NEWS OF TEE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 172, 22 July 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF TEE DAY.

More Buildings

•For the six months ended in June 101 building permits of a value of £.'i7,405 liave been issued in Mount Albert. For the iirst six mouths of last year the permits numbered 132, and were to the value of £35,0-11. Up to the present. 31) now dwellings have been erected in the borough this year.

Ihe M. C. McGregor Fund

A very gratifying response lias been made throughout the Dominion to the appeal for funds for a memorial to the late SquadronLeader M. C. Mcdregor, who lost his life in an accident at the i?ongotai aerodrome, and the Wellington committee in charge of the fund now has £5103 in hand. In reporting on the position, the secretary of the fund states that there is just one more return to come in, and then tlie fund will be closed.

"The response lias been most generous," lie says, "and we have been able to exceed the total set as our goal." Skirls for Hockey. The Wellington Women's Hockey Association lias laid it down that skirts must be worn by its representative players, and the skirts must be of a standard pattern. For the match between Wellington and the touring Fijian team the prescribed skirts were of black material, preferably britway, with four inverted pleats, two at the back and two at the front. The edge of the skirt is to be four inches and a half off the ground when the player kneels. Black shin guards and boots are also to be worn. Early Spring? It may or may not have been the sign of an early spring. But the nip in the air had too strong a suggestion of winter to give anyone else , but the man in the water any idea that the joyous season war. well on its way. He certainly hadn't fallen in, for he was neither struggling nor shouting; what was more, lie liad a bathing suit oil. lliat was why the city-bound bundles of scarves and overcoats huddling in groups on an early Stanley Bay ferry this morning gazed with something of amazement at the man who looked so incongruous as he splashed about in the sea below. " Poor Helping the Poor." "It is the poor who help the poor," said the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, the Rev. W. C. Wood, yesterday, at a meeting of the board, when the secretary, Mr. H. A. Sommerville, reported that an offer had been made by the Community Sunshine Mothers' League at Freeman s Bay to provide? a children's cot at the Auckland Hospital. The offer was accepted. It was stated that the sum of £10 had been raised, collected mostly in pennies, but with a good many halfpennies as well. "It strikes me as rather a splendid thing," he added. "The public school _ spirit of the poor," commented Dr. J. P. Hastings.

Man Walks Into Sea. An incident that was rather humorous for onlookers but dccidcdly embarrassing for the person concerned happened at Suva in the course of the South Seas cruise of the steamer Monowai, which returned to Auckland this morning. Leaving the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva, one of the passengers crossed the lawn and unwittingly walked into tlie sea. Ihe water was about 3ft deep and the man escapcd injury, liis chief concern being the comment of liis companions and tlie state of his clothes. The sea adjoins the lawn, and it is quite easy for one who is not keeping a look out" to fall over the edge into the water.

A Step Forward. The opinion that the power to inflict heavier penalties upon offenders which would be given under the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act was a decided step towards greater safety, and would act as a deterrent to possible offenders, was expressed by Mr. F. Jones, traffic inspector to the Manukau County Council, in a report presented at yesterday's meeting of the council. He also expressed the opinion that it would nossiblv be advisable to consider the fixing of a minimum penalty for breaches of regulations regarding speeding, with a view to obtaining uniformity in cases where convictions were recorded.

" A Start, Anyway." In mentioning that as only a few ratepayers were concerned in a proposal to supply water to certain properties in a special rating area adjacent to the Papatoetoe town district, Mr. F. M. Waters, at yesterday's meeting of the Manukau County Council, said that he had called a meeting of the ratepayers 111 order to get their signatures sanctioning the raising of the necessary loan. "Only three turned up at the meeting, and only one signed. The two others said the properties belonged to their wives. "It was a start, anyway," said Mr. Waters.

