NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Leith's East Coast Visit. The, Imperial sloop Leith is scheduled to lepve Auckland on November G for a month's visit to East Coast ports. She will visit Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga and Tolaga Bay, returning to Auckland on December 5, when she will carry out exercises in the Ilauraki Gulf.

Still Capable of Smiling. Few youths in their iirst road racing season could stick out the distance and continue to smile as did H. Patton, who won the "Tour de Southland" cycle race, states the "Southland Times'." Ho was in the lead Hearing Mataura, and was told by a passing motorist that the scratch men were eight miles behind him. "How far is it to Invcrcargill?" he shouted. "About 24 miles," was the reply. "Great! I believe I can stick it," he called back.

Wood-boring Grub. Evidence of the work of a wood-boring grub was given at Levin recently by the production of a section of rimu boarding by Mr. G. T. Thornley, the board having been riddled by a borer. The board was known to have been in position no more than five years, and was the only one affected in the building. The effect of the grub in destroying the whole of the interior of the timber without leaving a trace on the outer surface is stated to be akin to that of the Australian white ant. Steps are being taken to have the grub identified.

Bursary Candidates. The Auckland University College Council decided yesterday, in view of the dearth of suitable candidates for architectural and agricultural bursaries, which are restricted to students of technical colleges and schools by the regulations, to urge the Minister of Education that in the event of sufficient suitable candidates from such schools not offering, to permit the entry of secondary school pupils who have completed a year's postmatriculation course preparatory to taking up university study in either subject.

Building in Sydney. Sydney is at present undergoing extensive changes in its architecture, and many buildings of modern design and equipment are being erected. In the six months ending with June the value of the new buildings in Sydney city ancl suburbs was £4,459,000. In the corresponding six months of the previous year the value was £2,494,000. There was a pronounced increase in expenditure on dwellinghouses, but the increase was relatively greater on flats, of which a great many very fine blocks are being • constructed. Streets are being widened, and many of the old blocks are disappearing to make way for up-to-date business premises.

American Courts. American Court procedure, as followed in Hawaii,' appears strange to anyone who is familiar with Court procedure in New Zealand, according to Mr. A. H. Cavell, of Christcliurch, on his return from a holiday spent in Honolulu. "One leaves their courtrooms feeling more tllan satisfied with the way of obtaining justice ill the Courts of Kew Zealand and other British countries," ho said. "An American lawyer, who had observed the British procedure in the Canadian Courts, said he wished very much that the American Courts were conducted more like ours."

National Medical Service. The establishment of community types of hospitals and a national system of medical attention were forecast by Dr. A. R. Tliorne, superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, at a conference of local bodies in Lower Hutt, states the "Post." In the community type of hospital, he said, patients liad the right of nominating tlieir own medical men, and, of course, paying for them. If definite community hospitals were not established, lie believed community wards would be attached to public hospitals. The question of a national system of medical attention was a popular one with all political parties at present. He believed that it would come in the near future. Such a service would mean a modification of hospital service.

Power Extensions.

The decision to extend several of its .power lilies was reached by the Waitemata Electric Power Board yesterday afternoon. The principal work agreed 011 was the extension of reticulation to embrace Coatesville. The scheme will involve an estimated expenditure of £1750, and as a result of it 29 settlers will be supplied at .the outset with current. The board also authorised the construction of additional lines to serve three consumers 011 the Muriwai Valley Road, the work in this case to cost £550. In connection with this particular scheme it was agreed to spend an additional £200 in completing the gap in the lines between the end of the new extension, which will be fed from Taupaki, and the Muriwai line. This will provide alternative high-tension feed bet\yeen Brigham's Creek and Waimauku, and will be invaluable in the case* of a fault or maintenance shut-down 011 the main Helensville feeder between these two points. Power Board's Growth. "I -don't think there is any board in New Zealand that has gone ahead as rapidly as ours," said the chairman, Mr. W. R. Leighton, at a meeting of the Waitemata Electric Power Board yesterday, in commenting on the growth of the business of the board. It was reported by the manager, Mr.. A. Main, that consumers now totalled 10,657, in addition to which 1859 ranges, 19.38 water heaters, 498 milking motors and 5055 industrial horsepower were connected to the board's system. Mr. G. Trevitliick added that the board was now one of the biggest in New Zealand. 111 referring to the report that the income and expenditure account for the half-year ended September 30 showed a net profit of £388 and that it was probable that a small surplus would result from the year's working, Mr. Loighton said the position was very satisfactory indeed considering that concessions to consumers totalling £10,000 had been made

this year. The board had budgeted to draw £3000 from reserves, hut it had not been necessary to touch that amount durjug the past six months owing to the increased business.

" The Street of — Milk." "Bouverie" - writes:—The "Christian Science Monitor," of Boston, U.S.A., rotates the story of three cats which suddenly appeared in the middle of Fleet Street's busy roadway when a milk cart was knocked over by an omnibus. The story states that it was "not long before the news reached the nearest cats. News travels fast in Fleet Street, and so did a small .ginger kitten, which was first on the scene. It was followed by a large ginger Tom, whose sedate walk clearly labelled it editor of some Feline Gazette, and the pair were joined, after a respectful interval, by a disreputable looking black cat, obviously of no fixed abode." Evidently Fleet Street is living up to its reputation for surprises. Some years ago a fox cantered along it, coming from the drection of the City (it may have escaped from Leadenhall Market), while a hawk was once reported sitting on the golden cross oil the top of the Law Courts Building, just above Temple Bar. (The nature of the bird and its position are curious.) Many a visitor has been surprised at the strange contrasts which tlje Street of Ink pi ovides.

