NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Very Unfortunate. One instinctively attributes to public men who have been politicians a rhetorical code peculiarly their own, but the imp of mischief must have been busy in the newspaper oflice which headed in bold characters the cable summarising the broadcast of Sir James Parr's address in London, "Perfect Deception" (states the "Southland News''). Impressed by Waikato. A Canadian tourist on the Lurline, who made a trip to Kotorua by the Southern Cress, said he had been impressed by the rich and fertile appearance of the Waikato farming country from the • air. "We have some fine farming land in Canada," he said, "but I have seen nothing, either in Canada or in other parts of the world, to compare with that Waikato country." Cyclist Bailed Up. An Alsatian dog in Mackay Street, Greymoutli, the other day, seized a cyclist by the tail of his coat, and pulled him to the road, where he lay until a cat attracted the dog's attention, states a Greymouth paper. When the cyclist attempted to rise, however, the Alsatian came at him again, and stood over him giowling until a big man arrived on the scene, and with a hefty kick to the ribs sent the animal scampering away. Takapuna Bus Fares. The old question of a reduction in fares was threshed out between a delegation from the Takapuna Borough and the Devonport Steam Ferry Company and North Shore Transport Company recently. The councillors had asked, on behalf of ratepayers and residents, that a reduction be made, if possible. The Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, reported to the council last evening that in a letter received from the company it was shown that on present expenditure it was impossible to grant a reduction, In waiting on the Kerry Company, Mr. Wilkins had pointed out that if trolley buses were introduced a saving of 2d to 3d a running mile could be achieved. The council was asked to await consideration of a revision of fares at a meeting three months hence. Auckland and Sanders Cup. Evidence of the interest maintained in the Sanders Cup by a strong body of Auckland yachtsmen, albeit the provincial yachting association has officially washed its hands of everything to do with the trophy (says the "Christchurch Times'') was given by a telegram received on Saturday by the 1 Mayor- of Lyttelton (Mr. W. T. Lester) from Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, a member of the Auckland Association, perhaps better known as "Speedwell," of tlie "Auckland Star." The telegram read: "Hearty congratulations to winning crew from Aucklanders still interested in cup." This was greeted witli loud applause from yachtsmen of Wellington and all the South Island provinces when it was read to the gathering which witnessed the presentation of the cup to Mr. Elliot Sinclair, skipper of Irene.

To be Re-engaged. Twelve former employees of the Cbristchureli Tramway Board who lost their positions as a result of having taken part in the tramway strike are to l>e re-engaged under a rationing scheme arranged between the board and the union. The men have been notified of the decision to re-employ them, and will take up their duties as soon as they have passed the medical examination and uniforms are available for them. They were selected by the general manager, Mr. Frank Thompson. The rationing scheme involves the members of the traffic staff losing a maximum of one day's work in three weeks, but it is expected that actually the loss of working time will be less than that. It is understood that there are between 30 and 40 other ex-tram-waymen who lost their positions as a result of the strike available for re-employment, and appointments will be made from among them as vacancies occur. Governor-General and Ragwort. An invitation to the Governor-General to break his journey from Rotorua for an hour at Putaruru in order to inspect farms affected by ragwort was recently given as the result of a representative meeting convened by the Putaruru Chamber 'of Commerce to discuss means of combating the ragwort menace. The reply received from his Excellency's official secretary, and read at this, week's meeting of the chamber, states that the chamber's letter reached the Governor-General after hie arrival at Auckland, and too late for him to consider the chamber's suggestion. "His , Excellency had, however, noticed on his way through, the Putaruru district recently the prevalence of ragwort in that area, but he feels sure that those on whose behalf the chamber's letter was written will recognise that it is to the Government rather than to the Governor-General that representations concerning ragwort should be made," said the secretary. "I ain to add that, nevertheless, when in conversation with his Ministers, his Excellency will mention the opinion which he has formed as the result of his personal observation of the inroads of this troublesome weed."

