NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 290, 7 December 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Chamois Shot One evening last week two chamois were shot in the riverbed adjacent to McKay's Creek powerhouse, onlysix miles from Hokitika. It is unusual to find chamois at such close quarters, as they mostly Stay near the snowline. Strawberries—No Cream Strawberries and cream are linked like roast lamb and green peas. Now that no cream is available it is stated that the public are not purchasing strawberries with the same eagerness as in past seasons. Some cafeterias are attempting to overcome the lack of cream by serving ice cream with strawberrieis. This is a palatable dish, though the halffrozen product chills the fruit a little. Double Surf Ski The Piha Surf Life-saving Club has had built in Auckland a double surf ski which, will accommodate two men. It has already proved effective in getting over lines of surf, and it is considered that with its use it will be possible to reach bathers quickly when in difficulty, as the ski is well balanced and can be easily handled. The double skis have proved of great value on Australian beaches, where there are similar surf conditions. Traffic Delayed Derailment of a tramcar near the top of Symonds Street shortly before eight o'clock this morning caused congestion of traffic and delayed people coming into the city. The services to Mount Eden, Three Kings, Owairaka and Avondale were disrupted for 20 or 30 minutes, and by then many intending passengers had gathered at the various stopping places. When the cars started to run again they were quickly filled. Many people, within handy range of the city, walked either to the top of Symonds Street or all the way to work. Banana Prices Residents of Apia, particularly banana growers, have been pleased to note that recently the New Zealand Press has taken up the problem of banana prices in Samoa and New Zealand. While the producer in Samoa is paid 5/6 a case, the New Zealand consumer is charged about 6d a pound, and the middleman, in this case the New Zealand Government, has not revealed who gets away with the margin between cost and selling price. Meantime, as far as is concerned, the banana inriustrv is dying a natural death, as cjnmoans, as well as Europeans, refuse to ship bananas foT the price offered Actually they get more on the local market and by shipping to Pago Pago.

Christmas Day Tides Aucklariders wishing to have a swim on Christmas morning will need to rise early, as full tide on the Waitemata will be at 5.30 a.m. At Onehunga the tide will be at 9.7 a.m. The evening Auckland tide will be at 5.46, and the Onehunga 9.23. On the Manukau Harbour the tide is an hour earlier at the heads. Offices in London and Washington "The offices provided for the New Zealand Minister in Washington are a credit to this country," said Mr. L. Wall, of Wellington, who has returned from- a trip to England and America, in an address to Palmerston North Rotarians. The position was not quite the same in England, said Mr. Wall, and he appealed to those present not to complain of any grant made for the improvement of the High Commissioner's office there. Wild Ducks While clearing gorse from a section for the erection of Government houses in an area in Dunedin recently, the contractors found a wild duck's nest. They left sufficient gorse to provide shelter for the nest, so that the duck could hatch and rear her brood. . The example was one to be emulated by others. It has been reported that youths have not only stoned parent birds, but have even gone to the extent of killing the ducklings. Old-time Sod Bouse At Heathcote, near Christchurch, stand the remains of one of the last sod houses built by the pioneers in and around Canterbury, and the last to be b'uilt on a main highway. The house is now being rebuilt. It was built by Captain Penfold and a man named Roberts in 1864, and when finished was occupied by Captain Penfold and his wife, who came over from Melbourne. Afterwards it was in the possession of two or three other families, and several children were born there. Captain Penfold had been a cabin boy on Lord Nelson's flagship Victory; in later years he bought a small schooner, Excelsior, with which he traded round the Australian and New Zealand coasts. "Ineffective Censorship" Critical reference to the regulations governing the censorship of films was made at a meeting of the Marlborough School Committees' Association. The desirability of preventing children from seeing some of the types of pictures which are only being recommended by the censor as suitable for adults was emphasised. The present control, it was suggested, was a farce. It was decided to approach the Minister of Internal Affairs to have this "recommended" clause replaced with a direction that such films are for adults only, and to ask that firm action be taken to have the onus placed on exhibitors to see that children are not admitted to such screenings.