More Rigid Test Wanted. A recommendation to the New Plymouth Borough Council that a more rigid test be imposed upon candidates for driving licenses was made by the Fitzroy Kate payers' Association. It was claimed that this was essential owing to the mounting, number of motor accidents.

A Gold Mine for £1. During the last few years various and fabulous prices have been paid for gold mines, but probably the smallest price was that obtained under the hammer by a firm of Dunedin auctioneers at Cromwell, when the New Cornish Point Mine, comprising a special alluvial claim and license over 69 acres, was sold for £1 (states a Press Association telegram from Dunedin). There is still a good deal of timber standing in the mine.

Milking Not Wanted. The farm labour problem in Taranaki is as acute as ever, according to a well-known farmer, who visited the "Daily News" office at Hawera. He had advertised and sought labour in other ways, but had had little success, so far as farm labour was concerned. lie found that there were men offering for other classes of work, but they definitely "sheered" off milking. Many farmers were offering good wages, but they were still unable tp get labour.

Guild of Air Pilots Suggested. "A provisional committee, set up by the pilots themselves, formulated a scheme as a basis for consideration, and this has been submitted to all B pilots," stated the report of the New Zealand Aero Club, presented at the annual meeting at Wellington, referring to the movement to establish a guild of air pilots in New Zealand. "Contact has been made with the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators of the British Empire with a view to the formation of a branch of that body, and the matter will be further considered by the New Zealand pilots when all available information on the subject has been obtained."

Women's Protest Meeting. A public meeting', representative ot all classes of women of Auckland, is to be held curly next month in support of the recent meetings conducted by leading members of Christian churches' protesting against conditions contributing to poverty arising from economic pressure. It is understood that the women's meeting, which will have the support of previous speakers on the subject, will deal with the unemployment situation and the exclusion of women from benefits or sustenance, although they are contributors to the funds, find also with other anomalies of living conditions.

Technical College Holiday. Pupils and staff of the Seddon Memorial Technical College will enjoy a long Labour Day week-end. At the meeting of the board yesterday it was decided to close the school on Friday next, granting the holiday asked for by Lord Bledisloc at the time of his retirement from the Governor-Generalship of New Zealand. The holiday was granted at the request of the principal, Sir. G. J. Park, who pointed out that a good deal of extra work had recently been undertaken voluntarily by the staff and pupils in connection with the school concert. Members congratulated the principal on the standard of the concert, which one member described as "excellent entertainment."

English Industrial Agreements. "I was struck by the brevity of many of the industrial agreements in force in England and their simplicity as compared with corresponding ones in New Zealand," said Mr. T. O. Bishop, who recently attended the International Labour Ollice conference at Geneva as an employers' delegate, in an address at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Employers' Association. "I think the explanation is that in England only those matters which are agreed upon in negotiation are provided for, whereas in New Zealand throughout the period of operation of compulsory arbitration all matters submitted in union pioposals for awards and not agreed to in conciliation council were referred to the Court of Arbitration and legislated for."

Launch's Fishing Success. Evidence of the excellent commercial sea fishing in Auckland waters in rccent months is provided by the record of the launch Waitemata. During the past 12 months she did remarkably well, making 103 trips, an average of nearly two a week. Her average catch was also excellent, her usual landing per trip exceeding 2 tons 15cwt of fish, mostly snapper. The owners of the Waitemata, Waitemata Fisheries, Ltd., arc adding to their fleet through the •> construction of a new launch. Fifty feet long, with a 14ft beam and Oft Oin draught, the new vessel, which is to be fitted with a 00 h.p. full Diesel engine, will, it is expected, be launched about Christmas time. Getting Fit. "If you think you are going to get fit in six weeks or two months you have another think coming," remarked Sir. G. Wareliam, the veteran athlete, who is the official coach of the Marlborough Amateur Athletic Club, when addressing the members at the annual meeting. "And that applies to sprinters, distance men, cyclists—all of you, in fact. If you want to get really fit and seasoned it will take you more like 10 weeks to do it. When you feel you are well and riding or running at top form it is an easy matter to hold your form by training gently and judiciously. You will only lose form if you keep plugging into your training." Natural Gas in Sydney. Great interest has been aroused by the finding of a flow of natural gas in Sydney. On the shore of the harbour, in the heart of Sydney,*is a coal mine, which has practically been given up, for although the coal is there it lias been found impossible to work it profitably. Acting on the advice of geologists, a bore was put down at tlie lowest working, a depth of about half a mile, and a flow has been struck which, on analysis, has proved to be a methane gas of very high calorific value , and of a quality equal to the best natural gases in the world. From a pressure of 51b, increasing daily, the pressure rose to 1551b. The question remaining is that of quantity, and the company has decided to obtain the services of an expert from overseas, as the discovery is considered to be of too great importance to be jeopardised.

U.S.A. Political " Bosses." The development of a form of racketeering behind some of the labour unions in the United States was discussed by Mr. T. O. Bishop, who acted as a New Zealand employers' representative at the recent International Labour Office conference, in an address at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Employers' Association (reports the "Press"). "It is difficult for a visitor familiar with collective bargaining, as we know it, at first to understand the antagonism of American employers to unionism, but the explanation is that many so-called unions are run by labour bosses of racketeers of the worst type, their benefit of their members," he said. "These bosses are racketters of the worst type, their methods of levying toll on workers and of blackmailing employers are criminal, and could not be carried on in British Empire countries."