Fog Cures Home-sickness. Realising the possibilities of interesting news on incoming vessels in the port of London, one of the leading weekly newspapers at Home has instituted a novel feature in a column headed, "When the Liners Land.'' This consists of brief stories behind the people who land in London from the great liners from all parts of the world. Paraguay, Buenos Ayres, China and Japan were represented in the first issue, and the column was headed by an interview with a Mrs. E. H. Fugle, of Auckland. It describes how the lady hesitated on the gangway of the Rangitiki and "gazed admiringly at the foggy landscape of Tilbury." The story continues: "Seven years ago Airs. Fugle lived at home in England, and after her marriage she and her. husband went to find a new life in the Dominion on the other side of the world. As the years passed Mrs. Fugle grew more and more homesick, till six weeks ago her husband talked to her about it. 'You will get worse as time goes on,' he said. 'You must see England again to cure yourself.' And so last week, in cold and foggy weather, Mrs. Fugle came Home. 'I think the cure has begun,' she said, looking into the murk of the London fog." Comments on Ourselves. Mr. N. Harper Bell, of Los Angeles, who has spent over a year in the Dominion, said in Christchurch that New Zealanders had th 3 happy knack of forgetting all about their business when they went on holiday, and had cultivated the habit of enjoying themselves to the utmost on those occasions. It was a great relief to come to New Zealand and find respite from the hustling traffic and Incessant travel of America. Driving a car in New Zealand was in itself a rest after the strain of the enormous traffic. In New Zen'and food was cheaper in the restaurants, but it was not cheaper to set up house. Neither was there the variety of foods to choose. Meat was as cheap in New Zealand as could reasonably be expected. The price of bread, however, was high, and the bread was sold unwrapped. He thought New Zealanders, on the whole, dressed very well. He was struck by the fact that there did not appear to bo any "down-and-outers." The cut of clothes in New Zealand was good, in many cases bettethan those cut in England. The underwear manufactured in the country was excellent. The price of women's clothes was three times as high as it was in the States, but men's clothes, on the other hand, appeared to be reasonable. Cosmetics, silk stockings and shoe.% to recall three instances, were all too high from the American point of view.

Harvest from the Flood. A feature of the flood caused by the heavy rain at Thames on Sunday night and Monday morning was the amount of timber, principally kauri logs and small brushwood, that was brought down by the Kauaeranga River, which was very much swollen. On Monday afternoon about a. dozen fishing launches were to be seen out off Shortland wharf collecting the logs, which were swept down by the dozen. High Price for Low Land. More than £100 an acre had been paid for an area of 40 acres in their district, the chairman of the Ellesniere Land Drainage Board, Mr. J. Sharp, said at a meeting of the board this week at Christchurch. The land was not highly improved, and he had seen three parts of it under water. "Someone has faith in the country yet," he commented. "We all have faith in the country," a member declared. Largest in New Zealand. The fact that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce remains the largest chamber in New Zealand was referred to to-day at the annual meeting. The present membership is GOj, compared with 220 when the present building was erected in Swanson Street 30 years ago. Memberships of chambers in other centres are:—Wellington, 403; Christchurch, 440; and Dunedin, 420. Threw Rotten Egs. The throwing of rotten eggs into the Carterton public baths led to the appearance' of two youths in the Juvenile Court at Carterton. Both boys pleaded guilty, and were placed under the supervision of the child welfare oificer for a period of six months. When questioned by the magistrate as to their reason for perpetrating such an act, one said he did not know, while the other explained that it was "just mischief." Your Name, Please. Those who have occasion to peruse hotel registers often comment on the illegibility of many of the names entered. A story was told in Christchurch by Mr. N. Harper Bell, of Los Angeles, of a man who, nursing a coat over his arm and grasping an umbrella in his hand, hastily scribbled his signature. The clerk glanced at the name, but a puzzled look spread over his face. "Would you mind telling me your name?" he asketl the guest. "But I have just written it," came the reply. "Yes," said the clerk, "that was what made nie curious."

