No Telephones.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 8

No Telephones.

Warship Departs. The cruiser Achilles, whose formidable outline has been a familiar sight at the Clyde Quay Wharf for several weeks, left this morning for Queen Charlotte Sound, where exercises and training will be held. Later she will proceed to Russell and Auckland, and I will arrive back in Wellington on March 25, staying in port for about a week. Fashions in Beards. The growing of beards appears to have been a favourite occupation among ratings in the two United States destroyers, Preston arid Smith, which arrived at Auckland from -Pago Pago on Friday, in the course of their present cruise (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Fashions vary from full, bushy beards through a type in which whiskers are grown only round the jawbones as a sort of frame for the face, to mere patches of bristle on the chin, which could be called beards only as a courtesy title. "H.M.S. Auckland." A suggestion that the next warship to be sent for service on the New Zealand station should be called "H.M.S. Auckland" was made by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, at the Auckland Anniversary Regatta prize distribution (states the "New Zealand Herald"). "We have had a Dunedin and have also got a Wellington, but I see no reason why one should not bear the name of our city," said the Mayor. "I have written to the Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence, suggesting that when anpther' warship is sent to the Dominion she should be known as H.M.S. Auckland." New Skiing: Centres in Europe. The impetus the recent three-Power, agreement regarding exchange had given to the tourist traffic in Europe was commented on by Mr. Roland Hill, member of a London law publishing firm who arrived at Auckland by the Monterey on Friday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). This was particularly noticeable in Italy, where numerous modern hotels, many of cylindrical design to catch the maximum sun, were being built in the mountain country. Splendid snow sport was obtainable at quite cheap rates under the new exchange rate and the result was that the Italian Alps were gaining in: competition with the older-established skiing districts. - Shifting: a Mast. ' \ ' .■■ The northern mast at the reclamation work at the Hutt River mouth, which has \ not been operating for the past few weeks, will shortly be in action again, and will be shifted to a new position. An official of the Public Works Department stated the reason why the mast had not been in use was because a new cable was needed, and also because alterations were necessary to the winch. The mast, which is 80ft high, is movable, but this will be the first time that it has been shifted. However, adjustments have been made in the past to Jhe cables so that dredging could be carried out in different positions of the river bed, within a cer-' tain radius from the fixed position of the mast. When the northern mast is used again the southern mast will be overhauled. '■'•■'■ No Telephones. . , Inability to secure connection with the telephone exchange and between settlers led to the discovery on Thursday of a strong piece of copper wire twined round three telephone wires on a private line owned and maintained by the Pukehuia Telephone Club, (states a Dargaville correspondent). The wire had been carried down from the telephone line and earthed, thus disrupting the whole of the telephone service in the Omana Valley, and affecting about' 30 subscribers. The line is believed to have been tampered with three days ago as during that time the service has' been disorganised. It is considered that the mischief ■, could not possibly have been done by children, because the wire used was tough, and strong, and was bent many times round the. telephone wires. Similar events have occurred in the past. Dangerous Sharks in Harbour. The opinion that a more dangerous species of shark is entering the harbour now than in former years was expressed to a "Post" reporter by a Wellington, fisherman yesterday. Whereas in earlier times the sharks caught had been mostly small' of mouth and without definite teeth, the latest catches, he said, had large jaws and three or four rows of well formed teeth pointing back towards the throat. Several days ago he had caught a tiger shark, about four feet long, Off Scorching Bay. The sharks, he thought, must be breeding around the coast and coming up the harbour in search of smaller fish, most of which were, these days, to be found on the eastern side of the harbour. Although these predatory fish are not of any great size now, it is considered probable that by next year they will, have increased greatly in bulk arid numbers. Apprenticeship for Older Boys. . The provision for the ■ making of special apprenticeship cont'/icts by older boys with the approVal of , the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) was described as a very important advantage by Mr. J. S. Barnett, speaking at the annual meeting of the Boys' Employment and Vocational Guidance Committee at Christchurch (states "The Press"). It enabled those who were more mature in years to acquire a skilled trade, he said, adding that a builder had once told him that he could make a competent tradesman •of a youth of 19 or 20 in two j years. The matter was also referred to in the annual report, which mentioned the dearth in the number of skilled workmen after the drop- in the number 1 of apprentices taken on during the de-! pression. Mr. G. M. Keys said that the provision was too good to be lost, and the Rev. Jk de Lambert said that it removed one of the most difficult features of the committee's work, the employment of older boys. He suggested that circulars should be sent out to advise those interested of the ODDortunity. " Few Boys Taking Up Farming. The decrease in the number of boys going to positions on farms since 1934 was stated by Mr. W. T. Langley to reveal an "alarming position" when he was referring to the matter at a meeting of the Christchurch Boys' Employment and Vocational Guidance Committee (reports the "Press"). He said that the number of boys taking permanent positions on farms had decreased from 283 in 1934 to 76 this year. The need for more boys to entr? farming, he said, should be emphasised; agriculture was the backbone and mainstay of the country. The annual report of the committee stated however, that the majority of the boys placed in the country were still there and were doing well. This, taken with the decrease in the number of boys going to the country, indicated that only those interested in the work were now available. It had been impossible to accede to all requests from farmers because of the lack of boys, although conditions were, as far as was known, satisfactory and wages were from 15s a week (for inexperienced boys) up to 30s. If only some encouragement wove offered to boys starting without capital more would be offering. The advantages of town over country work were in many cases quite imaginary, and the prejudice should be broken down, i