NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 134, 4 December 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Hospital Fees Insurance. The question of establishing a contributory insurance scheme for the payment of hospital fees was considered at a meeting of the executive of the Hospital Boards' Association yesterday. The systems in oxistence in other countries were reviewed; and the general opinion expressed was that any proposal should be an addition to the existing hospital organisation. It was agreed to submit a report on a foes insurance scheme at the conference of hospital boards in March next. Bird Charts for Schools. Twenty-four of New Zealand's native birds have been depicted by Miss L. A. Daff, of Wellington, in charts which she has prepared for the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, and which will be reproduced for issue to the schools in a few months. The charts are in natural colours, and on the back of each will appear a description of the habits and peculiarities of the bird and its value. Miss Dai's work is also to be published in book form. Autobiography Commenced. During his 6ea voyages to and from England, Professor J. Macmillan Brown (who has just returned to Christchurch) pencilled the first notes of an autobiography which his daughter, Miss V. Macmiilan Brown, and his old graduates havo long been pressing him to write (states the "Press"). He has already reached the narrativo of his days at Oxford, and hopes soon to continue the work. "I havo no time for leisure," he said yesterday. "All my life I have preached work and more work. So on the voyage Home, when there was little to do except to read and write, I began the first notes. It is a narrative with philosophic conclusions." ProfossoT MaemiLlan Brown appears very well after his trip overseas. A New Zealand Dinner. A New Zealand dinner, comprising only New Zealand foods, was served to the American tourists on the liner Malolo on Tuesday evening (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The idea was suggested in the first place by two Auckland girls, Miss E. G. Wright and Miss M. Hill. "We were talking to some of the passengers, and the conversation turned to New Zealand foods," said Miss Wright yesterday. "They had never heard of our toheroa, so we went to the chief steward and asked him if he would like to sample some. He was curious to know what it tasted like, so we took some on board, and he showed us down to the kitchen, where the chef gave us permission to use his range. We made some toheroa soup, while they looked on, and when thy tasted it they pronounced it so good that they decided to Btock some for the rest of the voyage. Then I suggested they should put on a typical New Zealand dinner, using nothing but New Zealand foods, and they agreed it waß an excellent idea. So they gave an order in the city for local foods, and printed a green tiki at the head of the menu." A First Ascent. Mount Greenlaw, ono of the most formidable peaks in the Arthur's Pass region, was climbed for the first time last week by three members of the Christchurch Mountaineering Club— Messrs. Edgar B. Williams, B. E. Clarke, and M'lnnes. The peak, which (says the "Press") is about 7500 feet high, has resisted the challenges of alpinists for many years, its ascent entailing some difficult rock and ice climbing. The party arrived at the Harper Biver on Wednesday, 19th November, and after climbing up the Avoca Valley, reached the head of the Avoca Biver, where a snowstorm held them up for the next three daya. The ascent of tho peak was made last Tuesday afternoon, after the men had had to wait for several hours until avalanches, caused by tho melting snow, had ceased. From the top of Greenlaw a magnificent view; was obtained*

Hospital Boards' Association. The biennial conference of hospital boards will be held at Timaru on 4th March. The executive of the Hospital Boards' Association decided yesterday to affiliate with the International Hospitals' Association, a now organisation which will meet in Vienna next June. Use For Discarded Oil, A new use for discarded oil from motor-ears, etc., has been discovered by a West Gore resident (states "The Press"). Last year he painted one or two of the trees in his orchard with used oil, and had excellent results in brighter foliage and better fruit from the trees. This year he has extended the experiment to include practically every apple tree in his garden, and has also included some rose bushes. The old oil has a very marked effect in the destruction of insect life. Transport Question. "The transport question is large now, but will loom much larger in the future, ". said Mr. F. Moore, addressing members of the Scatoun and Bays' Progressive Association last night. Eastern suburbs, said Mr. Moore, were more interested in transport than some of the other districts. In connection with the new Mount Victoria tunnel, the speaker i said that a lot of people were in favour of trams running through it. The tunnel would bring Seatouu much nearer to the city, ancl whether the trams or buses ran through it, it was necessary for a delegate from Seatoun to express an opinion. Too Many Bishops. "What will happen if the Lambeth Conference keeps on growing as it does I really do not know," said Archbishop Averill on his return to Auckland (reports the "New Zealand Herald")"Ten years ago I thought that the library of Lambeth Palace, -where it meets, was quite full, but this year 50 more bishops attended, including many Americans, and some of them had to be put in all sorts of nooks and corners." Dr. Averill added that probably the constitution of the assembly might have to be altered to admit only the metropolitans and definite numbers of representative bishops from the different churches and provinces, otherwise the conference would become unwieldy. "Considering that we had over 300 bishops, all accustomed to public speaking, I think we got through a great deal of work,"'ho remarked. New Waterfront Drive. When finished, the waterfront road on the south side of Lyttelton will give one of the finest marine drives in any part of the Dominion, says the "Ohristch'nrch Times." As part of the Government effort to relieve unemployment gangs of men are at present working on the job, most of them being engaged on the Purau end, where there is a good deal of rock to deal with. Eventually the road will run from Purau to Charteris Bay, and, like all the roads of the Public Works Department, it will have a decent grade. The present road, up and down hill, full of corkscrew turns and steep pinches, gives a splendid tour from Governor 's Bay to Purau, but it is not a restful road for the driver, and oven the experts will welcome the day when they have an alternative. From Purau, right round Diamond Harbour and past the many indentations that characterise that part of the harbour, there arc some enchanting views whether one looks out to sea through the heads, or back to the amphitheatre of hills at the top end of the harbour*. At present the new road is in its initial stages, but it has been begun, and no doubt every effort will be made to see that its completion is not unduly delayed. '