NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Girl's Timely Rescue. The prompt, and plucky action of a 13-year-old friil was responsible for a timely rescue near tlie Uirktlole wharf. While swimming in the harbour a. girl, I'' years of age. got into dillicultiesj, and was being carried away by the tide. Iler danger was seen by Marie Ihirker, living at Beach Haven, who promptly went to the rescue. At the risk of lier own life Marie Jlarker inanuged to hold the struggling girl above water until both were taken to safety by the crew of a passing boat. Film Party's Adventure. While photographing important scenes for the lilm, "Rewi's Lost Stand."' Mr. Kudall Unvward and liis stall" were caught at four o'clock in Ihe afternoon in a torrential thunderstorm on Pirongia Heights and marooned until midnight. So unexpected was the downpour that only with the greatest difficulty was the delicate, sound and camera apparatus rushed to a neighbouring whare in the bush. In the rush to save the instruments, the sound engineer, Mr. Baxendale, received an injury to his foot. Fire Brigade's Gold Bars. 'T would like to know whether they are keeping these things or just popping them into tlie pawnshop," said the Mayor, Mr. J. Ouiniven. when a request from the local fire brigade for permission to obtain three gold service bars and a certificate, at a cost of 13/6, came before the Takapuna Borough Council last night. A member suggested that the firemen were using the bars to build a new brigade. "These bars are becoming an expensive item," said the Mayor. "Some of the men must have enough to rival the Boval Navy officers." The request was granted. Fertiliser Cargoes. A large proportion of inward cargoes at Auckland at the present time is comprised of fertilisers from various parts of the globe. Basic slag from Antwerp is being discharged by two Moor Line steamers, and the Northumberland and Eemuera have been discharging part cargoes from England. The Finnish barque Pamir brought a largo shipment of guano, and she will soon be followed by a second barque, the Penang. During the coming few weeks a number of vessels are scheduled to bring sulphur and phosphates. Beach Haven Wharf. The wharf at Beach Haven, which was seriously damaged by fire recently, is to be reconstructed for the purpose of a launch landing only. This information was conveyed to, the Birkenhead Borough Council last night in a letter from the superintendent of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. D. Holdernesn. He stated that the work would be put in hand as soon as the necessary plant was available. Unfortunately, lie added, other urgent jobs would prevent the work being undertaken at Beach Haven for a few weeks, but it would be done at the earliest possible moment. The council decided to convey appreciation of the prompt attention given to the matter. An Airport for Auckland. That the City Council bad a babit of launching projects and then expecting the smaller boroughs surrounding the city to help bear the cost was the complaint ninde by the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. Guiniven, when a letter asking for delegates from the> council to a municipal airport conference was received. "It is a habit I do not like," said Mr. Guiniven. "We saw it in the Waitakere scenic road scheme and in the new art gallery scheme. The City Council starts all these things and then asks the small boroughfi, with heavy liabilities to meet, to help bear the cost. If the Government will not fix this airport need., why not make it a provincial affair? Towns like Hamilton and Tswmarunui should be taken into consideration. If we participate in this conference we will be landing ourselves in something else soon." A resolution suggesting that a municipal airport was a provincial matter was carried. Creating a Native Bush. When the post office authorities decided that Mount Ktako, on the Tinakori Ringe. Wellington, should be the site of the official Government radio station, the hilltops were entirely bare of bush. Now the area surrounding the lofty station—Mount Ktako is 007 ft in height—is being slowly transformed into a place of beauty through planting the hills with native trees. From the outset the Department was fortunate in having the active and enthusiastic co-operation of one of its officials, Mr. W. IT. Davey, who takes a keen interest in the work, to such an extent that he is in touch with most of the postmasters in the country with a view to obtaining such native plants as may not be readily procurable in Wellington. For example, there is a beautiful young rimu that was secured from as far away as Tokaanu: and rewarewas. dogwoods, fivefingers. matipos. laccbarks and inanv other plants have been forwarded to Wellington and are now thriving on the Tinakori hillsides. An idea of the extent of the planting done in this area may be gathered from the fact flint 17.000 trees, including a (Trove of 700 pobutuknwns. have been planted around the station during the nant three years, and plans are in hand for further activities.

