NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY.

\Good Friday Observance. There will be no publication of the "Auckland Star" on Good Friday. The Shortland Street office will be open till 9 p.m. on Thursday for the convenience of advertisers and public inquiries, and on Saturday and Monday the paper will be issued and the usual office hours observed. I Eclipses of Sun and Moon. Of l In- four eclipses which will (~-<-np tlii . Vl ' :lr - t!in>«. wil] y. visible in Ww Ze-ibmd 'Hie eclipses will 1,,. ;ls follow: — April ji a iniiiln •• (M-lip M . ~f 1],,. Mm> invi-ihle in \,.\ j Zealand: May 4. total cclip-c of the moon vi-iide in \ew Zealand: October I:!, I..t:i jVrlip-e i.f tile sun. vi-ible iii New Zealand a |■' I'-inial eclipse: October partial ~,-lip,, |"l I In- moon, partly visible in New Zealand. History of Auckland's Port. A «lc€-i—i.>n* In build a decorated final, a ■> <■■•-< "f Cldd (ci CI. "ill. a- ■! iiiiii i.i' Ili -trr,.! pn.cc~.sj,,ii tl , 1,,. i,,,| ( | j n Ai,.!,!and dur I ''■'■■ I'"' Centennial celebrations. \v::s ma.l ve-terday a fternoou l.y the A ii.-l. 1.-i ml ll,ir '"'ill- Hoard. The hoard' \\ ill in ;],].< wa v illus Hale the -muili and development i.f trad 'In , ..tiuh the port over I lie pa-i hundred yearIn t lie prepara! ion ,1' the de-i-n the advice n i'"' Centennial Council's pa."eair,rY e\pert will he obtained. Brilliant Meteor Seen. I'oli-'ideral.le alarm was felt in Taup -horll.v a Tier <) o'clock on Monday iii-ht. wiiei a dc,\ I'enir,..:. dull report was heard. A Hum I her (if resident- rushed into the streets, linde the impression thai .Mount wan ii erupt ion. They were just in lime to see : red jj|m\v in the sky near tile western Lay One early ob-crver sii'il lie distitictlv saw ; meteor with a Idiiir tail travellinj: from north ca-l to south-west. There was a hlindiu< Hush, loll,.wed by a loud report and a slow ruiiil.liu.L' noi-e. The meteor is reported 1 have l.cen -ecu from Auckland also, low ii the south-eastern sky. Fiend of Rodents. ''Hals have is,, lout; been a part of man': environment thai lie has linall.v conic I, J aceepl them more ,>r less as a matter o coiir-e," said Mr. TT. I'anll. chief sanitary in spector for (he Auckland City t'niincil, in tin course of an address to poultry men on tin rat problem last eveninrr. Summing up. Mr I'aiill (|U,.tcd: "The rat is the fiend of rodents iierce. cruel, pugnacious, euiinini:: it is a car i-ion feeder and a cannibal, utterly degrade, in ils habits, a menace to the comfort, pro:, perily and w cll-beiiiir of mankind; it dc-erve.. li" mercy: it has no friends, no utilitv nnti it is dead, and m> may proceed to it, exlincli'in without I lie -li;Jitc-t i|Ualms <<i conQuinces Return to Favour. The ipiince has come back 1,. favoiil anion? Auckland fruitgrower-, and this .-canon's crop is heavier than for many years jl'p to about live or six years a".o lai'?e ,|Uauililievs of (|uinces were j; row It, but. owin? t, low |.rices. orehardisls selduin replaced treewhich were too old to bear. Tn con-e<|iicnce production fell, and in the past few years a shortage of sup].lies caused prices to'ri-e tc levels. Findinir the (|uince was profitable, growers planted more trees, which arc now coniin? into production. This has resulted in a fall in prices this season to little over half last year's level. Heavy supplies and comparatively low prices are expected for some years to come. Pedestrian Crossings. Although the irallic regulations is-ned under the .Motor Vehicles Act make it mandatory for drivers of motor cars to >]ow down or stop at pedestrian crossings, the same rule docs not apply to drivers of tramcars. and this lias led to some con fusion ill the public mind. However, motormen have definite instructions from the tramway authorities to observe the rule as if they were included, and to be courteous on all occasion* when dealing with the public. Clause seven of the reirulalions reads as follows: ''Every driver of a j motor vehicle shall yield thp ri.irht of way to Jii pede.-triim enuajjcl in erossinc the roadway ! within any authorised pedestrian (upon tin- half of the roadway over which such vehicle is lawfully entitled to travel, and when approachili"; slli-li crossing the driver shall reduce the speed so as to he able in stop before reaching the crossing if necessary." Back to Nature. Lauii'liiii" warniiisrs of pfomaine poisonin?, or sonicthin.ir like that, aimed this week ■•it half a dozen yotiiiir St. Ilelier's swiiniiiintr enf liusiasl s. have so far proved uroundlc —. I The warnings were n sc,|iiel to a delicious afternoon suadc which the youth- enjoyed at the week-end at Lady's Buy. Swimming at low tide near the reef, they discovered, in -oft mud never uncovered l.v the water. the ".