NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 238, 8 October 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Clevedon's Early Vicars. His Grace Archbishop Averill yesterday afternoon at C'levedon dedicated a memorial window and tablet at All Souls' Church in honour of the three first vicars of the district —the Revs. V. Lush, J. 11. Ilall and O. R. Hewlett. Assisting at the service were the Rev. 11. W. Heats lip, present vicar of C'levedon, and the Rev. W. C. Wood, of Papakura. The first services in the Clevedon (or Wairoa, as it was known then) district were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Lush in IS.">B. Among those present yesterday were relatives of the former vicars. Direct Ships to Canada. Owing to the improvement in trade between New Zealand and Canada, it has been decided by Canadian National Steamships to revert to a direct Canada-New Zealand service. The first vessel expected on the new service will be the Canadian Britisher, leaving Halifax on November 25 for the four i.iain ports, returning thence to Canada via New York and Boston, instead of via Australia. In addition to this, vessels returning to Canada from Australia will call at Auckland for homeward loading, thence proceeding to Atlantic ports direct. The maintenance of the revised schedule is entirely dependent on the support given the line by New Zealand shippers. Jerseys and Flannels. Football togs and cricket flannels were both seen 011 the field at Eden Park 011 Saturday afternoon. The weather was glorious, and the footballers 011 No. I ground, where the semi-finals of the Auckland Rugby Unions Jubilee Trophy competition were decided, looked more out of place than the cricketers who held a practice on No. 2 fiejd. Although the final of the Rugby competition has vet to be played, the games 011 Saturday marked the last appearance of footballers at Eden Park for the 1934 season. Next Saturday the footballers will stage their wind-up of the winter game at the Showgrounds, and 011 the following Saturday the cricketers will take control of the popular Eden Park ground for the summer, the commencement of the first round of matches in the Auckland Cricket Association's senior competition being set down for that date. Stoats Attack Ducks. The depredations of stoats on ducks were referred to at the acclimatisation societies' conference in Wellington by Mr. H. J. Duigan (Wanganui). A resident and his son standing 011 a high bank of the Kai Iwi Stream, nine miles from Wanganui, were watching a grey duck with a clutch of ducklings sunning themselves on a sandy ledge, which was surrounded by fern and scrub. A stoat suddenly sprang upon the young ducklings, which immediately dived into the stream, minus one small member, which the stoat had killed. Yells and clods of earth caused the stoat to drop its prey. A watch was kept for over two hours, and" the stoat was shot. 111 the course of a few days the clutch had dwindled from 12 to four, and if the stoat had not been killed the lot would have gone.

"From the Worm." Speaking of American children in an address on the United States in Tiniai'u, the Rev. E. Llewellyn Williams said that the child! should be allowed to bo himself, and iut a mere copy of hits elders, with a result that the child was allowed a great deal of ftaedom. This became licence, but on the whole it did result in developing n very self-re.'iant individual, who started life without too many inferiority complexes that made one timid and bashful. The American child was at least three years older in many ways than the children brought up where discipline and authority were the guiding principles in education. He could, of course, be a bit of a nuisance, but there was something very challenging about his precociousness. A little boy of 10 was once stroking Wis mother's silk dress when he asked her, "Where did this come from, mother?" the reply being, "From the worm, dear." "You mean papa," came from the youthful inquirer. Elusive Game. Whether for entertainment or with a view to reducing the pest, a keen hunter of white butterflies spent an hour of yesterday's sunshine in the back garden with an old felt hat. Anyone who has tried to capture tliesa flutterers without a net will understand the dilliculty they would give a boy of about eight years, unversed in the wiles of stalking, and stumbling in long grass. While the watcher watched the lad did not bag any game, although lie took his task quite seriously. With two or three of the quarry fluttering round at once, he waited for one to alight, and while he was sneaking up with the old felt hat raised menacingly in both hands, another would distract his attention. With a final spring or a full-length flop, he occasionally brought his victim under the hat, but then came the test of lifting the felt without releasing the game. Whether it was because father wanted the lint or because the boy's good intentions waned, the patient hunting ended in a disgusted look round at the white butterflies and a meek retreat into the house.

