NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 147, 23 June 1934, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Lake Levels Up. Owing to the recent heavy rains the level of Lake Rotorua has risen 12in. Lakes Rotoehu, Rotoma and Rotoiti have also risen from 12in to ISin. Weather Wisdom. "In niv opinion weather wisdom is the most important thing to know in the Southern Alps," said Mr. A. P. Harper during a lecture arranged by the Aorangi Ski Club. Mr. Harper showed some remarkable lantern slides dealing with cloud formations and weather signs in the Alps, and gave many, (valuable hints to the trampers and ski-ers present. A knowledge of weather signs was essential in Alpine climbing, he said.

Cattle for the East. With nearly 250 cattle for the East, the steamer Winifred Moller left Wellington yesterday afternoon for Shanghai. She should arrive at that port in about three weeks' time. The Winifred Moller was formerly the Union Company's steamer Katoa, which was well known in New Zealand waters, and was sold last year to Moller and Company, an Eastern concern. After being laid up in Wellington for some time, the Katoa has now been reconditioned, and this is her lirst ocean trip in the service of her new owners. Missing Books. The Invercargill city librarian, in his annual report, states that at the annual stocktaking in September last it was found that OS volumes were missing from the shelves. Of these, 13 had since been returned, showing a loss of 55 volumes, made up as follows: — Lending (fiction), 34: classes, li: reference, 11; juvenile, 4. "Iu addition to the 13 volumes mentioned as having been returned, I am pleased to report that nine others, reported as missing during the past three years, have been slipped back oil the shelves," added the librarian. Why Do It? Why do trampers climb over large stretches of the Southern Alps, or for that matter why do they tramp anywhere? A noted Christchurcli Alpine authority, who has been a keen pillar of the sport for the past 49 years, does not know, and at a" meeting which he addressed he invited those present to supply an answer to the question.. Xo response was forthcoming, and Mr. Harper's opinion that it was probably because there was no sport equal to that of tramping and climbing seemed to satisfy the audience. Misunderstood.

A good joke of a mistaken meaning being taken from an electrical, term used came to light in Dunedin when an irate man complained to the radio inspector the other day that some "lunatic" was impersonating the inspector. He said that this man had called at his house, telling his wife that a transformer on his radio set had to be "buried." Upon the inspector inquiring where his caller lived, he recalled having visited the house himself, and also remembered having said to the lady of the house: "This transformer will have to be earthed."

Eyesight Lost and Regained. A young man who went blind owing to a shock, caused by a hearty pat oil the back, can see again. He was listening-in to the broadcast of the Rugby League Jinal at Wembley (London), in May, and became highly excited when a try was scored. "Suddenly lie shouted: "I can see! I can see!" The man is William George Pilgeley, a Dinas (Rliondda) miner, aged 20. He went blind a few days earlier when a friend slapped him on the back in the street. Specialists at Cardiff Infirmary had told him that his sight might return at any time —but they did not know when. Two months earlier he was injured in the back in a colliery accident, and it was thought that this might ha*e had something to do with his blindness. A Remarkable Bird. Some amusing remarks concerning the ksa were made by Mr. A. P. Harper when addressing a meeting of climbing and tramping enthusiasts on pioneering in the Southern Alps. "You can tell a man about the kea and he will think you are a liar," said Mr. Harper, "but after he lias seen it you can tell him any sort of lie about the bird and | ho will believe you." A tremendous amount of controversy had been aroused all over New! Zealand by the agitation to have the bonus taken off keas, but lie was glad that the move had proved successful and that a bomw was no longer paid on the destruction of the birds. Mr. Harper related several interesting stories about various birds which lie had met with on his excursions into the Alps in the 'nineties. Our Flora Abroad.

The fact that much of the New. Zealand flora •acclimatises itself and llourishen in places abroad was mentioned by ill'. T. L. Lancaster in an illustrated address at the annual meeting of the Auckland Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. He showed the waving plumes of toitoi in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, and commented upon its attractiveness. In showing pictures of Kew Gardens, in London, where some of the New Zealand flora make good headway, he said that the London atmosphere did not suit some of the New Zealand plants, whereas on the other hand they flourished in some of the parts of South .England and in Dublin. Olearia in full bloom on a rocky Scottish background was also shown, and the lecturer said that it was much admired for its beauty.

