NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 268, 12 November 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Week-end Camp. About 20 n.c.o.'s and men of C Company, First Battalion, North Auckland Regiment, spent the week-end under canvas at the Hobsonville air base. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning were spent with the annual line aiid Lewis gun shoots. On Sunday afternoon the territorials inspected the hangars and workshops, showing great interest in the Faircy seaplanes mid the new Vildcvccste torpedo-carrying 'planes. The men, who came from Hclensville, Waimauku, Kumeu and Henderson, were commanded by Second Lieutenant W. E. von Schramm, of Henderson. Sydney's Building Boom. "The building trade is booming in Sydney," remarked a passenger by the Aorangi yesterday. "All round the suburbs they are pulling down large old buildings or groups of houses and* erecting buildings containing modern flats, which, I understand, are being booked up and occupied as quickly as they are ready. Another thing," added tha observer with a smile, "is the popularity of the lotteries. The staffs are worked to death keeping pace with the speculation. Why don't they start them in New Zealand?" Air Force Military Band. Under the conductorship of Bandmaster G. A. Booth, formerly of Tiniaru, the newlyformed Xew Zealand Air Force Military Band is making rapid progress in V elllngton. Members have been rehearsing for the last six weeks, and have reached a playing standard which has been very favourably commented upon. The total strength of the band is 37, and the instrumentation, similar to that of army bands in England, consists of flute, piccolo, oboe, ten clarinets, three saxophones, bassoon, four horns, five cornets, three basses and two drums. An Event. Giving evidence in an action at the .Supreme Court yesterday, a witness said he had been driving motor cars for many years and had never had an accident. Under crossexamination he admitted he had knocked a boy down in Newmarket some time last year, but after taking the boy, who was not seriously injured, to the hospital, he had not given the matter another thought, so much so that while he remembered it had happened last year he had no idea which day, week, or month. Later, when counsel again mentioned the accident, Mr. Justice Callan remarked that tl.u knocking down of the boy tvas regarded apparently by the witness ae an "event," not an'accident. No Need to Kiss the Book. There arc still witnesses appearing in the Magistrate's Court who think it is necessary to kiss the Bible, when taking the oath. The new form of oath, as provided in the Oaths Act, was introduced in the New Zealand Magistrate's Court on November 7, 1010. This did away with the old practice of kissing the Book. Witnesses are now merely required to hold the Bible in the right hand, while the following words are repeated to them: "You swear by Almighty God that the evidence given by you in the case before the Court will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." At the conclusion of these words the witness answers, "I do," and proceeds to give evidence. Damage--by Fireworks. The partial destruction of a lemon tree by fire during the week demonstrated to a Gisbornc resident that fireworks might be responsible for extensive damage. As the night of November 5 was wet, many fireworks were let off on the following night, which was fine. The resident mentioned discovered that a young lemon tree which had been enclosed in "scrim as a protection from the severe weather had been almost destroyed by fire. Alongside the remains of the scrim and the tree was found the charred stick of a sky rocket, which was doubtless the cause of the destruction. Young Samaritans. There were 18 very tired little boys in Auckland last night who must have been very glad when they got to bed. These were the members of the Viennese Boys' Choir. Besides their professional engagements, which included a matinee as well as an evening performance, they performed a number of labours of love in the course of the day. One of these was to lay a wreath on the Cenotaph. Then they visited a number of public and private hospitals, including the Auckland Hospital and the Mater Miserieordiae, where they sang several items in each of a number of wards, a kindly and thoughtful act, which must have brought joy and delight to many of the sick and suffering in those institutions. True Cricket Decisions. "The success of an umpires' association depends upon correct and uniform rulings by members," commented the president, Mr. K. Johnston, at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Cricket Umpires' Association. "In this connection I would point out that the leg-before-wicket rule is generally the foundation of any dissatisfaction which may occur, and it behoves members to be particularly careful in giving decision- in this regard. Most other rulings depend on sight and hearing, but the leg-before-wicket decision calls for personal judgment in addition. In giving a decision of this , nature an umpire has to judge carefully the flight, pitch and rise of the ball from the wicket." " Plenty More Rain " Prophesied. Meeting an old Maori friend in Queen Street this morning, an Aucklander stopped to chat. "Weather no good, eh?" was his opening remark, to which the ancient replied: "No; plenty rain, and plenty more rain to come. Going to be real wet summer, like nine years ago." Asked his reasons for this •Joomy prophecy, old Hone scratched his grizzled thatch and finally said: "Well, I tell you. Pakeha perhaps laugh, but they not laugh who know me down Waikato. Now, kowhai very early this year, also plenty flower. Also plenty leaf on oak and willow and all pakeha tree. 