NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 160, 9 July 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Scarcity of Whitebait. Owing to rain the supply of whitebait for the Auckland market has been email. The chief source is the lower reaches of the Waikato River, but the water there has been muddy and the fish scarce. It is expected that the supply will increase when the river clears. Rugby Reps. " Carry On." Xo definite statement has been made whether J. Sullivan and R. O'Dowda have accepted the offer of a cash payment to join the Rugby League code, but it is understood the offer- has not been accepted, reports a Press Association telegram front Now Plymouth. Sullivan and O'Dowda have been selected as Taranaki Rugby representatives in the team to play Wanganui. The Trail of Royalty. The successful fishing experienced by the Duke of Gloucester at Awaliou during his visit to Rotorua last December has resulted in the Arawa, Tiust Board deciding, at the suggestion of the Awaliou village committee, to name the road from the village to the Awaliou Stream Gloucester Road. The road is at present in bad condition, but the necessary money to have it formed will be raised, and the County Council will be asked to supervise the work. Wet Weather Interrupts Hunting. "The weather has been abnormally wet this winter, and I think this has been the first time in the history of the Waikato Hunt Club that we have had to close down for two or three days," said Mr. Wvim Brown, master of the Waikato hounds, when addressing followers at the recent meet at Morrinsvillo. For this reason the club had been obliged to abandon one of its meets at Moirinsville and some in other Wa-ikato districts. However, it was wonderful to see how the country around Alorrinsville over which the hunt passed had dried up after a few days without rain. Sand Leak Causes a Cavern. A hole big enough to hide a motor lorry appeared, in the approach road to the Kopu bridge one morning last week as a mob of cattle went on to the bridge from the ITauraki Plains side. The cause was a curfous one, for it was ascertained that there was a crack in the concrete culvert 10ft or so beneath the metal, and that the sand which had been dredged from the Waihou Hiver to form the road had slowly dropped through and been washed away by the water in the culvert. Thus in the eight years since the road was formed about eight cubic yards of sand had gone through the crack. Rabbits v. Birds.

"They're the greatest pest the farmers have," declared a delegate with regard to birds, linnets and sparrows in particular, at a meeting of the Southland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. In supporting this remark and in speaking to a resolution advocating their extermination, Mr. N. Mclntyre said: "They're causing dreadful damage at present; some of them are even creeping under the thatch and pulling out the stack." He also considered tlicm a grave pest, to which Mr. 13. K. Sim countered: "What about the rabbits?" "Rabbits," echoed Mr. Mclntyre, "many a young man has had his start in life from rabbits. You can't say the same of small birds. Whoever heard of sparrows giving anyone a start in life?" Box at the Door Fails. After trying out the 'experiment for 12 months, the vestry of All Saints', Xelson, has decided to revert to the old system of handing round the offertory plate instead of receiving the offerings of the people in a box at the church door (nays the "Mail"). Though the latter represents, perhaps, a more idealistic method, in practice it breaks down, particularly with regard to visitors and strangers, who are not used to the custom. The vestry for some personal reasons regrets having to revert to'the old ami more generally used method,, but found after trying it out for 12 months that the work of the church was being severely handicapped through a big drop in income. Shortage of Teachers. The Hawked Bay Education Board is in a different position from boards in othpr parts cf New Zealand in regard to the supply of teachers available for the schools, as there is a definite shortage*in that district. It is common' knowledge that for some time past the majority of education boards in the Dominion have suffered from an over-supply of teachers, many of: whom have had to be placed in "rationed" positions. In Hawke/s Bay. however, it was necessary a few weeks ago for four teachers to be transferred from Canterbury in order to meet the demand for teachers, and a week Liter a further two teachers were applied for. The demand for teachers in Hawke's Bay has not yet been satisfied, however, and in the near future it will be necessary for the board to apply for further supplies from districts where there is at the present time a surplus. Telephone Saves Meetings. How invaluable the telephone is to country residents can readily be understood by the remarks of the chairman at a meeting in the Morrinsyille district the oilier day when trying to induce those present to accept nomination for the committee. "You needn't he afraid of having to go to committee meetings," he said cheerfully. "We haven't had a committee meeting since the last annual meeting. Our business has all been done over the telephone, or else we discuss things when we meet in the street in Morrinsville." "Put the names of everyone present in a hat and draw for those to go on the committee." suggested another speaker. Event.ial'.y the required number for a committee was forthcoming, and as all elected are on the telephone it can be assumed that "the committee that never meets" will carry on as efficiently as before without the members having to goi out of their homes to a central meeting place.}

