NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 121, 24 May 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Arrived Late. A mother of a large family, wlio resides at Caetlecliff, apologised for being late at the Wang-anui Magistrate's Court. Tho magistrate replied that lie could understanl the difficulty of a woman with eight children, one a baby in arms, living at Castlecliff, getting to the Court at all. "It is a marvel to me that she is able to ilo so," ho added. Other Factors in the Case. "Would you let him drive your wife around the countryside?" asked counsel of an expert optical witnese in a New Plymouth Supreme Court ease, during tho course of evidence on the questionable vision of a motor driver. "Xow, would you?"' "Well," replied witness, "that depends upon more than eyesight." Nelson Aerodrome. During the past two weeks the survey of the new aerodrome on the. Quarantine Reserve site, Nelson, has been proceeding, and it is anticipated that the work of levelling the area will be commenced shortly under the. supervision of the Public Works Department, The survey lias been made for an A class aerodrome, with a runway of 800 yds. Divining for Mineral. A process by which ho claims that his divining rod will indicate only the mineral that he lias previously stated lie is seeking has been evolved by Mr. Thomas Todd, of Leppertqn. He has had considerable divining experience. For 'he present he is keeping his latest discovery secret. "Mr. Todd will leave shortly for the Otninatca County under instructions from the Government, to eeck water for certain farm lands. Distemper in Dogs. A postponement of the Malvern Collie Dog Club's annual trials has been caused by tho prevalence of distemper in doga in the back country of Canterbury. As this year is the silver jubilee of the club's foundation, it has been proposed not to cancel the trials completely, but if possible to hold them near tho end of the season. It is said to be .many years since distemper has caused eo many deaths among dogs, and some shepherds and station ownere have lost most of their teams. Rough Weather on West Coast. The weather nt sea, and especially on the west coast from Ilokianga to Westport, has been exceptionally boisterous during the past two days, shipping being held up at Westport, GreyniDutii, Wanganui, Manukau and Hokianga Harbours. The Ronald hud a very passape from Hokianga, reaching Onehunga at 11.30 last evening, over nine hours later than usual. Conditions have now improved, the barometer rising rapidly from 29.0 at noon yesterday to 30.1 at noon to-day. Driving Licenses. Although the new driving licenses have been available at the Town Hall traffic department since May 1. less than 200U have been taken out. As there are over 14,000 motor vehicle drivers in Auckland who will have to get a new license by Juno 1, there will be considerable congestion at the office towards tho end of next week. Anyone not in possession of a new license by Juno 1 is liable to a fine. " Love, the Law of Life." Unless men took the love of Christ seriously, there was no hope for humanity, for love" permeated the whole creation of living things, indeed the whole universe, said Dr. Kajjuwa, when he addressed a large congregation at the Tabernacle last evening. Dr. Kagawa took as his subject for his lecture, "Love, the Law of Life," and while the purpose was serious, he added much humour with his quaint illustrations, and was quickly on jjood terms with his audience. lie said no mere system of otliice could transcend evil, but love could change evil to good. Opened With Prayer. Tho procedure established by tho immediate past Mayor of Wanganuf, Mr. N. G. Armstrong, in having meetings of the City Council opened with prayer is to bo adhered to by the present council. Mr. W. J. Rogers, on taking his eeat as Mayor to preside over the first ordinary council meeting since his election, was announced by the town clerk. Members of the council, the officers present and representatives of the Press rose ns his Worship took his seat. Following the reading of a prayer for Divine guidance, the routine business of tho meeting was commenced. Lion Rampant Inverted. The number of jokea cracked against Scotsmen was referred to by liia Worship the Mayor, Mr. John Miller, of Invereargill, at tho annual reunion of tho South African War Veterans' Association, and he made a laughprovoking sally in return. His Worship gazed at the Scottish standard, which had been hung in such a position that the Lion Rampant was in an inverted position. "I was asked to lend Hags for the decoration of the hall," he stated, "but I never expected to see my national Hag with tho lion lying on his back. It woe •'» McGregor, I may say, who put it there." National Flower Show. Speaking at a meeting held last evening in connection with a proposal to hold a national