NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Floral Tributes.

During the hearing of a traffic case before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Lower Hntt Court, a motor cyclist who had been involved in. an accident was being cross-examined by counsel for the defendant. "There was a pillion rider on the cycle, was there not?" asked counsel. "Yes," replied witness. "And she had her arms full of flowers?" continued counsel. Witness denied this. "Flowers would be very appropriate for a motor cyclist to carry nowadays," observed the magistrate.

Fruit Exports Down.

About half a million cases of apples and pears have been exported from New Zealand this year, and with the season half finished it appears that total shipments will be about two-thirds of what they were last year. Exports for the season are expected to be about 1,030,000 cases, compared with 1,526,000 cases last season. The decline is due to sub-normal crops in most fruitgrowing districts owing to the dry weather. Even when crops are up to the usual standard, larger quantities are being held to supply the local market.

Symonds Street Repairs.

The repair of the Symonds Street carriageways from Grafton Road northwards is nearing Completion, and. workmen are now concentrated on the final section between Khyber Pass Road and Mount Eden Road. The reconstruction of the concrete in this block is practically finished, but the asphalt cnown has yet to be laid. The inward carriageway is closed for a short length at the intersection of New Xorth Road, and inward traffic has to be careful in negotiating the bend, as there is little room, especially when traffic from Mount Eden Road desires to negotiate the intersection simultaneously. Danger warning signs, however, a>e prominently displayed.

"Summer Time" Ending

"Summer time" lias little more than a fortnight to run, as the daylight saving arrangement in ?Cew Zealand conies to an end on Sunday, April 30, when the clocks will be put b£u?k half an hour. The change-over will involve a few calculations for radio listeners, since it will mean an adjustment in the difference in time between the Dominion and overseas countries. Australia will be an hour and a half instead of two hours behind Xew Zealand—but England, now 12 hours behind, will be only 101 hours behind after April 30. The reason for the big difference in the case of England is that English "summer time" begins to-morrow, when clocks there will be advanced a whole hour.

Early New Zealand History.

In the "Week-end Pictorial" to-day publication is begun of a series of articles, "NTew Zealand One Hundred Years Ago." The purpose of the articles, which have been written by Professor James Rutherford, of Auckland University College, is to recall the_ events which led to the establishment of the colony, and, by tracing some of the leading incidents of the year 1840, to illustrate the problems and conditions of life which were faced by the early pioneers. Readers of the "Auckland Star" will value this opportunity to become acquainted with this period in pre-colony days, concerning which Professor Rutherford, by study of documentary records both in New Zealand and in London, has made himself an authority'.

Optimistic Patient.

Acting on the supposition that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, an Aucklander who has recently recovered from a* fractured thigh has presented the surgical appliance used in the treatment of his injury to the St. John Ambulance Association, so that it may be of use to someone else. The appliance, a Thomas splint, consists of a padded hoop which fits round the injured limb and two straight metal bars, which, together with a stirrup and bandages, support the leg. The owner hoped that it would never again be of use to him, as his leg was not likely to be broken twice, and accordingly gave it to the association. In expressing appreciation of the gift this morning, Mr. S. E. Langstone. secretary-manager at Auckland, remarked that he could only hope that the owner's optimism would be fully justified.

Letters Still Under-paid.

For eight months the Post Office has been telling the public that penny postage to all overseas countries except Australia has disappeared, but it ha 6 discovered through disappointing experience that a proportion of correspondents still disregards t*e announcements. The penalty of double the deficiency has to be borne by the overseas recipient. When the first announcements of the Ud "all up" Empire rate were made, the penalty was waived for six weeks, when the penal rate then began. As penny postage to the United States had been replaced by a rate of 2?. d per ounce, the usual penalty was 3d. Constant reminders and possible protests from "the other end" have reduced the number of under-paid letters, but recent checks at Wellington and Auckland reveal that vhe deficiencies are:—Empire countries, Auckland 8.4 per cent, Wellington 6 per cent; United States, Auckland 22 per cent, Well i,gton 23 per cent; foreign countries, Auckland 10 per cent, Wellington 8 per cent.

