NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 20, 25 January 1939, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Trout Fishing Improves. Reports received at a. meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening indicated that trout fishing had improved in the province. It was stated that fish up to 51b in weight had been taken in the Te Kuiti district, and that they were in excellent condition. * S Finery for the Public Coze. The title of this little tragedy should rightly l«- the apt Americanism "Was my face red!*' It happened outside the ferry building 1111 ~ morning, when a crowd was" hurrying across Quay Street —the day** most embarrassing accident. A girl was 'carrying one of those suitcases on which the ela*ps never seem to lie really secure, and on this occasion they let her down badly. The entire contents of the ease, and it wan a well-filled one. were strewn over the road for the amused inspection of the public. There was a wild scramble by the blushing owner for her finery, and it is doubtful whether the general assistance given her by the spectators was altogether welcome. Dummy Tanks.

A new is thrown on the triumphal entry into Austria of the German mechanised forces by n letter received privately in Auckland yesterday. The writer is referring to a relative who was leaving Vienna in his car as the German troops were entering. The letter speaki* for itself.. "An he was passing the tanks." the latter rends, "a woman fell just in front of his car. There was no room to pass between her and the tanks, so he shut his-eyes and drove straight for one of the monsters . . . had' visions of the tank eaterpillaring over the ear . . . waited for the crash, a crash whieh never came! Then he opened his eyes tq find the car actually inside the tank, which was only a make-believe of plywood and cardboard, with an engine of sorts and marvellously faked guns." " You Go 'Ome." Artnro Toseanini, the maestro, moulding into shape the great new York (National Broadcasting Corporation) Symphony Orchestr . and Professor Bernard' Heinxe* Ormotid Professor of Munic nt the University of Melbourne, a privileged onlooker, to see him do it. Toseaiiini, the incomparable, he of the eloquent hands—serene, suave, dynamic when things go well; but volcanic, uncontrollable when they don't. "People never answer Toseaiiini back," said Bernard Heinze in an interview with the "Sydney Morning Herald.". So when he ticked off the tuba player, the roof nearly fell in, because the tuba player answered him back, and Toscanini waited, tense and implacable. And the tuba player looked at the maestro and said one word: 'Xerts!' Toscanini exploded into dramatic gesture, 'it's too late to apologise," he cried. Go 'ome!' " Unusual Sea Visitor*. Two unusual species of fish visited Otago Harbour on Monday. The strangest, and easily the biggest, was a grotesque-looking monster which, stranded among the piles at the top end of Rattray Street wharf about 7.30 p.m.. was hoisted out of the water by one of the winches of the coastal steamer Holmlea. Noticing the huge fish endeavouring to hack out from under the wharf, some of the crew succeeded in manoeuvring a chain sling under it. and a hoist on the winch brought to light what must surely be the largest fish ever landed on a On nod in wharf. Kxactlv what the fish is. is so far a mystery. Ft resembles .a sunfish to some extent, and Dr. B. J. Mar pies, professor of /.oology at the University of Otago. identified it a« belonging to that species. Nearly Oft in length. the fish is about 4ft deep, and would probably weigh about three-quarters of a ton. The. other strange visitors were a brace of sCa bream, one of which was caught off Otajro Heads, and the other off Portobello. While the sea bream is fairly common in Australia and in the northern part of Xew Zen land, it in comparatively rare in southern waters. Politician's Cycling Holiday. A cycling holiday through tbe N'elson district was recently completed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. W. E. Barnard. Accompanied by Mr. S. .7. Bennett, of Palmerston N'orth, Mr. Barnard visited the hop and tobacco growing areas and inspected the Onekaka iron fields. Commenting on his holiday Mr. Barnard *»id that at Riwaka. and other places they inspected t01a...-co plantations and hop areas and also the Government processing station at Motueka where tobacco was prepared for export. Hops generally appeared to be backward thi« year partly to the fact that there had been an absence of the usual amount of sunshine. *t Onekaka the Government was inve-'tign- '•»»•' thn ie-obnble a mount of iron ore likely '<■> he available, added Mr. Barnard. Some "0" men were at present employed there. It would appear that the estimates made 30 years ago could not be relied upon because no attempt was made to penetrate the surface. The sngsrestion was now made that the nuantity of iron ore was less than estimated. "Tn any cane the present method of ascertaining the .approximate supply undoubtedly is necessary before the Government commits . itself to heavv expenditure on li'rge scale modern works and the establishment of a town on modern lines," said Mr. Barnard.

