NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Warships Leave Monday. H.M.s. Dunodin left clock yesterday morning after four days' cleaning and painting, and is at the Sheerlegs wliarf. On Monday the Dunedin and the Diomedo leave for Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier, to carry out landing party exercises. They are due back in port on Friday. On Anniversary Bay, January 29, the Diomede will bo the flagship for the annual regatta. Capsize in Channel. Capsized in Rangitoto Channel yesterday afternoon, the three occupants of a YVakatcre class boat, tho owner, his wife and a boy, were rescued by a fishing boat after they had been in the water only a short time, and none were any the worse for the experience. Meanwhile, tho police at Auckland had been notified, and sent a launch to tho rescue, but the people had already been saved. The boat was found near Ivohimarama last evening by Mr. A. Dumper, of Cheltenham, and towed to Cheltenham Beach. Left on Wedding Day. In the course of evidence .in the Magistrate's Court at Te Awamutu on Wednesday, during tho hearing of a charge of failure to provido adequate maintenance for his wife, it was stated by tlie-wife that the marriage took place in Auckland about 4J years ago, and that her husband left her 011 tho wedding day, since when she had not seen him or received any maintenance from him. It was only through the police that she had been able to locate his whereabouts. The Court mado an order for maintenance. Tar Marks Clothes. Tar-sealing operations do not usually have any particular significance for housewives, but that there is another worry still possible in the daily domestic round is proved by tho experience of tho ironcr in a. Stratford household. Maintenance work with a tur sprayer was going on in the street, and just inside the wall was the washing liung out to dry. There was nothing seemingly wrong with tho clothes when taken in, but the first application of a hot iron revealed minute specks of bitumen, blown by tho wind, which on the instant smeared the clothing.'. 1 v Two Girl Miners. i, .

Another example of tho success ' which women can achieve in occupations hitherto regarded as being confined, to men js to be seen (says the "Southland Times") at Round Hill, that old-time Mecca of miners, 1 where two girls, tile Misses Jordan, are working a claim on the flat beyond tho hotel. In this sludge channel and in the hillsides bordering it 6ome 40 claims are at present located, but none has a more workmanlike appeapahco or is being more successfully operated thai), that which these two sisters have acquired. VTliey belong to tho district, which means that;they are not afraid of hard work or of J ghosts. Besides their claim they have pitched their tents, and tho spirits of departed , Chinese and the wailing of the wind hold no terrors for them as they tako their rest after \a heavy day's work on the claim. \ Successful Pig Hunters. A Exceptionally good fortune was the lot' of a party of seven Aucklanders, who, during, a fortnight's holiday at Karekare, spent a couple of pig hunting. On each occasion they were successful, first getting in the gully going down tho Karekare Hill a young boar weighing 501b skinned, and later, on the track to Allen's Camp, towards the Pararaha Gorge, securing a boar weighing 701b. Tho latter f provided a fine pair, of tusks as one ofM.the trophies of the chase which gave plenty of excitement for enthusiastic sportsmen, who report that tho progeny of the pigs, said ''.to have been released in the district many years ago by tho late Dr. Rayner, appear to have developed cunning enough to seek tho protected areas around Niliotupu. The pigs were good eating, the meat of the larger specimen being declared to have a flavour comparable with turkey. Checking Up Sales. The appearance of crayon marks on a number of gates in Gisborne, apparently synchronising with a canvass by relief works strikers for donations, gave rise to many rumours and a certain amount of anxiety on the part of householders (says the "Star's" correspondent). A popular belief was that this method had been adopted to distinguish between sympathisers and\ opponents of the strikers,"but a definite assurance was given by the strikers' committee that its representatives were not responsible only partly allayed concern. Tho crayon marks were finally explained by the statement of a young man, who has been canvassing tho district for sales of a brand of polish, that he had made the marks to indicate where sales had been effected. The marks mado on gateposts liavo been much increased by the actions of practical jokers, so that tho marks originally mado by tho salesman who started the scare have lost much of their value. Fly-fishing at Ruatoki. Major (India) and his party, who were recently encampcd at Ruatoki for a week of trout fishing in the Whakatane district, was so well impressed with the quality of sport offering that he forwarded a letter to the Department of Internal Affairs, expressing his keen enjoyment of his stay there, and recommending tho Whakatane rivers to any fly-fisliermen visitors to the country. Following this testimonial, two other visitors from overseas, Mr. • and Mrs. G. Shene, of Ceylon, are visiting the Whakatane district, and, under the direction of the district ranger, Mr. R. Dickinson, will camp for 10 days on the Whakatane rivers, and 10- days on the Waimana. Further visitors are'expected from overseas in tho near future, among them being a contributor to the English "Fishing Gazette," who will compile a special article regarding the fly-fishing obtainable in the local waters.

