NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Shooting Season. The shoot ing season in the Auckland province will open on .Saturday, May 4, and for cock pheasant, Californian and Australian quail will extend to .Tune 30. For grey, mallard and spoonbill duck, black swan and pukt'ko, the season will be restricted from May 4 to May IS. Exhibition Goes South. There is a possibility that certain outstanding features of the Centennial Exhibition may be secured f«ir the forthcoining \cw Zealand Industries Fair in l.'hristcliuich. Ofliccrs of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association, including members of the amusement committee, have recently visited Wellington with this object in view. Shortage of Paper. The acute shortage of paper due to the war is revealed by tliu fact that the Automobile Association (Auckland), Incorporated, in issuing its agenda, has an announcement marked as important. It reads: "Owing to shortage of materials, copies of the attachments hereto will not be attached to the order paper on the meeting table. If you require them for reference, please bring this with you."' In view of the former bulkiness of A.A. agendas, this is a reminder that we live in unsettled times. Week-end Accidents. A feature of the weekend was the absence of serious accident* on the roads in and about Auckland. A young girl received slight injuries when she ran in front of some cyclists who were road-racing, but after treatment in the casualty department of the Auckland Hospital she was able to return home. The only other injuries were received by a League footballer, whose arm was broken in a match on Saturday, and by a member of the North Shore Riding Club, who fell from her horse and fractured an arm.

Dunedin's Sports Grounds. "A peculiar idea was prevalent in Dunedin a few years ago that no part of tlie city reserves should be devoted to playing grounds for one particular group of people."' said. Mr. D. Tannock at a Gardening Club function in the southern city. "In time the reserves department was able to make people see the advantages of and the necessity for these sports grounds and playgrounds. There are now 19 bowling greens, 23 croquet lawns. 37 lawn tenuis courts, 17 hockey grounds, 15 Association football and 19 Rugby football grounds, two swimming baths, two golf courses and a remarkable number of children's playgrounds and parks in the reserves department's area." Golf Ball Lodges on Hedgehog. Playing in an open golf tournament at the Waitikiri links (Christchurch) on Saturday. H. M. S. Dawson, of the Harcwood Club, drove a good ball from the thirteenth tee. After landing, the ball rolled some distance, and then came to a stop on the back of a live hedgehog. At lirst Dawson tried to move the hedgehop, but it refused to budge, so he picked up the ball and dropped it clear. That cost him two strokes penalty, and he lost the hole. There was talk in the clubhouse later whether Dawson should have been penalised, as the rule states: "If a ball lodge in anything moving, a ball shall be dropped as near as possible to the spot where the object was when the ball lodged in it, without penalty." Pronunciation in Court. Perhaps out of kindness, and perhaps because the uncertain pronunciation of his Yugoslav name was causing him distress, a witness in the Christchurch Magistrate's Court came to the assistance of one of the counsel engaged. When the witness was called, the lawyer asked him exactly how the name was pronounced, but there was clearly a difference between them. Franicevitch is the name—pronounced by its owner rather like "Fran-ish-avitch." with the accent on the "ish." "Fran-icy-vitch" was counsel's version. Half-way through his evidence the witness took advantage of a pause. "My name is George," he said in a friendly fashion. And with equal friendliness the lawyer called him George. March Weather. Except in a few small areas, the rainfall last month was well below normal, states the report of the Dominion meteorologist. Over the greater part of the Dominion less than ">0 per cent of the average was recorded, .while many totals were below one inch. The month on the whole was fine, cool and dry, and from the meteorological point of view the period was quiet and uneventful, with a steady sequence of anti-cvclones across the New Zealand area. The dry spell is being felt most :n the South Island, where, from mid-Caivterburv southwards, the feed position is rather acute. The drought and insect pests have seriously affected many of the crops of supplementary "feed, but throughout the whole country stock is in excellent condition.

The Serpent in Eden. A visitor who was strolling through an Auckland suburb the other day, and admiring the garden homes, had his attention arrested by a cosy little retreat on the front 'gate of which in artistic but modest letters was the name, "The Haven." Having in mind that the place was happily named, as an attractive harbour from the storms of life, or maybe a resting place for the weary wayfarer, he had this line of thought rudely shocked when his eye was caught by a notiee a yard or two down the garden path. In large block letters visitors were warned to "beware of the dojr.'' Apparently it was an exclusive haven, and no place for weary wayfarers generally—in the language of tlnj films it was heaven with a barbed wire fence. Colonial Accent in Australia. Dr. Halliday Sutherland, the wellknown author and physician, who has returned to Sydney afler a stay in Xcw Zealand, said that he could not find in Xew Zealand any trace of the '•colonial accent which is noticeable in Australia." "I am inclined to the belief that the colonial accent in Australia," he said, "is caused by the effects of an inflammation of the nose—a complaint from which most Australians seem to suffer, and which is probably caused by pollen in the air. There are thousands of grasses in Australia which produce this pollen. The complaint, usually in the form of catarrh or Lay fever, causes a sight deafness in the j;rcat majority of the Australian people. Perhaps that is why Australians speak more loudly than English people do. One friend in Xnv Zealand challenged me for speaking loudly, and said. 'You've become an Australian.'" Dr. Sutherland said that the New Zealand j>eople had English, Scottish, or Irish accents-

