NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

" Heathen " Children. As an example of "the appallingly heathen condition," as lie described it, of many country children, the Rev. E. P. Blamires, secretary" of the Bible in Schools League, declared, at the annual meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations last evening, that when the teacher in one country school wrote the words "Jesus Christ" on the blackboard, all the pupils save one, a little Maori boy, who had attended a mission Sunday school, thought that she was writing "bad words." Saturday Office Work. Records are now being taken by the Auckland Electric Power Board to determine the amount of work carried out by the office on Saturday mornings with a view to* considering whether the office should be kept open in future on that day. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, explained that things had not yet settled down from the introduction of the new industrial legislation. It was too early yet to make a decision. Up to the present time the office had been fairly busy on Saturday mornings, but it might be found that business under the new legislation would not warrant keeping the office open. Sewer Outfall. A suggestion of a solution of the Auckland drainage problem was conveyed to the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board last evening in a letter in which the writer suggested the construction of a pipeline across the harbour from the Orakei outfall to Rangitoto Island, with an outfall into the Hauraki Gulf. The engineer, Mr. H. H. Watkins, said that the scheme 'would not be commensurate with the cost, there would be difficulty in examining the pipeline, and it was questionable whether the financial resources of the community would permit of such a costly scheme. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, said that there would be an outcry if the proposal was gone on with. Civil Service Education Standard.

1 Dealing with the need for education and 1 science in the Civil Service, Professor P. W. Burbidge, in an address at Hamilton yesterday, said the Post and Telegraph Department was becoming efficient because it was employing better educated and scientifically-trained men. He. really thought, however, that the Railway Department was ' inefficient. Men employed by the Department had the greatest difficulty in securing leave to attend the university. Professor Burbidge considered that if New Zealand was to be well governed it must have an efficient Civil Service, and to have an efficient Civil Service it must pay attractive salaries to scientifically-trained men. The need for scientific knowledge was everywhere apparent in New Zealand. About Foxton Whitebait. Special concern over the fact that whitebait caught elsewhere than in the Manawatu River is being placarded in shops as "Foxton" whitebait is expressed by the Foxton Chamber of Commerce. The position is that no whitebait has been caught in the Manawatu River this season, and to have whitebait from other districts labelled as "fresh Foxton" is felt to be detrimental to fishermen at Palmerston North and Foxton. Foxton whitebait, it is explained, possess a much more delectable flavour than whitebait caught elsewhere, and fishmongers are prepared to pay a premium for the Foxton article. The difference is claimed to be as great as that between dairy and whey butter. The chamber has decided to communicate with the Minister of Fisheries, requesting that steps be taken to have whitebait sold true to label. Education in New Zealand. That a better appreciation and a wider application of science are needed in New Zealand was the view expressed by Professor P. W. Burbidge, of the Auckland University,' in an address given to the Hainiltoii Rotary £lub yesterday. Professor . Burbidge urged .that more general scientific subjects should be taught in the schools, and that the educational system should be planned to suit the requirements of the country. New Zealand was primarily an agricultural country, and more attention should be given to the teaching of agricultural science, he said. The New Zealand University was modelled on the London University, with a touch of the Scottish institution. In other words, it-was an urban university wrongly oriented to an agricultural ] country. It had not been planned for New Zealand.

Railways and Motors in South Africa. Discussing railway conditions in South Africa, Mr. Harry Welsh, who was associated in commercialising the New Zealand railways and is now in business in South Africa', said this morning that in the Union of South Africa they did not niince matters when making up their minds as to the form of transport which was necessary, and which had to be protected for tilt; benefit of the Union. Motor lorries and motor buses are absolutely prohibited from running in opposition to the railway, except in very special areas, where the railway authorities agree and approve of road services. The full benefit of this policy is such that during the 12 months' period which ended just before he left, the Railway Department had a £2,000,000 surplus for the credit of the Central Govfcrnment Funds or for improved conditions of service for the staff, as well as additional services for the public. As a South African resident, he added, the country had suffered no inconvenience through this curbing of the development of motor transport.

