NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 55, 6 March 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Flotsam and Jetsam. "It is an ill wind tliut blows nobody any good" is an adage that Ims proved true in at least one ease in connection with the Ta'ranaki floods. A youn.' householder at Xew Plymouth, who, during his three years of married life, ha'e not given his vegetable garden much attention, woke on a recent morning to discover a heap of pumpkins and marrows de]H>sited by the flood waters against liis wire netting. The flood had also deposited in the same place sufficient firewood to lust him the winter. Forty Days of Lent. To-day is Ash Wednesday and the forty days of Lent were started with special services in Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. Ash Wednesday owes its name to the ceremonial use of ashes as a symbol of penitence. The ceremony fell into disuse in all but the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th century, its place being taken in the Anglican Church bv the Service on Cbm'niJnation, which to-dav' is;eeWom used. The use of ashes as a sign of penance is of very early origin, and there are frequent Biblical references to sackcloth and ashes.

Maritime Exhibit. The Shiplovcrs' Society of Auckland lias a fine display of interesting maritime relics on exhibition in the wjiidow of the Union Steam Sliip Company's Queen Street office. Tlic sailing ship model which is the centrepiece of the exhibition w a masterpiece of patient construction. Many teamen who have viewed it say that it is the most perfect model they have seen. Landsmen will bo intrigued by the enormous number of ropes, stays and gadgets which go to make up the rigging of an old-time sailing ship. N.Z. Literary Field. An American publishing company; Hbughton Miff lin Company, Boston, has offered two valuable scholarships to young New Zealand writers in the form of literary fellowships, each worth 1000 dollars, reports the Dunedin "Star." According to advice received by Br. Jamee Higlit. rector of Canterbury College, the award is being made for any type of literary work. Applicants are expected to forward samples of work already done, whether published or unpublished, together with a detailed synopsis, or tentative table of contents, of the project for which the award is asked. Testimonials are also required from three responsible persons as to the character and qualifications of the applicant. Hoiigliton Mifflin will expect to publish the work, if successful, on the usual royalty basis. Birkenhead Borough Band. The municipal band, which for many years was the pride of Birkenhead, has practically ceased to exist, according to a report made Uy Mr, J. Murdoch at the meeting of the NorthcotG Borough Council last night. Owing to depletion of the ranks of players, due to removal from the district to secure employment elsewhere, the scope of the band's area wae extended to embrace Xortlicote. in the hope of recruiting players from that centre. Two members of the Xorthuoie Borough Council and another representing the residents were added to the band committee. Mr. Murdoch stated that on a,n average the practices lately were attended by only four boys, and unless some action was taken promptly to revive interest, it was the intention of the band to resign and hand in the instruments and uniforms to the council. Morrinsville Live Stock Market. The continued expansion of stock sales conducted by the stock auctioneering firms of the Waikato at Morrinsville during the past few yeare was emphasised on Friday, when the streets of the business portion of the town were thronged with about 400 motor cars. Three firms, the Farmers' Auctioneering Company, Dalgety and Company and the Xew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, were holding extensive sales of sheep, cattle and pigs in their saleyards at the Hamilton Road entrance to the town, and in consequence there war* an unbroken line of cars along the main street for almost half a mile. This was the first occasion that all three firms had held sales on the same day, but in future they will be operating every Friday. Buyers and sellers of stock from the Kast Coast and all parts of South Auckland had motored to Morrinsville for the sale oil Friday, and as a result the business people of the town did better trade than usual. The central position of Morrinsville as a market for East Coast stock arriving bv rail from Tauranga has been recognised by stock agents, who are now concentrating 'business at this point.

Notice of Sailings. At the request of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the Auckland Harbour Board decided yesterday to revive the practice of indicating the departure times of passenger vessels on a notice board at the head of Queen's wharf, the shipping companies concerned having promised to co-operate with the board by keeping the board's office informed of changes iu the times. West Coast's Air Mail. The Post and Telegraph Department lias made a contract with Mcssre. Air Travel (X.Z.), Ltd., providing for the conveyance fortnightly by aeroplane between Hokitika, Haast and Okuru of all classes of mail matter, including parcels up to the maximum weight of 141b. Passengers and goods are also carried. There is no surcharge for correspondence carried on this route; the aeroplane merely replaces the former pack horses for the conveyance of mails. . ! "If England Fails." "Tf England fails, God help the world," said Dr. Bernard Slyere, speaking yesterday at a lunciieou meeting of the Grammar Old Boys' Club. He said that the civilisation under the British Empire was greater than that under Greece at the time of Pericles, greater than that of Egypt under the Pharaohs, greater than that of .Rome under Caesar. It was the greatest the world had known. If England failed, then the. world was going back to conditions that had existed centuries ago. He added that nowhere was that realised more than in America. Assistance to Relief Workers. A report was received at a meeting of tiie Auckland Metropolitan Relief Committee yesterday stating that since the previous meeting 590 pairs of shoes and boots were received for repairs and r>oo pairs were dispatched. In the same period 00 men had left Auckland for various camps, and a large number had been given free clotlijng and blankets. In addition, the committee had supplied at half price clothing to other men in camps and in the city. -In the free issue 5!) men had received a second free supply of clothing. Over a Hundred Operations. After two years in hospital, during which time he underwent more than 100 operations, Bruce Kendall, nged 11. of Xewtown, Tasmania, died last month. Kendall, a boy scout, was badly burned about the body when he foil into a lire at a scout rally in 1933. Operations wore performed at short intervals on parts of his body, but the burns refused to respond to treatment, and he gradually sank after a long and heroic fight for life. Last year he was awarded the scouts' niediil of merit, which is awarded only in the case of great fortitude and manly bearing.

