LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22149, 1 July 1935, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Canada's Dominion Day Tho 68th anniversary of the granting of Dominion status to Canada falls today. The Canadian Trade Commissioner, Mr. C. M. Croft, will receive calls from members of the Consular Corps and also from representatives of local bodies. Speedy Rate Demands Although the Auckland city rates were struck only at the council meeting on Thursday night the staff of the treasurer's office has already issued 6000 notices to ratepayers. Tho names in the city's 14 rate books now total over 32,000. Dress of Women Trampers More modesty in dress, particularlv in regard to women's "shorts," was advocated by Miss IT. G. Niven, when speaking at the 12th annual meeting of the Hutt Valley Tramping Club. M iss Niven criticised the brevity and colour of some of the "shorts" worn. Strange Bird Seen A most unusual sparrow was seen at the Palmerston North railway station the other day. The bird had tho distinctive markings of a sparrow, but was furnished with a long beak and a tail which was much longer than is usual. Except for the colour of the plumage the bird resembled a kingfisher, even to the size and shapo of the body. Old English Coin Measuring half an inch in diameter and dated 18,51, a silver penny is in the possession of a Dunedin resident. It is not known whether silver pennies were in circulation in England at that time, or whether they were coined for the Great Exhibition which was held in that year. The reverse side to the " head " is upside-down, and the milling is round the flat, not on the edge. Trees for Native Birds Donated by the Waiiganui Acclimatisation Society and the Wanganui Beautifying Society, approximately 50 eucalyptus trees are to be planted in a vacant section of land adjacent to the Wanganui Hospital, to provide nec-tar-bearing flowers for native birds during the winter months. Many areas of land have been planted with, similar trees in the city, and bell birds and tuis are being attracted into the city area. "Cancerphobla" The increased publicity given to the fight against cancer has resulted in a new complaint, which might be described as "cancerphobia," or fear of cancer. Doctors in Christchurch who spoke on the subject stated that many persons sought medical aid in the fear that they were afflicted with the disease. In the majority of the cases the fear proved ungrounded, tho complaint frequently being of a simple nature and easily amenable to treatment. The fear of cancer had an unfortunate effect on a person's mental outlook.

Minister's Wedding Experiences The interesting experience of assisting within a fortnight at the wedding of a daughter and a grand-daughter of a couple whom he married when he had his first charge is about to befall the Rev. S. Griffith, of the Methodist Church, who has been living in semiretirement in Auckland. The granddaughter is to be married at Feilding on July 10 and the daughter at Eltham on July 24. Between the two occasions Mr. Griffith will take part in the diamond jubilee celebrations of his first church, Broad Street, Palmerston North. Battle of the Somme The 19th anniversary of the opening of the Battle of the Somme occurs today. It has been said that at the start the Allies attacked as amateurs and were opposed by professionals, but that the beginning of the battle marked the turn of the tide that led in the end lo the Allied victory. It shook for the first time the confidence of the German Army and its leaders in their invincibility. As Ypres had been the grave of the British pre-war Army, so was the Somme the grave of the pre-war German Army, possibly the most formidable fighting force ever fashioned. Busy Scene at Railway Station A busy scene was presented at the Auckland railway station at the "time of the departure of the limited express for Wellington last evening, when a large crowd assembled on the platform to bid farewell-to visiting hockey and soccer players. Hockey teams, which competed in the Country Week tourney, were passengers on the train, as well as members of the Otago Association football team which unsuccessfully challenged Auckland for the premiership of the Dominion on Saturday. Two .additional second-class carriages and an extra sleeping car were attached to the express, which comprised 14 units. "The Lost Generation"

"Of the many social and economic problems which wo are attempting to solve at the present time, that of our unemployed youth is probably the most serious, and certainly the most tragic viewed from any angle," stated a special report adopted at the meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association. "This is a world-wide problem and it has been estimated that 25 per cent, or nearly 8,000,000 youths in the countries of Western civilisation are unemployed at present. So great is this evil that the term, 'The Lost Generation,' has been applied to these young unfortunates."

Oar Trips lor Tourists Special motor tours of the city and surrounding districts are now conducted by the Government Tourist Department for passengers on the Matson liners when they in port at Auckland. Parties wishing to make the trips are arranged before the vessels arrive and the department has sufficient cars ready to take the passengers for comprehensive sightseeing trips during the limited time at their disposal. The scheme is becoming increasingly popular and shortly after the Mariposa berthed at Prince's Wharf on Saturday morning, 13 cars, all with their full complement of passengers, left to show over 50 visitors a glimpse of Auckland.

Doctor-fear Complex "Never frighten a child by threatening it with the doctor," said Colonel F. W. W. Dawson, assistant medical officer of health, in an address at the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society. "To mako the doctor appear to bo something to bo frightened of may at some time or other endanger the child's life, because when a doctor's aid is urgently needed the child may bo so tcrri-. Ned of him that the medical man cannot make a proper examination," he said. "Ono of the advantages of the school medical service is that the children are becoming so used to doctors that they go to them with a smile."