Bigger and Better Oysters. Critics who in the early part of the season deplored the smallness, and poor allround quality of the Auckland rock oysters, and restaurant proprietors who declared tliey were the "worst ever," have been effectively silcnced. In the past few weeks the quality of the oysters supplied by the Government depot has been excellent, and sales have been so great that last year's figures have been exceeded. It is explained that the pickcrs arc now on to better beds, with the largest and juiciest coming from Waiheke. All the gulf oysters, ironi Pontii, Waiheke, Rakino, Motutapu and .lie Barrier, are claimed now to be 111 first-class condition, while tliose from Kaipara and Russell are well up to standard. It is anticipated that the Auckland season will end in about a month's time. Apia Race Meeting. An interesting experience of the passengers who took the Islands cruise 011 the steamer Monowai was to witness race meetings at Apia, Samoa, and Suva, Fiji. The meeting at Apia, where the course is around the outside of the golf links, created great amusement. According to one passenger, the "race horses" were trained 011 mummy apples, and looked a weird sight. There was a 2/ "tote," and the betting was heavy. As everyone 011 the island broadcast the tips "straight from the horse's mouth" there were 110 large dividends, but entertainment and fun was the thing. The meeting was arranged specially for tlie passengers. Another meeting was held at Suva, where there was a 5/ "tote," and where, although the course was not so suitable. there were better horses. The warship Dunedin was in port at the time, and the meeting was swelled by her personnel.

Rhodes Scholars Abroad. Speaking at the University of New Zealand dinner held recently in London, Dr. A, E. Porritt, the senior of the six Rhodes Scholars present, referred to the lack of opportunity given to Rhodes Scholars who returned to the Dominion. He suggested that there should be some sort of bureau of relationships to ascertain what scholars were willing to return, and to try to find some suitable emplovment for them. He had prepared a statement of cases of Rhodes Scholars who had returned willing to do anything, but who could not even get a job milking cows. He had sent the statement to a New Zealand newspaper, but unfortunately it had not been published. If New Zealand wished to benefit from the scholarship system, she must find something for the scholars to do. Dr. Denham seconded what Mr. Porritt had said. The quality of the students sent abroad was highly rated, 110 said, in university and other institutions lie had visited. It was disturbing to find how many of these students New Zealand was permanently losing. He had hopes that something would bo done by the new Government to remedy the situation. j

Aerodrome Foreshore. Negotiations are proceeding between the Auckland Aero Club and tlie Auckland Harbour Board for the former to secure certain small portions of Manukau Harbour to extend the Mangere aerodrome. The Harbour Board has decided to claim £34 for its rights in the locality as compensation, this amount being arrived at 011 a valuation of the small area required. Power Boat Clubhouse. A decision was made by the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday to expend .€221) 011 the foundations of tlie clubhouse of the New Zealand Power Boat Association, which have badly deteriorated. The club has asked tlie board to carry out the necessary repairs, and repayment of the cost is to spread over three years. Thousands of Bottles. A "bottle drive" 011 behalf of the Crippled Children's Society had resulted in 170 dozen bottles being collected, said tlie headmaster at a meeting of the Westown School Committee, Taranaki. The sum of £0 (i/10 was realised from their sale. Members of the committee expressed their appreciation of tlie result, which was considered exceptionally good, as the drive lasted for only a week. Farewell Message. "I am sorry I did not have time to go round and shake hands with all my friends, and I wish we were all going together," said Mr. \V. Jordan, just before the Niagara sailed yesterday. Mr. Jordan, who is to take up the oflice of High Commissioner for New Zealand at London, said he appreciated the kindnesses extended to him by the people, both pakeha and Maori, and in his new position lie would represent not only the Government and tlie people as a community, but also the people individually. Mind Your Step. Passers-by in Queen Street last evening had an anxious moment when a lady who was waiting for her tram at tlie safety zone near Wyndham Street slipped 011 tlie concrete edge and fell, rolling across tlie road towards the kerb. Fortunately there was 110 traffic passing at the time, and she was helped to her feet, apparently unhurt. The incident, however, conveys a grim warning to pedestrians to "mind your step," for had such an accident occurred while traffic was passing it might very easily have ended fatally.