Healthy North Shore. Statements have been made on the North Sliore in regard to the amount of sickness prevailing among children through the quality of the water from Lake Pupuke. Mr. W. K. Howitt, North Shore representative of the Hospital Board, (said the rumour that the children's wards at the hospital contained a large number of patients from the North Shore was "pure rubbish." This was endorsed by the medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr. W. J. Craven. The records at the hospital go to show that the health of the North Shore people, taken on the whole, 1 was never better; in fact, if every other district in the large area controlled by the Hospital Board showed equally good results, the hospital would probably have less than half its present patients. Dr. Craven said that he had taken special notice of all cases coming from the North Shore, because of the fear of many that the water might lead to special children's ailments, but any fear they might have had on that score had not been justified. In a girls' ward, with 30 beds occupied, there was only one North Shore case, and that was appendicitis. In Ward 23 there were 53 beds, 52 of which were occupied, and there was one Devonport case. In Nos. 24 and 25 in Princess Mary Wards, where there was room for 50 babies, but only 20 patients, there was not one case from the North Shore. In Ward 18 there were two Takapuna cases, and in Ward 19 one Devonport ease. In all these wards there were only live cases from the North | Shore. Of 108 cases in the Princess Mary Wards only two were from the North Shore, and ward® 18 and 19 had the other threes

Growth of Taupo. The population of Taupo, which at the last census was 50, is now unofficially estimated at over 500—a considerable growth in eight years. During the years 1931 and 19;>2 there were no cases of drunkenness in Taupo, but the record was broken by four cases last year, although in no case was the drink procured in the town. During 1933 there was one minor case of house-breaking, and there were only 18 civil summonses". Still a Mystery. Pending a further improvement in her condition, the mystery of how Miss Marie Ann de Stigter, a girl of 20 years, whose home is at Onerahi, near Whangarei, after being missing for a few days, was eventually found lying in a paddock at Tailiape, remains unsolved. Her father, Mr. J. J. de Stigter, believes his daughter left home intending to go to Wellington to arrange about becoming naturalised, but that she lost her memory on the way. Public-spirited Citizens. "You will find that most of the statues of this city are in honour of Englishmen, but that nearly all of its finest institutions were founded by Scotsmen," Mr. C. S. Thomas tokl members of the visiting Victorian Scottish delegation in Christchurch at the complimentary ceilidh in their honour. He mentioned as examples of the generosity and public-spiritedness of the Scottish residents of Christchurch the McLean Institute and the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. The former, he said, was an example to the British Empire, while the visitors could not fail to bo impressed with the latter building and some of the fine works of art it contained. Rugby In Italy. It is generally understood that Signor Mussolini has bestowed liis benediction on Rugby football. It cannot be said that he is a regular patron of the game, for, as a matter of fact, he has seen only one Rugby contest in his life, but that one was Ritllicient to convince him that it is a fighter's name, and therefore one worthy of being encouraged for the training of young Fascists. Directly it was known that tho Duce had given hie approval there was an immediate response, and very soon about sixty Rugby clubs were formed in Italy. In Rome itself excellent progress is reported, for there a former Oxford University captain has undertaken to coach tho capital city's first fifteen. I ■ A Red Whale. It is forty years since the last red whale wag seen at Stewart Island. A native of Stewart Island describes the incident as follows:—At Chew Tobacco Bay, on the cast coast of Stewart Island, he met Mr. Abrani West returning from fishing in a perturbed state. The reason for his being put out, for Mr. West was not an imaginative person, was that ho had left his nets unhauled because a huge red monster was cruising about in the vicinity of tho nets. The narrator persuaded the old man to go back with him in the fishing boat and make further investigation. The "monster" proved to be a small whale, but it was all over the colour of a crayfish, its ruddy tint making it very noticeable. That took placc forty years ago.