Shortage cf Coke. Another shortage of coke is being experienced in Blenheim, and the rationing of supplies is being closely practised. Several consumers who have been unable to obtain their full requirements have unburdened themselves to the "Express," but it appears as if no good can come of criticising the ga.3 department. The fact of the matter is that the current production of coke is insufficient to cope with the demand, and there are 110 stocks on hand. It is understood that' one merchant firm, in order to keep faitli with its clients, is landing a consignment of coke from Wellington, having been unable to procure any locally. It was suggested by one critic that tho gas department should have stored for local consumption the coke that was sold to Nelson recently; but it was ascertained upon inquiry that there is no adequate .-storage space at the gasworks, whilst bunkering of coke always results in heavy losses, due to its crushing up under its own weight. An Expensive Conversation. ' Wagging tongues—womeu's tongues —were the innocent cause of a somewhat lengthy early morning railway journey recently. When the south-bound Limited express stopped at Palmerston North shortly before 0.45 a.m., a woman passenger was greeted 011 the platform by an old friend, who had come to the station "to have a few words just as you passed through, my dear." The morning air was chill, and an invitation to continue the talk inside the carriage was quickly-accepted. The conversation went 011, and so did the hands of the clock, and the first realisation the visitor had that she,had exceeded the time limit was when the express began to. draw quietly out of the station.* She com- [ forted herself by remarking that she would get otr at the first stop "down the line," but j was somewhat dismayed by learning from the; guard later that the first stop, was Paekakariki, over 50 miles away, and so to Paekakariki she went, where she cooled her heels till she boarded the first available train for Palmerston North. The conversation had one result; it assisted railway revenue, for it necessitated the payment of a first-class fare to Packakariki,i and, of course, a fare back.

Tailless Cow and Calves. A Jersey cow owned by Mr. W. F. Woodward, of Piimii Road, To Awainutu, .was born without a tail, and timing the last three seasons lias given birth to three calves, each one of which is without a tail. In all other respects the cow and lier progeny are normal. Dangerous Corner Improved. Motorists will appreciate an improvement that lias been made to the south top corner of Bowen Avenue, City. Previously the-turn from Princes Street into the avenue was considerably sharper than a right angle, and was made more diflicult by the pronounced slope of the roadway. Xew kerbing lias now been laid, and instead of an elbow turn motorists will now have only a gently rounded corner to negotiate.

The Explanation. There is an explanation for most tilings, lint sometimes (says the Greymoutli "Star") it is of an unex|ieeted nature. A Greymouth youngster exhibited a particularly keen desire to deliver a parcel to a certain business man, and such energy gave rise to inquiries. The boy explained that the cla'-s had been having a lesson on Europe, and he wanted to know what a "European fruiterer" looked like. The delivery of the parcel would give him an opportunity to find out. Optimism of Hon. E. R. Davis. At the annual smoke concert ill connection with the White Horse Cup hockey tournament, 011 the occasion of his first public appearance after being appointed to the Legislative Council, Hon. Eliot R. Davis spoke in most optimistic terms regarding the future of the Dominion, and in his closing remarks said that lie felt almost sure that by this time next year the country would bfc in a much better position than it is to-day. Well-known Steamer Sold. Advice has been received that the Xew Zealand Shipping Company's twin-screw steamer Otaki, which lias been a regular trader between the United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand for many years, has been sold. The Otaki is a comparatively new ship, having been built in 1020 by Barclay, Curie and Company, Ltd., Glasgow. She is 449.1 ft long, and lias a gross measurement of 7070 tons. She arrived at Liverpool on May 25 last with cargo from Australian ports. No Motor Roads. Many parks and botanical gardens in different parts of the world were shown on the screen at the annual meeting of the Auckland Council of tlie Xew Zealand Institute of Hor- ! ticulture, when an illustrated address was ! o-iven by j\lr. X. L. Jj«inctister, unci mention was made of the fact that a botanical garden should be included in the future- lay-out of the Auckland Domain. "Now you have seen some of the best-known gardens of the world," said the lecturer, "you will note that they do not have motor roads through them." The remark elicited applause in view of the opposition of the Auckland Council of the Auckland Institute of Horticulture -to the Auckland Domain roading' proposal. An Unusual Experience. Two small children had an unusual experience and a very narrow escape while playing in a sample room at Kotorua recently. Wi'tji the inquisitiveness common to children tliey scrambled into a traveller's large sample case to investigate, but found themselves suddenly imprisoned when the lid fell with a bang, closing the safety catch over them. Fortunately the incident was noticed by some other children, who summoned grown-ups to their assistance. Even then (reports the Kotorua "Morning Post") a pair of tin-cutters had to be used to release the children, who, by this time, had been in the trunk nearly half an hour. In the confined space it is more than probable that tliey would have suffocated in another half-hour.

