NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Steady Booking. There ha« been steady booking in Auckland for l>erths on vessels which will leave New Zealand during the next few months for Hreat Britain and the United States, and a considerable demand for jiassages to the Kast. The experience of shipping companies in connection with exchange restrictions has been varied, but it is evident that in spite of that handicap a large. number of New Zealanders are planning to have a holiday abroad. Training College Progress. Work has been commenced on the new wing at the .Auckland Teachers' Training College in Epsom. which was authorised by the Education Department last year. The wing -will l>e of two storeys, and will conform in design with the remainder of the building. It will house a modern gymnasium, arts and crafts rooms, a cafeteria and extra class rooms. Last, year the accommodation was fully taxed with a roll of .">(SO. and this year there has been an increase to nearly 000 students. It is expected that the new wing will be completed durinjf the second term. The Banana Ration. A shortage of bana'uas in C'liristchurch has arisen because the Maui Pornare missed a trip, with the result that the Dominion is one «hipment short. Further supplies are not expected until next week, v hen a shipment is due to arrive on the Matua. Auctioneers in ( 'hristchurch state that the last of the bananas in supply were sold to retailers on Momlnv on a pro rata basis, and or.lv a few cases were sold at the maximum figure of 27/ fixed by the Government. One auctioneer said that the Government had made ever-y possible endeavour to reduce the effects of the shortage, which was inevitable in the circumstances. "Actually, the shortage does not represent any serious hardship to the public, as there are plentiful supplies of oranges and other fruit available," the auctioneer. "It is fortunate, however, that a large quantity of bananas has been put in cool storage. But for this, the shortage of the fruit would have been very serious indeed." Boy Finds Moa's Egg. Chance digging among the remains of ancient Maori middens near Wairau Bar recently unearthed an almost perfect specimen of a moa's egg measuring about Kin in length and »lin in diameter, reports a Blenheim correspondent. The find would make a valuable addition to the collection of any museum and in this connection it is understood that those who have possession of the egg intend communicating with the Dominion Museum at Wellington. In addition to the egg, there was also found the skeleton of a Maori, around the neck of which was a curious bone necklace comprising a pendant of a killer whale's teeth and several hone articles which closely resemble ordinary cotton r.eels. The moa egg was placed near the feet of the skeleton and in the bottom was a smal hole which gives rise to the theory that originally the shell was used as a water receptacle and was placed in the grave as part of the tribal burial rites for the use of the spirit in the after-life. The find was made by a small boy who was, idly fossicking the Maori midden. As Honesty Does. Whatever coqrt records say honesty seem 4 to be inherent in the New Zealander. - In hotels and boarding-houses visitors are constantly being surprised at the odd pennies, threejiences. and other coins that have dropped from therr pockets while dressing, which later they lind left on their dressers by the maids who have cleaned out their rooms. The New Zealander is Hot so surprised, because he expects it. There was a more striking experience for a young Auckland woman yesterday, however. While shopping in the city she was suddenly horrified to find that she had lost a £."» note from her purse. It might have been dropped in a tra mcar, in a shop or the street, and there did not seem much hope of recovery, but nevertheless she retraced her steps to where she had last opened her puree in a big city drapery store. She Inquired there of the girl if the note had been found on the counter, and it was promptly handed over. The girl had seen it, not on the counter, but being trampled underfoot on the floor, and had rescued it. She had to be argued with before •he would accept a reward. Trials of Pheasant Breeding. A succession of electrical power failures had caused the lom to the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society of a considerable number of pheasant chicks during the brooding stages. This was reported by the chairman of the game committee, Mr. G.~ Ebert. at a meeting of the executive. In view of the losses, the game committee recommended that authority should be given to explore thoroughly the jiossibilities of other forms of heating. In one night AO chicks of between three and four weeks old had been lost. Mr. F.bert said. Three or four times in one week the power had failed, and the game committee was now ►of the opinion that the society should invest in a stand-by plant or scrap the electrical system altogether. A hot water service would be both more regular and more satisfactory. "This is just another excuse," commented Mr. H. T. Penrose. "It is doubtful whether we oan make a success of breeding pheasants and quail, and this matter brings up the whole question." To a question from Mr. Penrose as to how many chicks there were at present on the game faVm the secretary, Mr. G. L. Pomfret- Doid. replied that there were about 500. On the chairman, Dr. D. McK. Dickson, putting the recommendation to the meeting, it was carried without dissent.

