NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 231, 30 September 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

An Unusual Visitor,

A Waipukurau resident was surprised 01 a recent Sunday afternoon, when jnvestigat ing tlie eausc of a noise in a shed, to find a half-grown opossum curled up on a sholf. Tin little visitor was lifted down and made oil' but he was back in the same spot again nexl morning. lie ate the bread and nuts giver to him, and appeared to be quite comfortable in his new quarters. ™ " Not in My Line." When a suggestion was made to a youtl in the Waitara Magistrate's Court that In m should try to get a better job at farming worli and so enable him to pay a judgment debt, his answer to the magistrate was: "Farming's no! in my line." Mr. Woodward, S.M., said: "Bui you're only 17; anything's in your line. Sonu of us wish we could be 17 again. A youth ol your age could turn his hand to anything." Angling Season. ! The trout-fishing season in the Auckland Province will open to-morrow. Sport in the | northern streams is bound to be unfavourably ] affected by the recent floods, but from the Waikato and King Country districts come reports of favourable conditions and wellstocked streams, indicating that anglers may expect good sport. The issue of many licenses is also reported. A Far-reaching Constitution. The difficulty in framing clauses clearlj in drawing up constitutions wus referred t< at a meeting of delegates from Associatior football clubs at Cliristchurch. It was statcc that in an old edition of the constitution oi the Canterbury Football Association reference was made to the possible death of a player and instructions were given as to what tlu player should then do. The comment of those present was that an Association player should go to heaven. Less Crime in 1934. The number ot criminal cases dealt witl in 1034 (40,703) was the lowest recorded since 1923, according to the Justice Statistics report, while summary convictions were fcwei than for ten years previously, this in spite ol ' the fact that the number of minor trafli( ! offences was 1425 more than in the previous , year. The number of prisoners who went tc gaol for criminal offenccs during the year was 1 2370, representing 15.33 per 10,000 of population, 'tion, as compared with a corresponding rate of 17.75 the previous year. The daily average of the number of persons in confinement was 1361. Cheap Living in Fiji. Living is cheap in Fiji, according tc eletalils supplied by Mr. T. B. Booth, addressing the Hamilton Rotary Club. Accommodatior at an excellent hotel, he said, could bo obtained for £0 a month, while all launelrj work was performed by Indians at the rate of 10/ a month for men and 7/6 for women "It is altogether unnecessary for the New Zealand tourist to buy summer clothing in the Dominion before leaving for the Islands, as a cotton suit, made to measure by a Bombaj tailor, can be produced in Suva for aboul 18/," added Mr. Booth. Unusual Accident. An unusual accident occurred at Papatoetoe on Saturday afternoon. A closed cai driven by Mr. E. R. Plowman, of St. Helier's Bay, was proceeding along the Great Soutl Roael near the Papatoetoe School when one ol the rear wheels came off. The wheel mountee] the footpath, jumpeel a roadside seat, ane: crashed through the plate-glass window of Mr E. C. Mathews' shop. Fortunately no one was using the seat at the time of the accident and the car, which skideleel for several yards on the brake drum, was brought to a standstill without further mishap. Big Scrub Fire at Dunedin. A huge area of scrub country on Flagstaff, a mountain about six miles from Dunedin, was swept 'by lire on Sunday afternoon, and later the liames extended to one of the city corporation reserves, where it elamaged a young pinus insignis plantation. A large number of men struggled for several hours tc check the fire, which was fanneel by a northwesterly wind. Later the wind died down and by 10.30 at night the fire, as it affected the plantation, had been got under control Fortunately the workers were able to prevent the flames from spreading into the gullies where most of the trees arc planted, and so prevented further damage. The fire swept over several miles of country. It is not known definitely how the fire originated, but it was presumably caused by a camp fire or by children lighting fires. Motor Van Caught by Tide. The Ninety-Mile Beach is in a very bad state after the heavy rains v last week, and cars using this route north have to be driven with care, as not only is the beach wet and treacherous, but numerous wash-outs are encountered and the creeks running across the sand are still high with flood water. Mr, Darrach, a visitor to tlie district, who, with a partner, had been camping on the bluff on a fishing expedition, was caught by the rains, and as they ran out of provisions they had to come down the beach on Wednesday in their half-ton van, and were stuck in the wet sand. The rising tide caught the van before it could be extricated, and the men had to spend the night on the beach. After being in the water for a day/and battered by the waves, the van was eventually recovered and towed up to the sandhills. A breakdown truck brought the van into Kaitaia yesterday.

