NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 264, 7 November 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sunday Bowling in Country. The Maungaturoto Bowling Club has decided that play be allowed on the club's green on Sundays. The question has been under consideration for some time, and an extraordinary general meeting of members was presided over by the president, Mr. F. Pasley. There was a large attendance, and after a lengthy discussion, the resolution permitting Sunday play was carried by a small majority. Manawatu Fruit Crop. According to Mr. J. W. Wlielan, Government orchard instructor, there is every prospect that this season's fruit crop in the Manawatu district will be a "bumper" one. In support of this contention he mentioned that all classes of fruit trees, including small fruits, had blossomed profusely, but he issued a warning against possible damage to the crop by parasitic fungus, to the development of which the conditions had been very favourable in recent weeks. Nurse Contracts Leprosy. One of the pioneer sistors at the Mokogai leper station has contracted leprosy, according to a report furnished by the medical authorities at the island. It is stated that the Sister Superior recently had to perform the sad duty of informing the sister, who was one of those who founded the hospital in 1911, that she had contracted the dread disease. The Sister Superior added that people could not imagine how much it cost her to break the news to this clear sister and then accompany her to the compound for leprous women. She showed marvellous courage and resignation, and encouraged everyone by her cheerfulness and patience. Anchorage for Yachts. An anchorage for about 20 boats on the western side of the vehicular ferry landing in Mechanics' Bay is to be provided by the Auckland Harbour Board for pleasure craft for the summer season. About a week ago a start was made with the work of laying the necessary moorings, and already about 17 of the available berths have been reserved. The new anchorage will not be a protected one, and owners will leave their boats there at their own risk. A fair amount of shelter is afforded the new position by King's wharf at one end and the eastern tide deflector at the other. Inconvenience will probably be caused by a strong wind from a northerly quarter, but this is also experienced by boats moored on the outskirts of Mechanics' Bay. Registration of Cyclists. "The cyclists now seem to make a racing track of the good roads. They swerve all over the road and are dangerous," declared Mr. A. J. Pearce at a meeting of the One Tree Hill Borough Council last evening when the Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, suggested that a remit be forwarded to the next municipal conference suggesting that, with a view to the proper and adequate control of cyclists, the Government be requested to incorporate in the traffic regulations a provision requiring the registration and numbering of cycles. Mr. Goldstine said that the One Tree Hill Council in particular had always pressed for some control of cyclists owing to the difficulty met with through offenders of the by-laws giving wrong names. "I think motorists generally recognise that there should be some control of cyclists, but not with the object of obtaining revenue," he added. "At tha last conference I even intimated that I would alter the 'remit to provide for free registration of cyclists so long as we had some control." It was decided to forward the remit to the conference.

Special 'Plane Service for Sick Dog. With the assistance, of aviation in New Zealand, the professional services of medical men have already been placed promptly at the disposal of the sick and injured in backblocks or inaccessible outlying districts far from any liospital where aid would be • procurable. Similar help for animals has also been available recently. An S.O.S. from Kotorua to the Penrose Doy's Home was received on Sunday requesting the home to secure a 'plane and send the veterinarian to Rotorua to ttic Penrose Dogs' Home was the Auckland weather forecast was considered unfavourable. As the Hamilton aerodrome reported they would bo prepared to fly from there to Rotorua, the trip was made by motor to Hamilton and the final stage by 'plane to Rotorua. After first aid had been given the patient was able to take the return journey with its veterinary attendant by 'plane and motor to the Penrose Home, where further necessary treatment is being given. The little terrier was none the worse for his flight, a slight improvement in his condition being noticeable the following morning. No doubt when sufficiently recovered he will, in his own doggie fashion, tell the rest of the hospital patients about his first trip by air. Crossing a Tram. The legal position that a person was entitled to assume that nothing was going to cross in front of a tram at all closely while the tram was moving was mentioned by Mr. Justice. Fair at the Supreme Court during the hearing of a damages claim arising out of a collision between two motor cars. In the