NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 120, 24 May 1938, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Deviation Mishap. When a t3're blew out on a motor ear which was going towards the city on the Bombay deviation on Slrturday, several occupants had narrow escapes from serioiis injury. As the tyre burst, the vehicle skidded 'sharply to the right, crashing into a car going south up the hill. The impact forced the second car off the road into a small ditch. Both vehicles were badly damaged, but the occupants were not hurt, apart from suffering shoc;k and minor bruises. m:: liiary Training. „ A circular sent out by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce appealing to employers to facilitate service in the military forces by their employees did not fall upon deaf ears when it was read at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board. It was decided to comply with the request and to give members of the staff 12 days' leave to attendcam pes in addition to their holidays, and as far as possible to make up the difference between their military and civil pay. Heating Public Baths. Brief reference to proposals for heating public baths was made at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board, when applications by local bodies for special power for heating purposes when the loads were not at their peak were mentioned. "Several of the outside local bodies want heat for their baths in winter," so id the chairman, Mr. S. J. llarbutt. '"Under the pni-ent agreement with the Transport Board there arises a big problem. so much so that if we did this work it [ might have an unfortunate effect on the board." Under agreement the Transport Board received power at cost for traction, he explained. By supplying power at off-peak periods for the heating of baths the average price per unit would be affected. The general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, was instructed to investigate the proposals and submit a report.

A Fowl Trick. A young man who parks a sports model car in a back street had an unusual experience on Monday night, when he went for a spin to Manurewa. The car, a small twoseater, has a covered luggage carrier from the rear of the scat to the end of the car. When the young motorist started up the engine, he thought he heard an unusual noise, but attributed it to imagination. When he reached Manurewa the noise bccame insistent, and when the car stopped there was no doubt that it came from the luggage carrier. An examination disclosed the source of the noise to be two hens. The owner of the car is now in a quandary. To whom do the hens belong, and what should he do with them ? In the meanwhile lie tends them carefully while waiting for a clue to the owners. There is also opportunity for some Sherlock Holmes to deduce just why the fowls were put in the car. Not Generally Known. Admitting that he had not paid much attention to the New Zealand Town Planning Act until a specific case which came up yesterday had caused him to read it, Mr. Justice Callati remarked that he had been surprised by one or two things in the Act. For example, there might be the case of a man owning a property, say, his home, which he valued for its view or locality, but was not interested in its money value. If, as the result of a townplanning scheme, the municipality said this man's property had been improved, by giving it better surroundings, the municipality could require compensation and say how much the man had to pay for something he never desired or proposed, and perhaps could not afford. The utmost consideration allowed the householder in such a case was a period of time in which to pay. This money was to go into a fund for the payment of compensation to persons whose properties had been injuriously affected by the town-planning scheme. "Lend Us a Hand." Regret that the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society continues to attack acclimatisation societies regarding the alleged lack of of wild life in the Dominion is expressed by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society in its annual report. "We, as an acclimatisation body, appreciate the good work bring done by the Forest and Bird Protection Society, and had hopes—-and still have —that the two organisations mi slit work in harmony, the aims and objects being closely allied," states the report. "We cannot, however, allow the unwarranted criticisms to go unanswered any further. It is to be remembered that the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society derives a considerable sum of the public's money per medium of one of the Government-sponsored art unions, allegedly for the purpose of protecting our native birds. Merely writing of the imaginary shortcomings of acclimatisation societies gets us nowhere, and is only inefficiency on the part of those doing so. Would it not be better that our critics, instead of wasting the public's' moncv on unfair and fruitless propaganda, should direct 'the spending into a more useful channel by appointing a ranger, and t=o do that for which tin money was raised? It may lie safelv stated, however, that it is almost entirely because of acclimatisation societies' activities in ' 'he field that the destruction of native birds I is kept in check."

