NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 167, 16 July 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Pumice on East Coast Beaches,

Since the earthquake on Friday last a large quantity of pumice and an unusual variety and number of shells have come ashore on the Opotiki Beach, reports a correspondent. The area extends from Hukuwai for about two miles toward Tirohanga. As there has been no storm since the earthquake shock, it is thought that the pumice has been washed j ashore as the result of a disturbance of the sea bottom toward White Island. Blood or Bravado? When the St. Andrew's Pipe Band was marching down Queen Street last evening a recruit added himself to their ranks, lie was a small Maori lad who marched proudly along in the midst of tlu> grinning Scots. One genuine Scottish bystander sagely remarked: "Ah (loot he's no a Scot." "Don't you worry," was the reply of a nearby Sassenach, "he must have Scots blood in him or lie couldn't stand that row." The Scot's retort will not bear interpretation. If the Driver Dies. If the driver of a car responsible for an accident involving injury to the person he runs down, dies, as the law stands at present the person run down cannot recover under the third-party risk. In other words, the claim dies with the defendant. This has been long considered an injustice, and when the Automobile Association (Manawatu) was advised that the law draftsman was at present engaged in framing legislation to remedy the position, members expressed satisfaction. Wages for Drivers. "I'm going to become a driver," one councillor remarked at the meeting of the Makara County Council, when the council was cited as a party to the drivers' dispute to be heard on July 28, under which a wage of £5 3/ for a live-day week is sought by the union for drivers of lorries up to two tons. One councillor said employees would soon be better oil than councillors, and it was mentioned tl'at 108 applications had been received for the position of roadman in the Makara riding. Memorial to Late Mr. H. E. Vaile. The council of the Auckland Institute and War Memorial Museum yesterday decided to place oil record in the Maori Court the services of the late Mr. 11. E. Vaile to the Museum. The chairman, Sir Carriek Robertson, said that ill - . Vaile had been one of the most active workers for the Museum, and that had it not been for his resourcefulness, perseverance and generosity the Imilding might have remained an empty shell. lie had also given the Museum the fine Vaile collection. Sheep-Worriers Shot. A raid bv wandering dogs was made on a flock of sheep owned by Mr. D. 0. McMillan and paddocked ill a Borough Council paddock at Paeroa on Tuesday night. Several sheep were killed outright and others were so badly injured that they had to be destroyed. The borough inspector, Mr. <T. McCorquodale, was informed of the raid and he shot live dogs, all unregistered, which were involved in the raid. Other dogs escaped. Mr. McMillan will be a heavy loser. Honouring Calvin. The 400 th anniversary of the arrival at Geneva of John Calvin, the great leader of the Reformation, which falls this year, was discussed by the Wellington Presbytery this week. The presbytery decided to observe the second Sunday in August as a day of commemoration, and also to hold a united service on the previous Wednesday evening. For a month, commencing on September 20, a churclimanship campaign will be held to emphasise those things for which Calvin stood, and particularly the origin, nature, functions and necessity of the church. Arrangements were made for the giving of instruction on these lines to young people and office-bearers. Grip of Systems. "However good-hearted and good-inten-tioned individuals may be, they are to some extent in the grip of systems," said Mr. S. Leathern, assistant lecturer at the Auckland University College, in a public lecture at the college last night. "The capitalist, for instance, may be a very good fellow individually, but he is generally involved and influenced in his actions by a system which does not reflect his personal impulses. ft seems to me." he added, "that men suffer from a lack of knowledge. The path of progress lies along education, and by an interchange of ideas we can arrive at a clearer understanding of the problems of the world." It Wasn't a Record. A chilling atmosphere above the lied clothes this morning suggested another record frost, but at Albert Park the reading was 3A degrees, half a degree 'ess than yesterday. Still, it was cohl enough, and quite a high reading for Auckland, although low compared with the frosts of the Waikato and places further south. North Shore dwellers are having quite a novel experience these days, for frost on a North Shore lawn is a fairly rare occurrence. The 'frontiers of sea are usually sufficient to baffle the attacks of King Winter. Devonport's Population. Despite the fact that between the taking of the 1920 census and the last census a few months ago, 212 new