NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 99, 29 April 1938, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fraser Park

"There i> mi political significance in this," commented tin , lluyor. Sir Kruest Davis, in tn Hi,- Atii-kliiiiil City Council last nijrlit thai ii eould Jo no ho I tor than name the old Paiiiell School site, which is beiii£ transformed into a reerention "round. "Fraser Park." The Mayor made till- Mljipt'stion beeauso of the active interest taken in the proposal by the MinNter nf Kdueation the Hon 1 , . I'rnspr. Twilight Waltz. \n iinportnnt dance was held at Papakura under iidvol'Kc eondit ions, owinjj to a leniitliv failure of the electric li-ht. An appeal Evil's! made for In ii terns, but (lie same answer oaincl over the telephone: "Oh. yes. wo have one. but we arc usiny it ourselves." At last a smoky old kerosene lamp was ripped up. and the dance started somewhat late. The master of ceremonies announced ihe fi rs ( dance as a "I wilifdit wiiliz." Jean Batten Place. "This tablet coininemorat «-s the achievement* in aviation of ,le. iU i Batten. C.8.E., and especially the skill and courage shown in her pioneer solo flifrlit from Kn<rland to Kew Zealand. OetobcT 5-10. 1930." This is the wording that will he placed on a plaque to be exhibited in Jean Batten Place when the Government buildings now in course of erection are complete! anil the new street made available for traffic. This decision was made at last nightte meeting of the Auckland City Council. The Finishing Touches. Men do not as a rule praise their womenfolk for punctuality, but on the other hand some women are most particular about keepinfr their appointments, and. rather than miss a bus or tram, put the finishing touches to clothes and face on their way out. Recently a youii" woman. • fashionably dressed and sporting a fur coat and a smart hat, was seen making her way to a bus stop in a popular suburb—but there was something lacking. She wore only one stocking. The other was "gloved"' on one hand as she walked along' mending a ladder. Opposition to Merger. "As the present Government now has a compulsory amalgamation scheme under consideration, the return of a Labour council appears to constitute a grave and definite danger to the borough." stated Mr. T. ,T. .Goldstine. Mayor of One Tree Hill borough, when addressing electors last evening. Mr. Goldstine fiaid that opposition to amalgamation with the city or with any other adjacent local body was the main platform upon which the present council was seeking re-election. The present councillors were opposed only by a full Labour party "ticket," and Mr. Goldatine claimed that if the Labour supporters were elected the borough would soon find itself linked with the city. City Traffic Signals. Commenting on the phenomenal increase in the use of motor vehicles during the past three years, the Mayor. Sir Ernest Dnvis, in a review of civic affairs last night, drew attention to the need in the city for modern methods of traffic control at principal intersections. The present patrol of the main thoroughfares to minimise accidents and aid I the free flow of traffic could be extended if more traffic officers were released from point duty by the installation of modern traffic signals of the vehicle-actuated type, he said. In 1930-31 the council had rejected similar proposals after experimenting with mechani- | cal signals. Since that time great improvements had been mnde in the design of the signals, and the considerable wmimtiy that would be effected by their us, J•> 1 further consideration by the conn "Man Overboard." One day soon the cry of "Mnn overboard'" is likely to be heard on a ferry steamer. With the coming of winter and the cold weather. dew falls more heavily and the sun does not ■have time to dry it before the early ferries, crowded with workers, come into the wharves. In the eager rush to catch trams, many passengers do not wait for the gangway and prefer to jump from the boats. Owing to tlie heavier dews the piles have become more slippery, and of late mornings there have been some narrow escapes from a ducking. The other morning, one- young man slipped and was fortunate to lose merely a book, wllile this morning a soldier missed having a cold sousing by a very small margin. It would V ■ very amusing for the onlooker to see someone take an unexpected bath, but for the victim the plunge would be as unwelcome as unexpected. Lord Auckland. The painting of Lord Auckland, after whom the city of Auckland was named, which has been presented to the Auckland City Council by the present Earl of Auckland, is to be hung in the City Council chamber, and will form one of a group of four paintings of famous men closely identified with the history of New Zealand. The other three paintings are of Captain Cook, Captain William Hobson. Xew Zealand's first Governor, and Sir John Logan Campbell, the "father of Auckland." When at last night's meeting of the City Council the suggestion was made that Lord Auckland's painting should be hung in the Old Colonists' Museum there was a mild storm of protest, a number of councillors declaring that the council chamber was the proper place for the painting. It was deeklecl to write to Lord Auckland thanking him for his valuable gift.

