NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 145, 17 December 1934, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tourist Department Praised. A tribute to tlie efficiency of the arrangements made by tho New Zealand Government Tourist Bureau for excursions during the visit of tlio P. and O. liner Strathaird to the Dominion is paid in a letter received by the New Zealand Shipping Company from Maedonald, Hamilton, and Company, of Sydney, managing agents for tho P. and 0, Steam Navigation Company in Australia. The letter states that tho P. and 0. Company desired to be associated with tho New Zealand Shipping Company, who were agents for the vessel in the Dominion, in an expression of thanks to tho Government officers responsible for1 the arrangements. "The reports we have received, and which will be passed on to the managing, directors, are vary' gratifying," States tho letter,'"and will go a long way towards influencing the owners in tho consideration of further cruises to New Zealand." Those O1«m Cmm. We have become accustomed to the "one-man" trams in our city,' but strangers sometimes find them an a\ykward proposition, states the "Southland Daily News." Iteecntly a visitor halted a Waikiwi-bound car and when it stopped and tho door opened he inado a dash for tho rear and sought vainly for. an entrance. Failing to find one hp knocked vigorously on the glass but completely ignored the signs of the amused passenger*. The motorman at last went in search of his errant fare and found him on tho first of the small steps leading to tho roof. On being asked what he was doing there tho confused one answered: "I'm looking for a way into this 'd—«—d glass case." Five Years Late. A small but unexpected windfall has come the way of the Hawku's Bay Cricket Association, the management committee of which received a letter from a former senior cricketer enclosing the sum of £3 10s in payment of dues payable to the association five years ago, states the Napier '.' Daily Telegraph." "He's a good cricketer," was the comment of Mr. H. B. Hunter. On the suggestion of the chairman (Mr. B. M. Chadwick) the. committee decided to hand the money over to the special tour committee of the assoeiaj tion for the purpose of assisting the fund being raised to send the Hawko's Bay team in quest, of the Hawke Cup this season. The ex-player concerned is to be advised of. this decision, and is to bo heartily thanked for his action. Duke's Progress North. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the clearing of the NapierGjsborne road of traffic during the progress of tho Duko of Gloucester between tho two centres on December 20, states the Napier "Daily Telegraph," At seven points between Napier and ' Morere traffic will be held up for some time in order to provido the Royal oar with a clear passage, and tho following details will thereforo bo of assistance- to motorists > using the route on that date. The' name of the stopping point is given first in each instance, followed by the approximate time of the Duke's arrival, the timo from which traffic will be held up being given in parentheses:—Embankment Bridge, 9.32 a.m. (9.20); Petane, 9.35 (9.15); Waikari Hotel, 11.15 (10.45); Mohaka, 11.27 (10.30); Te Hauta Hill, 11.57 (10.45); Wairoa, 12.5 (11.0); Morere, 1.5 (11,15). His Koyal Highness will spend 20 minutes at Wairoa and an hour and 10 minutes at Morere. "A Touch of Nature." I A delightful Nature story formed the concluding portion of Mr. W. Downie Stewart's address at the annual prizegiving ceremony of the Duncdin Tech' nical High School (says tho "Otago Daily Times"). Whilst sitting in bis study that morning, ho told his hearers, ho had heard the whirr of the wings of a native wood pigeon. Ho had heard that a pair of them had been seen in tho neighbourhood, and investigation revealed that one of these birds, which civilisation had long since driven bnck into tho inaccessible fastnesses of tho bush, was in his garden. There it remained for about an hour, and so certain was ho that na.onA woijld\bclievo tho story when ho told it that he telephoned two well-known Naturelovers to corno and ego it. "I would rather,"added Mr. Stewart, "have hud tho whole school in my garden this morning looking at this rare and beautiful bird than imposing on them the burden of a speech this nfternoon." Christmas Cheer? There is a disappointed man living at Tomahawk, Otago, states tho '* Otago Daily Times." After spending six months of the present year in a sanatorium, ho returned home recontly and took up relief work, from which he has received wages on two occasions up to tho presenj time. What with ill health and being on relief work, he has been finding it extremely difficult to support his family, and he was consequently very pleased to learn recently that ho was to receive money "for Christmas cheer" from art union funds per ' medium of the Peninsula County Council. The smile faded from his face, however, when he received his Christmas cheerj it amounted to sixpence. The letter of protest which ho immediately sat down to write was receivod at a meeting of tho Peninsula County Council, whon it was explained that under the system of distribution decided on in connection with tho art union funds his allocation had como to the sum mentioned. Members agreed that tho amount of Christmas cheer tho man could provide for his family with sixpence was likely to bo very harmless, and it was decided, as his was a necessitous case, to increase the amount to £1.

