the Xew Zealanders were the better side." The defeat by Wales was the only reverse suffered by the All Blacks on their tour, and the match was made historic by tlie New Zealanders claiming a try, which would have saved the day, but which was disallowed by the referee.

Persistent Sightseers. Heavy rain fell yesterday afternoon, when a big crowd of Aucklanders was waiting to go 011 hoard the French war sloop Savorgnan do Brazza. Tho lower deck of the warship provided good shelter, and It was quickly crowded. When the rain ceased the sightseers wandered all over the vessel, finding much of interest, and meeting with 110 little difficulty when conversation with the members of tho warship's crew was attempted. The latter were courteous in showing visitors around. When tho timo came to clear the warship, the visitors seemed loth to go. Quito a number stayed to see a final ceremony, the lowering of tho tricolour. 0110 shot was fired, there was a sharp bugle call, and then the flag was hauled down.

A Harvest of Fuel. A harvest of \yinter fuel was provided for many Gisborne residents 011 Sunday as a result of the flood, and the scene on tho Waikanae Beach throughout the day was rcnwrkablc. Seldom before had there been such a large collection of wood concentrated within a very small area, and seldom had there been such feverish activity 011 the part of hundreds of people to remove as much wood as possible to their backyards. Throughout the day motor lorries, horses and carts, hand-drawn, carts, motor cars of all sizes and descriptions, and even bicycles, plied between the beach and various parts of the town laden with wood. In addition to the tree trunks, branches, planks and posts thrown up on the beach, there were hundreds of pumpkins and marrows.

Maybe a Little Luck. Twice in the course of a few days players on the Awapuni golf links (Invercargill) have succeeded in holing out with shots from the tee. Recently C. H. Wells sank his drive at the eleventh hole, a distance of 140 yds, in the course of a friendly match, and later M. Steineke did the same at the ninth, a distance of 180 yds, with a little timely help from a fence post. The shot was a remarkable one, lor it travelled with great velocity to the boundary fence, and would have been well out of bounds but for a collision with a post, which deflected the ball, back on to the links, and towards the green. The hole is practically a blind one, and it was with much astonishment that the player discovered his ball nestling comfortably in the cup. His exploit was considered well worthy of the honours which, 011 such occasions, golfers tender to the fortunate and skilful.

River Salvage. Securing huge logs in their canoes is a sport enjoyed by young up-river Maoris when the Wanganui River is in flood. Recently three young natives chased a big totara log for a distance of three miles before they could secure it The journey down-river was. fraught with consideri able danger, as the water was flowing swiftly. While the youths were, attaching a line to the log a huge willow swept down upon them, bumping iiito the canoe. One of the lads was precipitated into the water, and, as he was wearing gum boots lie quickly sank. Fortunately lie was able to remove the boots, and by swimming under the surface managed to escape injury from the swiftly-moving mass of timber. Regaining the bank, he soon joined his companions in. their salvage task, and finally their prize was hoisted in to the river bank. It was later sold in the form of fencing posts! i