NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 31, 6 February 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Freak Lily. Oil view at present at Cambridge is a freak lily grown by Mr. .las. Douce. It is of the Lilitmi aura turn variety, and on (lie one stem are over 140 blooms, nil beautifully developed. Usually nine or ten flowers grow oil the one stem, lint tliis specimen is a mass Assistance Wanted. Appeals for assistance from settlers and others wlio incurred losses in the storm of the week-end have been coming to the Unemployment Board from all parts of the country. With these the Minister of .Employment, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, has been kept constantly occupied. "One would imagine that there was no limit to the resources of the board,*' he said this morning. "One might think also that there were no restrictions oil the application of its resources." Need for New Station. The view that it was time a new station was provided at l'raiikton to fullil the needsj of the large and important district served, from the junction was expressed at a meet-' ing of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce last evening by the president, Mr. H. 1). Caro.l It was decided to write to the Minister of Railways pointing out the inconvenience ofj the existing access at the station and asking, if better provision could be made for pas-j sengers. i Request for New Post Office. "It is a pity that the local post office was not washed away by the serious week-end floods," states the member for Thames, Mr. J. Thorn, in a communication which he has forwarded to the Postmaster-* iencral, the Hon. !■'. Jones, in connection with the agitation at Thames for the immediate construction oi a new post ofliee in Pollen Street. "1 he loot has several leaks, and the floor of the dilapidated building is now practically resting on flood silt, from which a disagreeable odour arises," adds Mr. Thorn. "It is unfortunate that the employees of a great Department should have to work in such a building. The flooding adds urgency to the need of a newpost olliee." City Lighting Now Normal. Grafton Road and The Drive, Epsom, were still unlighted last evening, but the linesmen of the Auckland Electric Power Board have been working steadily since the storm, and it was stated this morning that this evening the whole of the lighting system of the city will be back to normal. The King's whart steam station is still being operated, but the Government has cleared one line thiough to \rapnni, aiul is providing lmlf the load. Ins condition will continue until some time tomorrow, when it is expected that Arapuni will supply the whole of the city again. Cost of Fencing Material. Twenty-live years ago, when a resident built his house on' the North Shore, he put up a long paling fence of 48yds at a tendered price of 2/s' per yard, labour and material included. Recently the heavy gale played havoc with the fence, as most of the scant-, lin-s were rotten. After looking up Ins old j accounts to see what the costs were, the resident decided to get a quotation for a new fence, even although the cost might be double the former price of .W S/. lie got a bit of an eye-opener when he was told that the kauri 25 years ago cost only 25/ per lOOtt, and it was nearly 70/ to-day. All other timber had l-isen in proportion, it was stated. Four bv two scantling of rough heart of -'uin for fencim* was now worth 42/ per lOOtt. palings were, sold by the 100 at 70/ and even rou<'h posts were three times their former price. The average price to-day for a oit substantial paling fence was .?/'> per lunning foot, or roughly £25 for 48 yards—four times the amount of 1911. Survivors of the Storm. An observant correspondent mentions the fact that although widespread damage was done to trees in the Domain and other reserves, the recent storm spared the single trees which are such prominent features of the city's skyline. l'rom Grafton Bridge, Upper Svnionds Street and other points ot vantage 'can be seen large trees, of many years' <>rowth, iu various parts ot the citj and the Xorth Shore, and almost without exception these weathered the gale without damage. Many of them arc Douglas lirs, which are more deeply rooted than the macrocarpa, and by reason of their symmetrical shape, offer less resistance to the wind, and sway more evenly. Yet, curiously enough, one of the most conspicuous of tfiese giants, growin"- just off Pousonby Road not far from the Methodist Church, had nearly half of its topmost branches shorn off in a stiff gale 18 months ago. That was a good blow but could not be compared with the terrific blast of last week-end, yet the big tree did not lose a sino-le branch, nor were the "skyline sentinels" at the top of Queen Street, Grafton Road, Ponsonbv Road ancl North Head altered either in growth or appearance.

