NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Milk Supply Despite dry weather, the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council is receiving ample supplies of milk, and it has not been necessary to draw on -outside sources. Arrangements have been made for a reserve supply of first-class milk should the need arise. Milk Council Election Nominations will close on Monday for seats on the Auckland Metropolis tan Milk Council. The dairymen are entitled to elect two representatives, the vendors two, and local-. bodies, excluding the Auckland City Council, two members. The latter has the right to appoint three members, and will hold a special meeting for the purpose on February 20, the date of the election. Auckland Jay-walkers There are jay-walkers in Auckland, but that type of pedestrian does not appear to be so much in evidence as in some of the other Dominion centres. Auckland city traffic officials attribute improvement in the habits of ordinary citizens in crossing busy city streets to long training and the control at intersections, the proper place to cross a street, particularly if a person is past the age when one is nimble and fleet-footed. They also point to the good results of safety instruction in the schools, a work started in 1926. When children learn safety lessons and are warned of traffic dangers, they are likely to take greater care of themselves when they grow up. Romance or History? A piece of heather in flower, which is at present on view in the Otago Museum, comes from one of the most romantic spots in the south seas. On Campbell Island may be found a woman's grave on which heather is growing, and from which this slip was taken. Many stories have been told of this woman, all of them equally romantic, but the one told by Ro. Carrick, in his "Government Survey," said that the woman was French by birth, but Scottish by extraction, being the daughter of Meg Wilkinshaw and Bonnie Prince Charlie. When the prince retired to France, Miss Wilkinshaw accompanied him and became involved politically with the Jacobite party. On her death, suspicion was transferred to her daughter, and in order to get rid of her a seaman named Stewart abducted her and took her to New Zealand. He then handed her over to a brother sailor, who marooned her on Campbell Island, where she died. As Carrick points out, this fits in with pieces of history, but he adds that Campbell Island was not discovered until 30 • •—= after the supposed date.

Spread of Opossums Observations by officers of the State Forestry Department show that opossums are spreading and damaging some of the exotic trees in plantations. In recent years the opossum has increased in the vicinity of Auckland, particularly on the Waitakere Ranges, where there is ample cover, Orakei Petition Good progress is reported in connection with the petition which is being circulated with a view to securing Orakei village for the use of the Maoris. At a recent meeting of the Orakei Petition Committee it was reported.that 70 completed petition forms had already come back, containing over 2700 signatures. It was stated that the remainder of the forms would have to be returned before February 24, as Parliament is due to reopen on that date. Closing. Down The transfer has been completed of hospital patients from the Onehunga Intermediate School, and, when the hospital equipment is dismantled, the building will be available for school purposes. It was taken over some time ago by the Auckland Hospital Board and children from the Wilson Home were accommodated there. In December last the children were transferred back to the Wilson Home, and the building was then used for women patients. Piha Surf Club From contributions by residents, visitors and other sources, £150 has been raised this summer for the Piha Surf Life-saving Club.- The beach, which has flattened out, has proved safe for bathers, and the club has not been called on for any rescues. There have been more visitors, a number being Americans, who have been appreciative of Piha attractions. The Waitemata County Council is now building a road along the beach frontage to give direct access to the clubhouse. Grade 111. Men Strange as it may seem, men in the Grade 111. category are difficult to obtain for the army, said an army officer in Christchurch. The explanation was, he said, that employers, knowing it was unlikely that Grade 111. men would be called until all other reserves of manpower were exhausted, had trained these men for key positions, and in some cases businesses were being . carried on wholly by grade 111. and IV. men to-day. As soon as the men were called they were appealed for, and in many cases the appeals were successful because, rightly, employers who had relied on men of low medical standard deserved consideration because they had dona their part in releasing fitter men.- ,