Mako Shark in Moki Net. A mako shark was caught in a moki net near Lyttelton Heads on Friday by v, Lyttelton fisherman, states the '' Christchurch Press.'' When the fisherman attempted to lift the net, which had been set all night, lie. found the fish entangled' in it, the net being damaged to the extent of about £". The shark was about eight feet in length, but of very large girth,- the mouth being comparatively small. It is unusual for makos to come so far south, and the' fish attracted considerable attention when ifc was displayed at the fishermen's steps. Dredges for Cromwell Flats. An overseas company with large financial interests is at present carrying out tests at the Cromwell flats, souio distance from the township, with a view lo building two dredges, states tho •'Christchurch Times." If prospects are sufficiently encouraging it is stated that tho dredges &hould be in working order in two years' time. The bed of tho Clutha Jtiver has been dredged in the same vicinity, but improved methods of dredging applied in the last few years are considered to warrant the now field being worked, should tUe results of the investigations of tho experts be favourable. One report stated that the .dredges in view would cost £150,000 each to install... Cricket Bowling Feats. Good bags of wickets were plentiful in local cricket ou Saturday afternoon. The exceptional feat of taking all ten wickets in an innings was accomplished tiy L.B. Inch for Karori ("Post") in a third grade match, tho wickets being captured at the cost of 3.1 runs apiece. In a junior Q grade match D. JCoenan (Karori) also reaped a" harvest, taking seven -wickets in each innings at a total cost of 56--runs. "Hat tricks" wera plentiful in the Mercantile Cricket League matches, at least four players achieving tho distinction of taking three wickets with successive deliveries, and one of them (Whaler) getting two moi'ft ■wickfits with his next two deliveries. Taste for Good Reading. The formation of good tastes in reading and the acquisition of a knowledge of world affairs toy schoolboys were mentioned by the Eov, H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King's College, at the gathering at tho college1 on Friday (reports'the "New Zealand Herald"), Ho said the .scheme for general reading among boys at the college had been splendidly carried out. Several boys had read over thirty first-rate books of biography or curront world problems in their spare time . this year. . Such a scheme of reading, would undoubtedly, help the boys to form sound tastes and good reading habits which would havo effect in after life. * Unusual Lizard Caught. A lizard recently caught in a laurel hedge at Now Plymouth has been identified as a specimen of the native lygo.soma nioko, the mokompko of the Maori, states the' "Hawke's Bay Tribune." -.It is a brownish grey in colour and five and a- half inches long, the tail measuring three inches. The skin is of a soft leathery nature, and tho head has a resemblance to that of a frog. The species, which is yaluablo in freeing gardens of grubs, flies, and other insects injurious to plants, was not uncommon in the bush valleys surrounding the town a few years ago. They'are interesting and docilo Jittlo creatures when kept in captivity. Meeting of Old Friends. Pour Napier men met In odd circumstances recently, and demonstrated the usefulness of New Zealand House in London as a clearing-house for friends, states the "Ilawke's Bay Herald." The first, Mr.' Lai Spiller, was in the reading-room, when ho "was clapped ofi the shoulder by tho second, Jlr. E. Arroll, who is now on his way over w.ith the England-Australia air mail that was instituted some days ago. A few minutes later Mr. E. A. Ewen, at one timo a pupil teacher'at the Central School, .ioincd them, and shortly afterwards tho three- were greeted by Mr. W. L, Gray, who is on leave- from the Public Trust Office, The next morning the four were bounX for the corners of the earth—Mr. Spiller for the North of England, Mr. Gray for the Continent, Mr. Ewen for. the U.S.A., and Mr. Arroll on tho initial air mail service to Australia. , Historic Store. Mr. G. W. Chapman's store, on the shores of tho Parengarcnga Harbour, besides being the [most northerly storo in New Zealand, has a history closely associated with the early days of the Dominion, states the "Northern. Advocate." The* building housing the store was originally in tho possession of a storekeeper at Kawhia, who, in order to make both' ends meet, worked up quite a thrivinig trade in supplying arms to the Natives. The authorities, hearing of his activities, sent a foreo of police to.stop the traffic, but he heard of thejr projected visit, and in one night tho -whole stors was dismantled, loaded on to a scow, and brought around tho coast to Parengarenga, where it has remained ever since; The building is now over 70 years old, and ono of its most curious features is a young p'ohutukawa growing out of an old disused chimney. ' , Eehabilitation Loan. At a further special meeting which wag held in Napier last week to discuss tho question of rehabilitation loans, it was decided to set up an organisation to bo known aa the "The Hawko's Bay Borrowers' Association." 