NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Hearsay Evidence "No hearsay evidence, please, and certainly not from a politician," said Mr. Justice Finlay to a witness in the Land Sales Court yesterday. The witness, a land agent who was giving evidence regarding the value of a section, mentioned what he "had been told by a member of Parliament" when he was pulled up by his Honor. Batch Artist*s Exhibition Considerable public interest is being taken in the exhibition of pictures by the noted Dutch artist A. H- Gouwe which is being conducted in Auckland in aid of the Netherlands Sailors and Soldiers' Fund in New Zealand. Mr. M. F. "Vegeveno, Consul-General for the Netherlands in New Zealand, who is president of the fund, stated this morning that half the pictures had already been sold. The exhibition will close on Friday night instead of on Saturday as was originally intended. 4/6 For a Haircut In some places in the United States wages had increased enorm-j ously, and stenographic work was pairi for at a rate which was equal to £14 per week in New Zealand, said Mr. FT R. Cometti in a luncheon address to the Auckland Creditmen's Club. Mr. Cometti said that costs of commodities had naturally increased, but the greatest increases were taking place in the cost of services. A haircut in parts of the United States cost the equivalent of A i§, with an additional 1/6 for the usual "drop of bay rum/' plus a tip. Grammar School Pavilion In an effort to raise about £6000 t0,,-build a sports pavilion as a memorial at the Auckland Grammar School, the old boys' association is mairing an appeal for donations to all old boys. The effort is in commemoration of the school's recent 75th anniversary. "These facilities (a combined sports pavilion and dressing rooms) are urgently needed and will be of use not only to many generations of boys, but also to old boys visiting the school, and to members of the public/' states the association in its appeal. The building will be of concrete, 120 ft long and 20ft deep, seating 600.

Nazi Propaganda Samples of Nazi propaganda dropped over the Allied lines in Italy before the capture of Cassino have been received by Mrs. W. Wardell, of Spreydon, Chris tchurch. One is a sanguine pamphlet which states, inter alia: "Churchill could offer you nothing but blood and tears. The German soldier offers you fail* treatment, ample and nourishing food and a happy return to your wives and children after the war." Another sheet of paper refers to the bombing of the Monastery. "One of the most shameless crimes in the Mstory of warfare is well on the way of being atoned for," it reads. "The bombing of the Monastery has proven a bumerang (German spelling) which is now turning originators''

Housing Scheme Centres

The view that there should be a community centre, where men, women and youth could meet; provided in every large housing scheme was expressed by Mr. Arthur Baker, president of the Auckland Council of SportE, at the youth conference in the Town HalL Mr. Baker stated that the council had made representations in this matter to the Minister concerned recently and had received a favourable reception. Littered Paths Littered with the fallen leaves of last autumn and worn through to the clay, the paths in the Auckland Domain bush have become almost unusable in many parts, particularly on the lower levels. The coating of metal chips which once made a firm surface has disappeared, and the watercourses have been blocked to such an extent by debris that the water flows over many of the paths, increasing the deterioration. At one place a tree which apparently fell some months ago remains as an obstruction to bar the way to all but the agile stroller.

Roman Law "This year there takes effect the decision of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, acting on the recommendation of the Council of Legal Education, acting on the recommendation of the New Zealand Law Society, to shorten the course for the solicitors' examination by removing therefrom some five subjects of an academic nature which were added to the course in an excess of zeal some years ago," states the New Zealand Law JournaL "Among the now deleted subjects is Roman Law. But it is still a compulsory subject for the barristers' examination and the LL.B. degree." Pigeons on Peninsula Cliffs

A farmer in the Kaituna district recently stated that the thousands of pigeons which now inhabit the sea cliffs on the east side of Banks Peninsula are becoming a menace to the crops. These originally tame pigeons years ago made their homes on the sea cliffs, which extend from the mouth of Lake Forsyth at the end of Ninety-mile Beach, to Land's End, at the southern entrance to Akaroa Harbour. In recent years they have multiplied in thousands, and attack crops in the Kaituna and Motukarara districts. This farmer stated that he saw many thousands of these pigeons recently on a crop of peas and they literally covered the whole paddock. Grass Grub Problem

Probably few people know anything about the grass grub, or brown beetle, yet it can be one of the most devastating of all plagues to farmers, particularly in Canterbury, where it thrives. An article in the New Zealand Valuers' Bulletin gives some figures which indicate the havoc wrought by the grass grub when it attacks farmland, eating up grass and crops, as it is continually doing in some part of the province with greater or lesser severity. During the seasons 1937-39 nearly the whole province was severely affected, so that it is estimated that it will take the average farmer about seven years to restore the condition of his farm and his stock numbers to that of 1935-37. The net loss over the seven years, .to a farmer with 600 acres of medium land, is estimated at approximately £1480. The annual loss on 2*000,000 acres in Canterbury talone is es£ima£ecUafc--o¥er £600,000.