NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tame Pig in Street. A young wild pig following its master about the streets of Eltliam like a clog was a sight witnessed the other day. Recently a resident'of the town made a capture of the young pig in tho bush and brought it home. The animal soon became tame and formed such an attachment for its master that it followed him about everywhere, and even went with him to his place of work. ' The , animal is of the genuine "Captain Cook" ' variety. Sausages and Plums. Some farmers wonder why they cannot get boys to work on their holdings (remarks the Wauganui "Herald"). Here is an instance told by a reliable authority. The said farmer has a boy employed who is a ward of tho State, and the boy works long hours. The farmer's better half went away for a holiday and left the farmer and the boy to bach. The farmer sent the boy into town, a distance of seven miles, to buy some sausages. On tho boy's return tho farmer fried and ate the sausages, and gave the boy some plums for lunch. . f A Sporting Skipper. ( .... At tho time that the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Botorua was coining up harbour on Saturday afternoon a number of boats were competing in the Akarana Yacht Club's races, and near North Head the master of tho ship, Captain C. B. Lamb, had his vessel slowed down, and actually put astern, in order to allow the yachts to pass him to windward and to .get clear away. This sporting action was greatly appreciated by the yachtsmen, and several have asked that their thanks should be forwarded to Captain Lamb. Children's Camp Visited. A visit was made to the Auckland Community Sunshine Association's camp for children at Motuihi on Saturday by about 30 members of the Auckland Botary Club and their wives. The camp is being run on funds provided by the Rotary Club, and members expressed satisfaction at tho improvement in the children's health. Sir Ccorge Richardson, president of the association, welcomed the visitors, and the children were addressed by Mr. G. L. Taylor, president of the Botary Club, Dr. Bernard Myers, of London, and Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, M.P. Attractions of Devonport. "There is no suburb in Auckland which has more enhanced its natural attractions during recent years than Devonport," said the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh at the morning farewell service at the Devonport Presbyterian Church yesterday. "Improvements have been carried out on a comprehensive scale, which must evoke admiration 'from all sides. You have a borough to be pVoud of in its .cleanliness, its orderliness and its beauty. I w[sh to thank the council, and especially the Mayor, for the great services rendered to the unemployed." Yachtsmen's Busy Day. Yacht racing was in full swing on Saturday, nine «clubs holding events. The weather Was perfect for sailing, a steady northerly blowing all the afternoon. The Akarana Club sailed six races off' Campbell's Point, the Wakatere Club three off Narrow Neck, including the first heat of the .Speedwell Cup, the Heme Bay Junior Club two races off Ponsonby, the .Takapuna Club a race for the Z class off Bays water, in which 15 started, ami the Otahuhu, Howiek, Point Chevalier and Akarana Junior Clubs one race each. On the western harbour the Manuka n Yacht Club held sjx events, including the open 18ft, 10ft and 14ft'championships. All the races were very closely contested, in several cases a second being all the difference at the finish. In one race a dead-heat was registered. Adjustable Hurdles. Hurdlers expressed appreciation of the fine new type of hurdles in use at the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club's meeting at Western Springs on Saturday. The new hurdles are convertible to three heights, 2ft Din, 3ft, and 3ft 6iu, obviating the necessity for three separate sets for those three heights; They are made in two sections, one forming the base, and tho other the movable part. The top section, which moves, protrudes above the base section, and is fixed to it by a bolt through a long slot in both sections. The v top section is raised or lowered to the given height, and tho bolt screwed tight. They were made by Mr. W. Harper, a .member of the club, but perhaps better known in boxing circles, and are the only ones of their kind in the Dominion. Praise for the Maoris. "I have seen native races in many parts of the world, but I have never before seen any so high-minded, so unspoiled, so handsome, or so intellectually developed as the Maoris," said Mr. "Thomas Haythornthwaite, a Lancashire manufacturer, in an interview in tho "Hawke's Bay Tribune." - "It has been a pleasure to me 'to see the cordiality of the relationship between the European and the Maoris, and that relationship will stand