'The meeting, which was attended by interested parties from Napier, Hastings, and other affected districts, was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. C. O. Morse), states the "Baily Telegraph." An executive was set up, comprising tho Mayor of Napier as chairman, Mr, P, Asheroft honorary secretary and treasurer, throe representatives from Napier, and two representatives of Hastings, and one of Wairoa. It was decided to send a memorandum to the Minister of Finance reaffirming tho prayer of tho petition which was iecontly dealt with by Parliament, pointing out tho fairness o£ the request in the petition, and the hardship which tho people in tho district are suffering as tho result of the Government discouraging auy contribution from tho Old .Country. The petition seeks the cancellation of all interest nnd tho rearrangement, where necessary, of capital repayments. Pensions for Immigrants. - Supported by a number of immigrants, Mrs. O. Jones Neilson waited upon Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, M.P., Parliamentary Undcr-Secretary of Stata ; for Dominion Affairs, at Dunedin with a request that he should use his endeavours to arrange between Great Britain and New Zealand reciprocity with respect to tho payment of pensions. She pointed out that many immigrants who had reached old age were disqualified from receiving pensions in New Zealand because they had not resided in tho Dominion for twenty-five years. Many were in distressing circumstances, and had to rely upon the hospital boards for relief. She was supported by Mr. John McDonald and Mr. F. Jones, M.P. In reply Mr. MaeDonald said that a very important subject had been raised. Ho suggested that Mrs. Neilson should send to him a statement setting out tho views which she had expressed..1 Ho-promised that ho would go into these matters and tako them up when ho returned to the Dominions Office. If anything could properly be done by tho authorities at Home ho could give an assurance that it would be dop^,

"Repairs to Eeferee." An unusual item in tho statement of ■ receipts and expenditure at a meeting, i of the Otago Wrestling Association rci ccntly brought forth roars of laughter, i When the accounts were being passed . for payment that which caused the merriment was for an amount that included "repairs to referee." For the unknowing, .states, a Dunedin exchange, it may bo explained that in ono of the professional encounters this season, tho referee (Mr. Will Coughlan) emerged from a mix-up with the contestants in raid-ring with his dental plato broken. Hence*- the item on the balance-sheet. Tho Sea as a Career. The limited opportunities available for New Zealand boys to take up seafaring as a career was mentioned at the monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board by Mr. T, Scollay, who said that, apart from cadetships or apprenticeships, there was practically no opening, states the "Otago Daily Times." Many parents who were not in a position to pay premiums for sea apprenticeships would like to see opeuings made for their children. Ho thought that endeavours should be made to induce tho larger shipping companies truding to New Zealand to give opportunities for boys to take positions in the deck or other departments of their ships. Such openings would pave the way to better positions. A Freak Fish. Monstrosities among fish # are comparatively rare, but last an interesting freak groper was sent to Mr, David H. Graham by a Port Chalmers fisherman for examination, states an exchange. The fish is without any back fin or spine, nor are there any rudiments in the.shape of interspinous bones which carry the fins. Tho fish weighs 51b and is 24 inches long. The back fin of the groper, states Mr. Graham, has 11 strong, stout spines near tho head, followed by 12 lesser rays nearer to the tail. The specimen does not appear to have been unduly handicapped by the absence of those fins, as it is jn-ell nourished and is tho usual weight for a fish of these dimensions. Mr, Graham states that fish with extra fins are not unusual, nor aro specimens with reduced fins uncommon, but this is the first specimen lw has seen with the whole of the back fin missing. Tho specimen is now in the Otago Museum. Value of Home Science. "To add to tho comfort of the homo by cooking and sewing and to be kind is as necessary as to add to knowledge," remarked Mr. Justice Kennedy during the course of his address at tho annual prize-giving of tho Dunedin Girls' High School (reports the "Otago Daily Times"). "It has long been a Teproach by foreigners, although I bfr lievo this to bo a popular error, that our people do not really know how to cook, and that, as we are reminded three times in every twenty-four hours, is a matter of somo importance, I do not know of any man anywhere who would not express warm approval of a courso in which' home science is compulsory. Upon that there must be complete and absolute unanimity. I hope many of you girls will have an opportunity of carrying further your study in this fundamental science and of practising in due course a useful and desirable art."