NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 283, 29 November 1937, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Drought in Otago

Otago is still sitrtYring from drought. A thunderstorm during the week might have had beneficial re-nils fur the fanners had it not' been followed by high, drying winds. The country is again parched. In fact, the weather at the end of the week was the hottest experienced for many months, Saturday being ii real "scorcher." A Hint for the Hospital. Leading aquariums contend that goldfish are soothing to the nerves. They stimulate interest and vitality, and take the watcher's mind off his troubles. Following this information, many leading dentist** and specialists are installing ai|uariunis in their waiting rooms. Paddington (Kngland) Children's Hospital has an aquarium in the middle of the surgical ward to take the children's minds off their ills. Mission Bay Parking. An exceptionally large number of motorists elected to park their cars on the rwlside yesterday at Mission Bay, and the whole length of the waterfront in that vicinity was occupied by parked ears for the greater part of the afternoon. On the land side of tho road the cars extended as far as the clubh -use of the Tainaki Yacht Club. The ideal swimming weather, however, made more motorists inclined to pay the (id parking fee, and about twice as many cars as on the previous Sunday were parked on the Selwyn Reserve. The number* did not compare in any way with those of fine week-ends last summer. Coming Camping Season. Camping ground regulations, introduced last year by the Health Department with a view to safeguarding public health areas on i which numbers of motorists camped without appropriate attention to sanitation, should not cause motorist* any misapprehension according to a statement issued by the president of the Automobile .Association (Auckland). Mr. F. d. Farrell. Mr. Farrell stites that there is no cause for concern, and that the regulations were issued merely to cwure that proper facilities were provided in all recognised motor camps and areas where camp sites were offered for hire. There would be no interference with the privacy of motorists who elected to pitch camp on some favourite site in the countryside, remote from the centres of population, provided that ordinary standards were maintained. Appropriate Weather. The week-end weather for the last two Saturday afternoons has been of the made-to-order tyjte. Saturday week was characterised by a very fresh sou'-westerly breeze, which fitted perfectly with the requirements of the yachtsmen for a full-sail breeze for their opening day. On Saturday afternoon it was the scullers' turn for important rowing functions, and again conditions were ideal. It was a hot summer afternoon with scarcely an air to ruffle the Waitemnta. and the w'ater was perfect for the oarsmen while the yachtsmen had to whistle for a breeze and drift aimlessly about. There were large crowds following the college eight event and other races opposite Tamaki Drive, while over at the Shore the Devonport Rowing Club opened its season, and a pood gathering followed the races from King's Parade. A nice fresh breeze sprang up soon after four o'clock, which suited the Bailors, and eveiyone was happy. About the Petrol Price.

Inquiries made on Saturday showed that no action to increase petrol prices had yet been taken in Wellington, though several resellers anticipated a rise as ultimately inevitable. Rising costs for every other commodity, and the increased demand for petrol in New Zealand, pointed in that direction, it' was stated. An interesting feature of the present position is that fixed retail prices were put into force some time ago by. the Government in the free delivery areas of some districts. In the case of Well'n "ton this w«s done on February 14, lo.'tii. later that year in the Manawntu, and in Taranaki in June of this year. The same applied to the west coast districts out of Wellington. In which juices were also fixed at different periods. From Wellington to Taranaki up the east coast, therefore, nnd from Wellington to Wa'rou. up the west coast, the free delivery areas have their pr ; ccs fixed by the Government. From what could be ascertained, these fixed-price areas will he unnffcted in the meantime by the rise in the cost of petrol the world over. Cricket Law. A senior cricketer got quite a shook on Saturday afternoon when he was a hit over the two minutes allowed for an incoming batsman to replace one who is out. for the i newcomer was met by the umpires with tellj tole watches and ordered hack to the pnvTon 'to consider himself out. "absent,"' without scoring. Th'v was the first enforeen. -nt of a new law adopted by the New Zealand Cricket j Council, which places the responsibility on | the umpires to time incoming batsmen, and. without any appeal, to dismiss them as out if they have exceeded the two minutes' space I allowed for filHng the vacant erense. Previously "the law of the M.C.C. nnplhvl. and t l,: * was much more drastic, as one Gra-t"?i content r' ! «covored a few sc»-o"s r"?o w'">n h" complained to the umpire of ('•" iii'-o'niii" man deliberately wasting valuable time. The umpire pointed out that if the enpeal wre mad" officially, and sustained, the umpires bud no ootion but tf) declare the whole of the hatting side out for "recusing to tiln.v." The objector withdrew hits appeal, as he did not \v ; sl| to punish innocent and more sporting players. Xow an appeal is no longer necessary, nnd the next man in should be nad'l™d gloved and batted, ready to meet end cross th- outgoing batsman as he returns to the pavilion.

