NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Dial 32-010

Readers of the "New Zealand Woman's Weekly" are asked to note tliat the telephone number has been changed. The new number is 32-010, which is the general number of New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., in Auckland. When readers are answered, on dialling that number, they have only to ask for the "New Zealand Woman's Weekly" and they will be immediately put through. Dial 32-010. Many Titles. In the course of the hearing of New Zealand Airways' petition by the Parliamentary Petitions Committee, one witness, WingCominander T. M. Wilkes, Controller of Civil Aviation, was addressed by members of the committee and others associated with the inquiry by a variety of titles. He became in turn "Squadron-Leader," "Colonel," "Captain," "Major" and plain "Mr." Wilkes. \ The Political Taint. At a meeting of the Clutlia branch of the Farmers' Union a resolution was carried as a remit to the Dominion executive council (reports the "Star's" Dunedin correspondent) that any member of the Dominion executive holding a salaried Government position should resign, as in the opinion of the Clutlia branch the Farmers' Union should be free from political influence. Old Bar Custom Wiped Out. The time-honoured custom of having "one on the house" has been abolished by Wanjfanui hotel keepers as from to-day, reports the "Star's" Wanganui correspondent. Licensees have come to an arrangement that there is to be no more "treating" of customers. Counter lunches also are to be a thing of the past. It is too early yet to indicate what the effect will be on those who call in daily for "a handle." Broadcast from Awatea. A radio-telephone conversation with Captain A. H. Davey and others on board the Union Company's new 14.000-ton liner Awatea, which is on her maiden voyage to New Zealand from the Clyde, will take place at 6.40 this evening. The conversation will be broadcast at that hour, instead of at 8 p.m., as previously arranged by the four YA stations, and will' be of 20 minutes' duration. The Awatea is due in Wellington on Thursday. Beautifying the Drives. During 'the week-end members of Jthe Titirangi Beautifying Society, in furtherance of the scheme decided upon recently, planted 40 inamaku (black pungas) in Huia Road, and also a number of trees, donated by the Auckland City Council, on an area near the commencement of the concrete on the Titirangi Road. Further beautifying work is to be done by the society, and the members are anxious to bring about some improvement to the beach and reserve. " Nothing to Do." A lesson in support of kiiulc.'gartens was drawn from a picture in the British Loan Collection in the National Art Gailcry by Mr. H. G. Cousins, ex-principal of the Auckland Teachers' Training College, at the opening of the Free Kindergarten Union conference in Wellington. The picture Mr. Cousins drew attention to. was "Nothing To Do," by F. H. Potter. It shows a wistful little girl lolling against a chest of drawers and is the smallest picture amid the collection of vast celebrated canvases. Mr. Cousins commented dn the appeal of the subject. Aeroplanes in Lightning. Normally an aeroplane in a thunderstorm is in practically no danger of damage by lightning, stated Dr. W. A. Macky in an Auckland Institute address last night. Aeroplanes had been struck, he said, but there was little danger, except perhaps where a trailing aerial wire was used. With the modern metal-built machines the lightning would tend to pass right through—though it might be unfortunate if the petrol tank was in the way. "At Croydon I saw a Belgian 'plane which had been struck while passing through a storm," added the speaker. "The only damage was the burning out of the wireless set. No one was hurt, but the mechanic was so scared that he went back to Belgium by boat." Sunday Night Concerts. Strong exce'ption was taken by the deacons' court of Knox Church to the attitude adopted by the Dunedin City Council towards the holding of Sunday night concerts. The meeting adopted the following resolution: — "This meeting of the deacons' court of Knox Church .desires to dissociate itself from the action of the Dunedin City Council in granting in increasing numbers the permits for Sunday night concerts. • The sacredness of the Sabbath is our national heritage and the bulwark of our strength of character. It is to be regretted that here in Dunedin, the stronghold of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, the civic leaders should countenance practices which make for its secularisation." Weather in August. While the month of August was particularly wet, there was only one day on which the sun did not appear. « The total rainfall for the month, according to the report of the official Government observer, Mr. S. 41. Yallop, was B.l4in—nearly twice the average rainfall for this period of the year. Rain was recorded on 18 days. In the city two frosts were, registered, and on two mornings there was fog. In August of last year the rainfall was 4.G9in, which was also above the month's average of 4.19 in. The maximum recording last month was'2.9Bin, the heaviest showers being experienced on August 21 and 22. A coincidence was the fact that in both August this year and last year there was only one day without sun, and the third day was the sunniest in both months. Generally speaking, however, August of this year iwas a sunnier month than that of 1035, the total amount of sun being 155h 24m and 129h 54m respectively. The mean maximum temperature in the shade for the last month was 58.75 degrees, compared with 50.84 degrees in August, 1935. The mean minimum was 47.42 degrees, as against 47.50 degrees. The mean temperature was 53.08 degrees, the figure last year being. 