NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 224, 21 September 1935, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Useful Relief Jobs. "It is doubtful whether we are at present wetting value for the money spent in supervision," said Mr. L. F. Fa ram, engineer, at yesterday's meeting of the Waitemata County Council. Mr. Farum was referring to relief work, and stated that the number of useful jobs on which the men could be employed was reduced to a minimum. Xo advice had been received from the Government regarding any new scheme contemplated. More Hockey Families. Mention of families in the Wftikato with five sons playing hockey prompts a Morrinsville reader to point out a further instance of family enthusiasm for hockey. In the I'iako Hockey Association's competitions Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Oliver, of Mangateparu, near Morrinsville, have for some seasons played respectively for tf.2 Mangateparu men's and ladies' teams, while this season their eldest son I'hil has also played for the men's team and their eldest daughter Audrey has played for the ladies' team, so that there have been four players in the family every Saturday. Mrs. Oliver still plays well at full-back for the ladies' team, and takes a prominent part in coaching the younger players. It lias been stated that this instance of father, mother, son and daughter all playing is a "hockey record." Capped the Lot! An example of the modern woman's coolness in emergency was related yesterday by Mr. B. A. Murphy, who is supervising the construction of the Makarau Bridge for the Waitemata County Council. The women con-1 corned were approaching a hairpin bend a short way from the bridge, when the wheels of the ear locked and it crashed over the bank on to the road 15ft below. Workmen rushed to the scene, but the women emerged from the capsized car unhurt. There were 110 hysterics. "Well," remarked one of them, looking at the wreck, "I've been chased by wolves, I've been shipwrecked, but this caps the lot. Haercmai," she greeted a Maori, and indicated the car. "We roll." "No place for you there yet, hey?" was his response, and drew a laugh. Visitor on North Auckland. "I have been in South Africa, in the Argentine, in the United States and in British Columbia, but generally speaking I have not seen such well looked after fences and gates as I have seen during my tour of this northern part of New Zealand. And I may say that a farmer is to be judged by his fences. ju«t as a tidy factory or a well-kept store is an index to the class of man who is responsibly for its management." So said Mr. Michael Johnson, of Manchester, to a reporter, when chatting about his impressions of New Zealand. Mr. Johnson is .a director of the firm of Richard Johnson and Nephew, Ltd., the Bradford Iron Works, Manchester. "I consider," said Mr. Johnson, "that the North has very bright prospccts. You have a certain amount of land that you call 'poor,' but I think that in many countries it would be regarded as •good' and worthy of spending a lot of money on. I have no doubt that, seeing what lias been done already with some of this so-called poor land, there will be, in ten years' time, a great deal of this land brought into profitable use."

! An Angling Problem. I Can a landowner fish on his own property 'without a license? The Matamata Tiranch of i the Auckland Acclimatisation Society has j decided to write to the Auckland council in order to ascertain the position as to whether a nnin could fish 011 his own property without a license where there was no fishing reserve; and also the legal rights where there was a, reserve. In Case of Calamity. A highly-trained and thoroughly efficient organisation, the duties of which will be to 1 render assistance at a moment's notice in the event of any calamity such as earthquake, flood, fire or epidemic, is to be formed in Napier shortly. The scheme, which lias the support of the Mayor, Mr. C. O. Morse, originated with the Napier unit of the Legion of Frontiersmen. Another Tay Tragedy Relic. 4 paragraph in Thursday's "Star," about the Tay Bridge disaster in 1879, brought a visit from a Takapuna resident, Mr. ,T. R. Johnston, who has in his possession a walking stick, given to him by his father, the handle of which is made of a piece of one of the carriages of the train that was wrecked. 'I'lie shaft of the stick is made ol' portion of one of the bridge'girders, and between the handle and the shaft is a ring formed of compressed railway tickets. Mr. Johnston's father was in charge of the engineers' department of Coats' Paisley works. * Carriage Homes. Disused railway carriages are quite popular as residences iu parts of the Waitemata county. 011 a tour of the county yesterday, a resident saw seven of them from the road, and they appeared quite attractive residences. 'With minor alterations, the addition of curtains and surrounding gardens, several of them had quite a picturesque appearance. Ingenuity has given to three of them (utilised by a resident near Albany) a substantial cottage air. One, offering a broad face to the road, has porches at cither end, replacing the old platform, and end-on to these porches the two other carriages from, roomy wings. Big Cattle Sale. For 18(1(1 head of cattle £0000 was realised at a sale conducted by Alfred Auckland and Sons, Ltd., at the Wellsford stockyards yesterday. One of the largest lots, over 400 head, fetched a total of nearly £2200, while 52 good Polled Angus steers averaged £7 0/ each. (Joining mainly from the Kaipara district, the cattle were bought for the most part by graziers in districts where early feed is expected, who will fatten them for the local market or for export as'Vhilled beef. Special lighting was installed at Wellsford station to enable the cattle to be loaded into trucks during the night. About 80 trunks were dispatched to districts south of Auckland, chiefly to Tuakau, Waerenga and the llauraki Plains, while about 400 head were sent north l>v road.

