LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23136, 7 September 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ceremony at Ratana _ Ijargo numbers of Maoris from the Auckland district are going to Ratana next week-end to attend tho official opening of a neiv meeting house on Sunday. Tho Railways Department is running a special train from Auckland on Friday evening and already 300 bookings have been received.

Two Ships to Dock Two ships engaged in unusual services will enter Calliope Dock in company this morning for refit. They are the Melanesian Mission's steamer Southern Cross, which recently arrived from the New Hebrides to receive overhaul, and the Nobel Explosives Company's topsail schooner Huia. The Huia arrived some weeks ago from Melbourne, via Dunedin, with explosives.

Refit of Pilot Launch The Auckland Harbour Board's pilot launch Waitemata, which has been receiving extensive refit and alterations on tho board's slipway, was moved yesterday to Prince's Wharf for a now Diesel engine to be installed. Tho Waitemata later returned to the slipway to complete tho refit, which will include tho installation of an echosounding device for harbour survey work. New Railway Works

The provision of concrete platform fronts and the alteration of curves between tho Paeroa and Waihi stations aro included among new works recently started by the Railway Department. A subway to eliminate a level crossing near Tirau has been completed. Good progress is being made with the renewal of bridges in rolled steel joists, the latest conversion being a bridge near Taupaki. Gifts to War Memorial Museum A large collection of photographs of old Maori chiefs which have much historic value lias been presented to the Auckland War Memorial Museum by Mrs. J. Ivenderdine, of Parnell. Several other gifts of value include a selection of Maori and Islands articles of ethnographical interest from Mrs. Alice Weston, of Devonport, and two plaited Maori kits from Colao B&y, Southland, given by Mrs. E. McDowell, of Parnell.

Rat Destruction Campaign "I do not think thero is one local bodv that would not contribute to tho fund," said Mr. C. M. McCullough, chairman of the Mount Roskill Road Board, at a meeting of tho board last night, when a letter was received from the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies' Association asking tho board to contribute toward the cost of advertising tho City Council's proposed rat destruction campaign. Tho board agreed to contribute. Bananas Plentiful in Samoa

Tho crop of bananas in Samoa this season has been good, according to Mr. Thornton Jackson, who returned last night by the Matua, after spending two months in tho Islands. Mr. Jackson said that although bananas were plentiful at Apia little or no copra was being produced, as the oversea market prices had collapsed and the natives found the return was uneconomic. At Nukualofa hurricanes had razed the banana crops, and very few were being sent from there to New Zealand.

New Rose Garden Information that the borough of Mount Albert would shortly have a public rose garden which promised to bo tho best in Auckland was given to tho Borough Council last night. It was stated that Mr. J. H. Cutler had offered about 1500 of the latest varieties of roses for planting in Gribble-Kirst Park and to keep the garden thoroughly up-to-date from time to time with new plants. It was stated that a plan for the attractive lay-out of tho garden had already been drawn up.

Von Tempsky's Anniversary Seventy years ago to-day tho gallant Yon Tcmpsky, "the most conspicuous and rpmantic figure among the white scouts who had mastered the art of bush warfare," fell rallying his men at tho engagement of To Ngutu-o-te-manu, inland from Hawera. The attack on Titokowaru and his, insurgent native followers was led by Colonel McDonnell, but they encountered the enemy skilfully posted in the bush. Their hot and accurate fire drove the white force back, and Von Tempsky was among the 20 who .were killed in the engagement.

Safety Propaganda Disgust with a play broadcast as road safety propaganda was expressed by Mr. E. Palliser at a'meeting of the Automobile Association (Wellington). "It was a gruesome tiling," he said, explaining that it portrayed a party of intoxicated bowlers becoming involved in a motor-car accident, one quoting poetry, while the others had serious injuries. It would not impress the people it was intended to impress, but would disgust listeners. Mr. Palliser said the Minister of Transport, tho Hon. R. Semple, had said a series of plays was to be prepared. It was decided to draw the attention of the Transport Department to tho typo of play broadcast.

Value of Air Mail The success of the new air mail service in speeding up the interchange of communication between New Zealand and Great Britain is well illustrated in the recent experience of a suburban resident. Taking advantage of tho first "all-up" air mail, which left Auckland by tho Mariposa on Friday, August 5, ho wrote to a friend in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This letter was delivered in Belfast on August 19, and the friend replied on the same day. His answer was delivered in Auckland on 'September 5, exactly one calendar month from the date on which the first letter loft Auckland. This contrasts with tho period of three months that has been allowed for a reply in tho past.

Loss in Value of Ambergris No longer are small fortunes to bo picked up on beaches in tho form of ambergris. According to Mr. A. W. B. Powell, assistant-director of tho Auckland War Memorial Museum, ambergris has no longer any commercial value. Nor havo many persons any idea of tho appearance or form of ambergris. Almost every day specimens of dried-up sponge aro sent by persons to the museum under tho belief that they aro ambergris. As a matter of fact, ambergris, which resembles beeswax and molts under heat, has tho odour of musk. It was the odour of musk which drew ifn expert's attention to tho caulking used in a log hut on tho Ninety Mile Beach many years ago. Ho discovered the owner had used ambergris to fill in tho spaces between tho logs, but tho owner was unaware that it was ambergris, which at that time had a high value. Ambergris was used as a basis in scent, Mr. Powell remarked, but it was no longer apparently in use for the purpose.