NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

That Medical Inspection,

On the motion of Mr. W. B. Darlow, the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday decided to request the Government to abolish the medical inspection of passengers which now takes place on all intercolonial trading: vessels. Mr. Darlow said the delay caused by the medical inspection was causing inconvenience to passengers and creating bitterness.

School Enrolling Age. There seems to be some misunderstanding amongst parents as to the school enrolling age of children, and the following explanation by a Southern education board should clear lip the matter. If a child will attain the age of six by May 20 he or she can be enrolled immediately. If enrolment is not made within, the first four weeks of the school year, the child cannot he enrolled until after May 20, or until it has reached the age of six. Bad Season for Cocksfoot. The present season is proving unsatisfactory for the harvesting of cocksfoot on Banks Peninsula. Farmers are complaining that the seed is not "making" in the sheaves, and very poor results have been obtained from the early paddocks threshed. While the later crops on the higher levels are expected to prove better, available reports indicate that so far practically only one growth was reaped, against about three in the early crops. Sparrow in Church. A sparrow attended St. Paul's Methodist Church, Cambridge, on Sunday last and proved to be a somewhat obtrusive member of the congregation. His—or her—piping shrilled above organ, choir and congregation, in anthem and hymns, and occasionally broke in durin"- the address and prayers, whether as assent or dissent it is difl.icult.to determine. Appropriately enough, Psalm S4 was read by the preacher, the Rev. Jas. Richards, and a smile went round the congregation when the words "Yea» the sparrow hath found her an house" were read. Rat in Motor Car. It is surely a sign of returning prosperity when rats start coming to town .in motor cars (states the "Marlborough Express"). Last week a local farmer started up his car •and made lis first trip to Blenheim for some little time. In the course of business he called at a service station for a fill' of oil for the engine. When the bonnetwas raised, owner and serviceman were astonished to see a big rat perched on the vacuum tank, whither he had retired, apparently to get as far as possible from the heat of the engine. The rodent lost no time in vacating his super-six-heated quarters as soon as he saw the way of escape, and when last observed was making good time for the nearest hotel.

Songs of the Birds. Dawn at Waikarcmoana is an unforgettable experience, states a Wanganui resident who recently visited Waikarcmoana. Just before the first streak of light appears behind the hills, the first bellbird's chime is heard. Often he commences his song before the last weird note of the mopoke has died away. Then, before many moments have passed, the crisp mountain air. is vibrant with the singing of these silver-throated creatures. Lying awake, one can visualise hundreds of church bells swinging in a tiny village, so realistic are the notes of these birds. The tui is also heard, but it is not easy to distinguish his song from that of the bellbird.

The Continental Outlook. Holland's attitude to both Britain and Germany, said Mr. H. Spear, who recently returned to Wellington from a tour of Europe, seemed to be one of indifference, while the Belgian people, if the war were discussed, seemed to bo 'inclined to retort that England had not been entirely disinterested, but was helping and defending herself in any case, rather than making any special effort on behalf of Belgium. Everywhere on the Continent, especially in France, Mr. Spear noticed a general grasping desire to make money out of the visitor, and if money were not in sicrht the people were not in the least interested in the visitor. This cxpensivencss of travel on the Continent, he said, was inducing a number of foreigners to visit England, where the cheap rail fares and the relative moderateness of charges were becoming appreciated. Haul of Warehou. The event of the "fishing world of Castlecliff, Wanganui and the river" on Saturday was a haul of over 100 warehou, a type of fish that is not often caught close in. A school of five porpoises was noticed between the north mole and the Cyrena, just after midday on Saturday. The fish were very close inshore, so close in fact that several, lads, armed with flounder spears, gave chase. While the porpoises were rising and diving, a cast was made with a flounder net, and when it was hauled in it had the 100 warehou referred to. The theory is that they had been chased in. Some splendid hauls of flounder and sole were obtained over the week-end. These fish were very plentiful, particularly near the north mole on the beach. Bathers kept treading on them, and a net that was being operated there must have caught a total of over 300.