Battery in Camp. The ISth Medium Battery, commanded by Captain K. Fraser, of the New Zealand Artillery, spent the week-end in camp at Fort Cautley, North Head, engaged in consolidated training in preparation for the annual camp next month. On Saturday afternoon general gun work was carried out, and in the evening lectures were given. On Sunday extensive field manoeuvres were conducted. An "enemy'' force was supposed to have landed in the north and marched southward as far as Pukeatua, where they had taken up a strong position. Two heavy field pieces were taken by motor truck to Glenficld, and the defenders took up a strong position on Long Ridge Hill. The enemy was shelled, and Auckland was saved. Lieutenant-Colonel W. 'Mclvail Geddb, officer commanding the northern coast group of the New Zealand Artillery, and Major G. B. Parkinson, R.X;Z.A., watched the manoeuvres. The annual camp of the battery will begin on November 24 at Rotorua, officers and noncommissioned officers attending three days before. Sea Cucumbers. Visitors to Waitati Beach on a recent Sunday were surprised to see hundreds of peculiarly shaped marine animals being washed ashore, reports the "Otago Daily Times." As no one seemed to know anything about them, Mr. W. Smith, - of Howe Street, brought specimens to Mr. David H. Graham for identification. Mr. Graham expressed surprise at hearing of them being found in such conditions, as they are only known to live buried in the sand, and in the circumstances he considers that there must have been some marine ground disturbance to bring to light so many of these animals, which are purely burrowers. Each animal is eight inches in length, the anterior portion containing the mouth. ,The feelers average an inch in diameter, four of them tapering to a point, not unlike a saveloy, and there is a four-inch tapering tail.. They are known as sea cucumbers, and scientifically as Holothuria Caudina coriaeea. Mr. Graham states they are a link between marine worms and starfishes, or sea eggs. In their natural habitat the boflies are buried in the sand with the tails projecting, and when dredging off the coast, in deep water only the tails have been found in the dredge, and only the tails have been found by Mr. Graham when dissecting fish. ]

America Cup and Model Yachts. Interest in the recent contest for the world's premier yachting trophy, the America Cup, wad not confined to senior yachtsmen. At the Ponsonby Model Yacht Club's races, hold during the week-end, two competitors in the junior section were named Rainbow and Endeavour. Like her larger namesake, Rainbow beat the Endeavour home, but tkere were no protest flags flying at the finish. Inconsiderate Motorists. "Tired oil Sunday" writes: —Auckland motorists have, in the main, a reputation for careful driving, and of consideration for the rights of other people, but there is one annoying habit of which some of them are guilty. I refer to those who halt their cars outside the house of a friend, and draw his attention to their arrival by long, loud and discordant solos on the horn, or electric alarm signal. This is very trying on Sundays, when many of us are enjoying much-needed rest. Surely it should not be too much trouble for the motorist to get out of the car and knock at the door. He is calling at one house, not at them all. Partisan Impartiality. Maoris are "good sports." They like to see their own side win, but they can and do appreciate the worth of their opponents. 11ns sportsmanship was demonstrated at Huntly on Saturday, when the Tamaki (Auckland) team played the Waikato thirteen in the final of the Waitangi Shield. The game was played to a draw in the last two minutes of the game, when the visitors managed to creep up to the Waikato's score of live. Then the home team could not add any more points, and so the shield stayed with Tamaki. The majority on the sideline wanted the Waikatos to win, wanted thetn with voice and gesture and hope. And yet, each time that Tamaki did anything worthy of applause, the appreciation was immediate, and after the match the captains fell on each others necks. Bright Week-end. The bright sunshine experienced in Auckland over the week-end attracted many people to the beaches, both on the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours. Sun-worsliippers were in evidence, beginning the tanning process, while more hardy souls were tempted to take their first plunge of the season. Many bathers have been taking their daily swim for some weeks, but their numbers are now fast increasing. The highways and byways in the city and suburbs were alive with traflic, those with motor cars seeking out some secluded spot to lunch by the wayside. Hikers were also out in full force, many finding fresh delights and charms in the Waitakcre Ranges. On Saturday there was evidence of a swing-over from winter to summer sports, for while tho sound of boot meeting leather was to be heard at various parks on Saturday, thousands donned flannels to play tennis. The feeling was generally abroad that summer has come to stay.

