NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Rare White Egret Believed to bo a white egret—the kutuku of the Maori —a white bird lias taken up temporary residence near a (dam on the property of Mr. H. C. S. Wilson, Highfield Kood, Feilding. The bird was first noticed one afternoon last week, and at first was thought to be a white heron. Seen through glasses. however, there is little doubt that it is the now rare kotuku. Appreciation of Air Exploit. The heroic exploits on the Western Front of the New Zealand pilot. "Cobber" Kilin, have earned appreciation in many quarters, and a large Diincdin drapery firm has made a gift of 5(llb of knitting wool Ui the Otago Patriotic Council so that it might be made into comfort* for members of the Air Force. The gift was made, it was stated, as a token of admiration of the exploits of Flying-Officer Knin. Apples for Brazil. A shipment of apples from Hawko's Hay to South America appears to be likely from the fact that growers have been asked to put up nil export pack for Riu de -Taneiro. Parks of Delicious apples bearing a label for this destination have already been received at the assembly point in Hastings, but. so far a< can Ik- gathered, it might lie sometime before they «re actually exported. Apples l>olllsl received for this ( purpose are large-size Delicious of SO to 113 count. Efficient Officers. In a letter to the City Council, read last evening, an operating bus company expressed its thanks for and appreciation of the efficient manner in which the officers of the city traffic department, in conjunction with other traffic officers, controlled the motor traffic on the Tumaki Drive and adjacent streets between the city and Bastion Point on J Sunday last. The Mayor said the traffic officers and staff had done their work wonderfully, and were to be congratulated. "Never Broke . . ? n lie was email, round and in a hurry, yet as he turned a corner he found time to bestow a beaming smile on a fellow pedestrian and remark confidentially, "Never broke." The pedestrian stopped suddenly and looked after the departing figure. He was frankly puzzled. A man who was never broke was rare enough, but one who stopped in the street to confide the circumstance with perfect strangers was a genuine museum specimen. Human curiosity can only stand bo much. A few hurried steps, a polite question, and the little man stopped. "Never broke? . . . Who, me? Not on your life. It was my glasses—l 'dropped them just now on the footpath. 1. Mist Over the Harbour. Although the morning was gloriously clear and bright over the city and suburbs, the harbour was covered by a blanket of fine mist when most city workers were arriving at their offices to-day. From along the waterfront, and from points of. vantage such as the northern end of Princes Street, boats and objects on the water presented a ghostly appearance, while puffs of smoke from engines were the only indications of the railv ay yards, except from close range. Aβ the mist slowly disseminated and the sun broke through, the harbour lived up to its name «s "the sparkling Waitemata." The sun rays glinting on the calm water gave it a glistening sheen and made it seem like a solid mass, broken only by long, diverging ripples in the wakes of passing boats.

Phnetr Pedagogy. Major Xornian Brett-James, writing to "The Tiiues* (London), reminds Its readers that "in the celebrations of ,Xew Zealand's centenary we must not forget the work of the Rev. and Hon. George Samuel Evans, LL.D., who was one of the earliest settlers there. He was headmaster of Mill Hill School in 1827-28, and had curious quarrels with the chaplain while there, a not infrequent occurrence in those days. After beihg called to the fear by Lincoln's Inn in the year of Queen Victoria's accession he eettled in New Zealand, where he was Founder and Chief Justiee of the City of Wellington. Years of devoted service to Xew Zealand were followed by equally valuable work in Victoria. Where he was Postmaeter-General and head of the Government from 1858-03. He edited the 'Melbourne Herald' and was frequently cartooned iu the Melbourne 'Punch.'" A Promising Pianist. The Award of a ueholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. London, has been made to" Miss Shirley Craig, the Wellington pianist. This* scholarship, which includes two years' tuition at the academy, was awarded on the recommendation of Dr. Stnton and Dr. Colles. from childhood Shirley Craig has shown great promise. In 1934, at the age of 12, while in England with her mother, she attracted the attention of many notable teat-hern and artists. These included the famous teacher, Tobias Matthay. Denise Lnssiiiionm l . the London teacher, was so impressed that she immediately offerrtl her services as teacher and was sorry lo learn that Shirley Was leaving London. Eric Grant, examiner for the Royal Academy in 1938, said, on hearing her play, that she ought to continue to study in London. In 1935 Shirley Craig won the gold medal in the advanced grade, and the entry to the licentiate after passing the final grade in 1937. Rotorua Bowling Greens. Deterioration in the standard of the bowling greene in the Govern meut Gardens and under tli* control of the Tourist Department, which rents them to the Rotorua Bowling Club, was expressed at a general meeting Of the club, reports the "Star's" Rotorua correspondent. The position was outlined with considerable j emphasis to representatives of the Do- i partment who attended. It was claimed that a gritty substance on the green was ruining players' bowls, and that outside visitors Who had previously supported the club in its tournaments were most critical of the conditions and were likely to remove their support from Rotorua tourneys. It was pointed out bv several speakers that the tourneys brought a large number of visitors to Rotorua. and for that reason alone the Tourist Department was directly interested. Other speakers advocated the club securing its own jireens. The head gardener to the Department, Mr. W. Hesketh, bluuied the dry season aad poor water supply for the conditions. It 'wa« finally resolved that the club take steps to impress upon the Department the need for improving the greens before next season, and to make a contribution towards the cost of improving the water supply.

