NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fish Ho!

Without doubt the most popular man in most suburban areas is the man who hae just completed a week-end's successful fishing. One householder had a good day on the Manukau yesterday, catching about 30 line snapper, but by this morning they had all been accounted for. "I seemed to meet almost everyone I know, and of course I didn't mind giving them a snapper or two, as I had plenty," he remarked this morning, "but when they had all had one or two—well, the family wore luckv to have fish for tea."

No War Talk. People in Singapore do not '"talk war"' in spite of the importance of their territory as a strategic point in Empire defence, according to Mr. D. H. S. Wilson, a Singapore business man, who is a through passenger in the South Pacific Line's steamer Roprgeveen. Mr. Wilson said there was no doubt that the place wae being made into a great fort in a quiet sort of way, but the people there did not indulge in talk of war. There was not much alarm about the future, nor any worry concerning the Japanese menace.

Vandals at Penrose. Damage estimated at £20 was caused by vandals in Penrose on Saturday afternoon or evening at the works of the B. and 13. Concrete Company. Concrete tubs and boiler frames, ready for dispatch to-day, were pushed from the loading clock on to the railway line. Several tubs were damaged beyond repair. It may be possible to repair the boiler frames. Several hundred chimney blocks standing in stacks were also pushed over and damaged. The damage was discovered yesterday morning"Fluke,, Came Off.

It was when the ball was being placed preparatory to Xepiu taking a shot at goal in the Eastern Subiirbs-Manukau match at Carlaw Park on Saturday that a Maori spectator perpetrated a "bull." Gazing proudly at Xepia, who was gathering up his energies for the attempt, the Maori eaid, "Py korry, it be a flirice if tat shot miss!" Xepia, however, failed to convert, and the Maori capped his remark by saying in a surprised tone of voice, "Py korry, tat fluke, he eome off all right." And then he wondered why people laughed. A Study in Odours.

For those who took leisure to observe, the Waitake.ro Scenic Drive yesterday provided a study in odours. Early in the day, when the road was almost bare of traffic, there were the many delicate, altogether pleasing scents of the bush, while to the city dweller the cool, clear freshness of the air wae itself a novelty and a delight. A little further along the road some exotic shrub planted by a bach owner filled the air with sweet, heavy perfume. Before long, however, the wonderful harmony of sight and sound and scent was shattered. The fine delicacy of the bush scents was lost in the bitiag smoke of motor exhausts. Dust clouds robbed the air of its purity, while in places where road work is still in progress the smell of tar and oil took precedence. Then, as a final touch, at one point the stench of decay hung over the road like a cloud. A barely-burled pig had been left within a few feet of the roadwav.

Tennis and Cricket Supplies.

A general shortage of all forms of summer sporting goods next season through the operation of the import regulations is anticipated by Wellington importers, and a rise in price for available supplies seems inevitable. writes a correspondent. Sports dealers added that they -felt that they had been dealt with very fairly compared with other sections of the community. "I have been hit as other importers have been hit," said one man, "but I am-very satisfied with the treatment I have received. My business will be affected naturally, but it will be by no means crippled. Of course, we will be faced with a reduced turnover caused through shortage of supplied, and, overhead charges remaining the same, a general rise in prices will be unavoidable." Tennis and cricket balls were items mentioned by this importer as important lines that would be in short supply, while another man expressed the opinion that .ttfere was likely to be a shortage of cricket bats.

Import Control Effects.

The effect of import restrictions in New Zealand on trade with Germany is referred to in a letter which has been received by Yhe president of the Bureau of Importers, Mr. W. A. Boucher, from a Hamburg business man, Mr. H. C. Jooeten, who was formerly in business in Wellington for many years. Mr. .Toosten stated that he was sorry to hear that New Zealand licenses for German material were severely cut down. Under the GermanNew Zealand agreement the proceeds of German imports into the Dominion were entirely used for purchases of Xew Zealand produce. During November, December and January Germany had bought large quantities of wool and butter, and in fact had distributed the. available amounts of the German-New Zealand trade until April and May. Recent months, however, proved that the Gorman exports to New Zealand had heen curtailed by almost 50 per cent, and consequently the German importers were not in a position to buy New Zealand hides, skins and butter for the next few months.' That meant that the competition for Xew Zealand products was diminished. In conclusion, Mr. .Toosten pointed out that since December he had not had an opportunity to contract for a single parcel of New Zealand hides and skins owing to the lack of New Zealand credits.