Good Sporting Contest. On Saturday afternoon, at the invitation of the Naval Sailing Club, eleven crews representing the local yacht clubs sailed a race in service whalers for a cup presented by the officers of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The wind was very light, and the race was decided on one round of the course instead of two, as intended. The Takapuna Club's crew won, the Wakatere Club was second, and Victoria Cruising Club third. After presenting the cup to Mr. E. B. Webster, the skipper of the winning crew, Captain the Hon. E. R. Drummoiul said it was really a sporting contest, and lie thanked the clubs for their keen interest in it. The wind, he said, did not play the game. All the week when they were at exercise in the gulf it piped up good and strong, but died away just when they wanted it for the race. The appreciation of the competing crews was expressed by three cheers given in true nautical style as the tender left H.M.S. Philomel to return the visitors to the city.

Cattle Ticks Menace. Considerable anxiety has been canscd to farmers in the Matawai district by the discovery that some calves recently transported by lorry from Opotiki were infected with cattle tick, and urgent representations have been made to the Government to take precautionary measures (reports the "Star's" Gisbornc correspondent). Calves arc being sent from the Bay of Plenty to the Gisborne freezing works, and the recent infestation was discovered when two animals escaped from a truck, one animal being found to have eleven ticks embedded in its skin. A subsequent examination of the locality resulted in five more ticks being found on the ground, and farmers fear that a trail may have been left from the starting point of the lorries through the Waioeka route to the railhead. Matawai farmers are seriously alarmed at the possibility of the bobby calf industry undoing all the good that has been done by the precautions in the past. It has been compulsory for horses and dogs to be dipped at Qpotiki before cross-, ing the ranges, but lorry loads of calves,have been brought through without restriction. [