Inventions of 1935. The official figures of applications _ for British patents filed during the year 103 a are not yet published, but it is estimated that approximately 30,350 applications will have been made by the close of the year. 11ns number is up to the average of recent y e! "'"> and differs very little from the total of .(/,4--» filed during 1034. The demand for convertible furniture to meet the requirements of small houses lias resulted in many inventions, such as sideboards with extensible tables aiu couches, also tables with foldablc chairs built into them. Of particular interest to the housewife is a flat iron with legs which can bo brought into use by a slight pressure of the thumb. This will make a separate stand unnecessary, and also prevent material fiom being burnt. Among simple inventions with a large market is a loose-leaf note book adapted to carry a tiny electric light bulb, which will facilitate the writing and reading of notes in the dark. While ■ the British inventor has been diligent, there has been from foreign countries a steady influx of applications for British patents. A word may be added regarding new ideas which have emanated from the brain of the alert American. These, patented in the United States, include an anti-snoring device, a bullet stopper arid an improved means for furnishing the fair with artificial nails. Telegraph System Restored. The repairing of the telegraph wires and the return of the system to normal again after the storm last week-end provides an illuminating example of how first tilings in the Post and Telegraph Department do actually come first. While the average man was thinking most of storm damage in terms of flooded areas, the Department was thinking a good deal about quite another aspect of the situation. One of the first duties was the repairing of fire alarm circuits all over Auckland in view of the danger of fire from the high wind. Then, again, the repair gangs went soon to the restoring of telephone connections to.: hospitals and the homes of doctors. By now telegraphic and trunk telephone services are normal, as far as the ability to put a call or message through is concerned. While these first repairs were being made, gangs of men were sent to the north, to the east coast and to the west coast. There is still work to be done —the making of temporary repairs permanent and watching for delayed effects of the storm, such as wires breaking after a period of strain. With people all over the Dominion wanting to know how tlicir friends and relations fared in the storm, the telegraphic staff at the Chief Post Oflice has been busy iu the past few days. J.he accumulation of messages which had piled up as the result of the storm was disposed of on Tuesday night, and services to-day have been nearly free from interruption.

Storm Benefits Business. Firms dealing in plate and ordinary house window glass, roofing iron and fencing posts are enjoying an increase in business as a result of the storm last week-end, as many suburban shopkeepers and householders have windows to replace, fences to repair and roofs, to restore. A shortage of sawn fencing posts] is influencing many people to do away with the remains of damaged wooden fences, instead of repairing them, and to replace them with stone or concrete. Plumbers are busy replacing spouting lliat was torn away. Guns Fire from North Head. To-dav and to-morrow the l.'itli Coast Battery, now in camp at Narrow Neck, will hold its annual firing practice at the North Head fort. Service shells will be tired, but the charges will be only half the service amount. Last October a practice shoot was held with full service charges, in order to accustom the young territorials to service conditions and to test the equipment. Residents ill the vicinity have been warned to open windows and to secure any articles likely to be displaced by the concussion from the firing. Architects' Conference. It is 15 years since an annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Architects was held in Auckland, and after the coining conference, which will meet from February 17 to 21, inclusive, it is unlikely that there will be another in this city for a number of years. Members of the institute from all parts of the Dominion will lie? present. The conference will be opened by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, and in addition to the ordinary business lectures on various subjects of interest have been arranged for every day except February 21, when the delegates will be shown something of the city.