Memorial to Great Headmaster. Ah announcement regarding the unveiling of tlio memorial to t!ie late headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, Mr. J. W. Tibbs, was made at a luneljoon meeting; yesterday of tlie Grammar School Old Boys' ('hilt by the present headmaster, Mr. H. J. D. Malion. He said that the memorial would be unveiled at a ceremony to lie held in the school hall at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 18. The memorial, he explained, wns the gift of an old bos - of the school, the Hon. Eliot R. Dnvin. M.F".. who had wished to show his affection for Mr. Tiblw. The memorial is in the form o t' a bronze bust. Auckland Police " Mounties." Police horses and their riders have to be prepared for all sorts of unuaual happenings. Such noises as are made by hostile crowds, the reports of firearms and fast motor traffic are introduced early in the training, of the horses, and they soon treat them nr> part of the day's work." Not often would a mounted constable have to perforin his duties in the water, but in case such a contingency might arise the horses are taught to behave as quietly in water as on land. On Monday afternoon at Mission Bay two "motilities' , in full uniform were riecn exercising their horses in the water. Both horse* were at first a little nervous, but after skilled coaxing by their rideivs they gradually became accustomed to the water and seemed to enjoy their swim. Warning to Bathers. On February 7 of this year a girl was swept out to *ea by an unusual current at Takapiiua Beach. This tide rip was predicted by Mr. S. Sinclair, of Auckland, in a letter to the "Star." Mr. Sinclair now reminds bathers that, as the moon was at its nearest point to the earth yesterday, strong currents can be expected off the eoarst on Thursday and Friday especially. Eight years sigo, on -March 7. a number of school children were swept out to sea at Ta.kapuna. and tin* event confirmed Mr. Sinclair's previous observations on the incidence of tidal currents when the moon is particularly close to the earth. Otahuhu and Swimming Baths.

The steps necessary to procure funds for establishing a swimming bath at Sturge.s Park were discussed with animation last night' at a meeting in the public hall, Otahuhu. It was convened by Mr. C. Porter, and attended by representatives of the various local athletic activities. Mr. Porter's immediate purpose was to consider the erection of dressingroom accommodation on the park, but Mr. A. Murdoch proposed that the meeting support steps being taken to carry on with the original major scheme of erection of a swimming bath at the park, on the understanding that the dressing rooms be built as early as possible, and later included in the bath buildings. After lively discussion on the subject of applying for an art union permit, it was decided that each eports body be asked to appoint two representatives to act on an executive committee for promoting the scheme. Humour on Bowling Green. Selector* arc often blamed for sins of omission, but the selectors of one local club, in choosing a team to challenge for a trophy which confers a privilege on the holders, certainly did not err, writes a correspondent. They selected the third and the skip from among the tonsorial artists of the club, and these have certainly lived up to the traditional reputation of the craft. In talking to and at themselves, and their opponents, they create such an atmosphere of uncertainty that it ie hard to concentrate on the game. Even the skip's heavy cold could not check their winning way, for last week's challengers were absolutely bewildered by a constant stream of conversation varying from a high treble to a deep basso floating about the green, just like a ventriloquist entertain: nient. Of course, the challengers lost; they thought they were at the pictures, not on a bowling green. Prevalence of Crickets. The long dry spell has been responsible for an unusual increase in the number of crickets in the Auckland Province. Crickets are particularly destructive, eating not only grass and plants, but also paper and clothes.Waiheke Island has suffered - severely from their ravages. The felt from the keys of the piano in the Osteml School was eaten off by crickets. The wallpaper in a cottage had pieces eaten out. and many people witli baches on the island have found their clothes attacked during their absence. Mr. R. A. Falla, ornithologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, said that, beyond king-_ fishers, starlings and pheasants, there was no known method of controlling crickets. He Jiad had numerous letters from people in all parts of the province requesting a remedy for the pest. The type that was causing trouble wae a native of Australia, and was introduced many years ago.