"Where are JW Stripes?" London seems to be the chief getting for stories about 'dear old ladies" and the war, but Duncdin produced an amusing example this week. A young second-lieutenant wearing his uniform for about the third time since receiving his commission encountered an elderly woman acquaintance in Princes Street. "So you are in uniform now," she said. "lint where are your stripes?" she asked in surprise. "Surely a young man like you can get at least one stripe!" Xoedless to say. the young subaltern was a somewhat disconcerted soldier when the "dear old lady" had passed on her way. Crowds at Bastion Point. Vesterday's sunshine drew out the usiml crowd of Sunday afternoon motor-i.-ts. and a large proportion converged on Hast ion Point. A constant stream of people was filing past Mr. Savage's last resting place throughout the afternoon, ami many an Aucklaiuler discovered for the first time the glorious view that is to be obtained from the headland over the vault. Incidentally, Id the casual observer, there was little indication of the effect of petrol restrictions at present imposed. Cars of all types, shapes and sizes were parked by the dozen along the roadside, or raising clouds of dust passing to and fro along the road. Harvest Festival. Revealing the fruits of an abundant season in garden and orchard, the church harvest festival services in Auckland yesterday were held in a colourful atmosphere. Most prominent were apples of numerous varieties, attractively displayed. Late summer and early autumn vegetables were well represented, with pumpkins, marrow., and melons claiming pride of place. In contrast were tomatoes, sweet coin, carrots and parsnips, wii'tle onions and potatoes helped to make up the miscellaneous display. In small groups were citrus, passion fruit and grapes, all adding to the evidence of a bountiful soil and genial climate. Driver's Dilemma. The driver of a motor lorry, overladen with timber, found himself in a curious predicament when driving up Cockayne Road, Xgaio (Wellington). While gears were being changed the engine failed to drive the vehicle forward, and the driver found that the front wheel* were off the ground. The bonnet rose till the forward end was 4ft or sft from the road, and the load, which projected from the rear, rested on the ground. An endeavour was made with a rival timber merchant's lurry to bring the vehicle back on all fours, without success, and it had to be partly unloaded before its journey could lie resumed. Contrary to Principle.

Objection to the board's refusal to supply trees to Canterbury University College for the use of tenants in establishing shelter belts was expressed by Mr. W. J'. Spencer at a meeting of the Selwyn Plantation Hoard. A previous request from the college for trees was declined, but a further application was made. In moving that the application l>c granted. Mr. Spencer said that the college was willing to pay for the trees, and. as the board was likely to have plenty in hand this year, there was no rea.-01l for refusing. The chairman. Mr. X. ('. Kensington, said that it was a matter of principle that prohibited the board from granting the request. The board would not compete against private enterprise, and if trees were supplied to Canterbury L'niversity College they might just as well be supplied to anyone else. The motion was not seconded. Experience for Motorist. Strange and delicate are the ways of the modern motor car engine. This fact was brought home to a motorist and his family on an afternoon outing yesterday. Returning from a jaunt along Tamaki Drive, the car was just passing the intersection of Xgapipi Road and the Drive when the engine coughed and went dead. The driver—who has had a , score of years' experience behind the, wheel—tested the ignition, the horiv the self-starter. Xo result. He lifted the battery cover, rubbed some dust off the top, looked at the terminals. Nothing wrong as far as he could see. The occupants of the back seat were discussing who and where to send for help. The driver, with admirable restraint, was biting on his finger in puz/.led silence. Almost unconsciously his foot strayed to the starter. He pressed. The engine ticked over sweetly. He let in the clutch. The car slid into gear and rolled off. When last heard of. the engine was running as well as ever. Onions for Australia. A new feature which may affect the disposal of this season's local onion crop in Xew Zealand is the receipt of inquiries from Australian merchants. A cablegram received by a Marshland grower this week from one of the biggest Sydney brokers reads, "Quote shipment for steamer during April, with further shipments in May and .Tunc." The bulk of the onion crop in the south has nov.- been harvested. The weather has been as favourable as last year, when conditions were regarded as" the most perfect ever experienced. These factors, in addition to the point that the greater part of the crop consists of long-keeping varieties, should ensure supplies until well on in the year, and growers say that it should not be necessary to import until December. Farmers have faith in the market, and many have built new sheds in which to store a fair proportion of the crop. The present price is only £5 5/ a ton, but for forward delivery onions have been sold for more than double this price. Growers have been assured by the Government that there will be no importations until all the local crop is marketed. They Got Their Medals. There was plenty of interest and quite a lot of giggling among the Kllerslie school children wl en they assembled at the sports on Saturday to receive silver medals won during" the season at the hands of the Mayoress. As the names were called, by the president, small boys and girls clambered under the ropes and glanced furtively up at the Mayoress, who smiled graciously at the recipients. It seemedcurious that one little girl was back and forth quite a lot, actually receiving bo fewer than five medal*. Another youngster blushed uneasily as her name was called, but went forward nevertheless, and with outstretched hand for the medal murmured that she had not run in any race. Some of these peculiarities were explained later, when the president discovered that he had read from a wrong list. From the microphone then came the announcement that all medals had to be returned and a fresh distribution made/. Fresh misgivings came to the later recipients when a microphone announcement was made that all medals must be returned to the president by Friday night next, but was allayed when it was mentioned that this was merely for the purpose of engraving names on the trophies.