NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 131, 6 June 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Long Bicycle Bide. In order to attend a reunion of South African war veteran? in Auckland on Saturday evening, Mr. John Holmes, aged 73, arrived in the city after travelling the 100 miles from his home at Cambridge by bicycle, states the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. Holmes, who has had considerable military experi-ence-both in South Africa and in New Zealand is active and well and intends travelling home by the same means as he came. City Name* for Warships. The fact that the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, had been instrumental in having one of the new escort vessels named H.M.S. Auckland was mentioned by Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond at the civic farewell tendered to him in Auckland on Friday, states the "New Zealand Herald." "This new ship will be coming out to the New Zealand Station in due course," Rear-Admiral Drummond continued, "so that we will have both an Auckland and a Wellington. I feel sure that the spirit of compietition and rivalry between the two cities will transmit itself to the two ships." Animal and Bird Pests. f The action of the Government in removing the statutory protection of stoats, weasels, and ferrets was the subject of comment on Friday by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry). All three animals, he said, had been imported into New Zealand years ago to check the rabbit menace, but they themselves had developed'into pests and were, responsible for a heavy toll on the native and game birds of the Dominion. Heavy losses were also caused by hawks, and every justification existed for their extermination. No Tram-cars to Spare. The main attraction in Wellington on Saturday afternoon was the Royal Air Force display at Rongotai and for* this , naturally the tramway service was ; augmented. The extra trams required • to bring the people back to town after i the big show reduced the number i available to cope with the Rugby , patrons at Athletic Park, with the re- ' suit that after the match some had to wait for trams a little longer than is i usually the case, even though the atl tendance &t the park was not as large as it had been on the two previous Saturdays. The waiting that was necessary before they were able tc ? board a tram bound for the city upsel . one or two people. One man was nol . a little sarcastic. After, waiting some minutes turned to those behind hire 5 and suggested they should each put 3c > in and hire some taxis. There was nc f response. Just then a car appeared coming up the hill from Berhampor< towards the Athletic Park stop. "Good r gracious," the sarcastic one exclaimed, ■ "look at this strange sight!" He was r very quickly aboard and soon on his » way into town. c Radio in Classrooms. e Two schools in Invercaxgill, St. s George and, Middle, probably lead New Zealand in the use of radio in „ the classrooms, Almost every school has its radio set, but few. could have such a comprehensive arid elaborate system for making full use of radio in education as that which operates in the St. George and Middle Schools, says the "Southland Times." The system was devised by Mr. Frank Rose, an Invercaxgill radio engineer. A microphone, a gramophone, and an inter-phone arrangement, which connects all classrooms with the headmaster's study, combine with a radio receiving set to supply a convincing example of what science has done for modern education. Although its operations cover a wide field, the system at the school is simplicity itself. The mechanism is contained in a small cabinet, which can be wheeled to any part of the school grounds. With the exception of drill time, however, the cabinet remains in the headmaster's study. From there the system operates, regulating at the headmaster's will any department of school activity. Lift in Carillon Tower. A magnificent view of the city and harbour is obtainable from the console chamber of the National War Memorial Carillon tower in Buckle Street, but up to recently many people have, because of infirmity, adiposity, or other personal reason, been denied the opportunity of sharing in the panorama. Now, however, that the new electric lift is running from the first floor to the console chamber, young and old can make the ascent, and increasing use is being made of the facility provided. Last week some 700 school children from Carterton, Masterton, Levin, and Palmerston North visited the city by special train, primarily to view the Coronation robes at the Town Hall, and in the course of a visit to the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum most of them were able to travel in the carillon lift and sec Wellington from a fine vantage point, They also heard and saw the carillon being played. Many of the visitors to the carillon have asked why it is thai the lift does not run from the ground floor, The reason, which has beer stated several times already in print is that the spacious hall of the ground floor will one day be the' approach to the Hall of Memories, a feature which has been under consideratior ever since the first discussions Ofi the carillon project

Canterbury Court at the Exhibition.

Plans for Canterbury's representation at the NeWZealand Centennial Exhibition in Wellington will be discussed at a meeting called by the Mayor of Christchurch this week, states the "Press." Proposals for Canterbury's part in the Exhibition have already been considered, and a committee has been set up. This committee, which is widely representative of provincial interests, will on Tuesday meet Mr. J. R. Simpson, who is touring the South Island to advise on the establishing of provincial courts at the Exhibition. Bulk Posting: of Letters. An innovation brought into operation at the Chief Post Office, Auckland, this week has been the stationing between 4.15 and 5.15 p.m. each day of an officer and an assistant outside the posting boxes to ensure that bundles of letters are not posted without beihg fastened, states the "New Zealand Herald." They provide rubber bands where required. Where bundles of letters are posted without being tied, much time is lost by the sorters in facing up the envelopes for date stamping. The placing of officers outside the boxes has already proved a success, and the system will be continued until such time as it is thought that business firms and the public realise the assistance they can give the Department by tying letters into bundles for posting. Auckland Harbour Bridge. The immediate appointment of a Select Committee of the House of Representatives to consider the financial and traffic aspects of the proposed Auckland Harbour bridge was recommended by the Waitemata Harbour Bridge Association at a meeting on Thursday, says the "New Zealand Herald." It was stated that, in view 'of the fact that a Royal Commission fixed the site, style, and design of the bridge and causeways in 1930, it was unnecessary for another Commission to consider the matter. The distribution of 500,000 pamphlets, containing up-to-date facts and information on the bridge, around the residential areas of Greater Auckland, was agreed upon by the association, which also decided to aim at increasing its membership to at least 5000. ____