NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 235, 4 October 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Some Weird Loads. "It is part of my job to initial temporary licenses, and I come across some weird loads carried under such licenses," said tlie chairman of the No. ,4 District Transport Authority, Colonel K. F. Gambrill, to a Napiei audience recently. "I have seen licenses issued for the carriage of a load of bees, or a corpse, or a load of goats —all sorts of wonderful things." Building at Otahuhu. In a report submitted by the foreman to the Otahuhu Borough Council last night it was stated that the first half of the present year had been a record for the issue of building permits. During the past six months 05 permits had been issued to the value ot £19,782, a figure exceeding the total for the whole of last year by £3755. Thirty-eight new residences had been built, and if the building subsidy continues it was anticipated that that progress would be maintained, as there was a great demand for workingmen's houses. Settlers in Arrears. "Owing, no doubt, to the decline in wool prices from that of the previous season, payments for irrigation water were slightly less than for the preceding season, being £21,835, as against £22,132," said the Minister of Public Works in his Public Works Statement presented in the House of Representatives yesterday. "The principle of making settlers who are in arrears with their rates pay for water in advance is still having a beneficial effect on the season's payments, but unfortunately the total arrears on water rates still amounts to £12,534." Whose Car? The fact that a large percentage of motor ear owners do not know the registration numbers of their cars was clearly demonstrated at a dance in Pukekolie on Wednesday night. Upon receipt of advice from the fire inspector, who was present, the master of ceremonies announced that a motor car bearing a certain registration number was parked over a fireplug outside the hall, and requested the owner to move the car. Numerous men moved towards the door immediately, and a few moments later they were seen to be examining the number plates in order to find out if they happened to be the offending owner. Public Works Expenditure. The gross expenditure on Public Works for the year ended March 31 last was £5,503,883, of which £932,130 was expended by Departments other than the Public Works. The recoveries in reduction of expenditure amounted to £1,100,882, of which £219,407 was recovered by other Departments. In addition the Public Works Department collected £997,009 from sales of electricity and other forms of revenue. These particulars were supplied in tlie Public Works Statement presented to the House of Representatives by the Minister, Mr. J. Bitcliener, yesterday. Bathing Costumes"The bathing costumes for the new season indicate that simplicity will bo the keynote of fashion," remarked a Wnnganui retailer when discussing the trend for beach wear. It was indicated that "shorts" alone would be verv popular, and makers of costumes had made allowances for those beaches where there must be some covering above tho waist. Three buttons permit of the attachment of the 'iorficn of the bathing suit. Colours mcst in favour for the new season may be maroons, blues, bottle green ,and black, but cream costumes are also being supplied and have, already been inquired for. No News of Te Rapunga. No news has yet been received in Napier as to whether the 32ft ketch Te Rapunga, which left Auckland on August IS last, has arrived at Rarotonga in the course of her world cruise. The ketch, which is owned by Captain George Dibbern, has a crew of four, including Miss Eileen Morris, the 21-year-old daughter of Mrs. C. E. Morris, of Coiry Avenue, Napier. Mrs. Morris said yesteiday that she expected to receive n cablegram from her daughter as soon as the Te Rapunga arrived at Rarotonga. Although anxious to receive word from her daughter, Mrs. Morris is not experiencing any concern regarding the ultimate arrival of the Vessel at her first destination on the long cruise.

