NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Company income. Company income during the 1938-39 tax year shows an increase of 535. equal to 9.8 per cent, in the number of taxpaving companies; £1,170,650, or ti.3 I>er cent, in the amount of assessable incomes; and £407,395, or 7.6 per cent, in the amount of tax 'assessed. These returns are included in the current issue of the "Abstract of Statistics.'' Surprising Figures. During the past week—last Friday ! until to-day. inclusive—it is estimated that about 60,000 persons have either arrived or departed by train from the Auckland railway station. This figure is approximately equal to one-twentv-fifth of the total population of Xew Zealand, or three-tenths the population of Auckland and the suburbs. Of the 60.000. about 25,000 travelled to or from Wellington. The figures do not include passengers on suburban trains. A Long Wait. A Dunedin jeweller was not a little surprised the other day when a woman whom lie could not remember having previously visited his shop came to the counter, and, giving her name, asked casually for the watch she liad left with the firm for repairs. Although believing that the woman had mistaken j the shop. he went to see if he could lind tin? watch she had described, and, much to, his surprise, he found it. Hut his surprise was greater still when he discovered that the watch had been waiting for its owner to return for nearlv ten years. I

Cheaper Vegetables. This week fruit and vegetable prices on the Auckland city markets have fallen sharply, demand having shown the usual decline after the Christmas rush subsided. Nearly all vegetables are cheaper than they have been for a long time, and potatoes, which were nelling at luxury prices a month or two ago, have slumped owing to the extremely heavy quantities coming forward. Green peas and beans are also much lower than they were a week ago. In the fruit section, tomatoes, strawberries and plums are cheaper than they have been at any time since the season opened. Improving Their Minis. Not everybody, apparently wants to spend the holiday in wide open spaces or by the sea; hundreds of people during the last few days have paid visits to the Dominion Museum and National Art Gallery, states the "Evening-Post/' Wellington. This is usually the case during holiday periods, but the crowds recently have been rather larger than usual, many being visitors from other parts of the Dominion. The exhibition at the National Art Gallery of contemporary European art has no doubt been an added stimulus, but from a cultural point of view it is satisfactory to find that the Museum and Art Gallery are so popular in holiday time, and that it does not require a wet day to drive people there.

£100 for Bird Protection. A very good Christinas gift has come to the. Forest and Bird Protection Society. Long ago a body known as "New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society" was formed. It worked well for a while, but its active life ended about 20 years ago. At that stage it liad some funds, which remained in trust. A former member of the executive (who is now a member of the Forest and Bird Protection Society's executive) put the proper machinery in motion for a transfer of the remaining money, about £100, to "present society. "We should like some mort Christmas boxes like that," says the president, Captain Sanderson. "The society can make very good use of the money on behalf of the people of New Zealand." A Profitable Cow. Over 20 years old, looking in splendid milking condition and still producing 401b of milk a day, with a 4.1 test. That is the record of Maori, a Jersey grade cow, bred by her owner, Mr. W. H. ButIct, Rahotu, in Taranaki. It is a refreshing record, particularly in these days, when" heavy replacement costs in herds are such a disquieting feature of dairy farming. Maori nearly finished her career when she was only three or four days old,, for at that stage she slipped on the concrete floor of the shed and broke one of her hocks. Mr. Butler was just about to kill her when by a fortunate chance Mr. R. B. Word, well-known veterinarian, walked into the shed. He put the broken leg in splints and bound it, with the result ' that Maori made a pood recovery, though the effect of the accident is still noticeable in her walk to-day. " Centennial News." The latest issue of the "New Zealand Centennial News" contains a wealth of information concerning items of historical interest and notes of Centennial activities. In a specially written foreword, the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, points out that it is the clear duty of all Centennial organisations to persevere with their planned programmes, and says that any unreasonable slackening of effort is sure to induce regrets and probably reproaches. The obligation to "carry on," he says, in a spirit worthy of the pioneers applies particularly to arrangements for children and elderly folk. The spectacular programme for the Centennial celebrations is fully reviewed in the "Centennial News," which also contains well-written and interesting articles dealing with the history of New Zealand. "Armour" of To-day. Comparisons between the obsolete and the modern paraphernalia of battle form the theme of the military section of the defence exhibit in the Government court at the exhibition. Most interesting (says the "Dominion") is the comparison between the oldfashioned infantry uniform for active service, with its brass buttons and unserviceable cut, and the simple, comfortable and efficient modern garments, with all buttons covered, and designed for gaiters instead of putteee, and the belt incorporated in the tunic. An oldtime steel cuirass and dragoon's helmet are set off by modern "tin hats," the simple armour of the modern battlefield. Old horse pistols contrast with the modern Webley service revolver; obsolete patterns of bayonets with the more recent types. Cavalry sabres and infantry and dress swords lend a martial appearance to the stand, though actually less a feature of the service equipment of to-day than a part of the panoply of the past. A sinister phase of modern warfare is recalled by a mustard gas decontamination suit, with gas mask, gloves, pants covering the boots, and special tunic and trousers reminiscent of a diver's, suit. It is very similar to the A.It.P. decontamination suit, with, however, a slightly more military appearance.

