NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 118, 21 May 1945, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Myers Park Renovation Renovation of the Queen Street frontage" of Myers Park has been completed but for the sealing of paths and the construction of a new entrance where the pergola formerly stood. The entrance will be semicircular in shape and will comprise four low piers and seating arrangements. Completion of this scheme is dependant upon the manufacture of certain ornamental work to be placed on the upper portion of the tiers. The plagues from the old pergola will be replaced. Schools Re-open v The second term for primary, intermediate and district high schools under : the control of the Auckland Education Board began to-day, after the school holidays. The grammar schools, the Seddon Memorial Technical r College, the Otahuhu and Avbndale Technical High School and the . Teachers' Training College will . resume to-morrow. On Wednesday, the Diocesan High School and St. Ip Cuthbert's College will reopen and on Friday, King's College will resume, King's School will re-open to-morrow week, and Auckland University College next Monday. Birth Of Eighth Army The famous Eighth Army was born on the occasion of the Allied offensive from Egypt in 1941 when General Cunningham was commander and hot, as many thought, when General, now Field-Marshal, Montgomery assumed command. A reminder of this was given Palmerston -North Rotarians by Major H. R. G. Wild, of Feilding, when speaking of -the part New Zealand played in the campaigns of the Middle East. The New Zealanders and the Fourth Indian Division were the first in the famous Eighths. tikis And Wallets lij the past five years 200 silver tikis and some dozens of wallets have been presented to men from the eastern suburbs, mainly St. Helier's, Kohimarama, and Glendowie, who have left for service overseas. The -presentations resulted from efforts of. a small committee of women, who started entirely without funds in the early part of 1940. They ' have been assisted by the generosity fe-of lofcalresidents in making donations the church authorities, who made the parish hall available functions.

Siorm-Swept Nurseries Nurserymen around Auckland have had a busy time since last week's storm clearing up the damage among young trees and plants. Trees which had been wrenched in preparation for early marketing suffered considerably in exposed places through the loosening of their root hold, and some casualties are expected. A city nurseryman said to-day that the demand for planting was likely to set in almost immediately and would continue probably for over three months. He also remarked that broken panes in 'glasshouse were among other damage done by the storm. Auckland's Leaky Roofs Many urgent appeals for repairs to roofs, downpipes and drains have been received by plumbers in Auckland city and suburbs as a result of the recent storm. Roofs which had been allowed to fall into a bad state of repair through the wartime shortage of materials caused most trouble, but even many apparently good roofs developed leaks. A plumber of long experience said to-day that there had been a large amount of repair work to do during the Summer and autumn because of the unsettled weather, and the latest spell of bad weather had further added to the calls on plumbers. He described the roofs of some dwelling as being in a "frightful state of disrepair," and said that the rationing of materials often made it impossible to do a satisfactory job The solution in such cases would be the complete replacement of the whole roof. In such cases the use of materials for patching up appeared to some extent a waste, which, however, plumbers could do noth -ing to prevent.

Beet Sugar Plan Off The abandonment of plans to establish a sugar-beet industry in New Zealand —it was proposed in 1941 to spend £750,000 on its development—is indicated by the closing down of the experimental plots near Tai Tapu. "The work is shortly to be terminated," said Dr. O. H. Frankel, of Christchurch, when he was asked to confirm a report that the station, at which the experiments had not been concluded, was to be closed. The station has been operating for the last four years. Canterbury as a suitable area for the growing of sugar beet was reported on by a Czechoslovakian expert who reached New Zealand just when war broke out. The report mentioned areas in Hawkes Bay and Canterbury as being suitable and said that the sugar content of New Zealand beet was among the; highest in the world. '