A Model Cargo Liner. The Federal Steam Navigation Company has just received from London a beautiful scale model of its new cargo liner Dorset, a sister ship to the Durham, which was in New Zealand earlier this year. The model arrived by the company's vessel Middlesex, and it will be used for exhibition purposes. The Dorset and Durham arc among the most up lo date and speedy craft of their kind afloat, ar.d embody nil the latest ideas calculated to facilitate the handling of a large quantify of cargo as quickly and economically as possible. A notable feature of the is the large space fitted for tho carriage of refrigerated cargo. High Visibility in the Gulf. Visibility in the Hauraki Gulf yesterday afternoon was exceptionally Regarded in the nature of a- phenomenon is the fact that Moko Hinau Island and the light there could be distinctly seen with the naked eye from Tiritiri Island. The island, which is 43 miles distant from Tiri, appeared well above the horizon. The period of high visibility was from 4.40 p.m. until C.15 p.m. The harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, who visited Tiri yesterday, said this morning that the phenomenon was a most unusual one, and that he could not remember Moko Hinau ever having been so clearly visible fiom liri before. Troubles of a Farmer. The troubles of a Tokoroa farmer and a tvpical insight into anxieties of farmers in endeavouring to obtain labour on ragwort destruction were recounted during discussion on employment in this work at a meeting (reports a Matamata correspondent). Mr. F. F. Flavall stated that in October last year he had applied for a man, and after waiting for six weeks had been told just before a worker was due that he was not coming. A fortnight later an officer said another mail was coming, but he did not arrive. A week before Christmas Mr. Flavall obtained a man, who went home for the holidays and was never seen again. After three weeks he could not find a man in Putaruru, Matamata, Cambridge or unemployment camps. He tried Auckland and Hamilton without success, but at the beginning of February labour was found. By this time, however, half the man s work was occupied in cutting down ragwoit which had seeded. Floods Damage Northern Roads. Urgent work to prevent flooded _ roads from isolation in North Auckland districts is recommended in a special report of the tourmanager of the Automobile Association (Auckland), who returned from a tour of the North this week. Last week rainfall in the North was abnormal, and areas were affected which iinder ordinary conditions, would not have been troubled. There were several lengths of highway on which traffic was held up °for long periods. Practically the whole length of No. 1 highway between Rangialiua and Kaitaia is -to receive attention immediately, when corners will be cut back, narrow I sections will be widened, and better visibility and safer alignment will result. About three miles south of Kaitaia a badly flooded area is to be eliminated. An all-weather road between Manfonui and Whangaroa is to bo provided. One "section of the route frequently becomes ; impassable on account of an nnbi idgccl i stream. Authority has been received to go [ ahead with work that will remedy the trouble.

Melbourne Passenger Service. The Union Company announces that from November to March, 193G, the Marama will maintain a three-weekly service between Melbourne and South Island ports, with calls at Bluff, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and occasionally at Hobart. Weather and other circumstances permitting, the Marama will call at Milford Sound every trip on the way from Bluff to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Bluff. Insurance for Umpires. T?.e Ota;ro Cricket Association at its last meeting received a letter from the Umpires' Association asking for assistance toward the expenses incurred by an umpire as a result of injuries received during the umpiring of a game last season. It was stated that the umpire's expenses amounted to £40, and that tho Umpires' Association was investigating the possibility of instituting an insurance scheme for umpires. The Cricket Association referred the matter to its finance committee to go into the question of insuring umpires. About a Post. A post in Hereford Street, • Christchurcli, had the spotlight turned on it at a meeting of the United Burgesses' Association (says the "Star-Sun"). According to one delegate it required shifting. When it was pointed out that the post would then be cut of alignment a member suggested a reflector, but as this did not meet with approval another suggestion was forthcoming. This time it was that the post should be painted white for a height of 4ft and then that a "dark streak that was not straight" should continue to- the top. Mount Eden Trouble. