LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

IIY MERCtJTIO,

This week-end sees tho formal change tov?r to tho new railway station, an event Jong desired, now about to bo consummated. Considering what Auckland has m-lured in the way of a railway station for long enough, tho occasion should, perhaps, ho one for unqualified rejoicing. Rut it won't ho. That's human nature for you. Of course, there is a good deal rl' justification for display of human nature jn this instance. Tho buildings tiro not too had, the layout seems to meet reasonably tho requirements of a modern railway station, but thoso features will not. dispose of the feeling that when you are brwight into Auckland you should bo brought in, not left under tho Parnell railway bridge. True tho Transport Board thoughtfully proposes to run cars from I lie new station to Ponsonby. What is to happen to the man who, getting off a train |a( the station, doesn't want to go to Ponsonby? Nobody can say anything against Ponsonby as Ponsonby, while Ponsonby as Herno Bay has even more to ho said for it. Yet, whatever •llie Railway Department or tho Transport Board may say or do, they will not bo a hie to dispose of tho grievance that will linger in the minds of the people who believe they have a right to ho taken to Queen Street, where they may choose their own trams and go to whatever suburb they please. It. may be ungrateful nod ungracious thus to regard tho noble new station that was meant to stiflo 'Auckland's last, loneliest, loveliest grievance, hut it can't bo helped. Some people have long enough memories to recall tho Morningside tunnel project, with its underground station at tho Town Hall, and thus can conjure up a new grievance, even whilo tho new raiiway station is being occupied.

Mucn has been written and heard about cheese of late; so much in fact that everyone ought to know it is the texture of the stuff, the openness of it, that is the rhief trouble. Now butter comes to the fore, the desperate price war on the local market being, the causo of earnest discussion. With cheese, it i? open texture; Mith butter —only tho vernacular will irneet the position—it is open slather.

On the word of an economist the gold supplies held by New Zealand banks are of no uso to anybody. The average man will agiTe heartily that they are no use lo him. He does not see the gold, cannot handle it, and gets absolutely no I hrill/ but of being told it is there. Even the bit of gold offered now and then as n. prize for an art union, only helps one or two people at most. The rest just tear up their tickets and resolve to try again, or never again, as the case may he. This economist also said the gold was sterilised. It sounds feasible. The Muff shows no disposition to spread like something infectious.

The new elephant that has arrived to jtdorn the Zoo and provide companionship for Jumuua is said to be particularly docile and fond of children. The docility must be approved without any reservation. It is much better to have four tons of docility than four tons of contrariness or bad temper. A creature that can do any amount of damage by merely leaning lip* against the scenery needs to be placid. Otherwise the repair bill mounts too rapidly. Jumbo's fondness for children is a&o an advantage, considering what his mission in life will be. He will be there principally to amuse and interest the young folk: hence it is well that he will "tackle the job with a good grace and •with Enthusiasm. It is a good thing, considering the recommendation he brings, that his tastes are strictly vegetarian. Otherwise there might, be a nasty doubt About it, like that inspired by the gentleman' who, having a bulldoe to sell, said in his advertisement, " Will eat anything; very fond of children."

The idea of a smaller City Council, arid, of course, a better council, lias been brought definitely to a focus in Auckland by a motion that the present body will toon have to consider. It is asked to reduce itself from twenty-two members to twelve, exclusive of the Mayor. Why be so exclusive ? Before anything else is considered, let it be pointed out that this change would mean, in the event of .1 full meeting, a gathering of thirteen—ominous number. Yet Dunetlin apparently flares it and survives. Perhaps the presence of the town clerk and any other officials in attendance, is held to remove the menace. Those who object to sitting down thirteen at U»ble do not always accept the presence of those who only stand nnd wait as a safe guard, so the point is rather a delicate one. Anyway, to pass over superstitions and come to brass tacks, the change, is advocated in the name of greater convenience, especially at election time. There is much to be said for it nn these grounds. _ Perhaps, 100, when there are fewer positions going, to be a councillor will be held a greater honour, and-—let this be said in a whisper people better fitted for the positions v.ill step forth. Much is heard about the people Admirably equipped to administer public affairs, both local and national, who refuse to enter the hurlv-burly because their delicate, sensibilities revolt from the whole business. It is not always no easv to determine who they are. The only thing certain is that men in public life to-day are much inferior to their predecessors of a decade or thieo n P°That is generally agreed by those old enough to remember conditions so far back. So perhaps if tho number of members is substantially reduced there may be a return to the golden age. Whether or not, it is also certain that in 1950. the city councillors of 1930 will be much better than those of 1950.

Another old ship, condemned In de*l ruction, lias gonn In her rest beneath Ihn waters she had long ridden. -A lev# flays ago the Cdrinna, stripped to an .niip/y hull, was sunk in Cook Strait. It. seems hard, this custom, l»ut perhaps it is necessary. A ship that has outlived its usefulness is not disposed of easily. It is not every port that has a suitable gtavevarrT for ships, and at best they arc unlovely spots. Tt is not every ship that can ho converted into a breakwater 01 a storage hulk or anything like that, and miv.vtay it is not a vvonderiul _ i.i'e suffer. An old horse can be pensioned off an.l allowed to end his days peacefully iti a good grass paddock, though this i* not/ always done. A zoo with hungij lions sometimes intrudes. Hut foi -in <> >1 ship so kiiidlv a fate is not easily possible. I fence "the last tow to sea and the rliargo of high explosive. It is sad, but perhaps in tlio curl best.

Aexpert on Rugby football has gone fo the length of a whole newspaper article explaining to the British public Why Mew Zealand Teams Excel." He does not. seem satisfied with the simple answer, known to every schoolboy, '' Because thoy are New Zealand 'learns. No, lie must go explaining that New Zealanders employ their time for practice to the best possible advantage, set about remedying their weaknesses with due deliberation ami scientific thought, and so forth. It is a pretty conception, suggesting there is more in this football business than meets the eve.