Alpinist's Kit Found. On a recent Sunday, while walking from Hidden Falls to Ellin Bay, in the Southland back country, Mr. N. J. Dolamore, Conservator of State Forests, saw what appeared to be a man's oilskin caught on a snag in the river. Closer investigation, however, disclosed that it was a green canvas waterproof sleeping bag of the type used by alpinists. Several articles of apparel, among them a grey flannel shirt with the trade mark, "Brown, Swing's, Dunedin." were also found on nearby snags, and it appears that a complete pack was washed against the top end of the snags, coming apart and distributing its contents for a distance of nearly 200 ft. The property is probably that of a hiker who got into difficulties when fording the river, and was either, washed away "or sacrificed his pack in order to gain the bank. The accident must have occurred recently, as the articles would have been more extensively damaged had they been lor.g in the water. Those Elusive Leonids.

Fourteen months ago the Leonids, a brilliant astral phenomenon, in the form of a cluster of shooting stars, was due to be ee,en from New Zealand, but the skies were clouded over, and astronomical enthusiasts watched through the night hours in vain. similar experience has recently befallen watchers of the firmament in England, for a popular weekly newspaper records that the constellation was entirely invisible. The journalist who reported the occurrence (or rather its lack of occurrence) essayed a picturesque touch with the headline, "Lid on Leonid," but the effect was somewhat marred by the inaccuracy of describing the Leonids as singular and hot pluraL "The Leonid, a deluge of shooting stars, should have been visible last ninht.'Mie reports; "but the clouds shut.out any spectacle there may have been in the skies. So the Greenwich Observatory people and other stargazers went to bed disappointed." Evidently astronomers at Home, like those in the "Southern Hemisphere, are doomed to another long spell of waiting for "Those Elusive Leonids," as they were dfescribed in the "News of the Day" column in November, 1D32.

"Stopped the Slide." An improved state of finances was disclosed at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening, when the chairman of the finance committee, Mr. F. S. Battlcy, said that the rate collection for the year was considerably in excess of the previous year. He said that they were holding their own for the first time for some years, and had "stopped the slide." With still two months to go, they had collected £52,342 out of £09,584, or 75.4 per cent. Thev were £700 better off than they were at the same time last year. A good feature had been the reduction of arrears of rates: Yacht Club Protests. In Saturday's race for V and S classes of the Akarana Yacht Club, the starting flags were, owing to an error in timekeeping, hoisted a couple of minutes too soon. As all the craft were at the line and the class flags could be plainly seen, the starter decided to let them go, as" two starting flags had fallen before the 'error was discovered. Two craft, however, hung back until 2.54, the time shown for the race on the fixture card, and they have lodged a complaint. In the whalers' race a breach of the towing rule was reported. Both matters will be inquired into by the sailing committee. Museum's Pine Exhibit. If you have never seen an Edelweiss or a pygmy pine, vou may inspect them at the native plant table at the Auckland Museum this week. This Edelweiss, by the way, is held to be much choicer than the Swiss one, •and the pine, a species related to the rimu, is the smallest in the world. Other quaint pines on view are the mountain totara, a. prostrate plant with large brilliant red edible fruit, and the mountain toatoa, related to the wellknown tanekaha, and, like it, leafless. Other plants appealing because of their beauty or quaintness are gentians, rosette and everlasting daisies, spiderwoods, and whipcord veronicas. All these plants have been sent in from Ruapehu by a holiday-making friend of the museum.

Really Tepid Bath. The only thing that marred an otherwise excellent entertainment at the Tepid Baths last evening was the excessive heat. Long before the commencing time the baths were filled to capacity, and spectators who came late were forced to* stand, blocking the stairs on both sides and choking the exits. Accentuated bv the huge crowd, the muggy conditions made things unpleasant, and it was not long before coats, waistcoats, collars and ties were discarded. This did little to alleviate the conditions, and spectators envied the competitors; in the carnival, while quite a few cast envious eyes at a man on the roof, who occasionally was seen to peer through one of the apertures befoie scanning his programme. First Things First. A story is being told by railway people of a small boy who was travelling from Wei-, lington to Auckland for his-holidays. Every time the guard came round, this small boy asked the guard if the train had arrived at To Awamutu yet. This became rather disconcerting to the guard, but at last the train did arrive at Te Awamutu, and the guard called out: "Here you are, my boy, this _is Te Awamutu." The boy very politely said, "Thank you, sir," but did not move. "Well," said the guard, "aren't you going to get out?" "Oh, no," replied the boy, "I'm going to Auckland, but mother told me to eat my sandwiches at Te Awamutu, and I'm just going to cat them."