Beaches Were Crowded Yesterday. Aucklanders came out of door* in full force yesterday, and the beaches drew more people than at any other time this season. Along the waterfront road there was a constant stream of cars. At Eantern Beach parking places were overtaxed, and dozens of motorists had no place to park their corn while their families enjoyed a swim. On the North Shore beaches, too. there were crowds of swimmers. In the vicinity of Howick traffic was heavier- than at any other time this summer.

" Interesting and Useful." | The supplement of the "Auckland Star"| is highly prized by certain residents of New j Guinea, according to a letter received last week from an ex-Auckland civil engineer at i the moment engaged with an oil survey expedition in the land of head-hunters. In the course of thanking a friend for mailed literature, he adds that the supplement was certainly most interesting, and even after it had been read from cover to cover a further use was found for it. The Papuans smoke cigarette* which are usually five or six inches long, and when the weekly ration of tobacco or i "kllku" is served out there is a cry of "Paper, 1 paper!" This is a call for newspapers, which the natives much prefer to any other paper for their elongated smokes. Timber Growth on Coromandel. Addressing about 100 residents of Tairna anrl Hikuai on Saturday, Mr. J. Thorn. M.P.. said the growth of trees on the Coromandel Peninsula was unequalled in the world. He (|noted the experience of Mr. H. A. Cory Wright, of Tairua, who recently cut down one of a belt of pinus radiata planted 21 years ago. Mr. Cory Wright had found that the tree measured 105 ft from butt to tip, and he had milled from it 700 suj>erficial feet of timber, which he was using to erect a shop. It was free from knots and very straight in the grain. Other trees planted by the same man in 1012 were now 150 ft to 160 ft high, and were estimated to produce 1200 superficial feet of timber. Thus a man in his own lifetime could reap a splendid harvest and return from tree planting. Europe " Armed to the Teeth." "In Kurope you notice each change of country by a change in uniform these days," said Mr. H. VV. Whyte. an officer of the National Hank of New Zealand, who returned to Wellington in the Awatea after a visit of Hi months to Kngland under a scheme for the exchange of bank officers. During his 'leave he made a comprehensive tour of the Continent, and he said that the main impression of any visitor was that all countries were armed to the teeth. "Since I arrived in England about 16 months ago the attitude of the British people has changed in a marked manner," said Mr. Whyte. 'In 1936 the general opinion was that peace was to be maintained at any price, regardless of any . concessions that might have to be made, but now there is an air of preparedness that cannot be mistaken. The stories about the Herman people being half-starved that seem to have been circulated are not at all authenticated from what I saw." Praise for Imperial Airways. "I must have flown about 20.000 miles since I left England in April last," said Mr. P. A. Godfrey Philips, of London, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney by the Awatea. Fie said that had Imperial Airways extended their service to New Zealand he most certainly would have been a passenger, consequent on all the stories he had heard of the turbulent Tasjuan, for he is a confirmed admirer and supporter of that especial service. "On the Imperial Airways aeroplanes you are made to feel that you are the guest and the pilot is your host, and every possible courtesy is eje tended to you all the time you are travelling," said Mr. Philips. "You are not even allowed to ,pay for your own drinks, and at every landing point officials are there to meet the aeroplane and give you ail information. I know that Imperial Airways have got the name of being a low-powered service, but I • think that was largely owing to their aernnlanes taking half an hour longer than the French ones on the Croydon-Paris serviee. but as luncheon or dinner is served on the F.nglish 1 aeroplanes aid not on the French the difference in time docs not matter." I Money from Home. I This is the true story of an ingenious if . somewhat heartless fraud by which a man who is now serving a term in one of New Zealand's gaols obtained money from home. He is a member of a good Irish county family. "True patriot he, for, be it understood, he left i Ms country for Ms eoitntryV good." as the old • rhyme says. Funds being low some months ; ;:.uo, he ;.ot a ii'.cnd to write hour- and tell ! his people that he was seriously ill, and an . operation was urgently necessary. The seri vices of an em'nent New Zealand Mirgeon (a i widely-known name was mentioned) had b"cri I I secured, but. of course, inon -y won! 1 In I i,""del for "c <" mt : (>ii. '" ' ititi an 1 nurs'ii'.' i fees, etc. The ruse worked like a charm, ami .ia vi.y substantial sum was sent out. ;; wan duly put into circulation, and ; t wu not • i long before more money was wanted. What could be ea-ier than to write home and tcl i the family that the operation had been per- ■ | '••<••!•.• d. bti» t'-t t'e !vi' : nt bud di-d. and ■ funds were needed for the funeral? Oife again a sue e-siul "toii'-b." and. still later, a r--:iit-tailce for- a memorial stone and still soms ! more, for "keeping the grave in order." The i'arrest and imprisonment of the "d"nd" mnti r for an offence committed in this country put •'a i-top to the swindle. Ktid it is not reco'-.1-:! i whether his family has been inform-d of hi* . recovery. For obvious reasons the locs'tb-" n( I the prison where he is enjoying the ho--."-t-l:<-y I ■ of the S*;t<e is not mentioned, but th« f:>" + r I are vouched for by an unimpeachable | authority.