Finnish War Horse Appeal. Under the heading of "Finnish War Horse Appeal." a special campaign for funds is being made by the Roval Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, London, and th* executive of the Auckland branch of the society lias decided to make a donation of £10 to the fund. Meteor Observed. A large meteor was noticed this morning by early-rising residents of Blockhouse Bay. Appearing at first to be about the size of a Soccer ball, the meteor came from the direction of the Titirangi Kangcs and was estimated to be only a few hundred feet above the earth. As it gradually grew larger, the phosphorescent tail was observed, making a fine sight as it trailed overhead and quickly disappeared. Novel History Lesson. An innovation in the teaching of New Zealand history at the Te Awainutu Primary School was introduced yesterday afternoon, when about 150 "of the pupils, none of them over 12 years of age, re-enacted the ceremony of signing the Treaty of Waitangi. the "lesson" was fully ceremonial, with fiovernor Hobson mid his officers, also missionaries, ladies, settlers and Maori men and women, all in full dress. The ceremony took place on the large lawn beside the school, and was most impressive. It was watched by many parents. Farm Labour Suggestion. Suggestions for the solution of the fiirni labour problem by subsidising farmers willing but financially unable to keep hands on during the winter wore made at a meeting of the Kotorna District Council of Primary Production. "It would appear that one of the reasons which makes farm work unpopular is the fact that the hired hand is paid on* in the late autumn and has to seek work in other occupations. This often mean* that our best farm hands do not return to farm service in the spring, when labour shortage is most acute," stated the letter forwarded to the district council.

One Race Too Many. Motor racing has a fascination for youngsters, but one New ton lad is certain to remove the sport from his list of amusements. Starting off at the top of Newton Road yesterday afternoon, his intentions were to take a joyous rim down the steep hill in his "trolley car." built from the usual sections of boards and soap box. It may have been thiit the young racer lost his nerve, or perhaps his vehicle had trouble in the steering apparatus, but the "car" got away, and, gathering speed, swerved violently right and left as it swept down the road. Tlfe climax- occurred when it struck the kerb at the bottom turn, (smashed its front wheels off and threw the young driver violently on the sidewalk. The youngster escaped with nothing more serious than "asphalt rash," hut it was a shaken lad who towed the wreck away. Gisbone's Military Effort. The Gisborne sub-area of the central military district hae a list of 317 Europeans who have volunteered and been passed as fit for service overseas. Of this number, 246 are ready for the Third Echelon, the remainder being in reserved occupations. In view of theee figures, the local authorities have difficulty in understanding the claim of Tarannki, with 203 recruits, to be the first district to fill its quota for the' Third jKehelon. For the First and Second Echelons the total number sent from Gisborne was 200, in addition to which 187 were sent for the Maori Battalion. There are at present 246 Europeans and 172 Maoris waiting to lie called up, apart from more than 90 in reserved occupations. The total now available for service, therefore, is more than the numbers already sent away. The total number of men, European and Maori, recruited in the area and passed as fit is 1011. Universal Superannuation. At the General Post Office, Wellington, during the last week or ten days, the demand for application forms for the over-65 universal superannuation has been fairly brisk, with a tendency to increase evfcry day. as it, is becoming known that superannuation (irrespective of means) is to be inaugurated this month. On the form the applicants have to state full name and address, number of social security book, country of birth, date of birth, o«re last birthday and length of continuous residence in Xeu- Zealand. They must have two persons, other than relatives, who can verify the claim as to the term of residence in New Zealand. They must also state whether they or their husband or wife are receiving any monetary benefit under tho Social Security Act. In cases where residence has been interrupted by any absences from the country during the last ten years, applicants must set out when they first arrived in New Zealand, at which port and in which ship. Absences from New Zealand since first arrival in the country have also to be stated.