flower show at Auckland early next year, the president of the Auckland Horticultural Society, Mr. E. Hickaon, said that if the co-operation of all those interested in horticulture could lie secured it would he possible to mnke the show the largest of its kind ever held in Auckland. Every citizen could help to the extent of entering for the proposed competitions for the host-kept gardens and footpaths, and that would in turn assist in cultivating a sense of civic pride. Conservation of Timber. Several remits dealing with forestry came before tho Farmers' Union conference to-day. The Southern Thames branch urged that steps bo taken to eavc the forest of 50,000 acres between Taurnarunui and Taupo, now administered by the Aotca Land Board. The Bay of Islands branch suggested that definite stops should be taken to prevent the denuding of high areas, the Bay of Plenty branch pointed out the necessity of conserving the main supplies of white pine contiguous to dairying districts in the North Island, and the Rotorua branch contended that no white pine should be exported. Farm Census Suggested. Attention to tho lack of information as to the rnmiber of farmers and farm hands in New Zealand, compared with tho extraordinary wealth of detail available regarding lands, crops and stock, is drawn in a remit from the Bay of Islands branch of the Farmers' Union to be presented to the provincial conference now sitting in Auckland. The remit suggests that the Government should bo requested to undertake a proper census of farm hands and employees, paid and unpaid, in all branches of farming, so that tho industry may be brought in line with other industries and to check incorrect statements. Causes of V/ar. "The moat important cause in bringing about wars is the distributive side of the world's present economic system," said the Rev. W. W. Averill at the Remuera Library, when delivering an address under the auspices of tho Auckland branch of the League of Nations. Mr. Averill said war was of two types, militaristic and economic, and only so long as the present economic syetem remained unremedied was war inevitable. The solution was to give to men a title to the goods they produced, or the import equivalent of the goods they exported. He urged upon all Christians the necessity for remedying the present economic system.

A Perfect Referee. The perfect referee has been discovered at last, states the "Ilawke'a Bay Herald." He resides in the Wairoa district, and, officiating in a senior game recently, found occasion to blow his whistle only once during the first half. According to the oldcet inhabitant, the game was tlte best in memory. Not His Fault. "Once, when I shared my home in the slums of Tokyo with a drunkard, lie knocked my front teeth out, so if 1 do not speak clearly it is not my fault, but his," said Dr. Kagavva to his audience at the Tabernacle last evening. Dr. Kagawa wae asking the indulgence of his listeners for any imperfect pronunciation of the English language lie might make. A Popular Regatta. When presenting the prizes last evening to the winners of the Northcoto and Birkenhead Regatta, Captain H. H. Sergeant said that this fixture was one of the best managed and most popular events in the season. Thin was shown, lie said, by the record number of 138 entries in all classes. It was very pleasing to see so many young men taking part in this healthy and clean sport, which was the birthright of all who lived on the shores of the Waitemata. Fire on a Ferry. An outbreak of fire was discovered in a store locker in the engine room of the ferry steamer Albatross about 0.30 last evening, but was extinguished by the Central Brigade, using the first aid equipment. Two engines attended. The deck immediately above the locker, which wae used for the storage of oil, cotton waste and tools, wae charred, but no other damage was done. The Albatross was laid up for overhaul at the Bayswater and Birkenhead ferry tee, and there was no one aboard at the time, the workmen having left at 0 p.m. Empire Day. The observance of May 24 as a holiday dates back to the beginnings of New Zealand as a recognised and fully-constituted Crown colony. In the early days it was the Quecn'e Birthday. When Queen Victoria died, the holiday, to which the Empire subjects had become habituated for over half a century, was continued informally in 19U2 and l!) 03 as Victoria Day, and in 1001 it was given general recognition* throughout the British Empire and called Empire Day. As such it has persisted for 31 years. Only a Street Pigeon. The S.P.C.A. depot in Victoria Street West was the scene of a happy incident this week, when a party of small boys filed sorrowfully into the clinic, the leader carrying carefully a wounded pigeon which he had found in a damaged condition in Albert Street. "It'e only a street bird," explained one of the