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Sir Alexander Young, has stated that he has not tho statutory power to order a magisterial inquiry into the position of the Mount Eden town clerk, Mr. H. Gribble, whose case was recently taken up by Mount Eden ratepayers. The Minister has also stated that he does not think it possible to introduce legislation during the present session to provide for the right of appeal by local body servants on similar lines to that enjoyed by public servants. Birkenhead Scout Hall. Details concerning the proposed log cabin for Birkenhead boy scouts and girl guides were given at a meeting of the committee, at which the Mayor, Mr. G. Mills, and the North Shore Scout Commissioner, Mr. Downard, were present. Mr. F. Taylor presided. It was reported that the Borough Council had granted a lease of the site at an annual peppercorn rental. This was the reserve in Oncwa Road. The entrance had been cleared, and preparations were in hand for the building, for which timber and corrugated iron had been given. Pleasure was expressed that a permanent home for the scouts and guides was at last in sight. A "Theft" by Night. Tho story of a harmonium, at one time the delight of St. David's Church, which was taken to another church but later "stolen" by the congregation of St. David's, was told by the Rev. D. C. Herron, formerly minister of the church, at a reunion last evening in connection with the 70tli anniversary celebrations of the church. For a time, he said, St. David's was joined with the church conducted- by Dr. Wallis, and the St. David s harmonium was taken to the sister church. Later when the churches separated again, Dr. Wallis contended that the harmonium should stay where it was. After a lengthy dispute members of St. David's congregation took action on their own account. A spring cart was taken along to tho church, and the harmonium seized and removed by its former

owners. Gale at Oamaru. For 24 hours, starting Wednesday morning, Oamaru and surrounding district was subjected to one of the fiercest nor'-westers experienced for many years (telegraphs the "Star's" Dunedin correspondent). At times tlie town was almost obscured in dust blown from ploughed fields outside the town's environs. At times the force of the wind was bo great that many windows were blown in, while trees were uprooted in parts. On Thursday morning the wind decreased somewhat in velocity, but continued to aggravate the farming community by damaging crops and pastures generally. In parts of the distiict the surface soil has been blown away, leaving practically bare fields, thus accentuating the seriousness of the position caused by drought. Leaving Without Notice. At boarding schools it is usually the custom to give a full or at least a half-term s notice before withdrawing a pupil, the patents otherwise becoming liable for fees for that period. At the last meeting of tne Wellington College Board of Governors the question whether half a term's fees should be charged in the cacje of two boys who had left without notice was discussed. It was decided that to charge would be inequitable. Boys, it was stated, were being kept at school in the hope that work would be offered them; when employment was obtained the parent had no option but to take the boy away from school without notice. It was added that such a practice, although it might cause inconvenience, really caused 110 loss. Museum Gifts. Several interesting additions to the ethnographical section of the Auckland War Memorial Museum have recently been made. Mr. George Graham lias added to his collection a plaited fruit basket from Rarotonga, a model outrigger canoe, a grass kilt and a decorated gourd from Melanesia. Miss M. Baber has given several very fine Melanesian articles, including a dancing mask. Father Lavelle has given a polished stone adze, and Mr. Carl Geissler, of Warkworth, lias given a heavy stone llax beater, carved with a human face, found 20ft below the surface at Taranaki. Other recent gifts include an English papier macho chair of the early nineteenth century from the estate of the late Mrs. Maye Lambert; two very fine Californian lialiotis shells, similar in colouring to the pawa shells presented by Mrs. R. Wilson; two American kin" crabs, a primitive type of arachnid, presented by Miss M. Gillman; and a photograph of a giant kauri, presented by Mr. H. Goldie. Hot Time in Court.

When listening to the police prosecute in a case in which his client was charged with several breaches of tlie Motor Regulations Act in the Taumarunui Magistrate's Court on Thursday, Mr. J. A. Gordon, counsel for defendant, suddenly rose from his seat, the side of his coat being in flames (reports the "Star's" correspondent). Mr. Gordon lost no time in discarding his garment and, with the aid of a constable wTio was standing nearby, extinguished the incipient conflagration, but not before the side of the coat was full of burnt holes and a box of wooden matches fell to the floor. The business of the Court was suddenly suspended without any announcement of an adjournment by the clerk of the Court, and after a short consultation the matches were blamed for the fire. Before resuming the hearing of the charges, Mr. R. M. Watson, the presiding magistrate, remarked "that things were getting pretty warm," and asked Mr. Gordon if much damage had been done to his clothes. "Yes," replied Mr. Gordon. "I'm afraid, sir,- my only suit 'is ruined." At a later stage white tablets were found on the floor of the courtroom, and Mr. Gordon cleared up the mystery by informing his Worship that he had been carrying chlorate of potash throat tablets loose iif his pockets, and that they had probably rubbed against the striker of the match- [ box and caused the ignition.