Tennis Club's Difficulty. A deputation from the Nicholson Park Tennis Club which waited upon the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening with a request tliat the annual rental of borough courts should be reduced attributed a fall in membership partly to competition from other clubs, which were not prevented from playing on Sundays. The deputation did not seek permission to play on Sundays, and considered that a concession in rental would meet their difficulty. One of the members of the council, Mr. K. ST. Buttle, said that ho did not know whether it was an appropriate time to discuss Sunday play, but they had to open their eyes to facts. He considered that they should ascertain definitely whether the council had the power to prevent or allow Sunday play on its reserves. The Mayor, Mr. T. McXab, said that that was another issue, and it was not pursued. The Dog and the Bomb. Four Christchurch young men were frightened out of about ten years of their lives by the playfulness of a faithful hound. Added to the hound was a bomb of a highly explosive and dangerous character, which made all the difference, of course. While out pig-hunting in the hills near Kaikoura they decided on the illicit experiment of putting a bomb in the river to get trout, feeling secure from detection in the isolation of the spot. A bomb was contrived from rifle cartridges, lit and thrown into the stream', while the bombers departed for cover. To their consternation, the dog attached to the party dashed to retrieve the bomb, secured it and galloped back to his hunting friends, with the short fuse of the bomb merrily fizzing. The hunters scattered and ran, only to be followed by the dog. Then they' got together and stoned the animal, which thereupon dropped the bomb and decamped just in time to save its life, for both it and the hunters were just out of the danger zone when the explosion came.

Conservation of Energy. An Otago schoolmaster who taught an older generation was always ready to admonish his classes when he thought his pupils were inclined to laziness, and he used to round off his talk with a humorous little story, observes the "Otago Daily Times." He said a tramper over the hills one day asked a boy who was reclining on the grass the way to a certain township. The boy simply lifted his leg, pointed with it, and said, "Over there." The indignant tramper remarked, "Well, if you can show me a lazier action than that I will give you half-a-crown." "Put it there," r.eplied the boy, as he half-rolled over and held his pocket open for the money. However, it is just a question whether an incident which occurred on the Duncdin Oval recently might not be considered to take the palm from the aforesaid boy. Five or six lads were playing cricket, a/id the batsman hit a ball hard to leg. None of the fieldsmen made an'attempt to retrieve it; and then the batsman walked a few yards to where a bicycle was lying on the ground, mounted it, rode off and secured the ball, and brought it back. The Guileless Native.

An amusing incident occurred at the Paeroa Police Court yesterday, when a Maori was charged with allowing his cow to wander on the main road. After the charge was read the following dialogue took place:—The magistrate: "How do you plead?" The Maori: "Eh?" The magistrate: "Do you plead guilty or not guilty?" The: Maori: "Well, you see, te poy leave te gate open and te cow—" (Laughter.) The magistrate: "We'll take the plea as one of guilty." Counsel for the borough: "I must ask your Worship to impose some penalty, as this man has been warned repeatedly for the same offence." The magistrate: "Very well. Fined 2/6." The clerk of the Court: "Court costs 10/, solicitor's fee 10/6, interpreter's fee 5/." The magistrate: "That makes £1 8/ altogether. When can you pay that?" The Maori: "Can't afford it, your Honor. Xo work, no money." The magistrate: "In that case it looks as though we may have to remit the Court costs." Counsel for the borough: • "And also the solicitor's fee, but I'm afraid the interpreter's fee must stand." The magistrate: "Very well, can you pay 7/0 within a month?" The Maori (smiling): "I do my best, your Honor."