'Nother thing, too; plenty inanga (whitebait) in all creeks. Oh, I know orright!" The sceptical pakeha pointed out that the abundance of foli-ge was probably due to the abnor: ally wet winter. "Besides/ , he said, "after all that rain there can't be much left." Hone deigned to smile, but his opinion was unshaken. "Plenty more rain," was his considered dictum. "Wo get summer like this every nine or ten year. I 1 iw orright. You can put in paper too." So here it is. Pronunciation of Centenary. Two matters which required to be settled in the immediate future in connection with the proposed centenary celebrations in 1940 were mentioned by the former Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, at the preliminary conference at the Town Hall last evening of representatives of various city and suburban organisations to discuss the subject. Firstly, they would have to determine the correct day to celebrate, and, secondly, decide on the proper I pronunciation of the word centenary, said Mr. Hutchison. "I mention the latter matter because when I was in Melbourne representing the'eity there was an argument raging on the subject as to whether the word was ceri-ten-ary or c.en-tcen-ary," he added. "I was under the impression that cen-ten-ary won, but some of those present to-night do not think so." Mr. Hutchison suggested jocularly that if it was not thought" that the problem came within the scope of the special historical committee a special committee might be appointed to deal with it. It was noticeable during the discussions that most of the speakers referred to the forthcoming "centeenary."

Demand for Merino Wool. The outstanding fact made clear in the review entitled "Wool Production and Trade. 1928-]O."M," issued by the Imperial Economic Committee, is that despite severe fluctuations in prices and stocks, international trade dislocations and exchange difficulties,, a steadily increasing amount of Merino and crossbred wools has in these seven years found a market. Waikato Show Enterprise. With a view to having its Claudelands ground in high-class order for the Royal Show in IO.'JS and also for the New Zealand polo championships, the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association is reported to have in view for next year ploughing up and thoroughly rcturfing the large ring enclosure. The work will entail an expenditure estimated to cost about £000. Depends on Circumstances. Does the value of a sheep and cattle dog suddenly increase after it has been run over by a motor ear? Counsel appearing in a case in the Matamata Court on Thursday humorously suggested that it did (writes the "Star's" correspondent), and Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., after finding for plaintiff, evidently agreed with this view, for he reduced the claim from £10 to £3. The ease was one in which Robert Rawiri claimed £10 from G. IT. Crawford. Freakish Lightning Flashes. During a recent severe thunderstorm in Opotiki a big pinus insignia tree on the property of Mrs. M. Kelly was struck by lightning in the top branches, some of which arc about Sin through. The branches were set on fire by the lightning, which travelled to earth through a cowshed, where a youth was milking. The boy and cow were unhurt, but the bucket in use wae split. At the same time an iron chimney at a house occupied by Mrs. Hill was struck and split, the lightning earthing through the stove with a loud explosion. Xo one was injured. Left Below. A suggestion by Mr. Justice Callan yesterday that a motor cycle which had been involved in an accident, and which was on view outside the Court, should be brought into Court in order that the witnesses could demonstrate to the jury any technical evidence they gave, was not carried out. Mr. Justice Callan sits in the upstairs Court, and during "smoke-o" two hefty constables made valiant attempts to get the motor cycle up the stairway, but the machine proved just a little too much for them, and when the case was continued the cycle still reposed against the wall outside the Court. A Good Advertisement. That the new New Zealand coins are a good advertisement overseas was the opinion expressed by Mr. Allan Sutherland when speaking to the New Zealand Numismatic Society about his recent trip abroad. "The New Zealand coins encountered on the ship attracted much favourable comment because of the distinctive designs, and many tourists expressed the intention of taking away with them sets of our coins as mementoes of their visit to New Zealand," he said. "I could not help thinking of the profit that accrues to the Government by reason of the attractive designs resulting in such coins being withdrawn from circulation, and the permanent advertising media created in all parts of the world." Kurds and Whey. A Scots story that came all the way from Iraq was related at the Hawcra Rotary Club's luncheon by Mr. S. Launder, in the course of an interesting address on his travels. An old Kurdish sheik was explaining to the speaker the difference between the iviirdt and the Arabs. The burden of his story was the immeasurable superiority of the Kurds as a people, and he illustrated his point by adding. "The Kurds are to the Arabs, sahib, what the Scottish people are to the English." He subsequently found, said Mr. Launder, that a Scottish intelligence officer had been stationed in that particular part of the country during the war.