Proposed Sugar Beet Venture. Investigations with the object of establishing the sugar beet industry in Taranaki are proceeding quietly in the hands of industrial linns and chemists. Although the nature of the product aimed at has not been disclosed, it is understood that it will not lie sugar, because the quantity and proximity of cane sugar supplies would probably make such a project unsound. There is, however, a suggestion to establish a factory, and inquiries regarding the possibilities of supply of raw material are being made. The investigation is interesting farmers, as the proposal holds out the possibility of a profitable "sideline" in tlie growing of sugar beet, to which the soil and climate of Taranaki are said to be particularly suited. Waikato Angling Prospects. The prospects for the opening of the fishing season in tlie Waikato 011 October 1 are reported to be satisfactory. Heavy winter raitis have been well spread, and 110 severe flooding has occurred. The rivers are high, and, while slime and weeds along the banks have been cleared away, the spawning beds have not been disturbed. The Hamilton Acclimatisation Society, in conjunction with the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, has liberated a large quantity of trout fry. Fry liberated three years ago have reached maturity and are plentiful. A survey that has been made of the fishing streams indicates that anglers should be well satisfied with the fishing. It is believed that fish will be particularly plentiful between Horahora and Arapuni. Morewa to Return. Two Takapuna yachtsmen, Mr. A. Higson and Mr. E. O. Webster, left by the J.larama last night 011 ♦heir way to Brisbane to join Mr. J. W. S. McArthur's yacht Morewa, winch is expected to return shortly to the Dominion. Built by Mr. Colin Wild at Stanley Bay in Ifor the Pacific Exploration Company, Ltd., the Morewa, a schooner of 80 tons and the largest yacht built in Auckland since the war, was taken over by Mr. McArthur, and 011 Boxing Day of the same year sailed 011 a cruise to Norfolk Island. On her return considerable alterations were made to her, the counter and deckhouse being lengthened and a new mast stepped. This work was not completed in time for her to sail in the yacht race to Melbourne in December, for which Air. McArthur had entered her. No other lengthy cruises were undertaken by the Morewa until she sailed last April for Brisbane, under the command of Mr. M. V. Bates, of Auckland.

Getting Over a Difficulty. Faced with the difficulty that notice of motion required three days, and that suspcn : sion of standing orders required unanimous vote, Air. Arthur Ilosscr took an unusual course in bringing a matter forward at the meeting of the Auckland City Council on Thursday evening. He launched his subject in the form of a question, which, linked up with commas, semi-colons and colons, plus the word "whereas" at frequent intervals, consisted in all of over f>oo words. Several points of order were raised en route, but, fortified with a favourable ruling, Mr. Kosser read the whole of his question, the longest one, it is said, that has ever been asked at a meeting of the City Council. At the end of the question Mr. Rosser still held the advantage, for the reason there could be 110 discussion 011 the points that he raised. The position now is that the record question, which really purported to be practically a full history of the particular matter brought up, is eligible for the next agenda paper.

Annual Parish Shoot. The largest gathering of clergy and church officers so far as.-embled in the parish hall at Northeotc congregated on the occasion of the annual "get together" evening. The main purpose was the shooting competition for the St. Mark's Cup, which was won by the Northcote team last year. This is competed for each year by teams comprising the vicar and four vestrymen of the parishes in and around Auckland. There was an attendance of about 150, and the twenty parishes represented included 21 clergymen, vicars and curates from the city and suburban parishes. Teams competed from districts extending froi.i Helensville to Onehunga, St. Andrew's team from Epsom winning after a close contest. The visitors were welcomed by the vicar of Northcote, the liev. H. L. R. Isherwood, who pointed out that the competition afforded opportunity for the development of the spirit of fellowship among the churchmen of the diocese. Other amusements included indoor bowls, bridgo, billiards, dart throwing and quoits. Supper was provided by thj women of Northcote parish, and served by Mrs. Isuerwood and the wives of the members of the vestry, to whom an enthusiastic vote of thanks was accorded on the motion of the Rev. Canon Fancourt. It will be the privilege of the St. Andrew's parishioners to arrange a similar function next year at Epsom. j