NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 237, 5 October 1940, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Emu Clucks at Zoo.

Eight emu chicks have been hatched I at the Auckland Zoo. There were ten I eggs originally, and an 80 per cent sue- | cess is regarded as remarkably good in zoo history. Narcissus Novelty. Iu answer to a report that a Wanganui resident has succeeded in growing a three-headed y«llow trumpet narcissus, an enthusiastic feminine gardener from Cnehunga brought four specimens of the novelty into the "Star" office to-day to prove that Auckland flower-lovers were capable of producing anything that could be grown in other provinces. She said she had grown at least a dozen this season, and had also successfully raised them la<st year. Farmers and Petrol. The decision of the Government to increase petrol supplies nest month was o referred to at a meeting of the Waikato e executive of the Farmers' Union. It was stated that the concession was evidently being made for the convenience of town C dwellers who deaired to use their motor t cars for holiday tours. A resolution 0 • as passed asking the Government to make a similar concession to farmers who took their annual holidays in the f months of May, June and July. t Fish Sale Control. t A Morriiwvilie resident who for the * last 22 years has been In the habit of 0 spending week-ends at Raglan recently f 1 followed' his usual custom and went 1 down to. meet an incoming fishing boat to buy some flounders. To his surprise s he was informed by the fisherman that he was not allowed to retail fish in J Raglan. The fisherman said he was c obliged to sell the whole of his catch < to a retailer, who would send it to J Hamilton on the following day, as the a Government had taken control of the t fishing industry. t Firemen's Resignation. < Following a disagreement with the 5 controlling body of the Takapuna 1 Volunteer Fire Brigade, the superinten- * dent of the Mr. G. E. Wiseman, has resigned, and a new superintendent ( has been appointed. Nine other members of the brigade, who resigned in ( sympathy with Mr. Wiseman, have been replaced, and the station staff is now . up to its full strength of 12 men. The \ new superintendent, Mr. G. W. Cameron, , has been an employee of the council and j a member of the brigade for a number ] of years. t Degree Examinations. \ Students' agonised pleas have appar- 1 ently been in vain, as advice has been < received by the registrar of Auckland University College, Mr. L. O. Desborough, from the University of New Zealand tl.at it is considered too late to alter the commencing date of the degree ex- \ animations, which falls on Labour Day. j When the date was first announced, a ; number of students protested to the i University of New Zealand, pointing out i that part-time students especially would appreciate a full day's holiday prior to the examinations for revision purposes. The matter will be considered by the Academic Board later in the month with a view to preventing a recurrence. The custom at present is to commence examination's on the 44th Monday of each Vear. This day will again coincide with Labour Day in 1968. Frmt Shops and Half-holiday. A close Saturday half-holiday for retail fruiterers, who now keep open until 9.30 p.m. on that day, is a question which will be discussed in conciliation council this month, when mem- j bers of the Shop Assistants' Union meet the employers to arrange a new award. Among the parties cited, together with proprietors of such businesses a«j cake shops, confectioners and dairies, are members of the Auckland Fruit Retailers' Association, the idea being to obtain a Dominion award. The Fruit Retailers' Association has decided to offer a weekly half-holiday to ehop assistants, with a preference for Saturday, if a separate award for Auckland fruit shops could be secured. Fruit retailers- who are members of the association are circulating a petition suggesting as an alternative that the closing time on Saturday be 6 p.m. "Wash Out the Water Board." "We should ask the Government to wash out the Water Board," declared Mr. H. J. Hutching at the Devonport Borough Council meeting this week* v-hen discussing the borough's water supply. "The board is an awful example !' of procrastination in public affairs and should be dissolved, continued the speaker. "The need of the moment ifor pure, fresh water, $nd Lake Puptjke should be augmented from the Wjurau Stream at once." Messrs. Hobbs-.Jones and Green also stressed the necessity > for instant action, and formulated a motion that the * Government should i instruct the hoard to carry out the 1 Pupuke-Wairau scheme as recommended by the recent expert report. Mr. Aldridge sought to amend the proposal in the direction, of obtaining the sanction of the ratepayers for the £176,000 cost of the «chen>e, but the amendment was lost, only the mover and Mr. Far-. t , quharson voting for jt. The Mayor, Mr., H. F. W. Meikle, declared his Intention of making a public statement on the I water question at an early date. I