NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Glove Etiquette. A correspondent, "Sir Lion," asks regarding the wearing of gloves by men at evening functions. It is correct for a man when shaking hands to remove the right hand glove and carry it in the left, which remains gloved. Albino Blackbird. Visitors to the infirmary at Epsom have been interested in an albino blackbird which frequents the infirmary grounds. The head and neck are white, and on one wing there is a wide bar of the same colour. The bird is similar in appearance to one which used to frequent the Albert Park a few years ago. Urewera Ceremonial. An interesting ceremony was scheduled to take place in the heart of the Urewera, Country at Ruatahuna to-day, when a memorial headstone recently erected by the Bay of Plenty Historical and Research Society in memory of soldiers killed in the Urewera campaign of 1800 was to bo unveiled. The ceremony was to include orations by leading Maori chiefs in the district, and an address by Colonel J. L. Fraserhunst. Mayor a Boy Scout. Auckland's new Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, on Saturday night became a boy scout. He was the guest of honour at the scout leaders' annual dinner, and so impressed was he at the spirit of good feeling prevailing that he expressed a desire to become more actively associated with the organisation. Always on the look-out for recruits, the scout leaders took Mr. Davis at his word, and, in front of an improvised electric "camp fire," he was given the scout oath. With the pinning of a "tenderfoot" badge on the lapel of his coat, Mr. Davis became an official unit in the boy scout ranks. Native Pigeon in Otahuhu. An interesting sight on a recent Sunday was that of a fine specimen of the native pigeon feeding on a puriri tree in the garden of the vicarage at Otahuhu, which is situated in a closely-settled portion of the borough. The presence of one of these birds in this district has not been reported for a number of years, although a pair of tuis were regular visitors to the grounds of St. Mary's Homes at the other end of the borough until a largo eucalypt tree was felled. The Otahuhu Borough Council has been carrying out a programme of planting nectar and seed-bearing native trees, and the visits of these birds should prove encouraging and also of interest to bird lovers. " Last Post" at Menin Gate. An idea was started by some of the leading citizens of Ypres, when the Menin Gate wm opened in 1929, of establishing a fund to pay buglers a small sum to sound the British "Last Post" every evening in all weathers. Every night since then Belgian workmen in their working clothes bugle a "Good-night" to the quarter of a million British soldiers who sleep in the Ypres Salient. This moving ceremony is attended in summer by many thousands of visitors, who carry away a lasting impressi6n of this friendly gesture. Up to recently the necessary funds have been entirely provided by the citizens of Ypres. A year ago, however, the Surrey British Legion decided to raise sufficient capital to ensure the perpetuation of the ceremony, and a cheque was handed over to the Burgomaster of Ypres on Easter Sunday. Rabbits in King Country. . A recent trip through the outbacks of the Northern King Country shovs that "bunny" has thrived in a wonderful manner difrlng recent years, states the "Waipa Post." Where, in former years, rabbits were a rarity, they are now "as thick as thieves in London." A rabbit board covering the area lias recently been formed, but as the territory under its jurisdiction is such a vast one it is obvious that unless more strongly financed by ratepayers, and the consequent Government subsidy, they will be snowed under with rabbits before the contemplated measures of extermination have had time to function at their maximum. A King Country publication states that the above report has been somewhat exaggerated. While it is true that rabbits are more numerous in the district between Te Kuiti and Otorohanga, the pest has not yet reached serious dimensions. To the west and south of Te Kuiti, rabbits have not shown any perceptible increase. As Well to Know. That it is illegal to advertise for and carry passengers to fill up a private car was brought home to a motorist by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court in Christchurch. Mr. R. Twyneham, who prosecuted for the Christchurch City Council,, said that just before Christmas defendant went to Nelson on a business trip. He advertised for three passengers, and took a woman and her two children, -who paid for the trip. He was liable to a fine of £100 for using a vehicle for passenger transport that did not carry a Certificate of fitness, and for conducting a service not licensed under the Transport Act, 1931. The magistrate remarked that, taking newspaper advertisements as an indication, this was quite a common practice. It was common in the North Island, said the city traffic inspector, Mr. H. Macintosh, but there were not many cases in Christchurch. Defendant was convicted and discharged on the first charge, and fined £8 and costs on the second. A Converted