NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fires at Tamaki. Fire swept through a large area of gor and fern on the hills in the East Tanial district last evening. Starting about fli o'clock in a tract of uncleared land near M F. Hammond's farm, the flames spread rapid: over a wide front, and sparks started otln outbreaks in the neighbourhood. Forme: turned out with beaters to prevent the lii encroaching on their grass lands. Broke Record — Placed Second. An unusual result occurred in the po vault event at the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Ba ■m centre's amateur athletic championship nice ing on Saturday. The highest vault was ths of Ij. Gray, of Gieborne ( loft 4in), a nc centre, record, but as this, was scored i a test for second place (R. Johnston, Napie 10ft 3in, having already been declared tli winner), Gray had to be content with secoi) position. Water Main Bursts. The bursting of a water main at tli junction of Jervois Road and Curran Street Heme Bay, on Saturday evening attracte< considerable attention. The cause of thi break is not known, but as the two jets wen each directly under a tramline, it is though possible that the softening of the asphalt the heat of the sun and the weight of passing trams may have been responsible for the weakening of the main. An onlooker, reniem boring the great need of rain in the farming districts, commented that it was a "drcadfu waste, of precioue water." -lobson's First Landing. At a meeting of the Auckland Historiea Society on Saturday afternoon Mr, Georg< Graham claimed that it was on Shelly Beach Ponsonby, and not Orakei, that Captain Wil Ham Hobson, R.N., made his firet landing ii Auckland. He said that Captain llobsoi stepped aehore near a rock known to tin natives as Oka, on the Shelly Beach fore shore, but he may later have landed a< Orakei. In March of last year the 03rd anniversary of Captain Hobson's official land ing was celebrated at the Orakei Maori village. Boy Shows Enterprise. ])rovers in charge of fat sheep beiri£ driven to the Southland Frozen Meat Company's works at Mataura have invariably experienced great difficulty in getting their sheep across the town bridge, but a small boy with his eye to business has eolved the difliculty. Daily he can be observed, as mobs approach, coming out from bin residence with his pet lamb (states the "Southland Times"), and together they head the procession over the bridge. The drover comes on smilingly behind. It U understood that the boy lias raked in many coins as a result of his enterprise. Many Train Passengers. With over 2000 passengers leaving by longlistance trains between (>.: JO and 7.30, and upwards of 700 friends seeing them off, the Auckland railway station wae crowded last evening. There was such a demand during the week for seats in the Limited express eaving for Wellington at 7 p.m. that a second jxpress, with the New Plymouth carriages ittached, was dispatched. Kach of these .rains took about oOO* passengers, while there vero a total of 1030 passengers aboard two L special excursion trains returning to Hamilton and «00 passengers aboard the ordinary 1 Hamilton tram. [ ; "Shandies" for Fair Cyclists. ; "Two shandies, please —we're very dry." , As a shilling rang on the bar counter of a , North Canterbury hotel, in a district where ! the drought is at its woret, that order was ' given a day or so ago, not by two thirsty i men of the earth, but by two young women . cyclists, who were passing that way on a ' tour (says the "Christchurch Times' , ). Taken 1 somewhat by surprise and in circumstances not usual for that part of the world, for the girle were clad in red shorts and open-necked khaki shirts, the puWican met the situation handsomely. "And your very best health, young ladies," he said, as he delivered two cooling tankards. Mako in Kaipara Harbour. A large, number of sharks have been seen in the Kaipara Harbour this summer, and recently Messrs. D. G. Smith and B. W. Smith, of Matakohe, were successful in landing a. mako ehark, weighing 4001b and 10ft long, at Tinopai, The brothers noticed the shark as they were rowing out to their launch Mermaid, and prepared a home-made harpoon on the launch. The shark fought desperately to rid itself of the harpoon, and the men, who liad entered the dinghy when the fleh made for deep water, were towed for over two miles before they boarded another launch. Here the struggle was continued, and it was not until two and a half hours had elapsed that the shark was finally secured. Birds' " Patrol System." The idea that animals and birds have their "societies" for mutual aid in not new. Proof of birds' desire to protect each other is being given daily in a suburban garden, where a big cat wanders at large. The cat has more than the usual