action, which concluded yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Doris Mildred North, of Remuera Road (Mr. North), claimed £400 general and £23 special damages from William Mattson (Mr. Goldstine), motor driver. She was a passenger in her husband's motor car which crossed over the intersection of Market and Great South Road in front of a moving city-bound tram. Defendant's motor car had stopped alongside the tram and moved off with the latter vehicle, and just after passing it collided with plaintiff's car, which had crossed in front of the tram. The motorman of the latter vehicle stated in evidence that he had to put his brakes on to allow plaintiff's car to cross in front of him. A Full Court judgment in favour of a cyclist in similar circumstances to the defendant was quoted by Mr. Goldstine. The Court had held that the cyclist, who had moved off- with the car, was justified* in believing that the road was clear and that any vehicle approaching from the right would give way. The jury in the case heard yesterday returned a verdict for the defendant, and judgment was entered accord ingly. Auckland's Geographical Position. - , Discussing matters meteorological in general, and the vagaries of Auckland's springtime weather in particular, an oldtimer whose 50 years' experience at sea entitled him to speak with some authority, pointed out that the city's geographical position is unlike that of any other in the world. Lest this should savour of the obvious, he mentioned that other cities were either inland, built alongside rivers, or maritime, but that the latter applied to Auckland in a double sense, for within a few miles there were two entirely dissimilar coasts, with whole feet of difference in the rise and fall of the tides. This meant two entirely different sets of weather conditions, with varying atmospheric pressures and tne effects of varying winds, depressions, anti-cyclones, etc. For this reason it would always be difficult,.even when the seasons were settled, to predict accurately what Auckland's weather would be. "Never forget," he said, "that here it is only a tram ride between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. It is hard to realise that on this uniquely situated isthmus one can actually cross New Zealand on land in less than an hour.." One indication of weather conditions which he had never known to fail was this; a strong easterly blow lasting a day or more was invariably followed by rain. "When the waves are blowing up the harbour for a long spell," he said, "you may rest assured that rain "»ill follow soon afterward*."

Gardens for Inspection. Under the auspices of the Mount Albert Horticultural Society, Mrs. J. W. Tattersfield's gardens in Allendale Road, Mount Albert, containing a most interesting collection of exotic and native plants and trees, will be open to the public next Saturday. Insurance Not Collected. Although rain fell during the Royal Show on the opening day, the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society was not successful in winning the protection of £600 insurance, for which it paid a premium of £53. The rain did not start until well on in the morning, and by 1 p.m., the hour at which the insurance ended, 4J points of rain fell. Ten points were necessary to secure the payment of the insurance. A One Tree Hill Record. A remarkably high percentage of the population of One Tree Hill are the holders of licensee to drive motor vehicles. The population of the borough is 83Q0, and, it was reported to the council at its meeting last evening that since the beginning of June, 1319, drivers' licensee had been issued, as compared with 1214 for the corresponding period last year, an increase or 105. These figures reveal that roughly one in every six persons in the borough is a licensed driver. It is anticipated that the percentage will be increased, as the licensing period extends down to May next. Startled the Racehorses. A terrific explosion startled racegoers at Trentham on Saturday just as the horses were lined up for the start of the last race. It also startled the horses, causing several of them to break through the barrier. Several distant and similar explosions had taken place during the day. but the final one was very close, and it shook the whole racecourse and buildings. The corps of engineers was undertaking a coin-so at Trentham camp, and setting off land mines.and demolition charges were part of Saturday's routine. The effect of the incident was not noticeable among the horses, as the first and second, Valarth 'and Mount Val, ran as backed, and, in fact, Valarth was the only favourite to win on the day. A Voters" Strike. In a world in which strikes —lightning strikes, general strikes, hunger strikes, "staydown" strikes, sympathetic strikes and all the rest—are unhappily fairly commonplace, one might think it impossible to discover a new kind of strike. Northern France, however, is providing a novel variety—a strike of voters. Some little time ago, in the village of Bouguemaison, a murder was committed. The -murderer was found guilty, but