Musician. Mark Hambourg, the eminent pianist, broadcast for the first time in Great Britain on April 1 in the home and Empire programmes. He has only broadcast on two previous occasions, once in Canada and once from Hilversum. In the past he has not been favourably disposed towards radio. Regarding the effects of broadcasting on musical appreciation, Hambourg has said: "It is much the same as the gramophone. People who only a few yeafs ago would have fled at the mere mention of the words 'classical' or 'concerto' now tune in eagerly to the most abstruse compositions. The step from the enthusiastic listener to the enthusiastic con-cert-goer is a small one, and I expect that a good proportion Of present-day concert audiences heard their first symphony or sonata by way of the ether. The educational power of broadcasting is enormous; and I feel there is evidence to show that an appetite for good music has been frequently whetted into a healthy hunger through the introductory medium of radio." Londbn to Auckland in 20 Seconds. Yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the opening by the Prince of Wales of the King George Vt ifaHi G.P.0., London, and of the inauguration of the sixpenjiy telegram, a message was handed out by Sir Kingsley Wood at tlie beginning of his speech, passed round the world in the west to east and delivered to the Prince after the lapse of 95 seconds. Tlie route followed was London, Montreal, Bamfield, Auckland, Sydney, Cotteslde; from there tlie message continued onward in two directions, namely, via Singapore alid via Capetown. Tlie beam wireless from tlie Cape also provided an additional route, all comprising the System of Cable and Wireless, Ltd. The message Was transmitted practically throughout by the company's regenerator 6ystehi, of which apparatus of the most recent development is installed at the Auckland office, this apparatus is by far the most advanced arid reliable in use for submarine telegraphy. Sir Kingsley Wood's message passed Auckland 20 seconds from the time it was signalled from London, and the actual time of transmission over the entire distance was 65 seconds. The text of the messa-re was: "I-Have the honour and pleasure to invite your Royal Highness to declare this hall open and to inaugurate the new sixpenny telegram service.—Kingsley Wood."

Wild Pig Shot. A wild pig which was shot on theWaitakere Ranges yesterday measured 6ft 6in from snout to tail. The animal had gained quite a local reputation, and had been pursued on previous occasions without success. No Memorial to Dickens. When recently the members of the City Pickwick Club met at the "George and Vulture" in the City of London, Mr. Alfred Noyes, the poet, drew attention to the fact that the city contained no memorial of Dickens, and suggested that a bust of Mr. Pickwick should be put in some prominent position. Hole-in-one at Titirangi. The iinusual occurrence .of two members of the club holing out in one at the same hole, the short fourth, was witnessed at the Titirangi links during the week-end. Playing in a four-ball match on Saturday, T. S. C. Stone won the fourth hole, a distance of 140 yards, in one, and L. F. Param, playing in a four-ball match on Sunday, also accomplished the feat, his drive from the tee landing the ball direct in the hole. Test of New Bombers. The new Vickers Vildebeest bombing aircraft which have been assembled at the Hobsonville air base will be put through their bombing tests to-morrow morning. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Cobbe, and the general officer commanding the New Zealand Forces, Major-General Sir W. 11. Sinclair-Burgess, will witness the tests, which will also bo watched by Sir Keith Smith, representing Vickers (Aircraft), Ltd., who has come from Australia to see the aircraft successfully placed in commission here. Churching the Mayor. The customary "churching of the Mayor" took place yesterday morning, when the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, and 15 members of the council attended the service at St. Matthew's. In the course of his sermon, the Rev. A. J. Beck said that the condition of a city was not to be judged by its natural beauty and its fine buildings, but by the happiness of its citizens. Courageous leadership was desired, for there was something radically wrong when in a country like New Zealand there were so many in need. He hoped the Mayor and councillors would show that leadership. Influx of Visitors. At all the leading hotels in Auckland the accommodation is fully occupied, the influx of visitors during the week-end being exceptionally large. King's Birthday week, with its racing carnival and sports meetings, usually brings a large number of'visitors to the city from the country, but this year the rush has been greater than for several years past, this being attributed in part to the holding of the All Black trial match at Eden Park to-day, in which players from many country districts will be seen in action. Train and service car traffic was heavy over the week-end, and bookings for return trips to country districts tonight are correspondingly heavy.