-rand-daddies' , of all cockles. Their appc(Her. vvlieiied by n <l;iy in the sun and sea. they thought the opportunity 100 oood to be lili-scd. and they went back io the beach wilh llieii- hands full of the shellfish. The dill's were <enlire,| for fircw 1. (he cockles placed in a variety of old and nt.-fy tins, and si\ hiintiry mouths watered as the nhidls I" pop open and reveal the white, •-uccnlent flc-h. T.-ikintr all tilings into consideration, ill, , meal was a- thoroughly enjoved as a hotel dinner Would have been. { Cricket " Watchdogs." f'rickets. ; , f.,,uily of insects allied <o lira-.-h'ippei s. diinnjr the recent weeks of line weather, have been lnakinjr the hours (~' i" with their trilling, nnd it has been noticed by residents in various localities that "icir not iiiimu-ical efforts act v<m-v iuu,-h the I same way as the barking of a wat'ehd,,-. For in-tan,-e. they are very easily disturbed, and -l">iild anyone pa-, within ea>y lan-e of them ']";. v immediately cease their ' whNl liu;r CrickeU (Cryliidae) are a family of in-e.-t----l»don'jiiiv to (he order of Orlhopjcra and arc e!o-ciy allied to the -reen -ra sshoppers The J Ic-lcrs are lon-r and -lender, the hind b-s arc I"»y Mii.l adapted for leap!,,-, and there is "~t'»'ly ■■' lon- ovipo-itor. Kvample, are the ''.'■■' ! - , ' '"■>'+■<•'■ f'">nd only in human habila- ''""■-: the field cri,•!.-,-( of i],,. M.eci-.s mo.I j '•"ininoii in Auckland, wind, lives in small I '""'rows in field-; and the mole crh-ket. a mo-t lulcrc-tin- creature -in/jula rly well adapted \; for n subterranean life, aud ' furni-hed with powerful forelegs, w ith which to di.tr out a | burrow. Bush Fire Victims. Writintr to the -.e,-ietarv of the Auckland j Timber 'Workers' Union. Mr. Y. Crai-j. the! -cereiarv of the Vietoriau branch of the Ausfrnlian 'fiml.or "WoiTscrs' Union. Afr. W. Scanlon. slMes that there is every po--ibilitv of I lie union's claims under the Workers Compensation Act for the dependents of union j members who lost their lives in the recent I bit.-di fires provim; successful. "Where lives I were lost nnd Hie persons were oiif-ide the 'scope of the Compensation Act. the Lord /Mayor's lire relief fund is (~ make provi.-iou I for pensions for the widows and orphans." 'staler V,r. S, •anion. "Where personal los-c-j have been suffered, such as furniture and! elotliiii-r. there appears t,, b ( . little hop,, f,,,-j v\iv people, however, as far as the Lord j Mayor's fund is concerned. The claims lodijcd | readied (he total of tOOO.OdO. and the total j aiuouiil collected l.y the Lord Mayor was] U2(i::.(i(lfl. of which '.£4S.nOO has I i,'set aside i for pen-ions. We have eases of our members j having lost from £20 to £7d. and (hey have been notified that they will receive no grant from the Lord Mayor's fund." j

Traditions Upheld. The debt which the Empire and the British race owed tn 1 lie sea was mentioned by the Minister of .lu-tice. the Ibm. 11. C. 11. Mason, when lie spoke at the olli.-ial luncheon on board the Dominion Monarch yesterday. The ship was ~,,,. „,■ whidi all mii-t'bo. prniiil. Mr. Mason said, and it was M reminder of the skill and enterprise ~f ih,,.,. ~,,.,, who had laid the foundations of the Kmpiiv. Worthy "I the irailitions and work of our forefathers, it oll'ovod proof tlun the men of the present a μ-e would not be found wanting in skill and genius. Methodist Hall for Beach Haven. The activities of the MolliodUt com- ■ ininiity at the western portion i>f Birkonhcad '■ "re in lie facilitated by the erection of a hall 1 :| t Beach Haven in the neai , future. Thi- . extension has l,ocn made piw-ible by Ibe I tiiant inj;- of a loan of C 1 •"><) for the purpose - by t lie church building and loan fund emn- ■' mitlce. Intimation to this ell'oct was made by the chairman, the l!e\-. 11. ||. .lollYeys. at the meeting- lllis week of Ihe ollicial.s of the Birkoliliead circuit. The buibliiiir will be creeled in one day by voluntary labour. I arrangements f,, r whic-ii are I — in.;.' made by ' Mr. John Hall. Easter Camps. Over 2000 ymtiiL' men and voiin , . , women ■ w ill attend the' Bible .