Bombay Deviation. >f Tar-sealing of the Bombay deviation i, continues. The last section of the deviation > —the old road leading into Pokeno township " —was completed yesterday, and was opened : for traffic to-day. Work was started this ,v morning 011 tile middle section of the devia- " tion, which is the longest section over the n Bombay Hills. Jt is expected that the tarli sealing operations will take a week. This e section will be closed during the day, but f will be open from six in the evening until f eight o'clock the next morning. Birkenhead Still BirkenheadAny attempt to change the name of the marine borough of Birkenhead is not likely - to succeed, judging by a letter which the 2 town clerk of' the borough, Mr. H. Kemp, has 1 sent to Sir .John Sandeman Allen, M.P. The el letter, which was discussed at the meeting [1 of the Birkenhead Borough Council last even--1 ing, stated that the council had read with e great interest the association, past and present, * of the visitor with the namesake of the 1 borough in* England. Sir John was informed " that any effort to change the name by which ■ the .borough had been known sinec its constitution in 1888 would meet with strenuous " opposition 011 the part of many of the resi--3 dents. The letter concluded with an invitation to Sir John ajid Lady Allen to visit the " borough, which invitation is to bo accepted on their return from the South. 1 Unedifying Display. Disgust at the number of rabbit carcases left by trappers on fences 011 the main road south of Putaruru was expressed by Mr. P. L. ' Guillard at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. On the road mentioned, he said, there were, near the quarry. GO carcases hanging on ' the fence; near Te Wlietu there were catches 1 of CO, 50 and 40. He contended that such a ! practice might bring about all manner of dis--1 cases. The secretary of the East Waikato ! Rabbit Board, Mr. A. L. Mason, a member of the chamber, could not account for the habit, and said trappers had been given 110 mstruc- ' tions to hang the rabbits up. A motion that 1 a letter be sent to the board, with the request; ' that the rabbits be either buried or destroyed, was proposed by the chairman and carried. , 1 A serious view was also taken by Mr. H. Ross, ; who thought that the Department of Health , ! might have something to say in the matter. - ' Mr. Pearce also mentioned the matter of ( cattle' carcases left to rot in Oraka Stream . • as a menace to health and a detriment t(» , lisliiiig. A South Taranaki Plaint. ' When replying to a toast at a social at ] Hawera to th.e delegates to the Master i Grocers' conference, Mr. F. W. Horner, of Hawera, referred to the manner in which South Taranaki, one of the most beautiful ( districts in the Dominion and roaded in most 1 modern and up-to-date style, was side-tracked '■ by the Tourist Department when arranging 1 tours for overseas visitors. Mr. Horner s id £ that in this comparatively small area there < were 70,000 dairy cows on the luscious pas- > tures of South Taranaki, giving 10,000,0001b 1 of butterfat, from which were manufactured t 15,000 tons of cheese and 1650 tons of bur.ter i annually. The amount paid out was about £1.200,000, and most of it came to Hawera, a which was a town of great commercial 1 stability and one of the soundest in the " Dominion, with several large and progressive j wholesale firms and a co-operative concern v with a turnover of over £1,000,000 annually. s The people attached much importance to 0 these towns, and wished visitors to see ".he j interesting historic spots, packed with reminiscences of the Maori and the centre of the Hauliau war of 1865-1808. He considered ti.at 110 tour should be complete without a t<"ur of this district. e

Captain Hobson's Uniform. An interesting fact connected with the circumstances of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi 94 years ago has been pointed out by a reader of the "Christcliurch Times." The meeting to discuss the treaty was held on Wednesday, February 5, and it was intended that the next day, Thursday, February 0, should be left free for the chiefs to consider the proposals in their own manner andtime; Friday, February 7, was set apart for the meeting at which the signatures of the chiefs would be secured. But towards the evening of Wednesday it was found that the natives' food supplies would not be sufficient for two days longer. Those on shore decided that the important meeting must be held the next day instead of on the Friday. Captain Hobson had returned to the ship Herald, and, as a result of some confusion in the message sent to him, he knew nothing of the change of plans until late oil Thursday morningj when the missionaries on shore sent messengers to find out the cause of his seeming delay. The Lieutenant-Governor realised the urgency of the matter; he did not pause even to change from the civilian clothes he was wearing, but, snatching up his official hat, he made off immediately for the shore. Thus it came about that when Her Majesty's representative received the signatures to the Treaty of Waitangi he was wearing drab' civilian dress relieved only by his official Jpat. [ And yet the bas-relief of the signing of the treaty on the diamond jubilee monument of' Queen Victoria in Wellington depicts Captain Hobson in full official uniform. I