boys apologetically, fearful lest a "etreet bird" might not commend itself to the society. The boys waited in a strained and interested silence while the surgeon examined the wounded bird, and when told that their thoughtfulnees had saved it much Buffering, as with attention it would soon be well again, the boys' eyes sparkled with delight. Their excited chatter as they filed out told plainly they were experiencing the joyful sense of well-being in having done a helpless bird a gofnl turn. Cape Horn Route. Cape Horn is coming back into its own as a shipping route between England and the Dominions in the Pacific, Captain 11. L. Upton, of the Federal cargo steamer Durham, stated in Christchurch that owing to the high charges made by the United States for ships passing through the Panama Canal, it had become cheaper for cargo vcoeela to take the route round Cape Horn. -More and mure British ships were plying that way on passages between England and Australia and Xew Zealand. The charge for a vessel of 9000 tons through the Panama Canal was about £2000, and although the trip round Cape Horn lengthened the journey by six and a half days, the lose of time was more than compensated for in the financial saving. For a ship the size of the Durham those nix and a half days meant a cost of about .€3lO. which meant that, on the whole journey, £1700 was saved. Mischief to Mount Egmont Park. Fears for the future of the Egmont National Park were expressed by a deputation which waited on the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. Bitchener, at Xew Plymouth, with a request for the Department's aid in carrying out essential work. Mr. F. Amoore, a member of the Park Board, said that cattle were being turned into the forest the undergrowth was being destroyed. Goats were on the mountain in thousands, anil the board was unable to do anything because it had no funds. Mr. W. C. Weston said there was a movement afoot to establish some form of compulsory contribution from the local bodies that are deriving benefit from the mountain, which is a natural reservoir, but little could be done for a year. A full-time ranger to preserve the bush and native birds was needed. Water supplies, which were allimportant to the province, were not being conserved. Mr. Bitchener said that the situation certainly seemed serioue. Ho would arrange a conference with the Hon. S. G. Smith, M.P., to ascertain if something could be done. Old Craft Helped. Various craftsmen in England must have benefited materially from the Silver Jubilee of Their Majesties' , accession to the Throne. One section the jubilee has helped w those who "write" illuminated addresses on vellum. Old-established firms in London which do this work received inquiries from all over Great Britain and the Dominions from towns, municipalities and societies willing to spend anything from 10 to 200 guineas on addresses embodying their affection and loyalty. The illuminating craft goes back to the Middle Ages. An artist who has worked for 35 years in a 100-year-okl London firm said that it is handed down from father to son. "You cannot learn it," he said, "unless you have a 'flair.'" The vellum is stretched on a frame, and the design is sketched on tracing paper and transferred to the vellum. The email work is done with a pen; the bigger with a brush in illuminating colours —a water colour paint that gives a flat surface. An ordinary illuminated address, costing about 15 guineas, will take about a fortnight's continuous work. Honours and Pass Degrees. "The University of Xew Zealand," said Dr. liight, rector of Canterbury College, commenting on the criticisms by Auckland professors" "has always given careful attention to the standard of its education, and has shown intense anxiety to provide courses of training which should bo regarded generally as comparing favourably with those abroad. In this anxiety, those responsible for the courses of study havo sometimes aimed at covering too much ground, so that in many cases depth has been sacrificed to breadth. A great strain has been placed on the staff in the attempt to maintain a high standard over a wide ground. But if a university is to be judged by its best products, the. University of New Zealand has nothing to fear. Its graduates, many of whom go abroad every year, can hold their own with graduates overseas. I should stress the fact that in natural capacity, character and general potentialities the youth of this country is at least as good as anywhere else. But the general standard attained by the mass of graduates who take pass courses cannot, under present conditions, be as high as that of even provincial universities at Home. A large proportion of those who satisfy the pass standard for degrees in those subjects in which they do not specialise come very near the border line between passing and failing."