State Houses at Otahuhu. A block of land on the western side of the town has been purchased at Otahuhu for State housing purposes. Large enough for the erection of 2:t houses, it fronts "Walmsley Koad, flans street and MeGee Street, and i's only a few minutes' walk from the railway station ami the bus route to the city. The shopping area is ten minutes" walk away. The block has been known as Mennie's estate. Cruise Season Ends. Auckland's longest and most successful tourist season was brought to a close last evening, when the Canard-White Star liner Kranconia sailed for Suva after a three tiny*' stay in port. Large parties of passengers journeyed overland to points of interest, and several acclaimed Auckland a« the most enjoyable stopover so fur in the world tour. One traveller, who flew from Wellington to the liny of Islands for deep-sea fishing, said thai no better fishing could be obtained anywhere. "The Devil You Know." "It is very gratifying to find that the ratepayers appreciate the work we have been doing." said the chairman. Mr, •!. X. Massey. at a meeting of the Franklin County Council yesterday. "'This is borne out by the fact that out of ten ridings only two ridings lmvc candidates to contest an election with the present member. Although we may perhaps be bad," continued Mr. Massey. "evidently the ratepayers think there could be worse members than us." City Valuations. According to figures submitted by the city valuer, Mr. P. F. Notley, the rateable vaLue of Auckland liable to full rat.es is £2,72r>.«7(>. The rateable value of the Orakei area, not liable for special rates, i> estimated nt £12.04.3. Mr. Notley. in reporting to last night's meeting of the City Council, said that prior to June 1. when the rating period commenced, he anticipated an additional rateable value of about £10.000 as the result of new buildings completed since the valuation list was compiled in January lost.. Cornwall Park Upkeep. With the object of enabling (he Cornwall .Park trustees to re-employ men they hud been compelled to dismiss and to bring the park property back to its former condition, the One Tree Hill Borough Council has been endeavouring to secure Government authority to make a substantial remission of the rates levied. The Mayor. Mr. I. J. Goldstine, informed a meeting of electors at St. George's Rail. Kanfurlv Koad, last evening, that the trustees would have already benefited from the council's proposal had not the Government refused to grant the necessary authority in the simple form desired. A special bill would lmve .to he promoted, and would have to pass through all stages of Parliament. Not Freedom from Sickness. That the matter was outside the province of the Auckland Provincial Freedom Association was the view expressed at a meeting of the executive of the association yesterday, when an appeal by one of the vice-presidents, Mr. Howard Smith, called for a constructive effort to be made to assist farmers in their present difficulty in connection with the eickness among sheep and cattle. In a detailed report. Mr. Smith pointed out that the primary needs were for more veterinary surgeons and for funds for the prosecution of definite ond determined researches into the causes of the disease. The request received a most sympathetic, reception from all members of the executive, but it was pointed out that any attempt to interfere might be misinterpreted, not only by members of the association, but also by the general public. It was further stated that the funds of the aseoc'mtion could be legitimately expended only in furtherance of the specific objects for which they had been subscribed. In the end it was decided to place the matter before the Chamber of Commerce as being a body well qualified to deal with such a situation and to make the necessary appeal to Ihe public for for the farmers in their present emergency. Suggested Baths. A tentative proposal for the on-t met ion of a large swimming pool at GowerV Point, between St. Helier's Bay. and Koimuamiim. to cost approximately .CKO.OOO, was outlined by the city engineer. Mr. J. Tyler, in a report to the City Council last night as the outcome of a suggestion to the council by a deputation from the Eastern Suburbs Amateur Swimming and Lifo-eaving Club. Mr. Tyler said it would be «i grave mistake for the council to undertake the construction of any future swimming bath without adopting modern methods for purifying and treating water. He doubled whether the health authorities would permit a bath being built without such provision. With the growth of the city and expansion of shipping the harbour water had become increasingly polluted, and satisfactory conditions could not be obtained by enclosing a portion of the foreshore and tilling and emptying under tidal action. An open-air swimming bath with every modem facility was possible of construction at flower's Point, although the position was sonu what exposed, A substantial sea wall swinging out from the alignment of the existing wall would be necessary. Itoom would be provided for a reinforced concrete pool of minimum standard Olympic dimensions, with a diving bay and separate children's pool. There would be room for nil buildings and amenities and space would be available for parking 2SO motor cars. The cost included: —Seawall fillinp, parking, etc.. £30.880: pool and treatment plant, £14.750: buildings. £13.340: spectators' terraces. £U>..".()0: lighting for night swimming. £1000. Tn conclusion, the engineer said it could not be said that the provision of hatlis adjacent to beaches w<is an urgent necessity. The report was referred to the incoming council.