Cats , Lucky Day. Well dressed, young and full of the cup that cheers, a convivial gentleman who had a grandstand seat on the kerb in France Street just below Karangahape Koad created some amusement on Saturday. In one hand he held a large erayiiah, and it was evident that lie was dining out. Around him were three or four cats who had scented the sea epider from afar. Evidently of a kindly nature, the young fellow was 'sharing his .supper with the animals, who licked their chops and came back for more. The pastoral picture lasted until the crayfish was merely a ma«s of broken shell.

Onetangi is Tree Conscious. Gifted with one of the finest stretches of beach in the province, residents of Onetangi are not blind to the beauty and utility of trees. At the annual meeting of ratepayers and residents on Saturday night three proposals relating to trees were considered, and definite action is to be taken. Close to the settlement is one stand of native bush, which includes a number of fine kauris, and wliiVh is viaited by most visitors to the seaside report. The meeting was unanimous that steps should be taken to have it acquired and proclaimed a scenic resort. A second suggestion was that parts of a reserve now leased for grazing should be planted, and a third was that as a Centennial memorial an avenue be planted for about a mile along the main road leading into Onetangi.

"Way Out, Please? , * Among the privileged few who were permitted to visit the liner Dominion Monarch recently there were obviously eome whose knowledge of ships and their ways were strictly limited. One little party wandered off on their own, and after traversing miles of corridors, lost in admiration and wonder, they became lost in the more literal sense as well. They wandered up and down stairways and round about, even finding their way on to the fleck where loading operations were in progress and looking down into the. dizzy depths of an open hutch. But, for the life of them, they could not find their way out. They were lost, and the knowledge added to their confusion, so that it was not until a steward was approached that a rather ashamed group was guided up to "A" deck and the main entrance port.

State House Viewing.

State house viewing is still as popular a Sunday afternoon entertainment as can be found in the city, and yesterday afternoon the various groups of honees still under construction had thoir curious visitors. The houses in Great North Road where it slopes steeply down towards Western Springe . were especially popular yesterday. Little partiee of sightseers tried door handles and windows. They even climbed on to anything that could be -found in an endeavour to see through the whitewashed glass. They were mostly family groups, and father would hold up baby so that she could see behind that mysterious veil of whitewash. Incidentally the primary purpose of the white coating on the windows of buildings still under construction is not to prevent the curious from peering in. It is merely a warning to the builders that the glass is in place and that the windows may no longer be used for passing in lengths of timber.

Health Display at Show.

The Waikato Winter Show will be opened in the Show Association's exhibition buildings in Ward Street, Hamilton, by the Hon. P. Fraser, on Tuesday, May 30. The association has long been interested in the health of the community, and during the last year it has distributed 50.000 lunch bags to school children. Printed on the bags has been valuahlo advice concerning suitable school lunches. The association is supplementing its,efforts in the cause of health by making a special display at the show. A large marquee will be used, and along its walls will be hung health poster? obtained throughout the world. The health organisations of Great Britain, the Continent and the United States have contributed to tho hundreds of posters and booklets dealing with health and physical fitness that have arrived at the association's office. An interesting section of {he exhibit ie devoted to books prepared in Braille for the use of the blind, while anotner set deals with all the aspects of milk production.

Expedition in Mail Delivery. The container system of handling mail, used extensively by the English railways, is thought to be capable of adaptation to the service between Christchurch and Wellington. A report was received by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce outlining the advantages of the system, and this will be con-' sidered by the postal committee of the chamber, and possibly discussed with the Postal and- Railway Departments and the Union Stenm Ship Company, Ltd. "We know that when the mails arrive on the steamer express at Lyttclton they hnve to be unloaded sinsrly." stated the report of the secretary, Mr. J. R. Smith. "Those go on to the truck and thon come to Christchurch, and then the bags have to be transferred one by One to the wagons to come up to the Christohuroh. Post Office. Tf the container system could be successfully utilised, the container would be taken by the crane from the steamer express and in one operation would be dropped on to the pnssensrer train which brings the passengers to f'hristclnirch on the arrival of the steamer express," he added. "The mail container would again be placed on the mail wagon at Christchurch and would be brought to the post office in one operation." The Chief Postmaster, Mr. G. Clark, enid the system was an excellent one, and was in force so far as port facilities would permit. Under "present conditions, he considered the single bag system was the most suitable.