NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 136, 10 June 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

I Park Entrances. Suggested by the Mayor us suitable intermittent work in the borough of Mount Albert is the erection of a new guteway at FowMs Park and having the entrance to . GribbleHirst Park improved. At Inst, night's meetingMr. Ferner said that both works were necessary, and if carried out would l>; , much appreciated by the residents. It was decided to get the engineer to supply mi estimate of the cost. Auckland Harbour Bridge. At a meeting of residents of Albany and the surrounding districts held on Monday evening the following motion was carried unanimously: ''That this representative meeting of residents of Albany district urges the Government to take steps to bring about the construction of the Auckland harbour bridge, and to make financial provision, so as to enable the work to be speedily commenced." Eightieth Anniversary of Presbytery. Some special celebrations are to be held in October next to mark the eightieth anniversary of the Auckland Presbytery, according to a resolution passed last night. The clerk of the Auckland body, the Rev. A. M. IDlliffe, suggested that the matter might be left to a committee, to consist of the life and work committee together with the Moderator, the Rev. Bower Black, and himself. This suggestion was adopted. Police Measurements. The manner in which measurements were taken by the police at the scenes of accidents invited brief comment from Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Answering counsel, a police witness had stated that there were occasions when a tape measure was not obtainable at the police station and officers paced the distances. "Surely when measurements which may be very important have to be taken a tape measure should be used," observed his Honor. A Captain Cook Relic. The McXab Collection in the Duiicdili Free Public Library was this week enriched by the gift of the quadrant used by Captain James Cook in the Endeavour during his explorations in the South Pacific. The gift was made to the library by Professor James Park, emeritus professor of mining in the University of Otago, who purchased it from Captain James Patterson, of Peterhead, Aberdcenshire, Scotland. The hitter's grandfather was a seaman in the Endeavour. The quadrant has an ebony frame, and the. graduated circle is engraved on ivory. The instrument is appropriately housed in close company with many records relating to Captain Cook, which Dr. McNab collected in various parts of the world. City Fathers Serenaded. The customary serenity of proceedings at Te Awamutu Borough Council meetings was rudely disturbed on Monday evening by the blare of a dance band and the accompanying noise from a merry throng of dancers in the Town Hall, which is separated from the council chamber by a thin wooden wall. The town clerk said that he had been assured that the dance, which was a private one, would be a very quiet affair, and as the council wits requiring money for renovations to the Town Hall furniture he thought the rent would assist. Mr. Kainey: "Please don't do it again. We can hardly hear ourselves talk.' , Mr. North: "It would not be so bad if it was not for that confounded cornet." At a later stage during the evening the town clerk was instructed not to let the hall for dances on council nights.

Homework for Schools. Resolutions emanating from the recent annual meeting of parents of pupils attending the Northcote District High School, dealing with homework, were referred to at the meeting of the committee of management. A suggestion was included for a system of home study of subjects in which a pupil is backward, such work on completion by the pupil to be submitted to teachers for perusal and correction. The headmaster, Mr. W. J. Wernham, explained that the teaching staff was working under regulations of the Auckland Education Board, and took all • instructions therefrom. The resolution w;is not in conformity with the Education Board's regulations. The question of homework had been thrashed out two years ago, and the schedule then submitted for the average pupil had not been exceeded. There was no necessity to go into the matter further. One-man Union Necessary. At Monday's meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council a letter was read from the Xapier Borough Council asking for support for the formation of a local body employees' union. The Napier council was in favour of the proposal to have one union for borough employees, as at present their employees were covered by approximately ten unions, causing a Considerable amount of confusion in administration. The Mayor, Mr. G. Spinley: "I don't like this one big union idea. If strikes should occur, as in France, our employees will get their instructions from headquarters, and we will all be in the cart." The town clerk said that he had looked into the matter, and found that only one employee was affected. It appeared that it would be necessary for this employee to join a union to retain his position. The Mayor: "Well, he is at liberty to form a union of his own if he wants to. I think we should wait and see what happens." Harbour Board's Finances. For the eight months ended May 31, the Auckland Harbour Board showed an increase in revenue of £28,097. For the month of May there was an increase of £4305. In his report, ■ the treasurer and accountant, Mr. Charles Garratt, stated that the finances for May were excellent, the cash receipts being still on the increase. The total receipts for the eight months were £278,335, and for the month £37,011. The principal increases in the longer period were in respect of rents £1492, goods wharfage £11,958, pilotage, port charges and shipping wharfage £0004, cranes, etc. £4022, storage £1839, miscellaneous £2122. Manukau Harbour had a share in the improvement. The estimates for the eight months, on the usual basis of apportionment of the year's figures, had I>een exceeded by £23,002. Some degree of offset in the ensuing four months might reasonably be coiir templated. The cash balances at May 31 in Auckland and London amounted to £100,120, a large portion of which was earmarked for July interest, sinking funds and redemption.