Mistaken Idea. Deep resentment at -what he regards as a wholly unjustified assumption concerning the customs of the old-time Maoris was expressed by Mr. Hoani Matin, Karitane, •when commenting on the report of the discovery of portion of a skull at Goose Bay. The report mentioned that the fragment resembled the thinking cups which the ancient Maoris made from the brainpans of their fallen enemies, but Mr. Matiu insists, that this assumption was false. Bones had been used in such a way, but never the skulls. Such use would cause a blood feud between the relatives of the dead man so abused and those responsible.

Woolbuyers In Good Voice.

Perpetually on the move as long as the wool sellinjr season lasts, buyers from overseas have had a welocme respite of eleven days over Easter. Yesterday they were in full voice at the Christehurch sale, and, judging by the noise, their throats were better for the rest. Since the season opened most of them have attended 25 sales throughout the Dominion, often bidding at two sales in one week. 'Planes, motor cars and- trains have been used in rushed journeys from one centre to another, and numbers of times buyers have had to leave the same night after a hard day's work at a sale. Only two sales remain to be held, at Dunedin next Wednesday and at Wellington the following week.

Art In Schools.

A course in school art is to be commenced on Monday night, which will be attended by over 200 teachers of Auckland primary and intermediate schools. The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute is sponsoring the movement with the sanction of the chief inspector of the Auckland Education Board, Mr. A. Bain. The instructor will be Mr. C. B. Storr, of Ottawa, an exchange teacher. The teachers will be divided into five groups, three for standard teachers and two for infant teachers. Some of the classes will be held in the clubrooms of the institute, and the remainder in the Kowhai intermediate school. Eight lectures have been arranged, extending into June. All aspects <-f art will be dealt with, including its practical application to everyday commodities and furnishings.

Show Ribbons, No Import.

A license to import show ribbons from Australia has been refused the HawkeV; Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society by the Collector of Customs at Napier, who stated in a letter received at- a meeting of the society that the application had been carefully considered, and it was reg-otted a license could not lie issued during the period July 1 to December 31, 1030. The secretary, Mr. A. M. Retemcyer, after mentioning the difference in price between the Australian and New Zealand articles, said it was likely that a better local price might be obtained if ribbons were purchased direct from the mills. Several speakers considered the Royal Agricultural Society should take up the matter with a view to obtaining: a suitable contract, and it was decided to approach the Royal Society with a suggestion along these lines.

Remember the Milkman.

The retail milk vendors of the city to-day are sorely troubled by a shortage of coppers imposed on their former problem of shortage of milk, for the reason that observation of the increased price of milk, starting from this morning's delivery in the town and suburbs, seems to have been very widely overlooked by cash customers who are in the habit of putting the money out with the bottle and jug at the door each day. Despite the fact that the Milk Council advertised an advance from 6d to 6Ad a quart for loose milk and from 6Jd to 7d a quart for bottled milk, and the prominence given in the newspapers to the rise, to take effect from this morning's delivery, householders in many instances serenely supped their porridge to-day unconscious of the fact that they had "gyped" the milkman of a ha'penny or so on the legal price of his service. Perhaps they did not have a halfpenny handy, and will make it up tomorrow.

New Territorial Uniforms.

In the near future the general public will see a new smartness in the dress of the members of the territorial forces. The new blue uniforms for dress purposes promised some time ago by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, are now available for distribution. In the case of some units the distribution to trainees has already been made, but in cases where it has not the uniforms will be provided in the course of the next few parades. In all, about 1000 uniforms will be necessary in the Auckland area. The kit is quite new in design, and has a smart appearance. The tunic and trousers are navy blue, while down the seam of the trousers runs a broad scarlet band. The caps are similar in .shape to the Glengarry caps worn by Scottish units. Their official name is field service caps. They are blue, but the tucked-in top is scarlet. They are worn on the side of the head in jaunty fashion. This field service cap is not to be worn on parades, but for walking out and on social occasions. In fact, the whole uniform is known as the%walking out \iniform. It will, however, be worn on ceremonial occasions, when, instead of the small cap, a blue hat, similar in shape to the familiar khaki equipment, will be worn. These have not yet been issued, but they will be. The next big ceremonial occasion is on the King's Birthday, i