dwellings, including many classed as multiple dwellings, were erected in Devonport, the population of that North Shore borough has increased only by 18, according to the last census. This fact was mentioned during a discussion at last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council as to" whether the borough had the required 10,000 residents to qualify for a suggested scheme for mutual insurance purposes. Some members thought the population figures should have shown a substantial advance. "The census returns cannot be regarded as a proper guide," said Mr. E. A. Aldridge. "The Navy in port during the taking of the 1920 census would represent at least 2000 men in Devonport. The ships were away in 1030. ami, moreover, the Diomede had gone* to England, while the families of the ratings had also departed. The comparison could not possibly be regarded as accurate. We should have about 3000 more people this time." "... Spare That Tree." There was evidence of deep feeling between opposing factions when the question of a tree in Brett Avenue was raised at the Takapuna Borough Council last evening, two householders, representatives of the different schools of thought, appearing to enlighten the council as to the cause of the argument. The first man, who appeared for those who wished to have the tree removed, said that ho was a lover of trees, but lie considered that in its present position the tree in question was blocking a drain, spoiling the view and constituting a "danger to the public, since it was so near the road. There would be an accident some night, he said, and the council would be held guilty of manslaughter if the tree was not removed. The second householder held that the tree was not causing any annoyance and that he personally had taken his lawnmower and made a track around it so that the public would not be inconvenienced. Nearly all the councillors had something to say on the matter, but it was finally decided that the offending tree should be removed, there being only one dissentient. Although the question had already occupied the attention of the council for half an hour it was not yet finished, one member desiring to know if the council would be able to dispose of the trunk and branches. "I won't lose any sleep over it, anyway," was the Parthian shot of the resident who had wished the tree to remain standing.

This Is a Taxi Rank. In blithe unconsciousness of any wrongdoing, the owner of the motor car parked his vehicle 011 the taxi rank near the intersection of High Street and Shortland Street. He left his car 011 the rank, and gaily went his way. When lie returned he found that the indignant taximen had written 011 the windows of his car the words "Taxi Rank." A wink is an good as a nod to a blind horse, and jt may be taken as read that the car owner will look before he parks next time. City Rate Collection. Under a new plan of rate collection adopted by the Auckland City Council, it is hoped to reduce the amount of arrears by £.">O.OOO for the financial year, and two special ollicers are engaged on the work. The decision was made as a result of the increasing amount of outstanding rates, and the fact that a number of people had allowed their rates to fall into arrears. The efforts to collect outstanding rates are meeting with good results, with corresponding benefit to the city treasury. Headline Brevity. Telling the story in the headline is part of newspaper technique, and some illustrations of the art, as adopted in American newspaper methods, were given in this column a few days ago. The London "popular" Press is a keen rival with its New York cousin for headline brevity, and recent issues of the "Daily Express" indicate that the caption writers 011 that paper have outshone even their customary ability to get a lot in a little space. The first brilliant effort was: "Marilyn Miller —She Earned £1000 a Week—ls Dead." The second effort introduced alliteration, with the following unusual result: "Tip-lop Drivers to Tip Hill Toils:" Conscientious Ratepayer. "I have been unemployed for two years and have been refused by the Labour Department as unfit because of lameness. I realise that this year's rates are now due and I have not yet settled last year's account, but if you can give me clerical work of any kind 1 will welcome the opportunity to .settle up," wrote a correspondent to a local borough council last evening. The Mayor told the council that he knew the circuinstances of the case and thought that they should do anything in their power to help the man, who had worked for many years for a well-known firm in the city, but was now crippled with rheumatoid arthritis. Councillors agreed that something should be done and that any possible work should be given to him, and the matter was referred to the finance committee. Wild Budgerigars. Residents in the Henderson district have recently reported the appearance of numbers of budgerigars which have escaped from captivity and survived the change to a free