NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 274, 18 November 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fast Flight from Christchurch. What is probably a record non-stop flight from Christchurch to Invercargill was made by Mr. A. J. Bradshaw in his Puss Moth last week. Leaving Christchurch at 0.5 a.m., he was in Invercargill for breakfast, his flying time being under 2J hours.

Dutch Tourist Traffic. Hotels in Holland catering for foreign tourists are reported to be already reaping the benefit from the devaluation of the Dutch guilder, and it is expected that the next few months will see a revival of the tourist trade from all foreign countries, and particularly from Australia, as the Australian pound will now reduce the cost of travelling in Java by about 2;> per cent.

Report on Drainage. The report which is being prepared by the engineer of the Auckland City and Suburban Drainage Board, Mr. H. H. Watkins, was mentioned at a meeting held last evening, when a decision was made to form a metropolitan committee. It was decided that the meeting to receive the report should be held next year, and that the date should be left in the hands of t'lie chairman of the board, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis. Harbour Bridge Scheme. Before ' leaving by the Awatea yesterday afternoon for Sydney, Mr. M. R. Hornibrook, managing director of ilie M. K. Hornibrook Proprietary, Ltd., of Brisbane, said that he was well satisfied with the prospects of the proposed Auckland harbour bridge, and it depended on the attitude of the Government when the work could be started niid the bridge put into operation. He said that he expected to return to Auckland near the end of the year or early next year. Poor Whitebait Season. Much dissatisfaction with the whitebait season this year is felt by those who engaged in fishing on the Lower Waikato River. One Pukekohe man who has caught whitebait as a means of occupation for several years past said that the season, which ended on Sunday, was the poorest he had known. There was only one good run of fish, and that was in •September. The best catch lie had heard of was one between 801b and 001b, and there were many days when the fishermen caught nothing at all. Nor was the price any compensation, for it was only 2/ at the best, and fell as low as 9d. Hospital Bulletin. Reporting to the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday, Dr. A. H. Kirker, honorary secretary of the honorary staff of the hospital, said that the honorary staff had made a recommendation that a regular "Hospital Bulletin" should be published, containing a record of clinical and statistical work done at the hospital by members of the staff. The underlying idea was to have a permanent record of various clinically-important cases and of research work carried out by the staff. The report was referred to the finance committee for consideration and report.

Cancer Cases. Statistical data were submitted to the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday by the medical superintendent, • Dr. J. W. Craven. His report showed that in cases of cancer of the breast the recoveries in three years were 39 per cent, and 111 five years 32 cent. Dr. J. P. Hastings said he did not wish to speak in a spirit of carping criticism, but he did not consider the figures as satisfactory as, they might be. He quoted from other parts of the world, where for a three-year period the recoveries were 75 per cent, and for five years over 50 per cent. The report was received. " A Welcome Windfall." "Our lucky windfall is extremely welcome, as my husband and I experienced our full share of bad luck during the depression," said Mrs. Alex ("Sandy") Spenee, of . 2a, Claude Road, Epsom, who was the winner of the first prize of £2000 in the Win a Lot art union, drawn in Wellington 011 Monday evening. Mrs. Spence, whose husband is a barman at the Ponsonby Club Hotel, purchased her lucky ticket from a Queen Street seller after leaving a dentist's rooms on the Tuesday before the art union closed. "The man wished me luck, and I said I hoped I would have it," she added. "I have not missed buying a ticket in an art union for years, because when passing ticket 1 sellers I have always thought I might be walking away from £2000." Mr. and Mrs. Spence have no family. So far they liaye made 110 plans for the immediate future. Mr. Spence intends to continue at his occupation.

Big Trees Doomed at Rotorua. Several instanced of signs of loss of life in many »of the larger trees in Rotorua have given rise to tlie opinion that the roots of these trees have now reached thermal ground, which is slowly causing them to die from the top. The latest instaiice is the giant sequoia outside the Tourist Department bureau, which has been a landmark of the town for many years and a source of curiosity and interest to tourists. Six months ago; when a yellowness of the top shoot was first noticed, it was hoped that the tree was not actually losing life, but since that time the extent of the dead shoot has slowly spread downward, and if the roots have come into contact with hot ground there appears to be no possibility of the life of the tree being saved. The tree was planted in 1887, and it has grown to a height of 91ft, with a circumference of 22ft BJm. .