Destroyers for Poland. Two destroyers ordered by Poland from an English firm of builders will probably be the largest torpedo craft yet built in Great Britain. The length over all is 374 ft, beam 37ft, and the displacement over 2000 tons. They will probably cost at least £450,000 each. This, the first Polish naval contract ever placed with a British firm, was secured in the teeth of intense international competition,. The largest destroyer hitherto built in Britain is the Dubrovnik, which Yarrow and Company launched for the Yugoslav Government in 1931. She has a length of 371 ft, a beam of 35ft and a displacement of 1880 tons, increasing to 2400 at full load. Increase in Oyster Prices. The reason why the Marine Department had this year recommended an increase in the price of local oysters of 1/ a sack was given this morning by the Minister of Marine, Mr.. Cobbe, who is visiting Auckland. Mr. Cobbe said the increase had been recommended on account of the shortness of the season, which had been curtailed, and would all go to the pickers to recompense them for the smaller tally they would total for the season. Although the picking would be smaller this year, it would require more care than Usual in order to preserve the beds in the best order. The work at all times was carried out under uncomfortable conditions. Narrow Escape. While negotiating a ford of the flooded Moonlight Creek, with a dray conveying a Wire rope from the Moonlight-Nelson Creek gold claim, Mr. A. Jeffries, of Atarau, had a narrow escape from, drowning, reported the Greymouth "Star's" Blackball correspondent. The dray capsized and Mr. Jeffries was thrown into the water. Some men employed on the gold subsidy including Messrs. J. MacGhie, G. Bowers and O. Cunningham, went to the rescue, and held the plunging horse. They had difficulty in locating Mr. Jeffries, but found him underneath the dray, the wheel of which had caught his foot and pinned him down. He was taken to Mr. Cunningham's hut, where first aid was rendered by Mr. MacGhie, all the fingers on Mr. Jeffries' right hand being severely lacerated. Rush for Motor Plates. The last-minute rush for motor number plates was greater thari usual this year. Not only were the applicants lined up in queues on Saturday, but the doors were kept closed, only ten being admitted at ft time. The fact of the extra rush must have been the only excuse for a rather officious act during the morning. A local business man who was unable to spare the time sent his son, a schoolboy, aged 16, to secure the, necessary plates. The application, insurance and certificate and all necessary infornmtion were in order, but he had omitted to put down the car's 1934-5 number. After a wait-outside and Working up in turn in ft long queue, the boy was abruptly told his application was not in order, as the old number was not put in. He retired from his place in the queue and hurriedly put the number in, taking his place at. the foot of another queue. When he finally reached the counter for the second time he was again turned away, with the remark that the last year's number had been placed on the wron" line. In his hurty he wrote 1 the number one line ahead; where the highway district should have been stated. So one more owner had to go without his platds until Tuesday. A Referee Justified. The breach between the Paeroa Bugby Uliion and the Rugby Referees' Association, over the ordering off of a Karangahake Club pldver two Saturdays ago, and the union's decision on the matter, has been healed, after a conference, with an acknowledgment of misunderstanding, reports the "Star's" Paeroa correspondent. The referee maintained that he had warned the player for late tackling, and it was eventually brought to light that the issuing of ft warning to a player, which some members of the union had noticed, and which gave rise to their assertion that tlie referee had made a mistake in identity, was on another occasion and to another player. It was agreed that the union's decision had been indefinite. Mr. P. A. PlUihhter signified his intention of moving at the next regular meeting to rescind the motion and to substitute: "That the referee's action in regard to the prevention of late tackling be commended, and that a letter be written to the offending player reprimanding him and stating that any recurrence of late tackling will be severely dealt with; and that in view of the fact that the ordering off of the player was a punishment, no further action be taken." The union expressed its confidence in the Referees' Association, and its members withdrew their resignations.