52.21 degrees. Barometric pressure was fairly high during the month, and generally higher than those recorded during August, 1035, while variable and generally moderate winds were experienced. On three days the wind rose to gale force. ; Calls New Zealand Daily. Britain's famous liner, the Mary, maintains daily touch with New Zealand through Awarua radio, probably its most distant contact. Every day at 8 p.m. the Queen Mary (GBTT) calls Awarua (ZLB). Traffic may not be offering, but busy as the ship's radio staff must be with lucrative commercial services, they have so far always found time to faithfully adhere to the daily schedule of a call to New Zealand, although on most occasions communication is limited to comparing notes on signal strength and an indication of the ship's position. Under the present itinerary the Queen Mary spends mid-week in New York and Southampton alternately, usually sailing on Thursdays and arriving on Mondays. The wave length used by both ship and land stations is 36 metres, and although there Is' usually 10,000 miles between the stations, communication is secured with no more trouble than if the vessel were in the Tasman. Awaj'ua radio, which is notable for its longdistance sliort-wave' work, is keeping -in constant touch with the new intercolonial crack liner Awatea, now on her way to New Zealand. Radio-telephone speech was exchanged when the vessel was only 1500 miles from the Clyde, and more recently the Awatea's 600metre signals were received when the vessel was st'll on the Atlantic side of the Panama Car.ul. ■ , -

Lost Books. The chief librarian, Mr. John Barr, reported to the Auckland City Council last evening that for j the year ending March 31 last 71 volumes issued from the lending departments of the Central Library and branch | libraries had not been returned, despite every effort to i - ecover them. The value of the books was over £20, but use had reduced their value. In the previous year 72 volumes, which cost £18, were lost. \The issues for last year totalled 649,035. Soldier's Souvenir of Great War. A prized souvenir of the Great War is in the possession of a Dunedin returned soldier. It is a brass-capped German bullet that has been removed after lodging in the vicinity of his spine for 19 years. This delicate operation, involving a high degree of skill, was performed at the public hospital. The bullet entered near the right shoulder, struck a metal object near the shoulder blade, and coursed down the victim's back. The man has made almost a complete recovery. Nurse on Waiheke Island. The appointment has been made of Nurse Tribe, of Oneroa, as a permanent nurse on Waiheke Island. The announcement was made at the first meeting of delegates to the Waiheke Medical and Nursing Association, held at Ostend, and over which Mr. F. H. Brown presided. Nurse Tribe will take up her new duties as soon as the formal consent of the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, has been obtained. Her headquarters will be in telephonic communication with all parts of the island. Cow Jumps Aboard Motor Car. At Grafton, New South Wales, a cow, maddened by a dog which was pursuing it across a paddock, struck, a motor car in its blind rush, and then jumped into the car, which contained several men, two of whom were severely injured. The car was of the touring kind, and the cow was able to jump over the side. Its horns ripped the hood, and it finished with its head protruding above thf hood, bellowing loudly. It trampled on one man and pinned another against the side of the car, and the other men had great difficulty in releasing them. Bottle's Long Journey. Picking up a sealed bottle on Muriwai Beach on August 2, Mr. ,T. Cook, of Woodliill, North Auckland, found in it a picture of the liner Orama and the name and address of Mr. Norman McLeod, of Tamworth, New South Wales. Mr. Cook notified Mr. McLeod, and he has just received a copy of an Australian newspaper which describes the exploits of the bottle. It had been thrown overboard from the Orama in mid-ocean during its voyage from New Zealand to Australia on December 30. 1935, and must have travelled at least 1000 miles. Although about 3-10 in of water had seeped into the bottle, it had not damaged the contents. Mr. Cook was carrying out survey work in connection with prospective sand dune reclamation by the Public Works Department when he found the bottle. Mr. McLeod is described as a well-known northern commercial traveller." Memories of Sir George Grey. The curtain of memory was lifted in a picturesque manner on Sunday afternoon in the after-discussion on a lecture on "Sir George Grey, the Great Pro-Consul, at tlia People's University by Mr. JO. Aldridge. Mr. Henderson recalled the incident in Sir George Grey's political, career when he was opposed for the Auckland East seat by Mr. W. G. Garrard, the city dog-catcher, and related the dignified acceptance by Sir George of Mr. Garrard's withdrawal from the fray. Mr. .T. R. Lundon struck an intimate personal note in relating hi) bovjjood experiences as a picnic visitor to Kawau, where the great Empire-builder was in residence. "There, as the guests for the day of one of the most notable men in the world," said Mr. Lundon, "the party of school children were treated right royally. They were given the freedom of that beautiful island, and amid idyllic surroundings and with a perfect host they enjoyed never-to-be-forgotten pleasures. At the end of the day Sir George came down to the jetty to say good-bye to all. and as the boat left the shore he waved his hand in friendly and almost kingly farewell." In a brief review of Sir George's, political achievements, Mr. Lundon also related several interesting instances, of which he had personal knowledge. Other speakers contributed in similar vein, and the chairman, Mr. C. D. McLean, summarised the afternoon's discussion on New Zealand's greatI est political figure as having been very'helpful to all present.