NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Milford at its Best

J'iimsimijuits who arrived at 11111 ft" in the Marama. This week were of one opinion about Milford Soimil. Although tlic weather across ilit* Tubman had been rough, Thursday on tin* WVst Coa.-I was line, and tin* sound was seen ]at its best. "Von cannot say too much about that." olio overseas visitor said. "It is beyond description." Similar comments were heard whenever Milford was mentioned, and' the only criticism was that it was not sutliciently advert ised overseas. It Will Be Done. A member of a deputation at Kawakawa which brought before the M'.iuster of Lands. d;e Hon. Frank Langstonc. the desirability of tenoning the railway line from the main street, .-aid that the new (lovi rnmont had only -tated in correspondence wha: its predecessors | in oil ice had stated—that the work could not be undertaken. The speaker si'id that the mentality displayed on tin- subject had been engendered in Departmental officers l>v the [slogan of the past: "It can't be done."' He added that t7ie work could be dune, and would be done. Midget Local Body. "The South Hautapu Drainage Board js a small body that should never have existed." said the chairman of that board. Mr. W. D. Hart, at a conference held in Hamilton yesterday to consider the Government's proposals for the amalgamation of local bodies. Mr. Hart said tile area administered by the board was only 400 acres, and there were only 11 ratepayers. Each ratepayer cleaned out his own drains, and the board's administrative costs last year amounted to one shilling, which was paid out in stamps. The speaker said he was i|uite willing that another body should administer the area, provided there ivas no increase in cost. Unwelcome Australians. Two hardy Australians, the opossum and the rosella parrot, have found the Waitakere Ranges a home to their liking, and have multiplied. Despite systematic trapping on the big area of the Auckland City Council's waterworks reserves, the opossums are. more than holding their own, and orchardists and gardeners in the vicinity have reason to com plain of their depredations. At this time of the year the opossums have a very wide choice in the way of fruit, but as a sideline they do not mind chewing the buds off a rosebush or doing damage to sin all plants. The rosella, of gaudy plumage, eats the berries of the bush trees, which the native pigeon and other native birds rely upon. Obstructing the Ambulance. Strong exception to the conduct of onlookers at the scene of an accident in Karangahapp Road last night was taken by an oflicer of the St. John Ambulance this morning. The oflicer-told a reporter that he had experienced considerable difficulty in getting the accident victim on to the stretcher and into the ambulance, owing to the crowd which surged abound him and obstructed him. The victim, who was struck by a motor cycle, sustained severe head injuries, concussion and a broken arm. rind was admitted to the Auckland Hospital in a serious condition. Thoughtlessness on the part of people in this manner often causes delay to the. ambulance officer, and the public are advised, whenever an accident occurs, unless they are helping, to stand well back, and allow the victim to be taken to hospital with as little delay as possible. Museum Additions. Recent additions to the exhibits at the Auckland War Memorial Museum include four very fine tapestries bequeathed by the late Miss Ada Grace Pliaroah. They are beautii fully executed, the largest , measuring about r sft by 3ft tiin. A new specimen of interest , to be added to the natural history section is a "Japanese crab fish." or halieutea, which is ' stated to be the second knowu specijnen of its . species'to be founjL'in Xew Zealand: Sent in , by Captain Daniels, of the Fisheries Department, it appears to'be almost "all head," and has a resemblance to the stingray. With a j big month, which is quite obscured when closed, it lurks on the bottom of the sea awaiting unsuspecting prey. Some fine examples of old English lace have been presented by Mrs. Harold Siierwln. They belonged to the first Duchess of Devonshire, and are about .'SOO years old. War Veterans' Allowances.

Kfforts a re. 1 Jt>i n«V made l>y Mr. W. .T. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, to avert a hardship which threatens, at the end of the present month, to overtake- men in receipt of war veterans' allowance. " It was recently decided by the (Jovernnient to transfer sueli of these men as are on sustenance to the monthly-allowance rate, and a concession was made, for this month only, by allowing them sustenance equivalent to the difference between the war veterans' allowance which they would be entitled to draw and the maximum income permissible under the War Veterans' Allowance Act. it was pointed out bv the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association that the full amount which can lie drawn under the Act is considerably less than that which a man with four or more children dependent 011 him receives as sustenance. For instance, the maximum which any man may receive under the Act is £2 1">/ (for self, wife and four children), apd there are a number of veterans with more than this number of dependents. The U.S.A. yesterday received advice from Mr. Lyon that he was taking the matter up with the Prime Minister, but no decision has yet been made. Settlement of the matter is necessary, owing to the fact that, under normal circumstances. Parliament will not meet again until August.