Pastures in Hawke's Bay. \ According to an Auckland resident, who has just returned from a visit through flfawke's Bay, that province is at present a land of contrasts. In the southern districts, especially in the neighbourhood of Waipukurau, the land is very dry, and plenty of rain is wanted. The position seems to bo the reverse travelling north, until tho districts around Hastings and Napier arc reached. Thereagain tho dryness is very noticeable, and thp Havelock hills especially are parched, further north the country loses a lot of its dry look, and thus while some parts are in urgent need of rain, others would be far better wilhotit it on account of the excellent crops that' are ripening. Palmerston's New Buses. According to a citizen who has seen the new buses, now being built in Wellington to the order of tho Palmerston North City Council, the voliicles will be a credit to the city and a vast improvement on the ones at present in commission. With a 9in ground clearance and equipped with 27 h.p. engines, these two English 23-seater buses have a 15ft wheelbase and are beautifully upholstered in red Australian leather. Modern fittings include such conveniences as nickel corner handgrips on all seats and even a special pram carrier platform at the rear. The buses were expected to bo in commission at Christmas, but owing to some fittings being delayed they will not lie delivered to Palmerston North until February. Napier Swimming Baths. "I feel certain that the improvements which have been carried out will reflcct to the credit of the city," remarked Mr. C. O. Morse, Mayor of Napier, in referring to the installation of better and more up-to-date facilities at the Napier Municipal Baths, states tho Napier "Daily Telegraph." "During the recent visit of Bible class students to Hawke's Bay, they were regular visitors to the baths," said Mr. Morse. "They were delighted with the facilities and expressed the opinion that the baths were among the finest in New Zealand." Further improvements are to be completed at the baths in the near future which will add further to their attractiveness, while tho council is contemplating action in an effort to increase their popularity not only with visitors but with residents of Napier. Charges Too High. Some plain speaking about the interference of the transport licensing system with private business was indulged in at a meeting of the Marlborough County Council, when it was stated that as a result of the action of the local Transport Licensing Authority the charges for the carriage of goods in the Kaituna and Pelorus districts had been increased from 00 to 200 per cent, and that carriers were making charges that they knew were too high and were desirous of reducing, but dare not, for fear of action by the authorities. The question cropped up when the Waitotara County Council forwarded a circular asking support for a protest against tho limitation of heavy traffic goods service licenses in its district. This council averred that the action of the licensing authority in its district had stifled competition amongst carriers and brought about a serious situation.

Boom Prices Not Desired. On January 2 the president of the Graziers' Association of New South Wales, Mr. James Walker, commenting on the wish expressed on January 1 by Mr. A. E. Hill, a Queensland grazier, that wool prices would not rise above the present level, sa 1 ' 1 . that wool growers did not want a return of the boom wool prices of a few years ago. Boom prices, said Mr. Walker, were upsetting all round, leading to inflated values and encouraging extravagance both in public and private expenditure; There was always an ultimate reckoning, for that sort of thing, and it proved very expensive to the whole community. "There is everything good to be said in favour of. the steady wool market at reasonable pricesA Mi:. Walker added. "I must point out, however, that while present prices are decidedly-,encouraging, they are not unduly high. In fact, on that basis, and allowing for the exchange rate, wool remains reasonably cheap. This,.of course, encourages worldwide demand."