-la~- camps to be held ■ in the ~jid <li-!ri't durin.ir the l-".aster f week-end. l.ar-e-t of the camp.s v i!l be that s of the Bible Trainiii';- Institute at N'yaniawahia. with a roll of about limn front all parts of the Dominion, while the others will be as follow:—Methodist yoiinir men. at I'ukouitn I-land. in the Manukau Harbour, ah. Nt rillit; ' Melhodisj youu'j- women, at I'aerata. I Kill). i at St. Helior's School (401. and at Campbell's ■ Kay School U.Vi: the Pre-byteria n Bilde Class '' Cnioii. at llumia Falls (300) : the Baptist 1 men's Bible cla-ses. at the V.M.C. \. camp. 1 llumia (200): and the Y.W.C.A.. al ISothol's. • West Coast (20). I Plant Life Near Station. I'lant life under dilliciiltie- i- -vfu on the • i-teep embankmeiil at the eastern entraiico to I the Auckland railwaxs station. About live years .ilmi the slope was planted wilh several varieties of hardy creepers, and il was expected that within Mini years a clo-e carpet would be formed, bill the plants ha\e -ull'ered from the -moke and fumes of ]>;i — inu: train-. ! In the stru-i.'le growth has become -United, and at the present rate of pruure-- a on siderable uiliiiber of \ ears will pa-- before the bank ]<• fully clothed with a protect iiil' eoxeriiiL'. The Mron;je-I variety i- n einbrx aln - themum (a >ucciilent creeper, which docs well • oil sand dunes and coa-tal land-i. and the others are a small liens, a \ iririnia creeper and ivy. Rats! Kill Them! "We need make i:o a |»ilo'.'\ f..;- '.h,' rat. A- a scavenger it- u-c i- ni , . it- economic \ altie to Ihe world i- nil. it- r i- more to be de-ired thai: il- cmipany."' declared Mr. 11. l'aull. chief -auil.'rx in-'pee; or for the Auckland City ( min -il. in the course of an address l<. member- of the \\..n<l.:le branch' of the Xew Zealand Poultry Federation la-t evening. Mr. l'aull dealt fuliv with the rat problem, jjiviuu a coinprehen-i\ e address covering the problem from the introduction and history of the rat to the pro-out | urgent need for de-troyinv: it. Tlii-re was a lar.i;e atlendance of poult rymen. ■'The rat must be uiven credit for a yood deal of intelligence.', said Mr. Paul], "ami the work of j dcMrovinir it calls for a hi'jh ord.-r of ingenuity and intelligence in i! ■ human enemies." ' Air Mail Increases. ''The facilities for traii-ini—-io'i of mailby air to many part- of the Dominion have ■jiown rapidly mil il the Post OHic is able to nlilise daily a total route mileage exceedill!.' "1000 miles." -tales the I'o-l m.i-t er (icneral, the Hon. 1". .lone-, in a Departmental bulletin. "The il-e i'\ the inland air mails has more than k'pt pace wilh the extension of the routes." add- the Minister, who vives fiiinros to .-how the 1.ilt increase in letters sent since HUT. The total for the year ended March 11. lii:t7. was <i:i7.lsil. On March 1: , ,. l!i:!S. it was l.i;-|5,.1.-.0. and for (lie year elldiuy March 12. lll.'lil. it wa- 2.:;.">0.05n. These li.uuii's are held to demonstrate the steadily .■:row in,/ appreciation of the swifter .service. A moderate parcel bii-iin-.-. usually exceeding 200 a week, is al-o reported. Gift of Lioness to Wellington Zoo. . . . An 11-year-old lione--. (,)ueenie. born in Perry's (in-us in Australia, has i>.■<• n placedin the New town Zoo. The lione-s i- the ".in | of Mrs. Perry, but until certain formalities relative to the import at ion of animaU have been complied wilh the lionc-s will be "on deposit." Duriii'j the from one en'_'e to another she an-wced to her name, and readily allowed Mr-. Perry to tickle her nose, although -he w.i- a little bewildered about shifting her lod'jini. , -. Oiieenir has -omethiii'j of a history. When she was three vears old. in company with several other animals, <-he fell into (lie Buller <.'<,r;:<' as the <-iiciis was on its way to the We~t ('oa-t. The animals ill their canes were reirioxod with t h<- aid of -led ropes, the ca-jes bein:.' iinda ma L'cl and I h< , ani'iials unhurt. Thi- i,. thi , second fill to the New town Zoo fro'u a circus. The lir-; came from Will h Brol hei--. v< ho -u e the lion. Kin- Dick, in l!Hi|. A, litally Kin-r Di-k started the /on, and he was a popular attr.r(ion for many year-. lie now round- the world from a sliowca-e in the Dominion Mii-clim. There are now four |ioue--os-, two lion-. h\n tiL't'c-ses and one in the zoo. All the lions and lio|ies-es except one have been bred in the zoo.