The Office of Patron. Objection to the ollice of patron was expressed by Professor K. Sinclairc at the animal meeting of tlie Kilglish Association at Christehurch, but the professor's motion that tlie office should be abolished received no support. When the association'* officers were being elected, Professor Sinclaire moved that no patron should be appointed. When he was asked for his reasons;, he said that he objected to patronage of all kinds—there was 110 sense in it. ]t was explained that the patron of the association. Professor J. Maeiiii Ila 11 Brown, had been elected last year after occupying the position of president, partly in appreciation of his work in founding the local branch. Professor Macmillah Brown was nominated again and re-elected,, Professor Sinclaire's being the only negative vote. Loyalty and Sport. The all-importance of the quality of: loyalty was stressed by Mr. K. Chapman, secretary and treasurer of the council of the | Xew Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association, at; tiie annual juniors' evening held by tlie Maraimi Surf and Life-Saving Club at Wellington on Saturday. "The greatest thing a club can teach is loyalty," said Mr. Chapman. "There are always men willing, by flattery and other such methods, to coax young members of administrative and sporting ability into joining other clubs."' He went on to point out that a club was really no worse than the one which defeated it in the competitive lield. Loyalty lo a club taught loyalty to country, home and employer. "There is always something different," concluded Mr. Cliupman,

"about the man who leaves his club for another merely because that other happens to be on top for the moment, it's indelinable, but it's there."

" Carrying On " Without Trains. Although tiie train service between Pacroa and To Arolia was stopped on Thursday and yesterday owing to Hood damage to the line, the usual mail and goods services were carried on by a circuitous route from Morrinsville via the Hauraki Plains to Pacroa and Thames. Motor lorries loaded with piles of mail bags travelled between Morrinsville, the virtual "railhead," and Paeroa. Yesterday a lorry from Thames brought a large consignment of ; lisli in crates to Morrinsville, where it was dispatched as usual to stations all over the Xorth Island. An insulated van full of fish is included in every train from Thames to Morrinsville Junction in normal times, some of the fish packed in ice being for as far south as Taranaki and the Manawatu. The usual afteriioon express from Tauranga and Thames lines'bound for Auckland lias been a muchcurtailed* train since the line was damaged by the floods, its journey commencing at Te Arolia. Cross-breeding of Ducks. The assertion that game birds, such as grey and mallard ducks, will cross with ducks of the farmyard variety is lent colour by the appearance of the wings and heads of two ducks which were shown to an "Otago Daily Times" reporter by Mr. R. McCrostic, of Lakeside, Kaitangata. These exhibits had the head markings to a modified extent of the grey duck, but, the lines were brown instead of black, and' were , not nearly so sharply defined as in the true grey, while the wings bore several characteristics which appeared to indicate a cross between grey and Indian Runner ducks. One wing was of a light fawn colour, and, instead of the blue and black patch at the rear of the wing, had a brown patch, with a white band at top and bottom. The wing of the other bird was exactly similar in liny-king, but was of a different colour, the main wing feathers being similar in colour to those of the true grey, while the centre patch was blue, with white transverse bands, j The tail feathers of the light brown bird bore a striking resemblance to those of an Indian, Runner. j