School Consolidation. The movement in connection with school consolidation is progressing in various North Auckland districts. Recently a ballot of parents was taken at Port Albert on a proposal to have a consolidated school at Wellsford, and there was a considerable majority in favour of the proposal. Cricket on Sunday. Permission to play cricket on Sundays on the Devonport Domain and the Stanley Bay reserve was granted to a club drawn from patrols of a local hotel when the Devon--port Borough Council met last night. C'ouikcillors discussed the application at some length Wfore making their decision. It was agreed that a fee of £1 a week should be charged for the use of the pitch and the trouble that would be caused for the groundsman. "The man who rolls the pitches needs a rest on Sunday like anybody else," said the Mayor. Mr. H. F. W. Meikle. "If he has to do extra work he will have to be compensated." His Good Deed. "Come on. Give him a fair break. I suppose he has a mother who will worry if he doesn't get home to-night."' said one of the spectators at the Auckland provincial tennis championships at Stanley Street yesterday. It was not a tennis player to whom he was referring. It was' merely a little blat-k and yellow caterpillar who had wandered off Tiis route and. arching his little back in his anxiety to get up speed, was travelling across the asphalt sidewalk that leads to the pavilion. The tender-hearted spectator produced an envelope, captured the young insect and took hint away to some herbage to "give him a chance." The general opinion, even among hardened caterpillar crushers, was that it was .r deed well done. Reposing City Streets. Work is already under way on the repaving of Hohson Street in asphalt, and, when this is completed, Customs Street East and a portion of Svinonds Street will also be resurfaced. Hobsdn Street was last paved 2ii years ago, and, though the old rock asphalt surface has stood up well to the demands made upon it, is had got to the stage where it was considered no longer fit to carry fastmoving traffic. The wtfrk is being done jointly bv the City Councils staff and the Xeuchatel Asphalte Company. Limited, which has been awarded the contract for each of the repaving jobs mentioned. Plans are being made to organise the work so that there will be as little .interruption of traffic as possible. Transport Board Election. Preparing for the election of the Auckland Transport Board in May of this year, the Labour party and the Citizens' Association are already busy. Full tickets will be run by both organisations. Labour nominations close to-day. and the Citizens' Association will begin the initial work of the can*paign next week. Their candidates will not be nominated until a later date. Mr. W. R. Fee, chairman of the Citizens' Association, stated to-day that a number of meetings to consider the question had been held by his organisation prior to the holidays. A further meeting will be held on February 1, when machinery for the campaign will be set up. Mr. Fee stated that a full ticket would definitely be run, but that nominations would not close for some time yet. Hurried Arrangements. * General agreement that preparations for the National Fitness Week bad been too hurried was reached when' Mr. E. Aldridge reported to the Pevonport Borough Council on his attendance at a recent meeting of sports bodies and local authorities to discuss the organisation of the campaign. Mr. Aldridge stated that from the local body point of view the conference was unsatisfactory, as no pro-' vision had been made for finance. There was barely a month to make arrangements if the council decided to run any carnivals of its own; altogether, it seemed that preparations had been too., hurried. Therefore he had refrained from giving any promise of support from the council. Other councillors who attended the conference agreed with Mr. Aldridge, whose report was received* The Audience of One. To consistently attend every meeting of the local borough council over'a long period 1 of years is m very unusual ambition for the average modern ratepayer, who generally looks upon these gatherings of the fathers" as mental diversions much inferior in interest to a "decko" at cards or the Current movie. At this week's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council, however, Mr. Qordon Ewington, of North Devonport, announced that the first meeting of 1939 launched him upon his twelfth year of regular attendance at municipal deliberations. "I wouldn't miss it for worlds," declared Mr. Ewington. who lias seen five councils come and go during his lengthy vigil as watchdog of the people's interests. Winter and summer, wet or fine, Mr. Ewington takes his place as an unofficial representative of the ratepayers. As a matter of courtesy he is always supplied with a copy of the minutes, and on rare occasions he is consulted as to the accuracy of historical borough references. While welcoming a deputation of Queen's Parade residents to this week's meeting. Mr. H. F. W. Meikle expressed his pleasure at their presence "a« an encouragement to our usual audience of' p one. whose fidelity to his self-appointed task should be an inspiration to the whole community." This tribute was received with smiles by all presefit as the people's champion bowed his gratified acknowledgment.