NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 144, 20 June 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Gift to Turnbull Library. An original steel-engraved portait of Lady Molesworth, from a painting liy R. A. Thorburn. A.R.A., engraved by W. IT. Mote (published 1850), lias ncen presented to the Turnbull Library in Wellington. Lady Molesworth's liusband, Sir William Molesworth, was Colonial Secretary in ISoii. Molesworth Street perpetuates his name in Wellington. Loch Awe Reunion. Arrangements have been made to hold tomorrow in Auckland a reunion of passengers who came to Auckland by the ship Loch Awe (10 years ago. It will be the first reunion of its kind. One of the passengers was Mr. G. Rout, of Auckland, and it is expected.that in all about a dozen passengers will attend the gathering. The Loch Awe made a very fast trip to Auckland from England. The Highest Ideal. "The highest" ideal of all is to offer one's life for another," said Mr. T. G. Querce, president of the Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club, at the club's annual juniors' evening on Saturday. The training of members of a lifesaving -club was essentially towards that ideal, and when they finally left the club it would be as properly-trained citizens. _ A club was one of the finest schools of citizenship open to the modern .boy. His Recollection. "The road has been in a bad state for a great number of years. I know this personally, because I used to go courting along there when I was a young fellow, and very often got bogged in the mud," remarked a member of the Tuakau Town Bo.ird on day evening, when the condition of the' old Whangarata Road was being discussed. "Others 'besides young men in love have reason to remember that road," replied a motorist. member of the board. Unlighted Bicycles Again. Periodically the question of the beat" way to deal with the problem of unlighted bicycles comes before a local body. It was before the Northcote Borough Council last night. Bus drivers in the borough had reported that_ persons riding bicycles on the road without lights were again common, and were liable to cause accidents. "Anyone who has driven a motor vehicle at night," said Mr. K. C. Fowler, "knows the danger of cycles ridden without lights, and it is time the council took a stand. I think we should prosecute." The Mayor, Mr. R. Martin, thought that the overseer would have to take action. Vanished Guarantors. When the Wanganui-Rangitikci Electric Power Board is erecting power lines in country districts, the settlers receiving the service are required to provide a guarantee to protect the board against loss, states the Wanganui "Herald." The necessity for this precaution was made evident at a meeting of the board, when it was stated that the Marybank line was not a paying proposition on account of some 80 per cent of the farmers who had acted as guarantors having left their farms since the line .was erected. Mr. H. McLean said it was a case of the fanners paying too dearly for tlieir land. Shooting Reserve Desired. A request that the Wellington Acclimatisation Society should investigate the possibility of securing Wairarapa Lake as it was in ISO 4, when the fishing and shooting reserve was definitely defined, was made to the society by Mr. R. V. Mason on behalf of the Wairarapa North sub-committee of the society. Mr. Mason said that surveyed but unformed roads, the legal access of sportsmen, were not defined, and farmers ordered them off. After Mr. Mason had spoken at some length, and illustrated his points with maps, the chairman, Dr. G. F. V. Anson, said it looked as if Mr. Mason had established a strong case, and it called for careful investigation. He could give the assurance that it would be looked into very carefully. Technical Accuracy. A suggestion that, for the sake of uniformity, signs at narrow bridges should read "One car bridge," not "One way bridge," was received by the Marlborough Association from the sister association at Nelson. The suggestion applied particularly to signs to be placed at two small bridges near Rai Valley, to which attention has lately been directed. The association agreed that the Nelson wording was strictly correct, as the term "one way" implied that traffic could cross only from one way, just as traffic was allowed to proceed in only one direction on a one way street. It was decided to forward the suggestion to the Marlborough County Council. Coastal Road to Thames. A section is being constructed in the road around the coast from Clevedon to the Tham6s via Orere and Miranda. It is possible now to turn inland from Jyawakawa Bay, nine miles from Clevedon, and cross over the ranges, thence following tile coastline via Miranda and Waitakaruru. The new road will avoid the hill section, and with the closing of a two-mile unmetalled gap will enable one to traverse what is probably the finest waterfront drive around Auckland. On a sunny day the Firth of Thames, with the Coromandel Ranges in the background, looks like an Italian lake as the road winds for mile after mile from Orere. The complete circle from the city and back, via New Brighton and Pokeno, is about 110 miles. A large body of relief workers under the Manukau County Council is engaged in making the extension of the road past the Kawakawa wharf to join up with the road over the hill at Orere. Wage Increase at Northcote. Slight increases in wages were announced at Northcote Borough Council meeting last evening. The recommendations were made by the council in committee, and were confirmed in council. Increases totalled £97 10/ a year. The report stated that the Public Works estimates were considered, and the provision therein for the discontinuance of rationing (at present one day per week), and reinstatement of full time for the outdoor staff from June 28, was approved. The recommendation also agreed that the wages of one of the waterworks staff should be increased by 5/ a week to £234 a year from the same date. A small sum is also to be paid to one of the relief workers for additional work done. The Mayor, Mr. R. Martin, explained that the staff were rationed about this time last year, when the days of work were reduced from six days to five. The minimum wage for the outside staff would now be £4 0/5 a week. " Dumping Ground " for Dogs. The North Shore is a "dumping ground" for unwanted city dogs, according to information given to the town clerk of Northcote, Mr. A. P. Paitry, by an official of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Northcote lias been having trouble with the problem of stray dogs, and the ■ town clerk, after investigating the matter, reported to the council last evening. The society official told Mr. Paitry that dogs which were not wanted in the city were simply dumped on to the North Shore. Mr. Paitry suggested that the Devonport Ferry Company should be approached with the object of discovering whether ferry officials could not make'reasonable inquiry as to the reason for persons bringing animals on to the ferries. If that could bo done, Mr. Paitry said that the society would co-operate with the North Shore boroughs in an effort to "clean up." He thought that the boroughs, should bo \yritten to, to that end. The council is first to take the matter up with the ferry company.