Operation at Sea. An operation for obstructive appendicitis was performed oil January 2'i aboard the Orient liner Otranto, which arrived from Brisbane yesterday, the patient being Tristram Freeman, 12-vear-old son of Dr. John 1' i ceman, of St. "Mary's Hospital, London. The ship was then crossing the Australian Bight, and to steady her while the operation was being performed Captain, L. V. James turned her head info the wind. Dr. W. 11. D. Priest, the ship's surgeon, operated, assisted by Dr. G Harris, assistant ship's surgeon, and Dr. Rice, of Adelaide. The patient, who is accompanied by his mother and aunt, is making a good recovery. Privileges of Mayoral Office. The opinion of Mr. L. I*. Leary, published ill the last number of the "Justices' Qnarterlv'4 aijd recently quoted in the "Star," that a ni'aii who is elected Mayor is not by virtue of his olliee a justice of the peace, or entitled to anv judicial position, was contradicted last eveniii"' bv Mr. I. J. Goldstine, Mayor of One Tree Hill. Mr. Goldstine said that by section 20 of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1933 the Mayor, not being the holder of a publican's license or the keeper of an accommodation house, was a justice of the peace by virtue of his ofliee, and as such was entitled to the customary privelcges, the position being by no means honorary, as had been stated by Mr. Leary. National Tourist Publicity. "That this conference considers it would be impracticable for local authorities to levy rates for contributions toward a national publicity fund, but urges the Government to take effective steps to extend the tourist traffic of New Zealand as a national undertaking and that the Tourist Department investigate the position with a view to establishing a national fund for advertising New Zealand overseas," was the text of a J' 0 *? 1 " - t,io„ which was carried at the 1 ourist Conference held in Auckland this week. Consideiable discussion arose on the question ot national tourist publicity, find the consensus of opinion was that local bodies and private firms' should not subscribe towards such an object. Painting of Late Mr. 11. E. 1 lolland. A fine portrait of the former leader of the Labour party, the late Mr. 1L L. Holland, is soon to he given a prominent place in Parliament Buildings. The painting is at present in the care of the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, who has not decided whether to hang it in the Labour Room or in one of the lobbies. A gift to Mi. Holland from the Wellington South branch ot the party, the painting was taken to Australia after his death by Mrs. Holland Ihe latter later made a gift of it to her husbands Parliamentary colleagues, and it was returned to the Dominion. It is felt that the painting is deserving of a more prominent place than was offering before the general election, and one will now be chosen.

Mails for the North. Motor trucks, service cars and aeroplanes have been used during the past few days to carry mails to the northern districts that were cut off from rait communication owing to damage done bv the storm of last weekend. It. was expected this morning, however, that improved conditions would exist to-day, unci it was anticipated that a train will pet through to Whakapara. Mails from the soutli were little behind schedule yesterday. To the north letters were carried by service car to Kaitaia, and from there a distribution was made. A P. and T. Department motor truck with letters and second-class matter was sent from Auckland to Maungaturoto, where it was met by another truck from Whangarci, which exchanged its load from the north. Russell's Air Mail. Residents of Russell received their mail and newspapers in record time yesterday, when two aircraft from the Ilobsonville air base made the journey from Auckland to Russell in a little over an hour. Owing to the disorganisation of the mail service the aeroplanes were engaged to deliver a large overseas mail to 11.M.5. Dunedin, which is at Russell. At tliii same time the usual mail for Russell and Paihia was carried. After picking up the mail matter alongside 11.M.5. Philomel at 8.30 a.m. yesterday, the twinengined flying boat Cutty Sark, by Flying-Officer R. J. Cohen, and the big Fairey lII.D ° seaplane, piloted by Flight-Lieutenant S. Wallingford, took off, the Fairey reaching Russell in one hour ten minutes and the Cutty Sark in an hour and a half. Both machines returned to the air base at Hobsonville at 3.30 p.m. Good flying conditions were experienced both ways. Daytime Meteor. The phenomenon seen at llautu, near Whangarci, 011 Thursday morning last, which was described as a tremendous silver ball flashing through the sky, was also witnessed by several people in Auckland and in places south of the city. Mr. A. C. Bearsley, of Raetihi, states that he also observed the phenomenon from apparently a closer position than the other observers. He was driving his car from Taihape towards Raetihi about 10.45 a.m., when, about four miles north of Taihape, he saw the meteor flash from the direction of the sun towards the earth. It appeared to be about the size of a small melon, and had a long ribbon-like tail. It' seemed to land behind a small hill directly in front of him, about due north. There is a big bank of hills a few miles ahead, acids Mr. Bearsley, and the meteor landed well in front of them. To all appearances it was not more than a quarter of a mile away. It was quite distinct despite the fact that there was only a blue sky as a background. He heard 110 sound from the meteor, but this was evidently due to the noise of his car, which was in second gear at the time. The meteor was also seen by Mr. Herbert Greenwood, of Waipu, who described it as a flash like a rocket.