A Lucky Escape. Tlie owner of a email farm at the head of the harbour had what he considers a miraculous escape from serious injury tlie other day. With the intention of leading out a heifer, he had gone into a paddock where a Jersey bull was grazing. When he was near tlie gate, which he had closed, the bull charged, and, catching him on the chest, knocked him flying. On the ground with the infuriated animal standing over him. he discovered that it would be impossible to roll under the fence. He took the only course that seemed open and stood up. The bull glared, but made no attempt to renew the attack while he moved to the gate and quickly slipped through, lucky to escape with a few painful bruises. When a hull attacks a .man }ie usually gores and tramples on his victim when on the ground, and the action of this particular animal is difficult of explanation. Tweed Factory at Akaroa. Preliminary arrangements liuve been made for the establishment in Akaroa of a factory for the manufacture of homespun tweed of the style and texture of the tweeds at present being produced in the highlands of Scotland. A company called the Akaroa Home Spun Tweeds Company is now in pro-.'ns of formation in Christehureh, and the use of property and buildings suitable for conversion to a factory has been acquired in Akaroa. It is thought that Akaroa will be particularly suited for the new industry because of its climate and supply of spring water, and the choice of locality has bet i made only after a thorough survey of the Dominion. Railway Space Taxed. More than 600 passengers arrived at Wellington on Monday by train from Auckland. In addition to a large number of people going to Wellington on holiday, there were many children returning home with their parents for the reopening of the schools. The demand in Auckland for seats on the Limited express was exceptionally heavy. The train, coinprising 11 fully-booked ears and a van, ( brought more than 400 people to Wellington. In order to cope with the overflow of passengers, extra ears were attached to the New Plymouth express leaving Auckland on Sunday night. The combined express totalled 15 units when it left Auckland, and there wae not a epare seat left. At Tauinarunui the extra carriages were formed into a special express, which arrived at Wellington with over 200 passengers. Survivor of Khartoum. Exhaustive inquiries overseas have convinced Mr. Samuel George Jones, of Wellington, that he is the sole survivor of the 50-odd men who escaped with their lives when Khartoum fell, two days before the arrival of the force sent to relieve General Gordon. Well over 80 years of age, Mr. Jones, who served with the 66th BeTkshires, has vivid memories of the terrible privations suffered by the troops. Among his treasured possessions today are the Afghan medal for 1878-79-SO, and the silver clasp awarded to those who took part in the battle of Kandahar, fought under General Sir Frederirk Roberts (later Lord Roberts) on September 1, ISSO. at the termination of his famous march from Kabul. Noted Economist's Visit. Following a visit he is now making to Australia, Sir Josiah Stamp, one of the most distinguished economists and financial authorities in Great Britain, proposes to make a trip to New Zealand. He is a director of the Bank of England, and was knighted for valuable services to the British Government in financial matters. He was one of the committee of experts which investigated German currency and finance and drew up the Dawes plan in 1924, and he also served on the Young Plan Committee. In 1925 he became president of the executive of the London. Midland and Scottish Railways. He has written extensively on economic and statistical questions. Sir Josiah is an honorary D.Sc. of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and an LL.D. of Edinburgh, Dublin. Toronto, Harvard. Columbia and other American universities. TTis stav in Xew Zealand is likely to he brief, but lie is expected to visit Auckland. Reunion of Wartime Shipmates. Two wartime shipmates met unexpecledly at Lvttelton reccntlv .after being parted, in exceptional circumstances, more than 20 years previously. They were Captain A. Lanslev. D.N.C., Government Surveyor of Shiji* at I.yttoUon, and Captain vi*. Forsyth. D.C.M.. master of the Bank Line motor ship Oakbank. Both were engaged in minesweeping work in the Dover Patrol in 1!'17. On February 20 of that year Captain Lanslev was in command of the minesweeper St. Germain, and Captain l'orsyth WiLs his watchkeeper and leading hand, having joined the ship only three days before. The St. Germain, with others, was sweeping two and a half miles oiT Folkestone and had picked up four mines on the wire when a fifth appeared right under the how and. exploding, blew the bow off. Captain Lanslev had a Lewis gun in his hand, about to explode tlie mines picked up. and was blown off the bridge. Captain Forsyth, who was also on the bridge, was blown through a glass skylight. Neither was seriously hurt, and they set to work with those of the crew who were left to salvage the vessel. After the vesi-el was beached they parted, lieincr sent back to different bases, and did not meet until recently. when Captain Lanslev. during hiduties, boarded the Oakbank at Lyttelton and was greeted by his former leading hand.