NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Popular Creche For nearly four years the Y.W.C.A. creche for the children of servicemen has been a boon to mothers, who may leave their youngsters there in good hands while they attend to business or shopping in town. The creche is open twice a week, and has an average attendance of 23. Some of the children have been going there regularly ever since the creche opened. A Cheering Sight "There is still plenty in the bars, and it does you good to see the barman take a brand new bottle, break the seal, put it up, and, when that s done, in, say, 20 minutes, repeat the astonishing performance" — an extract from an airmail letter which arrived this morning from an Auckland business man who has been spending some days in Christchurch. Christmas Cruising Although cruising areas are restricted this year, preparations are being made by many Auckland yachtsmen for Christmas cruises to the island resorts of the Waitemata Harbour. Matiatia will be a popular anchorage this year, as many of the trips will be made by smaller craft such as 18 and 14-footers. A few keelers are being provisioned for Christmas cruising, and many of the popular "mulleties" will be sailing to the more distant parts of the harbour limits. Where the Money Comes From The Christmas rush was on in a city branch bank, and the somewhat harassed looking mother, with four-year-old daughter, was second in the queue at one of the cashier's wmdows. Suddenly, above the muted murmur of the crowd, the flutter of counted notes and occasional clatter of coins, the four-year-old's voice was heard: "Mummy! Is this the lady that gives away money?" Mother tried to explain, but the treble was conclusive . . "Well, look, mummy, she's giving that man a lot!" And the cashier proved the little girl right. She went out a penny the richer. ■ yalue Nearly Doubled A former property owner regrets that the Land Sales Act was not in operation when he had dealings in •property. Some years ago he sold Ms house in the city for £700 and went pioneering in the backblocks. This venture, however, was not a success and he was forced to return to the 'city. Wishing to buy back his old home, which was empty, he approached the owner who, he fiarnt to his amazement, was willin! to with the property for Viloo or to lease it at 37/6 a week. The&ehad.Bearly doubled in "value, although it was ten years old wi %*A never been painted since Informer owner left it. There was ™tMn2fc>r it but to take it and ; Wgh rent asked for it. .

Demand for Fencing Wire "Fencing posts are wanted desperately everywhere," stated a letter to the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Greymouth from the West Coast Council of Primary Production in support of an appeal for a timber cutter. Evidence that the demand was widespread was shown in letters from the North Island, which requested the delivery of 15,000 red birch posts to Gisborne, 7000 to Napier and at least 6000 to New Plymouth. "There is no fencing timber up here," stated one North Island letter. It was stated that the posts were required to enable fencing to be done when the shearing season ends. A Scotsman Bearing Gifts What with Christmas in the air, gas shortages, thousands of shoppers and other itinerants demanding food and drink and a noonday rest from the heat of the day, restaurantkeepers in the city have not been having an easy ' time of it. The "regular," you would imagine, would be just another mouth to feed—a familiar mouth, perhaps, but just one among thousands of catch customers. Judge, therefore, the surprise of one such regular when he was leaving the familiar tearoom yesterday—one notable for the fact that it is spotlessly clean and cool, run by a Scotsman, who somehow manages to keep the same staff month after month— to be handed an envelope. He found it contained a good quality tie, with the seasonal greeting of the management. Good business? Yes, but a pleasant and unexpected gesture for all that. A Pioneer Family On December 23, 1843, the Vaile family landed from the ship Bangalore in Commercial Bay, on the spot where the Victoria Arcade now stands. The late Mr. George Vaile and his wife headed a family of five boys and three young girls. Captain Fitzroy, the second Governor, was a fellow-passenger. Mr. Vaile was a member of the first Town Council. Mr Vaile, in collaboration with the Rev. Mr. Morgan and Sir John Gorst, started a school for the religious education of Maori girls at Rangiaowhia, the journey being made by boat down the Manukau, across the Otaua portage and up the Waikato and Waipa rivers to Pirongia. There native porters met the party. The second son, Samuel, started in business in a general store at the corner of what is now Swanson Street, and later erected the building at the corner of Wyndham Street, now occupied by the Bank of Australasia. All the bricks for this building were brought from England—eleven ship loads. Here was displayed for the first time in Auckland light from kerosene lamps. In 1575 Mr. Vaile established the firm of Samuel Vaile and Sons, but he was best known to Aucklanders as the Railway Reformer. The present head of the family,' Mr. E. Earle Vaile, pioneered the central area of the North Island known as the pumice country, where he bought 53,000 acres and farmed it under the name of "Broadlands."