agility, and an uncanny aim, and small field mice and birds largo and small are sacrificed to his appetite for fun and food. Lately, however, the birds have instituted a system of patrol, and wherever t-hc cat in—lying sunning himself or amusing himself tossing a mouee to the sides —a sentinel blackbird keeps an eye on him. and makes a peculiar call of warning. When, , the cat's young mistress wants to locate him. she follows the bird's signals, and the cat is always there. Leisurely Caravan Tour. Setting up something of a record in economic holidays, four young Hawera people have returned to their homes after travelling in their caravan r>o7 miles round the North Island in six weeke, says the Wanganui "Herald." The total cost was a trifle below £8. The tour was made in unusual fashion. Judy, a 30-year-old horse, formed the motive power, with an average speed of three miles an hour, and a 42-year-old buggy, looking like one of the covered wagons of American history, provided the carriage. The party left Hawera on December 20, and, averaging 20 to 25 miles a day, stopped at Urenui, To Kuiti, Te Awamutu. "Arapuni, Rotorua, Taupo, Chateau Tongariro and Raetihi, returning through Wanganui to Hawera. They declared that the holiday was ideal in every respect. Only six days were wet. A Scot's Fortune. Speaking to the toast, "Scots at Home and Abroad," at the Burns anniversary celebration, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop,' referred to the courage and enterprise of the early pioneers of New Zealand, and told a humorous story relating to Mβ grandfather. Among those who came out to settle at Dunedin was Mr. Hislop's grandfather and Mr. John Anderson. Instead of staying at the Scots settlement, Dunedin. Mr. Anderson went to Christchurch. Some time later he was twitted witli having deserted his j felloW-Scots in favour of the English. His reply was that he had come out to New Zea-1 land' to make his fortune, and he thought lie could do it better amongst the English than amongst his fellow-Scots. When the laujhter died down a little, the Mayor added that, judging from how well John Anderson had succeeded, lm almost thought that hie (Mr. Hislop's) grandfather might have gone to Christchurch. too. ,

Cricketer's Bright Century. Although low scoring was general in th United Friendly Society Cricket Association' competition at Eemuera on Saturday, th batting was not without one highlight. Play ing for Wcstraere against Hibernians, Oxle; hit up a dazzling century, carrying his ba for 105. He made his score within an hour collecting 02 of his runs per medium o boundary strokes. His final tally shovve< seven sixes and thirteen fours. War Bullet Removed. A machine-gun bullet, which had been ii Mr. L. G. Nieol's shoulder since the Grea War, was removed at the district hospital Wiiipukurau, last week. Mr. Nicol had Buf fered no inconvenience from the bullet; ii fact, he was unaware of its presence unti he met with an accident two months ago. I is believed that the knock his shoulder re eeivod on that occasion shifted the bullet s< that he became aware of eomo foreign sub stance in' his shoulder. Auckland Dancer's Success. Advice has been received in Auckland b> the Highland and National Dancing Society of the success of two local girls at the receni championships held at Turakina. Gladys Smythe, unbeaten champion of the South foi many years, again won the trophy, and Miss Loloma Kay, of I'onsonby, and Mise Gwcr McNaughton, of Auckland, were second and third. This is the first time Auckland has been represented in the winning list at Turakina for some time. Meaning of Word "Scab." The meaning of the word "scab" was the subject of some debate in the Christchurcli Police Court one day recently in the course of a case brought as 'tUe result of dissension among taxi drivers. Mr. R. A. Young wafl appearing for the defendant, and had great difficulty in getting the witnesses to deline a "scab." He himself produced a dictionary, from which ho showed that its real meaning was synonymous with "shabby." Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., ended the debate when he said that any man had a perfect right to consider himself insulted if he were called a "scab." Flare on Launch. Two dinghies and a launch left Narrow Neck last night to give assistance to a launch which was thought' to be on lire, but which actually had merely experienced engine trouble. The launch was the Vulcan, returning to Auckland, and when about half a mile off Narrow Neck her engine broke down. A dinghy was sent aehore to get a launch to tow the Vulcan into port, and in order to show her position a flare was lit in a tin on the stern. The burning flare caused people on the shore to believe the launch was on lire. Katipo Spiders. An abnormal number