Gift of Shares. Advice was received at yesterday's meeting of the Otago University Council that an anon vmous donor had expressed the intention of presenting 500 Bank of New Zealand shares, of the value of £2 10/ each, for the purpose of initiating a fund to provide for the museum extension. News by the Foot. At the annual meeting of the Auckland City Mission last evening, the Rev. Jasper Calder invited those present to inspect the books of Press cuttings kept since the mission j started. These make a most interesting record of the work of the mission as appearing in the Press, and comprise a total of 1200 ft of news. Woman Cornet Player. The distinction of being the first Timaru woman to make a public appearance as a cornetist fell to Miss H. Smith last week, when she played a duet with Mr. R. Milligan at the South School Etf-Pupils' Association reunion dinner. Miss Smith, who has been learning to play the cornet for the last six months, gave a sympathetic interpretation. Hutt Workshop Production. A new K (mountain type) locomotive was used to haul the 3 p.m. express for Auckland out of Wellington on Friday. This locomotive, K912, is the latest of the series of' these powerful engines being produced at the Hutt Valley workshops. Ait interesting feature in the new design is the smokebox door, which, instead of being in the centre of the boiler, as in most locomotives, is placed lower down. The space around the door is used as an outlet for ashes from the new Waikato spark arrester appliance adapted to the consumption of soft coals, thus eliminating the spark nuisance sometimes experienced with this type of coal. Octogenarian Artist. Among the pictures exhibited at the Manawatu Society of Arts' display at .the National Dairy Show, not the least interesting were those from the brush of ill". H. Billens, sen., of Palmerston North. Now in his 89th year, Mr. Billens continues to indulge in his favourite hobby with unabated enthusiasm, and four works shown by him were much admired by patrons of the gallery. All were painted during recent months, an achievement probably without parallel' in the history of art in New Zealand. Mr. Billens has now been painting for nearly 00 years. Increase in Hares. . Country school committees and church organisations, which generally depend on hare drives each winter to augment their funds, will be deprived of revenue from this source j this year by the slump for prices of hares on the London market, states the Cliristehurch "Press." New Zealand hares usually command a good price in London, but so far this winter there is no market, and are not operating. Schoolboys also are disappointed at the failure of the market, as trapping and snaring hares has always been regarded as a potential source for pocket money. Because of the decreased trapping activity, hares arc rapidly on the increase. The Squatter. An Okoke settler, before leaving for New Plymouth on Saturday morning, in view of a possible examination, decided to assure himself that he had his motor driver's license with him, states the "Taranaki News." He accordingly lifted the cushion of the front seat of the car to look underneath, that being J the place where he kept his license, when to his surprise a large rat jumped out. The license was there, but was badly torn, part of it having been utilised by the rodent as material for the nest which it had built under the seat. The settler had used the car as late as the previous Thursday night, and had recently washed it, but had no necessity to look under the seat, though on a previous occasion a rat had jumped out- of the car when he approached it. Heliotherapy at the Hospital. The practice of making use of sunshine as an important method of treatment of surgical tuberculosis cases at the hospital was stressed by Mr. A. L. Spence at the meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday. Sunshine was necessary during convalescence, but the majority of patients could not get .sufficient sunshine in their homes. In giving notice to move that a committee be set up to prepare a report on the practical measures necessary to establish heliotherapy at the hospital, Mr. Spence said sun treatment did not mean merely shifting beds into the sun, but exposing the whole body to the sun under proper medical treatment. The flat roof of the Wallace ward was available practically as a ready-made solarium at little cost. Miss Jean Batten. The Minister of Finance, the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, has received the following personal cablegram from the Hon. J. F. Coates, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council: "Before leaving for Melbourne Miss Jean Batten, from her limited leisure, has graciously given much time assisting charities, including cabaret arranged by Sydney combined committees, representing New South Wales Hospital, Dalwood Health Home, Saint Margaret's Hospital, for Women, Food for Babies Fund. Representative people attending included Lady Kingsmill, Senator Carroll, Brigadier-General Lloyd, M.P., and matrons and sisters of various hospitals. Great gathering desire compliment New Zealand people on their delightful guest, who so charmingly represents them." Girls Versus Greybeards. Recently the members of the Mercury Bay Bridge Club, some of whose members are approaching 00 years of age, challenged the local ladies' hockey club to a match. The latter are a strong, healthy lot of girls who assiduously train for their games, and they made a formidable team to attack, but the men, reinforced with some juniors, made a very willing game of it, notwithstanding that some of them had not played for over 40 years. At half-time the Hockey Club were three to one, but with a spurt of brilliant play the Bridge Club managed to draw at four all at the final whistle. A big crowd, were present to witness the contest, and clicers were given to the members of the Bridge Club for their exhibition. A wag suggested that they challenge again next King's Birthday. Boxing Doldrums at Hamilton. According to the report presented at the annual meeting on Monday evening, the Hamilton Boxing Association last year was overtaken by an experience wliicli has been worldwide with boxing clubs —the eclipse of boxing for the time being by interest in wrestling, apparently the result of the two sports catering for the same section of the public. I In other parts of New Zealand, as well as I in Australia, America and England, interest 1 in boxing and wrestling has been alternate, neither having good seasons simultaneously. In Australia an attempt to combine the I interests has had a certain measure of suc- ' cess by including boxing and wrestling on the one programme, with also the added attraction of vaudeville items. Mr. A. Salter, chairman of the Hamilton Association, stated that boxing in Hamilton lia<i been dormant for two years, and an attempt to revive it last season had resulted in a loss of £27. The meeting was adjourned for a week to consider the position.