Solved by a Scribbler. | A witness at the Manurewa water inquiry was having some difficulty in deciphering a written report on the chemical contents of water from a certain bore, when the chairman, the Hon. J. Alexander, M.L.C., said: "Here, let me see it. I'm a very bad writer; I surely ought to be able to understand it." Sure enough, after a little screwing of the eyes, the chairman was successful in giving a true interpretation. i Horticultural Spring Show. The first show under the auspices of the Waitemata Horticultural Society has been fixed for September 11 and 12. Garden lovers at Biukenlieod and Xortheote are according good support to the new organisation, and a series of lectures to members has been arranged, the first of which was given by Mr. George Mills, of Takapuna. Meetings are hold at Birkenhead and Xortheote alternately. " The Girl in Red. , ' * 'In the course of her tour throughout New Zealand, Miss Nita Rosslyn, known as the "Girl in Red," will arrive on her red bicycle at the Bluff on Tuesday about 3 p.m. The next day she will cross to Stewart Island, where she will remain about a week. When she crosses to the mainland again she will ; revisit Invercargill, and then turn towards the West Coast and Central Otago on her way to Nelson and the North Island. She will tour Hawkc's Bay, coming thence to Auckland and to the North of Auckland. Subsequently she ' will leave for Tasmania and Australia. , Ratepayers' Loyalty. ''The report has been presented without injury or hardship to anyone in the borough," said Mr. I , '. 10. Martin nt last night's meeting ' of the Mount Albert Borough Council, when : the finance committee recommended a reduction in the general rate from 4 3-8 d to 4d and the abolition of the annual charge of f>/ for refuse collection. "Tt is the result of loyalty from the ratepayers, the staff and all employees of the borough, and the report will be I received with great satisfaction, not only in> Mount Albert, but in the whole of Auckland," he added. l And They Shuddered. , Another sample of the Manurewa "liquid" i called water was brought before the inquiry , committee on Tuesday. Dr. Ritchie, one of . the members, examined it very closely, and then remarked: "You must have a great ' climate here, for there are hundreds of mos- < qnito larvae breeding there. It is remarkable , to find mosquitoes breeding in June." The . liquid had been drawn from a bore near to ( where the committee had lunched the day \ before; there was a distinct shudder from all j the party. ' i

Presbyterian Church Finances. Provisional estimates of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand were received at, a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last evening. The estimates are. from July 1, 1030, to June 30 rf next year. The total to be collected for the next year amounts to £32,807, coinpared with .£:5:5.170 for the current year. The Auckland Presbytery has been asked to find £32fi;), the allocations from each congregation being left to the Presbytery. Some of the items, with those for the current year in parentheses, missions.' £1(5.035 (£10,400); home missions, £7044 ( CTOIO) : Maori missions. £5583 (£f>4o7; youth of the Church, £1795 (£1750); total, £33,807 ( ,C:J3,170). King's Birthday Parade. In honour of the birthday of His Majesty King Edward VIII., a ceremonial parade and 1 march past of the Colours will be held in the Auckland Domain at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 'i.'?. All units of the forces in the district will attend, and his Excellency the Governor-General will review the parade. Massed bands will, play the parade into line, and following the march past a flight of machines from the Hobsonvillc air base will fly past the saluting base. In the event of a cancellation of the parade the Royal salute will be fired from the Domain at 8 a.m., and a broadcast announcement will be made at the same hour. Devonport's Jubilee. A meeting representative of all sports bodies and local institutions in Dovonport was hold at the municipal chambers last evening to consider tbe fitting celebration of the borough's jubilee. The Mayor, Mr. 11. F. W. Mciklc, presided, and stated that the council had decided to celebrate Devonport's 50 years of civic life by a special carnival in November this year. The meeting ratified the proposal, find the delegates present agreed to acquaint (heir clubs nnd organisations with the project, and if possible secure their co-operation in the general celebration of a carnival extending over one week, in which bowling and | tennis tournaments, a swimming galnifta military gymkhana and a sports display will probably be essential features. \

Onehunga Wharf Shed Space. On the recommendation of the engineer, Mr. 1). Holdemeas, the Auckland Harbour Hoard yesterday decided to transfer the shed until recently occupied by the Fishermen's Company (Auckland), Ltd., from Nelson wharf to a position on Onehunga wharf. He reported that the additions to Shed A on Onehunga wharf, costing about £1000. were nearly completed. Extensions to Shed B, costing about £]4;")0, had been considered, but deferred. Owing to the progress of the reclamation in the Nelson wharf area, the demolition of Nelson wharf would soon be necessary. The transference of the shed mentioned would supply the storage space required on Onehunga wharf at a cost of about £175. Anniversary of Seddon's Death. Thirty years have elapsed since the death of the Rt. lion. R. J. Seddon, who was Premier of New Zealand for over 13 years, a term of office which has never boon exceeded by any other Premier or Prime Minister in the history of the Dominion. By his passing New Zealand suffered a national loss. Mr. Seddon was within n few days of his filat birthday when he collapsed from heart failure and died. At the time he was returning froni an official visit to Australia on board , tno steamer Oswestry Orange. The body was brought to : New Zealand jt.lid buried in the Sydney Street Cemetery, Wellington. Mr. Seddon's grave is ' marked by a conspicuous monument, and to- • day, as on every anniversary of his death, wreaths were laid at the base of his statue in the grounds of Parliament Buildings. Mrs. Seddon died on' July 8, 1031, in her 81st year, i The Students' Procession. Owing to an objection by the traffic 1 department of the Auckland City Council, the students of the Auckland University College < will not be able to have their procession on ' June 19, as they .had previously arranged. It J will take place on the clay before, the 18th. I The traffic department pointed out that the ( streets were apt to be congested on a Friday. ; and that such a procession as arranged would ' make confusion worse confounded. The students, however, could have any other day, i Saturdays excepted. The students chose a,l Thursday. The procession is in aid of the ! Crippled Children's Fund. It is gathering ( weight li.ke a snowball.& Students from the ' Auckland Training College are now going to 1 take part, so that they will be some 200 ' strong. Put more than that, the aid of the women has been enlisted as collectors. It, - should be a bright lunch hour for Auckland i that day. Doubtless because of the' worthy,' cause the procession espouses, the New Zea- I land Broadcasting Board has given permission ; to several of the students to speak from ; station IYA on Tuesday evening at 7.30 for 1 IS minutes. The reasons for the procession ' and its various items are to be explained, < while the students are debating seriously s whether, they should not give the college haka. s