Catering for Bathers. The approaching summer will find addi,ional dressing accommodation provided at stanlcy Bay beacli, where two bathing sheds ire to be erected. The first of these is now veil under way, and should be completed in a 'ew weeks. Jewish New Year. -At sunset last evening the celebrating by -lie Jewish community in Auckland of the Jewish New Year 5000 terminated. The cclcmitions began oil Friday evening at sunset, ind services were held at the Synagogue on Saturday and yesterday. The solemn Day of Atonement will be commemorated on Sunday ind Monday next, when the Jewish coiununity will observe a close holiday. Between Farmers and Ruin. The stock and station agents had stood )ctwcen the farmers and ruin during the hard ,iines through which they had been passing, 'cmarked Sir. W. V. Harkness at a farmers' gathering at Tariki, Taranaki. He spoke i])preciatively of the consideration that the stock and station ..agents had shown farmers if the district during tfie past three or four Southland Lambing Season. Up to the present a good lambing season las been experienced in Southland, and there ire now many lambs to be seen in all country listricts. Many farmers are going in for early anibs so that they may get tliem away fat jcforc Christinas. Two years ago there was liueh congestion at the freezing works in January, but if there arc enough lambs forward then the works open before Christmas. Unfortunately feed is very scarce at present, tnd a good growth of grass would be wclxmied by the men 011 the land. Vlust Understand English. The registrar of the Melbourne University •eccntly received the following letter: "Dear sir,—l am an American college student. I ■vis] 1 to correspond with Australian college students who understand English—girls or jovs. Could you give my address to some students or send me the addresses of some ivlio would be interested in corresponding with in American student?" The writer of the etter is a girl, living in Los Angeles, California, and attending one of the great universities 011 the west coast. Boy Falls off Wharf. A boy, Noel White, aged 11 years, son of 1 Mr. J. A. White, of 28, Eawene Road, Birken- j lead, had his right wrist broken when he fell ; )ff the Northcotc wharf on Sunday afternoon . tnd landed on the deck of the Auckland Har- ■ lour Board's pile-driver, which was tied along- ■ side the jetty. He was sitting 011 his bicycle J ilongside a bollard, and overbalanced, falling 10ft. The bicycle fell into the tide, but later ivas recovered. The boy was taken by Mr. J. D. Anthony, of Northcotc, 011 the passenger ferry to Auckland, where his injury was ittended to at the St. John ambulance station jn the Queen's wharf. Dr. Dickie's "Exams." "If I had my way there Mould be no ;xaminations in college days at all," said the Rt. Rev. Dr. J. Dickie, Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, when addressng a group of divinity students at the Auckand University College yesterday. "But when 3iicc men had been in the ministry for eight 3i- ten years I would go round and examine ;hem to see whether they remembered enough to enable them to be continued in the ministry. I often think that New Zealand students take examinations far too seriously. The real thing is not whether you arc first, second or tenth in an examination; it is the kind of mastery of the subject tho.t you acquire by the way." Egmont Seen from Huia. Rising as if out of the blue sea, the sliinng peak of Mount Egmont, nearly 100 miles iway, has l>een seen for several days past >y workmen of the waterworks department from Huia, on the Manukau Harbour. The sight must bo a rare one, but has been made lossible by tbe clear easterly weather experiMiced in Auckland lately. The men have seen lie peak from two points well known to ;rampers, Mount Donald McLean and Bald Sill. Because of the sweeping Taranaki Bight ;hat lies between, the mountain, often clear md sharp, seemed to be rising from the sea tsclf 011 the horizon. The sight is very slusive; one man described it as like an aeroJane high up in the sky—one knew it was .here, but it was hard for the eyes to pick it )ut. Summer Time Arrives. Coincident with the official introduction >f summer time yesterday came a glorious day ,0 be followed again to-day with a blue sky, 1 blazing sun and the first heat of real sumner. So fine was Sunday that crowds were ittracted to popular beaches and pleasure relorts, and 011 all main roads there was a long stream of motorists. Although summer time started officially at 2 a.m. yesterday, most louseholders put their clocks forward the lecessary half-hour 011 Saturday night. Public •locks in the city were altered early on Sunlav morning, but some 011 city buildings were idvanced on Saturday evening, much to the lonfusion of people hurrying to catch last nuns and ferries. The change 011 the Wcl-ington-Auckland express was made at Wainilia, and the train arrived at Auckland at '.30 a.m. instead of 7.0. For just under seven nonths New Zealand will enjoy summer time. )n the morning of Sunday, April 20, 1030, the •locks will be put back half ail hour at 2 a.m. jisborne High School. A milestone in the progress of the Gis>ornc High School will be reached this year, vlien the 25th school year 011 the present site >f the institution will be completed. The inniversary is especially interesting, in view if the completion of 25 years' occupation of lie older buildings and the addition during lie coming year of the new workshop and ionic science blocks, in which are provided acilities for widening the school curriculum, t has been the policy of the board of goverlors in recent years to widen the educational acilities as much as possible, with the object if affording full day and evening technical nstruction, in addition to the existing course. ?he rural course has gained in status during he year through the appointment of a fullime instructor. The girls' hostel, which has icen closed for some years, is to be reopened or the beginning of the 1030 school year, so tromising has been recent interest in the chool, and the indications are that good sup101't will be forthcoming from the country reas, in view of the development of the ionic science course as a feature of the curriulum. nteresting Find of Bone Relics. Large quantities of bones, which, it is houglit, may prove to be moa bones of great ge, were found on Saturday during road xcavation work 011 the main south NapierVellington Road about 10 miles from Hastngs. The work has been particularly heavy 111 account of the na'urc of the material, vhich is ironsand and limestone. During the ourse of the workmen's operations they have inearthed quantities of bones, but until an Xpert, who now has samples of the bones in [is possession, has made an examination it is lot possible to say whether these belong to he moa. In view of the fact that the bones re embedded in ironsand and other such hard naterial, it is assumed that they are not iiiinan bones deliberately buried there, and he assumption is that they were buried housands of years ago by an earthquake, 'his is borne out by the fact that in the icinity of where the bones were found are yster shells, showing that the contour of the ind has undergone considerable changes since he bones were deposited, and at one time that articular part of the district was sea cavercd.