Listening-in to a Battle. The horrors of the civil war in Spaiii were brought realistically to the home of at least one Auckland resident last evening, when a Madrid broadcasting station switched on to a battlefield area. The sound of heavy gunfire and tjie crackle of machine guns were distinctly heard, as well as . improvised bells giving warning of a gas attack. Stark realism was introduced by the heart-rending -.Tying of women over their dea<?-Bird-built Haystack. The building of haystacks is usually thought to be tlie prerogative of man,- but the birds around Greymouth have fentered into serious competition with the farmers, if a discovery in the roof of the Foresters' Hall, in Albert Street, is any indication (reports the Grey "Star"). On lifting portion of the roof recently, there was found to be on top of the ceiling a pile of hay oft high by 4ft in width, obviously brought in, piece by piece, over a period of years by birds who were making their nests. Record Orange Shipment. The biggest shipment of Australian oranges ever to come to Auckland arrived today by the Wanganella. There were 12,000 cases of them—navels, valencias and other varieties—lo,ooo for the local market and the rest to go soutli. The cargo was increased to this figure by Government permission because of the shortage due to the curtailment of the Matua consignment. It is anticipated that the current high prices for oranges will be lowered a little. Tests of Coal. . The Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board lias arranged to carry out a series of tests at the Orakci works with a view of ascertaining the relative valueß of representative samples of New Zealand coal as compared with Newcastle coal, having regard to the particular purposes for which coal is required at the works. Samples of New Zealand coal in 25-ton lots are to be purchased for the test. Appreciation Expressed. Appreciation of the tourist organisation of the New Zealand Government is expressed in a letter received by the manager of the Government Tourist Bureau in Auckland from Mr. H. Carter, member of the Legislative Assembly, New South Wales; who has recently completed a tour of the Dominion with his wife and daughter. Paying a tribute to the courtesy extended by the Government, Mr. Carter wrote: "Your organisation has made our stay in New Zealand most enjoyable. The tour was well thought out, and proved exceedingly instructive, in addition to the pleasure it gave to all of us." Not so " Scotch." v The Scots have a reputation for being "Scotch"—not mean, perhaps, but careful. This is not the case in Invercargill, however, according to the experience of the Battalion Band. During the winter months the band staged national concerts, and the Scottish one had to be repeated. Strange as it may seem, the collections on the Scottish nights were the highest taken during the season, and there were few "threepennies." Perhaps this has influenced the committee in its resolve to fit out the Boys' Band with kilts. Thrush on Building Construction. When one comes to think of it, the thing was plain impudence. The householder had planted a vegetable garden, and lavished on it | all the enthusiastic care of the beginner. He had taken measures to protect the vegetables-to-be from the birds, and to that end had hung shiny pieces of tinfoil from pieces of rope. The seeds duly appeared above ground, and as none were eaten it was thought that the birdalarm had acted. But here comes the piece of plain impudence. The other morning early a bird was observed on the vegetable garden. It was not worrying about the small plants at all. It had its beak fastened in the rope carrying the tinfoil, and it was tugging that rope" for dear life. The thrush had ideas of building construction for its nest. Now, thrushes have been known to tug at pieces of rope for nests before now; but surely it was cither bravado or impudence, for the thrush to choose that part of the rope nearest the piece of tinfoil, which was dancing and glinting in the sunshine about three inches from the thrush's neb.

New Zealand Publicity. The effectiveness of newspaper advertising is commented upon in favourable terms in the annual report of the New Zealand Dairy Board, in the section dealing with the sustained effort made in England to induce the British public to buy New Zealand butter and cheese. The report also describes a model map of New Zealand, used extensively in the season's publicity campaign. This model is contained in a shallow tank holding water, and measures overall approximately 14ft by 7ft. The two islands set 111 the water are modelled in relief to show the chief topographical features of the Dominion, farming areas, and places of scenic interest. Six scale model ships {each about four to six inches in length) proceed to and fro 011 the water, calling at New Zealand ports, leaving, then disappearing from sight at the edge of the map, implying interchange of trade between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This map is of particular interest and educational value to children, and wherever it has been exhibited visits by sclioql children have been arranged and the significance of the model explained in a short lecture. No matter where it is exhibited, the map is a never-failing source of attraction to people of all ages.