Plans That Go Astray. "Beference has been made to providing a plan and putting it into effect," said Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, addressing acclimatisation society delegates 111 Wellington last week upon the subject of amalgamation. "There is 110 difficulty about providing a plan, but putting it into effect is another thing. One of the. things I was interested in about 20 years ago was local body reform. I spent about six months on it. As the result a conference was called in 1012 of 02 representatives of local bodies. We submitted a plan. It was carried unanimously; every resolution was carried, and every local body was represented. They went back to their districts. A bill was produced, and we introduced it to the House. I do not think any member in the House had a good word to say for it. Every district had telegraphed 10 its members against it." Tramping de Luxe. The modern tramper does not hesitate; to use every facility that is available to help him 011 his road to the bush. Both rail and motor bus are used without a blush, so that the actual tramp can be begun, if not in the heart of the ranges, at least by the foothills. Yesterday a party from the Auckland Tramping Club journeyed by bus to McKlwnin's Crossing, which is almost in the centre of the AVaitnkeres, and from that rendezvous set out 011 a tramp across the hills and down into the Anawhata Valley. After slithering down muddy bush tracks, they had lunch by the Anawhata Stream. Then came a climb to the top of Mobb's Peak, about 1300 ft up, from which a magnificent panorama is obtainable. Features of the bush at this season are a profusion of the kehetara, with its big balls of snowy white, and glorious clematis standing out from the green of the punga ferns, while the Unforgettable notes of the tui come as full recompense for miles of tramping. Popularity of Lawn Tennis. In enlarging on the growing popularity of lawn tennis, Mr. J. Harrison, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, informed the gathering at the Ngataringa Club's opening at Stanley Bay on Saturday that the records of the association showed that in 1013 the total number of players in the Auckland Province was 1500. In 1034 there were 0.300, an increase of 8000 in 10 years. The credit for this increasing interest in the game was due not only to the paternal activities of local bodies in providing playing ground facilities, but also to the progressive policy of the Auckland Tennis Association in arranging for visits to New Zealand by world-famous players. This year Perry, the world's champion, accompanied by Hughes, his doubles partner, would be playing in Auckland in November. They would be accompanied by Menzel, of Czccho-Slovakia, and Miss Bound, of Wimbledon, and Dearman and Lylc, of the Wightman Cup team. From their expositions lie hoped for a further stimulus to the game.

Quoth the Old Man-o-warsman. Although Calliope , wharf is nearly empty of our warships just now, there is always an old naval hand going to and fro on the ferry boats who can gather a band of listeners around him as he discourses oil the days when lie went to sea. Many of these old sailors are deeply read in the story of the Navy right down through the years, and one told recently of the time when Dr. Johnson remarked: ''No man will be a sailor who has the contrivance to get himself into gaol, for being in a ship was like being in gaol, with the added chance of being drowned." The evolution since those days was narrated by the old sailor, who said that the conditions in the Navy as far as hygiene.was concerned were about as good as those on shore. Sailors got to-day, which they did not always get, regular hours of sleep, good food, and health lectures to let them know the pitfalls which awaited them. Sailors were more temperate than they were long ago, when the beer ration was a gallon a day per man. Then there was the rum ration of half a pint a day, which was reduced to oneeighth of a pint, which is still the amount given out. Lime juice to prevent scurvy replaced lemon juice, and is fortified with 10 per cent of alcohol. "Naval men are faddy," went on the old man; "they can stand up to a wind or gale, but they can't stand a draught, and often complain about electric fans set in motion to cause a free current of air to pass through their quarters." It is realised, however, that "a dry ship is a heo.lthy ship," and that ventilation is necessary. They had an old doctor on one of his later ships, who told them that 800 men would give off from their skins and lungs in one night over 100 gallons of moisture. Below decks ventilation was always a problem, but it has been managed so well that T.B. amongst the Navy was fast disappearing. King George had done much to improve the Navy.