First Flight at Ninety. An unusual birthday present, a flight in fin aeroplane, was given to Mrs. M. E. Taylor, of 3, YVhyte Street, Hamilton, at Rukuhia on Saturday, to mark her !H)tli birthday. It was Mrs. Taylor's first flight, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The flight was made in a cabin Puss Moth, which was piloted by Mr. 15. B. Firth, of Hamilton. Mrs. Taylor was*accompanied by her son, Mr. G. Taylor, of Hamilton. Art Exhibition Success. The annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts is proving a success, both in the attendance of the public and in the sale of pictures. Four picture sales have already been made. To-morrow night a lecture will be given at the exhibition by Dr. E. B. Gunson 011 the subject, "Contemporary Art at Home and Abroad." At the conclusion of the exhibition, on June 3, a collection of pictures will be taken for showing in various parts of the country. The first of these exhibitions will be at Napier, where the Hawke's Bay Art Society has a well-equipped gallery.

Art travelling Scholarship. A number of applications are being received by the Auckland Society of Arts for the annual award of the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship in art, which offers to New Zealand students of exceptional promise in any of the creative arts the opportunity to travel abroad to further their education. The secretary, Mr. W. Laird Thomson, stated this morning that the closing date for applications was .Time 30. The council of the society was required to subsidise the annual grant from the trust funds for this purpose, and was hopeful that contributions would be made by citizens to assist in this regard. Oversight at Polls. One of the local body representatives on the council of the Auckland Institute and i Museum for the past five years, Mr. J. C. Rennie, lost his classification because he did not seek re-election to the Waitemata County Council. However, at last night's annual meeting of the institute he was elected by the council as a, member. "Through an unfortunate oversight at the recent polls two members were not re-elected," said Sir Carrick Robertson, the retiring president. "One was the Hon. T. Bloodworth. who has always taken a great interest in the Museum. I would very much like to see this council elect Mr. Bloodworth as a member of the council when the next vacancy occurs." This remark drew a hearty round of applause.

French Captain Pleased

Appreciative references to the hospitality of Aucklandcrs were contained in letters received by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and the Rev.' H. K. Vickerv from Captain Plante, of the French sloop Riganlt de Genouilly, which left port yesterday, for the south. "1 cannot adequately say how much we have felt the kindliness which has been extended to us here in this country, which in many ways recalls to us our own homeland," stated the letter to Sir Ernest. The French commander also asked that the members of the council and all who put themselves out to make their stay so pleasant be thanked. Writing to Chaplain Vickery, Captain Plante said the petty officers and men were delighted to make the acquaintance of New Zealand in so happy a manner.

Costly Noisiness? Misunderstanding which had existed in the minds of some people over the question of treatment charges at the Wilson Home for Crippled Children was not without its humorous side, said the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, the Rev. W. C. Wood, in a recent address. Mr. Wood was making it clear to his listeners that if parents could not afford to pay for the treatment of their children they were not compelled to do so. As an illustration of confusion that had arisen, he took the case of a small patient, who was inclined to be a little bit obstreperous at times. He was only eight or nine years old. but he, like the rest of the children, was quite closely in touch with the outside world. One dav he reached the peak of vociferousness and a nurse was trying to bring him to hook. "Look here, nurse," he expostulated, "you should remember that this is costing us 10/ a day." Sparrowhawk and Pigeon.

The destruction caused to native hush in the Wellington acclimatisation district by the gale of February, 1030, has not helped the native pigeon, according to a ranger, Mr. T. Andrews, Palmerston North, observations by whom are included in the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The pigeons' natural enemy, he says, is the small sparrowhawk, and this small bird may sometimes be seen high up on a bush-clad hill, perched on a dead tree, waiting for an unwary bird to come within striking distance. Its speed is amazing. Places where, as a result of the gale of 1030, steep spurs have been completely denuded of all growth for hundreds of yards, make an ideal hunting ground for the' hawk, which will take up a position in an open space, and a passing pigeon has very little chance. Air. Andrews records that on an open spur in the Oliau district he was shown the remains of seven pigeons, probably aii killed bv one hawk. The hawk killed only when hungry, however, and all one found were feathers and well-picked bones. He had never found what might be termed a mauled pigeon.