high in the credit of both peoples. The way in which the Maoris have been accepted as a part of your race, and the justice that has been extended toward them, do honour to your country." The grace, the beauty and the artistic talent of the Maoris whom he had seen and heard in .entertainments at Botorua had particularly impressed him. A Pat! On the Back. Having completed his fust tour from Auckland to Dunedin, Lieutenant-Commis-sioner Fred H. Adams, of the Salvation Army, said in Wellington that he'was beginning to realise the wonder and the charm of tho Dominion. "As you know, I have lived and worked in the United Kingdom all my life, and I am beginning to believe that I have missed something," he said. "My wife and myself have been received with enthusiasm everywhere—crowded halls, and such hospitable, friendly people that it lias almost been embarrassing. It has given us ap insight into a new world, a world of kindly, considerate people imbued with the spirit of helpfulness and good fellowship. I made up my mind to visit every place where the Army is established in my first year. They say up here at headquarters that I can't do it, but, anyhow, I mean to try." Garbage Thrown in Harbour. , Charged with permitting garbage to be thrown from his vessel, contrary to the bylaws of the Wellington 'Harbour Board, the master of the Maheno was convicted and lined £5 and, costs last week. Counsel ,for the Harbour Board said that the question of discharging rubbish • from- ships into the.harbour had been a difficult one for 'several years past. On entering the port, masters of vessels were given a leaflet drawing particular attention "to the laws regarding the .djs : charge of garbage in the harbour. The offence, he said, was extremely difficult to detect. Counsel representing the master said , that as the Maheno had come into port the garbage chutes had been closed. When the ship'came alongside the wharf the chutes had been drawn in and the portholes closed. Obviously the master could riot personally see that the by-law was complied with. The magistrate, said that he could quite understand that the captain's position was a difficult one. To suit his own convenience, some member of the crew had committed the offence, .but the captain was responsible, and would have to be fined. It was in his hands, however, to execute suitable disciplinary measures.

Long Roll of Thunder. A roll of thunder lasting nearly an hour distinguished a heavy thunderstorm which passed over, the Huuua Valley yesterday. Very little lightning was observed, but tho dull roll seemed to fill the air. The storm was very heavy, but was confined to the hills, Papakura getting only the fringe of it. Waiheke Relief Workers' Resolution. Men on sustenance at "Waiheke Island held a meeting and passed a resolution urging the Minister of Employment to restore the previous rates of sustenance. They also decided to urge that Waiheke Island be classed in the metropolitan area, as no help is available from grants administered by the Unemployment Board, local bodies or societies. , Life-savers* Wasted Effort. An amusing incident occurred during the life-saving tournament at Ohope Beach yesterday (reports the "Star's" Whakatan* correspondent). A spectator on the beach saw a dark figure floating beyond the breakers. A cry of help sent the life-savers of seven teams to the rescue. A large and anxious crowd on the shore saw the surf men give a smart exhibition,. but the object was found to be only a log. A Harbour Spectacle, The weather over the week-end was perfect for yacht and launch cruising, and enthusiasts took full advantage of it. In addition to the boats that competed in the nine club events held on Saturday, a big fleet was away cruising. The wind fell very light about 7 p.m., a number of yachts coining home with the aid of a friendly towline. From tho starting tower of the Tamaki Yacht Club at 0 o'clock last. evening 178 pleasure craft were counted on their way back to their moorings. Jellyfish Stings. Several surf bathers at Castlccliff rcccutly have felt the ill effects of coming into contact with jellyfish, cither in the water or on,shore (says tiio Wauganui "Herald"). The other day a surfing enthusiast had the misfortune to receive one of these unwelcome and poisonous sea nettles in the neck of his bathing costume, and before lie could dislodge it, it inflicted some nasty "stings on his body. He suffered intense pain foi several hours, which was only relieved by the application of hot fomentations. It is also reported that a young girl was treated at the hospital for stings, while quite a number of bathers have suffered discomfort. Lectures in School Hours. A refusal to allow the Navy League to carry on its programme of lectures at schools within school hours was received by the