Limit on Telephone Talk. People anxious to carry on lengthy telephone conversations from public tooths will in future have to go armed with a liberal supply of pennies, as within the next few weeks a timing device will be fitted to all slot 'phones in the city and suburb.? in order to restrict discussions to ..three minutes. The .device does not disconnect the parties, but merely short-circuits the transmitter, and the connection can be restored by the insertion of an additional penny ill the slot. No further dialling is required, and a warning bell operates just before the three minutes have elapsed, The automatic cut-off apparatus was designed, and is being manufactured by engineers of the Post and Telegraph Department in Wellington. It is a small unit consisting of a clock mechanism and p switch, and is fitted inside the telephone. When the penny is dropped into the slot it actuates a bar which releases a tiny brake, and allows the clock mechanism to operate. During the three minutes the bar gradually rises to its original position, and at tiie end of the time it makes a short-circuit in the transmitter and also stops the Some of the slot telephones have already been fitted, but it will take some time to make the adjustments to the complete network of the service, which consists of over 200 booths. Similar action is being taken in Wellington, 'Christcliurch and Dunedm, and the smaller automatic exchanges will later receive attention. The policy of converting the telephones Ims been adopted because in the past inconvenience has been caused through users of the service holding the line for long periods, while in addition revenue has been lo&tio the Bsptrtraent.

Freight Concession on Feed. Half freight rates from Christchuivh. on winter feed have been granted by the Agricultural Department to Banks Peninsula dairy farmers urgently needing assistance, according to advice received by the secretary of the Banks Peninsula Farmers' Union from Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, MP. It is stated that application for the concession should bo made through the .dairy companies or the Farmers' Union. "An Apple a Day.", "I am sure that Dr. Douglas will support me in my contention that the girls at the hostel should be provided with ' fresh fruit every lunch time," commented Mrs. A. M. Bisley at the meeting of the Hamilton High School board of governors. "I am not JBO sure. 'An apple a day,' you know;," interjected the chairman, Air. C. L. MacDiarmind, amid laughter.

Strange Bird Seen. A most unusual sparrow was seen at the Palmerstqn North railway station the other (lav. The bird had the distinctive markings of a sparrow, but was furnished with a long beak and a tail which was much longer than is usual. Except for the colour of the plumage the bird resembled a kingfisher, even to the size and shape of the body. Golf Links at Mount Maunganui. Construction work lias commenced on an 18-holo golf course at Mount Maunganui, and; it is hoped to have nine holes in play early in September. The course, which will be known as Brandonniere, is situated on a part of Mr. Barker's property, between the main road and the ocean, two miles from the Salisbury wharf. Little difficulty lias been met in laying out a natural sporting course with special features of interest at every hole. A club is in the course of formation. Thistle and the Fern. At the Otahuhu Rugby farewell last night to Mr. 11. M. Brown, the All Black, the Mayor of Otahuhu, Mr. C. R. Petrie, whose Speech betrays his nationality, made a presentation. In doing so Mr. Petrie wished the All Blacks the greatest of luck, and concluded with: "May you win every match, except one, for I think the thistle will prick you too hard. But at least you, will have one consolation when north of the Tweed. The Scots' hospitality will at least make up for the wounds caused by the thistle pricks." Too Many Rings. The Auckland Transport Board has placed in the trains notices requesting passengers not to use the push-buttons more than necessary, pointing out that a single ring by one person is sufficient to stop a car, and that the practice of allowing young children to press the buttons by way of passing the tinio should be discouraged. The usual practice has been for anyone wanting to leave a tram at the next stop to press the bell, often irrespective of the fact that the bell may have been rung by other passengers intending to alight.

