NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 182, 3 August 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

West port to be National Harbour As the result of representations jfrade. during his recent visit to the Buller district, the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, has advised the Mayor of Westport, Mr. J. M. Robertson," th£t it is the intention of the (Government to make Westport a national harbour, in view of the Extreme demand for coal. Dental Appointments ?,' -A slight improvement in the position for those seeking dental atten|j6n in Auckland has been observed lately,'but it is still reported to be difficult : •to secure appointments Within three weeks or a month. Among those who find most difficulty are people arriving in Auckland from jjther parts of the Dominion, who find themselves crowded put by regular patients. However, in an emergency or in a case of acute suffering, assistance is usually forthcoming. The greatest problems appear to be those of country people, particularly in North Auckland, where dentists are few, and where distance is an additional obstacle. Dargaville is stated to be one of the districts urgently in need of more dentists. His Mistake He was in uniform as he boarded a tram starting down hill in Upper Queen Street and he had, apparently, had "one over the eight." When the conductor came for his fare, he became somewhat flustered, searching in every pocket. Alas,- however, the cupboard was bare. He hadn't any money left, he said. And, anyhow, soldiers ought to be allowed to travel free. And what was the conductor- going to do about it, anyway? The conductor was polite but firm. Then-came a voice from the seat behind. "It's all right, soldier, I'll pay your fare," and another passenger handed the conductor a coin. "Thanks, pal," said the flustered one, "you're a white man," and he turned with difficulty in his seat to face his benefactor. The latter was a smartlydressed pure-blooded negro. R.A.F. Pigeons Every aeroplane of the Royal Air F.orce that flies from England carries its box of pigeons, for if an aeroplane is forced down at sea or in some inaccessible spot, or behind the enemy lines, and its radio is disabled or silence is necessary, the call for help is carried by the pigeons. In the last three months of the war more than 65 pilots have been saved by then* pigeon messengers. In North Africa the famous pigeon "Lady Astor" flew 90 miles to deliver her message in spite of serious wounds. On Guadalcanar "Blackie Halligan" Was launched into the air with an important message. Almost immediately the bird was brought to Sarth by the fire of ensmy guns. But five hours later "Blackie," inaimed, ari'ivc-fat hi?. loft.

Music Hath Charms New Zealanders with a knowledge of Continental ways have often commented upon the difference between the staid and sober motor horns of the . Dominion compared with the cacophony of stuttering European hooters worked off the exhaust and running the gamut from a piercing shriek to a bass cackle. Now an Auckland motorist has adopted a musical hprn for a change. As his car approaches an intersection pedestrians are warned by the .first six notes of that popular. West Point marching song, "Anchor's Aweigh." Glass Left on Road A fine of £5, with costs .10/, was imposed on a milkman, Frederick J. Corliss/ in the Magistrate's Court in Palmerston North for failing to remove broken glass from the roadway in Roy Street. Traffic Inspector Cameron stated that defendant had dropped milk bottles off his lorry at 7 a.m. and they were still there, broken, at 3 p.m.; the fragments had been brushed off the centre of the road to the side. The magistrate, Mr. H. P. Lawry, stated that, quite apart from the scarcity of tyres, it was a very dangerous practice to leave glass about in that manner. Conserving Plant Pots One of the largest users of earthware pots in Auckland, apart from commercial nurserymen, the Auckland City Council has been able by care and the • repeated use of old pots, to tide itself over the wartime shortage of these aids to nursery cultivation. When the war began the city parks department had a supply of some thousands of pots of all sizes, many being new. The reserve has been gradually depleted, but is still sufficient to meet requirements, while old pots are vigorously scrubbed during repotting to prolong their life. Those unavoidably broken provide pieces which assist drainage for pot-growing plants. Rabbits in Far North Following prompt and effective action by primary producers, assisted by the Department of Agriculture, the incipient rabbit menace in the Far North has been brought under control, reports a Kaitaia correspondent. ■ When the problem first assumed serious dimensions the Government suggested formation of a rabbit board, but finally agreed to representations made by the local Farmers' Union and the Kaitaia Cooperative Dairy Company that a rabbiter be employed and that the dairy company grant a subsidy of £100. Ait experienced rabbiter from the Waikato found that the pests were multiplying rapidly in the west coast sand hill country and destroyed 100 animals in one small paddock near the southern end of the Ninety-mile Beach. He has now completed a fivemonth campaign, as a result of which farmers are assured that rabbit development has been checked to such a stage that their numbers will "be controlled by natural enemies and that they no longer constitute a jnerace to .pasture. '