life, and orchardists in the district are perturbed over the thought that they may prove destructive to fruit. Mr. R. A* Fa 11 a. ornithologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, stated that the birds thought to be budgerigars might be rosella paroquets, which were liberated in the Waitakere Ranges many years ago and have thrived there. The rosella was. he said, considerably larger than the budgerigar, but might easily be mistaken for the smaller bird, especially in flight. "Bird fanciers have maintained tiiat the budgerigar could not live wild here, but they were mistaken," Mr. Falla remarked. "I have had-under observation for the past six months a budgerigar that has joined up with a flock of sparrows and seems to be doing quite well. It is quite possible that escaped budgerigars have found the Waitakere Ranges as congenial a home as has the rosella." Fixed Prices for Bread. Tt is anticipated that revised fixed prices for bread based on new schedules of labour costs will become operative throughout New Zealand as from September 1. To enable price lists to be prepared and issued by that date, the conciliation proceedings in the bakers' Dominion dispute, which is to be heard in Wellington, have been advanced to Friday, July 24, a request for the earlier fixture having been mltde hv the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The Conciliation Commissioner, ill - . M. J. Reardon, stated last evening that the earlier fixture had been agreed to by the parties to I lie dispute, and that by disposing of the conciliation stage of the proceedings next week, it was liojied that the Arbitration Court would be able to deal in August with the principal issues of the 40-hour week, daylight bakintr and wages. If this was ' achieved the Minister would then be able to revise the fixed prices of bread as from September 1. Loan Chinese Art Exhibition. The information that he had arranged, through the Empire Art Loan Collection Society, for an exhibition of Chinese ceramics and other art objects which could be shown round the centres of New Zealand was conveyed to the council of the Auckland Institute and War Memorial Museum yesterday by Captain O. Humphreys-Da vies, who is at present in England. Reporting 011 the offer, Mr. Gilbert Areliey said that the exhibition would be 011 the lines of recent Burlington House exhibition, though not, of course, of the enormous value of that collection. Captain Humphrcys-Davies would be leaving England 011 August 8. It was decided that as the co-operation of other museums in New Zealand would be required, and as other matters connected with the financing of such an exhibition would have to be arranged, it could not be handled this year. It was resolved to communicate with Captain Humphreys-Dayies in an endeavour to keep the offer open until next year. Golden Wattle. • Wattle in all its golden glory is flowering profusely at the moment, and is adding a welcome touch of colour to many an Auckland garden at a time when flowers are scarce. The blooming of wattle, it is explained, is not a sign of an early spring, as some people imagine, when it flowers out of season. Most of the acacias to be found in Auckland are of the Australian species, of which the deep yellow, fluffy variety is most popular. Actually there are 430 species of the tree found in tropical and sub-tropical regions throughout the world, but especially in Australia and Africa. The encyclopaedia furnishes the information that acacia trees have small flowers crowded into round or elongated heads and the leaves are bipinated (double-feathered), except in species adapted to desert life, in which the leaf for the most part disappears, its function being performed by a flat and spiny leaf stalk. Most Australian species have 110 leaflets, it is stated, but the leaf stalkbecomes flattened into a phyllode, which presents its thin edge to the light, and thus the tree gives little shade. " Lousy Bay." That fine residential area and seaside resort known as Stanley Bay did not always possess its present name, according to a statement made by a councillor at last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council. After a deputation of Melrose residents had waited upon the council to suggest certain improvements to streets and footpaths, the Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, remarked to Mr. C. Farquliarson,.who introduced the deputation, that a number of streets in the particular area had already received much attention. "They are not in .Melrose," said Mr. Farqitharson. "Well, where does Melrose begin and end?" asked the Mayor, facetiously. "It starts at Alison Avenue and ends at the mudflats near Stanley Bay, which was formerly known as 'Lousy Bay,"' answered Mr. Farquharson. After the laughter had subsided, Mr. Farquharson gave reasons why the locality years ago had been given such an objectionable name. "The shipping companies used to take all their old mattresses- there to burn them," he explained.