executive of the Wellington branch it its last meeting in a letter from the Wellington Education Board. The letter stated that the board could not see Its way clear to grant to the Navy League concessions which were not' allowed to other bodies, and in future its lectures would have to be given outside school hours, and at the discretion of the headmaster and school committees concerned. "This communication places us in an unfortunate position," said the chairman, Mr. A. Walker. "We have arranged visits to schools for years, and it is now going to be difficult to do this during the coming year." He hoped that the Navy League would later get permission' to visit schools as it had done during the past. The matter was left for later discussion. Steered Car With Feet. Desiring to gain a better view of the proceedings while Messrs. Whitehead and Xieholls, the Ta&wan flyers, were being welcomed on the Napier Aerodrome on January 13 last, Jeffery Harding, a clerk, who was driving a motor car along the Embankment road at the 'time, slackened the speed of his vehicle down,to 10 miles per hour, raised himself until he was sitting on tho back of the scat, and guided the car with his feet, which he placed on the steering wheel. From this grandstand scat he saw more clearly what was going on near the hangars, but, unfortunately for him, he was noticed by a police constable. .As a result, he appeared in the Napier Magistrate's Court this week, charged with' driving a motor vehicle without having full control of it. He was convicted and fined 10/, costs 10/. City's Loss in Rates. The exemption which the Crown enjoys in respect to rates means a loss to the Christchurch City Council of £1000 a year (says the "Times"). Put in other words, ratepayers have to find an extra £1000 a year because the Crown does not pay rates on property belonging to it. This loss in rates is not on buildings and properties used for Government purposes, which are always exempt, but is on houses which have reverted to the Crown through the State Advances Department. When these houses are sold again, the new owner immediately becomes liable for rates in the ordinary way, and this makes the actual position respecting the number of properties affected difficult to ascertain. However, the city rate collector, Mr. J. K. Macdonald, said that, allowing for the ever-changing situation in respect of these properties, he estimated that the loss to the city was about £1000 a year. Unusual Cricket Incidents. The senior cricket match between Ponsonby and Grafton at Eden Park on Saturday contained several remarkable features. Ponsonby scored a six-point win, Grafton being dismissed twice for a grand total of 247, against Ponsonby's first innings score of 307. Grafton batted one man short in the first innings, and two in the Second. Townsend and Sneddon, the Ponsonby bowlers, between them took all the Grafton wickets in both innings, 111 runs being knocked off Townscnd and 112 off Snedden. In Grafton's second innings all the batsmen . were caught, and by a strange coincidence the initial of tho three men responsible for the catches was C. Another feature was the batting of N. Hocken, secretary of the Auckland Cricket Association. He carried his bat in Grafton's first innings, but was caught in the second. All told, he was at the wicket about eight minutes, but his strike was a hectic one, and he knocked up 50 in the aggregate. His scoring strokes were: 4, 0, 0, 2, 0, 4, 0, 0, 6, 4, 6. Island Air Services. Flights between Hawaii and the United States by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Mrs. Amelia Earhart Putnam and other famous pilots have received the fullest amount of publicity, but few people, know that aeroplanes have been carrying mails and passengers between the islands of the group every day for the last two years without a single accident. Information concerning the air service was given, by Mr. G. E. Brynt,. of Honolulu, when Interviewed by the "Christchurch "Star."'. "Conditions are'ideal for...flying'in Hawaii, as the weather is usually fine, and there is seldom any fog,"- said Mr. ;Bryant. "The 'planes used on the service are Sikorsky amphibians, and a forced landing therefore holds-no dangers." Each 'plane could keep in wireless communication 'with the main aerodrome at Honolulu. Each carried nine pas-' sengers, and two new ones, carrying 12 to 13 passengers, had been ordered. The service was maintained regularly, 'planes leaving Honolulu in the morning for the islands of Molokai and Maui. Two landings were made on the island of Hawaii —-at Upolo and Hilo. Mr. Bryant added that he thought a service between the United States and New Zealand by way of Hawaii and Fiji, as predicted by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, was bound to I come in a few years.