Latvia's National Day. To-day Latvia celebrated the 18th anniversary of its declaration of independence. The day is observed as National Day, and as a mark of recognition flags were flown ftcm the different Consular offices in the cny. Courtesy calls were paid by members of the Consular Corps in Auckland on the Consul for Latvia, Mr. N. Heath.

Duplicated Street Names. "There are ten Park Streets, eight Queen Streets, five Rangitoto Streets, six Stanley Streets and twelve Victoria Streets," said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, commenting upon tile duplication of street names at a meeting of representatives of local bodies held last evening to form a metropolitan committee. Mr. Davis said that it was a matter that would have to be dealt with, as the position was absurd. Good Sport at Taupo. A visitor from London, Captain J. 11. Oaskill, fishing from a launch in the vicinity of Kangatira Point, at Taupo, yesterday morning, obtained the limit before noon. All the fish were in good condition, the largest being an BJib rainbow. Two Auckland clergymen, Archdeacons G. MacMnrray and W. J. Simkin, enjoyed a irood day's sport on the lake on Monday. They visited the western bays and landed a total of 17 trout. Naval Recruits Impress. "Both Lord Hartington and I were very impressed with the new recruits who have been accepted for the Navy," said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, referring yesterday to his visit with Lord Hartington to the Devonport naval base. "They are a splendid type, and it says much for the Navy that they can attract such good boys and young men. New Zealand can have as many sailors of a fine stamp as she wants." The Price of Milk. When it was suggested at the meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday afternoon that more milk was an essential to the diet of New Zealand, Mr. W. Waddell interjected that in t'hat case it was necessary to have some fixation of the price of milk at a lower level. "At present," he said, "it is going up, and up, and up. If the people are to be induced to use more of this commodity something should be introduced into the legislation to prevent the cost of milk rising. The way it is, people will be. consuming less and less." Nine Applications. Nine applications have been received by the Auckland Hospital Board for the position of deputy-medical superintendent at the Auckland Hospital. The ages of seven of the applicants range from 23 years to 41 years. The eighth applicant is 48 years of age and a widow. She is the only woman to apply, and gives her address as Harley Street, London. The ninth applicant states his age to be (iS years. Seven of the applications come from the United Kingdom, one from Hawke's Bay. and one from West Australia. As the applications from overseas are by cable, the hoard decided to defer consideration until fuller particulars arrive by mail.

Health Insurance Scheme. Reference to the Government's* plans for health insurance and superannuation schemes and their probable effects 011 the work of friendly societies was made by speakers at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Ponsonby Lodge No. 17, United Ancient Order of Druids, last night. Mr. W. <T. Gregory, grand president of North Island Grand Lodge, said that from what had been given as an indication of the objects of the Government, it seemed that the schemes would be in the form, of an enlargement on the same work that the friendly societies were doing. If the health insurance scheme was"to be purely a State one, it might have an adverse effect on the membership of the societies, he added, but there was 110 doubt that the possibility of using the existing channels —the friendly societies—would be fully considered. He assured members that the accumulated funds of the societies would not be 111 any way endangered. Mr. J. Laugliton, grand secretary, said that the executive of the Druid order was giving close attention to the scheme and was working in hearty co-operation with kindred societies.

Brighter and Better. "It lias been a great pleasure to me to hear from tourists passing through Auckland that Auckland is one of the cleanest cities they have ever visited." said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, at a meeting held last evening to consider the formation of a permanent metropolitan committee. "Some visitors have described the city as definitely the cleanest they have seen. This has inspired me to suggest that it is competent for us to devise the machinery whereby the co-operation of every householder will be obtained in the maintenance, of-the city beautiful by keeping his house painted, his fences in order and his hedge and garden attractive. I can see 110 obstacle to the propagation of information which will assist residents to plan their gardens 011 recognised lines and maintain them in a proper condition. 111 addition, cteps could be taken to secure the support of tiie owners of business properties, in a concerted endeavour to brighten up tha appearance of the shop fronts. With the turn of the economic tide toward prosperity, is it not our duty now to give our thought and time to the development of what I consider our oitv should be —a brighter and better Auckland? Before the end of the year I propose to bring forward the question of the improvement of the Hobson Bay Basin, which, at low water, is a mudflat eyesore. - '