A.A. Membership. A record number of 000 new members was elected at the executive committee meeting of the Automobile Association (Wellington) this week. The total membership of the association is now 0758. 'This is very gratifying: and I don't think there is any doubt that it is a record,'' said the acting-chairman. Mr. 11. \V. Shortt.

Recording Systems for Radio Stations.

The Director of Broadcasting, Professor .fames Shelley, intends to establish recording machines in each of the four YA radio stations shortly, according to a statement lie "made in an interview. Professor Shelley said that records would be made of performances of more than usual merit or interest, and where the artist could not visit other centres the record would be used. The introduction of the scheme would also be useful for keeping records of items or performances of historical interest. An Optimist Indeed. A super-optimist lias been discovered living not far from the waterfront. He is a single man on sustenance, and says that he feels fit for any big job when lie inanages to strike one. He was advised by a friend who works on the land to go into the country, and was told that no doubt at some of the seasonable jobs offering he would be able to earn about £1 a day. "It seems a bit tempting," he said, "but I don't want to. get too far away from the harbour, as I would most surely get a job on the harbour bridge, and I want to be on the spot when it starts." Little Butter Eaten in England. The opinion that the sale of New Zealand butter in England could be multiplied many times if the English people "were taught to eat butter" was expressed by Mr. C. A. Newman. formerly inspector of Post Oflice Savings Banks in New Zealand. > who returned on Saturday from a visit, of nine months to England. He said that the amount of butter given in restaurants was very small, and was very surprising to- New Zealanders, who were accustomed to eat butter in large quantities. He did not consider that New Zealand butter was sufficiently well advertised in England. Another thing that struck Mr. Newman was the quality of the bacon which they had for breakfast on seven days of the week. Tt had a much finer flavour than that of New Zealand bacon. Golden Eggs. On an isolated gumfield in the Ear North the Minister of Lands, the Hon. Frank Langstone, addressed a meeting of guindiggers. On the wall, in a conspicuous place, was the following notice: "No person under influence of intockekating liqure will lie aloud in this hull. Trespassers prosecuted.Tn addressing the meeting the Minister said that a gum buyer philosopher had informed him that he (the gum dealer) had been responsible for the price of gum rising. He knew, said the Minister. that if gum had continued to fall there would have been no market, and the men would have deserted the field, and thus the {loose that laid the golden eggs would have been killed. The dealer in question was present when this comment was made. •'All's Well . . " One couple in Christcliurch will remember the paralysis outbreak for some time to come, though, fortunately, their experience was a happy one in the end. Their child, a toddler, was dressed for a day's outing in the country and was carried out to their motor car. On arrival at their destination the child toppled over each time it w-asj placed on its feet. This unusual happening upset not only the child, but the parents, whose minds instantly became fearful of the disease. No time was wasted in making a hurried dash back to the city and summoning a doctor. The doctor had a wasted visit, however, localise before his arrival the anxious mother found that both | the child's legs were through only one leg of the rompers. The question now arise?: Did father dress the baby ? Many Hands, Light Work. It took the combined efforts of one motorist, one ta-xi driver, two bus» drivers and some helpful bystanders to silence the horn of a motor car which got out of control in ■ Cathedral Square. Cliristchurch. The driver was proceeding along quietly on the north ' side of the Cathedral when the horn, after givinr a few preparatory hoots, attained a magnificent crescendo and refused to stop. Traffic slowed tin to view the curiosity, and pedestrians gathered round in interested fashion. Assistance in various forms'arrived, but four or five minutes elapsed before an operation was performed, disconnect in 0 * the wires, and silence foil mi ti c Smomc. !' wnil embarrassed motorist who drove off to seek more ex-pert advice. Soldier as Governor-General. A practical illustration of the value at present of a soldier fiovernor-Cieneral <riveil bv the Hon. .T. O. Cobbe. MP at in? in h's speech during the first official visit of T.ord Hal way. Mr. Cobb" said that he Minister of Defence when Lord Celwav toolofTice. Shortly afterward his s»n' for him. and in the kindliest way pointed out certain weaknes.es in the administration of his Department. The result was that there was c*Tcct"<l a closer and more effective l-a'son between the branches of the <Wnp«o service. Tn hia st>po"li at the onenin" of Parliament in IP3;"> Lord Oalway. though warmly apnlaudin™ efforts beinff made at world peace, referred to the need of taking effective steps for the orotection of New Zealand. Lord Oalway was a soldier, the possessor of a distinguished decoration for Great War service. Consenuentlv in this time of world unrest the practical experience and wise counsel ,of his vy/.eiiep<»Tr pmst be of the greatest value to his Ministers.