of katipo spiders has been noticed on Turakina Beach this year, .states the "Wanganui Chronicle." A Wangnnui resident who spent a day there unknowingly brought one home in a rug, and it tumbled out when that article wae unfolded to air next day. It reported tliat specimens of the katipo have also been" noticed fairly frequently at Castlecliff and in places inland from the city. ' It is thought that the dry season may have had soiiie influence on the multiplication of these insects, the bite of which is poisonous. The katipo can bo distinguished by the red markings on its back. ' Artificial Moonlight " Bathing. Bathing in the moonlight has always been popular among Aucklandcrs, and more especially during the present prolonged hot spell, tlie. beaches being thronged whenever the night tide has proved favourable. At Mission Bay on Saturday the water near the shore was illuminated as brilliantly as any man-made swimming pool. Motorists had parked their cars in line facing the beach and, with headlights switched full cm the water, the bathers enjoyed themselves immensely. So popular has night bathing become recent'v, that even a late tide does not deter hundreds from having a "dip" round about midnight. Keep Their Own Time. Moana, Ruru and Te Kinga are three small settlements on the West Coast situated along a distance of only a few miles of the main railway line to Christchurcli. But when it is mid-day in Moana (so it is stated locally) it is 12.30 p.m. in Ruru and 1 p.m. in Te Kinga. And all the clocks are right. Daylight saving is responsible for thie amusing* situation. In the West Coast sawmilling centres daylight is valuable, and years ago, long before Sir Thomas Sidey succeeded with his" , legislation, these sawmilling settlements had their daylight saving schemes. But the initiative was taken independently, and apparently there has been no attempt to equalise the amount of time advanced as between the different centres.

' Wellington Mayoralty. It is practically certain that Labour will ; contest the Wellington Mayoralty at the elections, which will take place on Wednesday, May 1. Although nominations have not yet closed, it is expected that the choice of Labour's candidate will lie between Mr. R. Scmple, M.P., and Mr. R. McKean, M.P. It is understood that Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., has not found it possible to agree to nomination on account of the heavy demands made upon him in his capacity as deputyleader and secretary of the Parliamentary Labour party. Labour proposes to make another strong bid for a majority on the City Council, Hospital Board and Harbour Board. Wellington Communist organisations are reported also to be considering candidates for (lie City Council. I Shy Medical Staff. I A group of eight nr ton young medical j men -and one young woman—attached to the ! staff of Wellington Hospital shyly entered the board room at the hospital the other night to be introduced to members of the board (sayn the "Dominion"'). This was the first time such a thing had been done, and it was the idea of the new superintendent, Dr. A. R. Thorne, who recently arrived from Australia to tako full control of the hospital. The young members of the staff appeared rather overawed in the presence of the board. After shaking hands all round, the chairman, Mr. F.-Castle, said the board desired its medical staff to be happy, to have plenty of work, and to have as much pay as it could afford to give. Responding on 'behalf of the staff, Dr. Thorne expressed their thanks for the board's good wishes, and remarked that they "were all a happy family." Seagull Stories. On a recent fishing expedition to Starvation Bay, just outside Lyttelton Heads, a member of the party captured a baby seagull and decided to take it home as a pet. The mother followed the dinghy out to the launch and kept an eye on the boat all the way back to Lyttelton, a distance of about ten miles, unci it was only after the inner harbour was reached that the mother was Tost sight of (reports the Christchurch. "Star"). The chicken was brought through to Christehurch that night, and was installed in its new home at Bromley. A'uout 10 o'clock the ■ following day, when the new pet was squatting on the lawn of the house at Bromley, • the parent seagull swooped down, picked it up in its beak, and flew off again in the ■ direction of Lyttelton. This story is supplemented by another, not quite so remarkable, but equally well attested. During a nor'-west ; gale at Lyttelton two newly-fledged sparrows wore blown out of their nest in-the guttering of a ehed on the wharf and fell into the i water, where they floated teinpowM'- H " that stage a seagull flew down, picked them up one after another, and replaced them on I the deck of the wharf. * -- .. i>