Customs Duty on Souvenirs. A number of passengers who staggered off the Monowai this morning laden with native baskets, model outrigger canoes and toys, coconut mats and other souvenirs of their cruise to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji received a rude shock when they found their purchases were subject to Customs duty. The baskets were subject to a duty of 30 per cent, plus sales tax, the toys 20 per cent, and the mats 3 per cent. No charge was made for coral, : lcis and other souvenirs. Many passengers also brought huge bunches of green bananas, and they were required to pass the fruit inspector. The unexpected cash demands at the end of a free-spending holiday trip proved a trifle embarrassing in some cases. Royal Show for Waikato in 1938. Strong support for tlie proposal to hold the 103S Royal Show at the Claudelands showgrounds, Hamilton, was expressed by members of tlie executive of the Morrinsville A. and P. Society 011 Monday evening, when the president, Mr. W. J. Aitken, reported that he had recently attended a conference of South Auckland show societies held at Hamilton to further the proposal. To show his belief in the ability of the Waikato district to hold a successful Royal Show, Mr. Aitken said he was canvassing the Morrinsville district for donations towards the cost which the Waikato A. and P. Association will have to face. Already he had a long list of those who had promised to donate £1 or more. Characteristics of the " Speedwell." A Shelly Beach correspondent writes: — "With reference to an item in Saturday's 'Star' stating that the launch found 011 the northern coast at Whananaki might possibly be the Speedwell, of Russell, lost without trace several years ago, it should not be hard to identify that craft. The Speedwell 111. was built by Chas. Bailey in 1913 for the editor of the 'Yachtsman' and to the design of the writer. She was of an unusual type, especially for those days, and therefore an inspection by anyone who was acquainted with the bort would soon settle any doubt as to whether she were the Speedwell or not. She was of the V-bottom type, 32ft long, 7ft Gin beam, and with very pronounced flare of the bow sections. This information may be a guide to anyone who has the opportunity to examine the hull." Attitude Resented. The St. John Ambulance Association authorities have decided that although they have been authorised to take up .a collection in Mount Eden they will not take advantage of the permission granted by the local borough council in view of the criticism made at a recent meeting of the council concerning the method of raising money by street collections. The secretary-manager at Auckland, Mr. S. E. Langstone, has been instructed to notify the council of the withdrawal of the application. He has also been instructed to forward a complaint of the attitude adopted and the alleged use of the word "blackmail." He is to emphasise that the council will do all in its power to help the residents of Mount Eden. The executive of the Christcliurcli Ambulance has sent a letter to a member of the council deprecating certain remarks made.

Maoris and Hygiene. The need for the instruction of members of the Maori race in medicine, nursing and home science is recognised by the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, which at its conference approved of a remit from South Auckland, that in order to encourage Maoris to study medicine and nursing, tlie Government be asked to inaugurate some form of scholarship for Maori students. A remit came from Otago supporting the scheme sponsored by Dr. Cook, Medical Officer of Health, Whangarei, and Miss M. I. Lambie, head of the nursing service and director of division nursing, in which selected Maori girls should be given a home science training in order that they may be employed by the Health Department as assistants to district nurses to conduct practical courses for Maori women in the fundamentals of hygienic living and home crafts. A Bishop on Pagan Politics. Strong condemnation of Fascism and pagan political systems was voiced by the Bishop of Nelson, Bishop W. G. Hilliard, in his presidential address to Synod yesterday, reports a correspondent. "I would remind you," he said, "that we meet to discuss our local affairs at a time when, in the great world around us, there is being waged a life and death conflict between the spirit and principles of our holy faith 011 the one hand and tlie determined aggression of a pagan way of life 011 the other. He instanced the actions of totalitarian State principles in Germany, Russia and Italy. "This situation," concluded the Bishop, "constitutes a tremendous challenge to the Christian Church, and the challenge is accentuated by the failure of the League of Nations in the Abyssinian affair and the hardening of public opinion toward war. We are certainly up against it, and it will do us good to realise tlie fact. Are we then to sit down and cry that all is lost? Can we not strive with increased intensity to set our own house in order? Somebody has said that civilisation will be saved if it is worth saving. Let us make our civilisation worth tlie saving."