insane, and his commune was ordered to pay for his maintenance in an asylum. This verdict caused great anger, whether because the people disagreed with the finding, or for merely financial reasons, does not appear. The voters, as the best way of annoying the authorities, decided to go on strike, and at the last two elections they refused to elect either a mayor or local council in their village. Chilled Beef Export Trade. The increasing importance to "Waikato graziers of the export trade in chilled beef was reflected in a discussion by members of the schedule committee of the Morrinsville A. and P. Society when the classes for fat cattle at the next show were being considered. The president, Mr. W. J. Aitken, stated that the society had been promised a cup as a special trophy for cattle suitable for chilling. For the past two years the society had included such a class in its schedule, but entries had not been as large as could be desired. However, last season great numbers of Waikato fat cattle had' been sold for chilling, and better entries could be expected in the future. It was decided to recommend to the society's executive that the cup be the first prize in the class for steer suitable for chilled beef trade, the weight to b? under 7501b. . . A Friend at Court. "Someone in North Auckland has a friend who is a member of the Sheffield Poor Law Institute," said Mr. 11. E. Davis, London manager of the New Zealand Control Board, in las' Whangarei address. "Consequently the institute specifies for the asylums and all the institutes under its control the use of finest New Zealand butter, which must be the product of the company named. The London office of the board is continually receiving urgent rings from the Sheffield Institute asking where this particular brand, which shall be nameless, can be obtained. It often happens that the company has made an f.o.b. sale, and that the butter has been kicked o into the blue. We will never get the goodwill enjoyed by Danish until we can give continuity of supplies. It is of little use chopping out existing selling channels, and selling forward to Scotland, when a reputation for the article has been made in the south of England."

School Ponies Still Popular. The fact that there were 14 entries at the last Morrinsville A. and P. Show in the class for bona fide school pony to carry two children prompted the schedule committee when revising the schedule to recommend that in all of the classes for children's ponies the judge and stewards be given authority to divide the entries into two sub-classes for young riders and older riders, the society to provide two sets of prizes in such instances. Several speakers mentioned that it was unfair to the judge to be asked to award prizes in a class where there were tiny tots on Shetland ponies and high school boys and girls on ponyhunters, and that more younger children would enter if it was stated in the schedule that the classes would be divided if entries warranted this. The fact that at most schools in the Morrinsville district there were about a dozen ponies to be seen in the horse paddock, notwithstanding the popularity of bicycles and school buses, justified the society in catering liberally for ponies. "The pony riders of to-day are the horsemen and horsewomen of to-morrow," remarked one steward of the light horse section. A Heckler's Complaint. An interjector who was warned to etop his interruptions by a Mayor who presided at a recent political meeting says that candidates' meetings nowadays have "gone to the pack" since chairmen are chosen beforehand. In the old days chairmen used to be chosen from those in the hall, and were generally good sports, who allowed a little latitude because elections only came once in three or four years. One of his last big stunts, when he was more vigorous than now, was at the election in 1911, when the late Sir John Eindlay stood for Parnell. At his first meeting a few kindred spirits got together and the candidate was not allowed to speak, even although that big burly man, R. S. Brigge, who was the last Mayor in Parnell Borough, was in the chair. "We kept asking Sir John if he bought his coal by the sack or if he had a return ticket for Wellington where he lived? Sir John held on gallantly, but his speech was never heard, except by those sitting in the front seat just under him." In all his experience as a heckler the deponent had never quite seen anything like a meeting held in the Drill Hall long ago by Mr. R. J. Seddon, who wore down by sheer force one of the most hostile political meetings crowded to the doors ever seen in the city by his forceful personality. The audience seemed determined not to hear him, but he was determined to be heard. So severe, however, had the mental and physical strain been tliat after the meeting he lay down on a sofa utterly exhausted while a masseur rubbed him down with towels and applied stimulants. Next day his .achievement was held to be that of'a sincere leader, holding strong views and wanting to impress the people as to what was the best thing for the country.