Stoats and Weasels. When destruction of game hy vermin was being discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening, the president, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, said the Government, in order to combat the rabbit pest, imported stoats and weasels into the South Wand, two shipments coming to hand in IHSS. It had been stated that about 30 years ago ; 100 stoats had been liberated at Huiiua. Until 1931 it was an offence to. kill a stoat or a weasel, but that year the protection was partially lifted, and in 1936 the protection was entirely removed. Eel in Fountain. To set out on a fishing expedition in the heart 0f Christchurch, and be successful, is a thing rarely, if ever before done, but an interested crowd saw the operation accomplished one • afternoon recently, 'when an •xceptioTially large eel was removed from the pond around the Bowker fountain by waterworks employees. Jii the estimation of Mr. \.. Boss, of the City Council waterworks ;taff. the eel. which was -Ift 2:n loiitr, weighed about 181b or 191b, and had a girth of 10in. 't was placed in the pond during the night. When the eel's presence was known it was chased, gaffed and finally nopped in a bag and removed, the'operation being watched by many spectator's. "Eagle Blood" m Waimate Fowls. , "They must have some eagle blood in them," was- the rather disbelieving comment attached in the December issue of the "Illinois Auto-Trade Bulletin" to a reprinted paragraph about an unusual motor ear ride taken in July last year by four Waimate fowls. The article, which was beaded "Good Grips, Good Feathers of New Zealand Hens," ippeared in the American journal as follows: "A farmer at Hook. Waimate. Xew Zealand. I rove his automobile from his farm to the Hook Public Hall to a party. Leaving his tiitomobile he passed its rear and heard a clucking sound. Examination reveled four of his hens roosting for the night on the rear axle. They remained throughout the party and returned to the farm still roosting on the rear axle. (They must have some eagle blood in them.)" Express Train Runs Late. After running L 9 time for many weeks, the Limited express from Auckland* was 3"i minutes late when it arrived at Wellington yesterday morning. According to the Railway Department, the delay was caused by heavy passenger traffic on* the Main Trunk line. The general manager of railways, Mr. «!. H. Mackley, said the Limited express had been keeping excellent time for months past. The delay on Tuesday was due to no sjiecial cause. l>nt to heavy traffic following the holidays. "Where traffic is heavy on a single line, it is only reasonable to expect a slight delay," said Mr. Mackley. "Xo transport service can run strictly to time under the circumstances." Mr. Mackley added that liecause of the passengers offering the Limited express was increased in size, and was a big train when it left Auckland on Monday night. The opposing trains were also very heavy, and the density of traffic on the Main Trunkline caused crossing delays. Ambulance $ Financial Hurdle. Concern at the big financial hurdle faced by the St. John Ambulance Association at Auckland has been expressed by the executive committee of the association. A weekly amount of £4 is paid by the association to the Auckland City Council a* rates on the ambulance station and rent for the old Elain School of Art, which was some time ago converted to the association's use and made part of the present building in Rutland Street. Rent amounts to £4* annually and rates to £ltil 8/11. In addition, tlie cost of converting the school of art, £3SOO. has not yet been paid off owing to lack of funds. Interest on this amount, together with the £4 paid to the council by way of rates, makes a big hurdle for the association to face in its monthly accounts, tt .was decided to send a deputation, comprising the chairman, Mr. C. ■T. Tunks, the treasurer. Mr. D. F. McKay, and the secretary-manager. Mr. S. E. Langstone, to wait on the Mayor and the finance committee of the 'City Council in an endeavour to obtain some relief by way of rates levied on the station, or by donation. Holding the Fort. "Hiding under the bed" is an old game that was more commonly played in proletarian circles in Victorian and early Edwardian days when unwelcome visitors," possessed of large appetites and boring reminiscences, threatened the- family |>cace. But one day last week a Mount Albert woman who hail to go to town Warned her two small children, who were temporarily confined to the house, not to invite Mrs. So-and-so, who might eomc along, into the house. Then mother went down town. The children took their instructions seriously and locked the doors. About ' l."> minutes later they heard a knock and promptly took cover under the bed. They heard the back door rattled, the front door hammered, all the available windows tried, and many hoarse cries. It seemed that the ' unwelcome person was bent on payins the dreaded visit. But the joke was really on mother, who had had to return for something 1 she had forgotten, and had to wait for almost i an hour before she attracted the attention of < the kiddies when, in a weak moment, they ( peered out of a window to see if the insist- j ent visitor had gone. After this, mother will 1 probably lock the house, take the kev with ( her and hide the children in the dog kennel < until she returns. «