Real Sports. A gesture showing how racing folk admire a good horse was made at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting yesterday, when the Australian champion pacer, Lawn Derby, contested the Centennial Cup. Handicapped to concede starts to his opponents ranging up to 108 yards, Lawn Derby's prospects were not regarded highly by backers. At no stage of the race did he look like taking a part in the finish, but he gave a fine exhibition of pacing, though he finished outside a place. The public were not slow to recognise his great effort, and cheered both horse and driver each time they passed the stand.

Tobacco Crops. the increased demand for New Zealand tobacco, more growers are turning their attention to this crop. The Department of Scientific and Indus*r'a.' R° senrc h has been advising an additional number of growers how best to bring new land under cultivation for tobacco, and had it not been for the recent heavy rains and floods in the Nelson district a larger area still would have been under cultivation for tobacco. But the floods did much damage to the tobacco fields, and it is doubtful whether there will be sufficient plants to carry out all the replanting necessary, let a lone, the development of new areas. Medicinal Plants.

The botany division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is actively following tip investigations concerning the growth in New Zealand of medicinal plants, supplies of which are being secured from Great Britain. Meanwhile, analyses are being made of such species of digitalis (foxglove) which can be secured locally. Hie Department lias also had prepared a comprehensive report upon the economic aspects of New Zealand seaweed. 1 he possibilities of using New Zealand seaweed ar# being explored for industrial purposes, and if the position seems worth while further work will be done in endeavours to estimate the quantities of weed available and rates of regrowth of the New Zealand species.

The Scots and Atr Raids. The Rev. J. Lamb Harvey, formerly of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Auckland, writing from Dufftown, Scotland, saye that the courage of the people in the north of Scotland, where some of the early air raids took place, is something to admire. The Scots have a very firm faith in the justice of the Allied cause, and think that despite the attacks made upon them, with so little result, they are being protected in some Divine way. Many of the crofter folk cannot understand, writes Mr. Harvey, why their isolated, quiet villages have been singled out by the Germans, because nothing is further from their thoughts than a desire for war. All they want is to be allowed to live in peace and pursue their occupations with ill-will to no one. Mr. Harvey says that the air raid on the Forth Bridge was an awful failure, and showed German weakness in the air. A Man and a Manhole. A Napier employer spent an embarrassing few moments at the Napier Breakwater a couple of days ago (says the "Telegraph"). In the course of his employment he found it necessary to "o down through a manhole to inspect machinery under the wharf. While he was elambing back on to the decking he was caught in the manhole, leaving his arms pinioned in a position above his head. Fortunately he was an employer who could take a joke, because while he was in this position one of the employees worked his way under the decking and went through his pockets, kicking away the raft from under the imprisoned man's feet as he left. Pleas of "Get me out of here" fell on deaf ears, the employees demanding a bottle of beer each for Christmas, increased pay and lengthier holidays. Falling in with the spirit of the occasion, not so much because he had no option as the fact that he was the possessor of a keen sepse of humour, the employer promised them anything to be extricated from his plight. New Railway Engines. Carried as deck cargo and painted grey, the colour of the ship's hull, six further locomotives of the J class built for the New Zealand railways by the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow, have arrived at Wellington, making a total of 26 since early in September. Four of the engines were unloaded yesterday by the Wellington Harbour Board's floating crane Hikitea, and the other two will be taken off the ship to-day. With the arrival at Wellington in the i<ear future of four more of these locomotives the North Island quota of 30 will have been delivered. In all, 40 J class engines were ordered, but the remaining 10 will be operated on the South Island lines and will be unloaded at a South Island port. Less than four months have elapsed since the first locomotive was delivered at Wellington, and 19 are already in service hauling express trains. Within recent weeks locomotive depots in the North Island have been provided with additional motive power to help cope with heavy demands created by the Christmas and Centennial rush traffic. Most of the new engines are in the Auckland district.