Experimental Citrus Area. A visit was paid yesterday by Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, to the experimental area at the Mount Albert Grammar School. The area is under the control of the Auckland branch of the Institute of Horticulture, and is planted with a number of standard varieties of citrus fruit grafted on to four main root stocks. The object is to letermino the best varieties of root stocks for use in Auckland conditions. Dr. Marsden said that the work being done was most valuable. To Play Waikato. Arrangements have been completed for a chess match to be played at Hamilton on Saturday, July 27, between the Auckland Chess Club and a team from the combined Waikato clubs. Already 20 players from the Auckland Club have signified their intention af making the trip. The Waikato clubs have notified Auckland that they can play 30 boards if necessary,-which speaks volumes for the way chess "has been developed in the Waikato iii recent times. The match will commence at 4 p.m., and an adjournment will be made for dinner at 0 o'clock, when the visitors

will be the guests of the Waikato clubs. Two hours' play after dinner will complete the match. Any game then Unfinished will go to adjudication. The majority, of the Auckland players will go to Hamilton by motor :ar and return the same night. Jubilee Medals for Children. School children 'of Kerepcehi, Hauraki Plains, have had presented to them medals commemorating tno King's Silver Jubilee. Whereas most school committees used the„ od capitation granted by the Government for tlie commemoration of the occasion in providing iwccts or free picture entertainments, the vorcpeehi committee bad bronze medals made it a cost of 1/ each, and on Thursday hist 120 of these were presented by Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P. The medals bear "the profile of he King and the inscription, "King's Jubilee, verepeehi School." When presenting the nedals Mr. Samuel congratulated the children >n their self-sacrifice in agreeing to forgo a Yeo picture entertainment and afternoon tea n order that they could have medals, and he innouncccl that they would have afternoon ca after the ceremony. \ Vandal Abroad. An act of vandalism* that will surely neet with the condemnation of all citizens vho have any pride in their town lias taken ilace (says the Gisborne "Herald") in Upper ihtdstone Road : where the Beautifying Society, in its desire to improve the approach o Gisborne by main road, and as the comiiencement of an avenue to be called the uvilee Avenue, in celebration of the Silver übilee of H>s Majesty the King, planted two me flowering cherry trees. These were found ho other morning to have been broken down, ot through accident, for the supporting stakes emained in position, but evidently by some 'Orson with mischievous or malicious intent, 'aken with the fact that cherry trees planted n the river bank also have been ruthlessly amaged, the occurrence is most discouraging o the society, which is sincere in its desire

New Pioneers Wanted. Speaking at a farewell gathering held in his honour last evening, the Rey.H. K. Archdallj retiring headmaster of King's College, said that although New Zealand heard much of late of the pioneers of the country, he was convinced that the Dominion required a new type of pioneer. "Pioneers are needed in the mental and moral spheres, who will give us a real outlook and objective," he declared. In referring to the shortcomings of the present educational system, Mr. Arehdall said that he had not a fraction of doubt that the nineteenth century education was the cause of a great deal of the world's' revolutionary tendencies of to-day. Education was primarily a life to be lived by boys and masters together.. It was not just a thing which boys had to go through, and the life of a good school should be one oif'unity. The world to-day was suffering because it was not unified npd integrated. Until it became so there wa,s no hope of salvaging civilisation. New Zealand was not going to be the great country "it could be until the slave meiftality, that was always afraid of the consequences was got rid of. The Dominion had something to learn from the education systems of other countries. Japan, for instance, was producing leaders in every phase of life, which educational objectives in New Zealand could never hope to bring forth.