A Happy Family. Almost invariably when the All Blacks arc on tours rumours are current that there is dissension in the ranks. Tongues have begun io wag concerning the lO.'Ci All Blacks, the statement being made that class distinction among the players has been causing trouble. That these statements are without foundation is apparent from tho following excerpt from a letter received Uy Mr. X. A. Mitchell's parents in Invercargill s "I may say that our room mates are altered each thin: and arc fixed by the manager, the idea being that there nre not to be any cliques. It is working very well, and so far we are a very happy team.* There hasn't been, the semblance of a quarrel yet, and yon couldn't wish for a better set of chaps." Stranded Blackfish for Oil. Numerous people have visited the Tokcrau Beach to see the large school of blackfish which was stranded there on Friday evening. An eye-witness of the occurrence stated that the (ish gradually worked inshore, swimming in circles. Seven of the fish swam out to sea after the majority had gone ashore, but they soon came back and were stranded. The fish. numbering nearly 100, arc lying pocked close together on only about four chains of beach. .About throe years ago a number of blackflsh was stranded on the beach, at the northern end of Doubtless Bay, and the natives of the surrounding settlements obtained from the tish a large supply of oil. Already Maoris have started cutting up the fish now stranded in order to obtain oil. Old Wellington Hostelries. A statement that the Bruce Hotel, Akaroa, was the oldest hotel in the Dominion but one has provoked investigations in Wellington, which show that there are at least two hotels there which were in business before the foundation of the Bruce. The "Xew Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator , * of October 10, 18-10, in a list of licensed hotels, includes the Thistle Inn, under the proprietorship of William Couper. This old building in Slulgrave Street has changed very little in its 05 years of existence. Tt is still much thn same as when the wafers of the hi rbour lapped at its "doorstep. Tho Princess Hotel, in Molesworth Street, established about 1843, is another which has passed unchanged through more than 00 years. Also in the "Gazette's" list is Barrett's Hotel, the Queen's PTead and the Xew Zealandcr. The old wooden portion of the Hotel Cecil, recently demolished, was the original Barrett's Hotel, and up till the time of demolition it was reputed to be the oldest licensed house in Xew Zealand. Police Documents. The possibility of some definite decision being given by the Court some day whether police documents should be available in civil cases was mentioned by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court in Wellington. The point arises from time to time, and of more recent times it has happened more than once that police constables have been ordered by the Court to produce certain documents. it cropped up again recently (says the "Evening Post") when Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., suggested, after a constable had given evidence, that it might be as well if the constable produced a plan he had made at the time of the accident, which was the subject of the action. His Honor said ho agreed that it would not be contrary to public policy if the plan was produced. The constable had already given evidence on marks, etc., shown in a plan he had made at the time of the accident. The plan might be of vital importance, added his Honor, and on his instructions arrangements were made to have tho , plan produced.