NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Boys’ High School Staircase. Approval of a grant for tile construction of an additional stairway and exit at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School was notified yesterday by the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Education, in a telegram to Mr. H. R. Billing, chairman of the High Schools’ Board. Girsl’ Surf Club Members.

Although their club has no team entered for the championships, two representatives of the Milford Girls’ Surf Life-saving Club are at New Plymouth to watch the annual contests of New Zealand surf teams. They are Miss E. Forrest, president of the club, and Miss G. Sherriff, past secretary and a member of the team, and both were present at the annual conference last night.

Journey by Service Car. Owing to the damage done by the flood yesterday and the consequent holdup in the train time-table, a party of 35 New Plymouth Girl Guides and Guiders, bound for the camp at Trentham, was unable to leave' by the Wellington express. Special arrangements were made by the Railway-Department, w’hich had the party conveyed in three service cars to Hawera via Opunake. A patty from Waitara was also collected.

Surf Championships. The New Zealand surf championship meeting will adhere to previous arrangements, it Was decided last night, competitions to be held at Fitzroy to-day and to-morroW. All special trains have been cancelled but all the clubs Will be present with the exception of Eastern United (Brown’s Bay, Auckland) which Was to have travelled by the Auckland excursion express.

Motor Troubles in Flood. Close on 100 calls were made yesterday bn New Plymouth garage staffs by motorists whose cats Were choking with wet ignitions or wet coils. After being attended once, however, most drivers learned to dry their own motor equipment without calling in experts. Some motorists approached the treacherous areas, mainly the centre of the town or the railw y station corner, with the painful respect that denoted a certain lack of faith in their machines. Others drove at the sheets of water with a fine careless confidence, neither accelerating nor braking. Others again dashed across the water in a splendid halo of spray which was tossed up high over the hood. Now and then ,to the annoyance of garage staff and spectators, a driver with overmuch bravado would plunge recklessly into water that reached over the wheels and swamped the outraeed ensine.

Rainfall Registrations. In the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. yesterday, the following rainfall was registered" at Taranaki centres: New Plymouth 7.24 inches, Stratford 9.56 inches, Inglewood 10.9 inches, Dawson Falls 19.0 inches, Waiongona 8.71 inches.

Floods Hold Up Witnesses. The floods delayed the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday morning because witness coming from the Stratford district could not pass through Tariki and were forced to come instead by the Opuhake route, round the mountain. The witnesses, who were due at the court at 10 a.m., did not arrive until 10.45 and the court 1 was forced to adjourn in the interval.

“Silent Bill Cheerful.” “All aboard well—Silent Bill cheerful,” ran a radio message from the Bteamer Akaroa, which left Wellington for England on February 6 and was off Pitcairn Island last Saturday. The message referred to the five-year-old thoroughbred gelding Silent Bill, which was presented to the Duke of Gloucester by Mr. T. A. Duncan, Hunterville, and which i& now on his way to England.

Sea Lion at a Dunedin Beach. ' A sea lion, an unusual visitor to Dunedin city beaches, made a brief appearance at St. Clair a few days ago. The mammal, which was about 12ft long, was first observed swimming through the heavy surf toward the shore about 200 yards out. It came close into the shore, and appeared as though it was going to land, but found itself the centre of a curious throng in a very short time. Apparently becoming alarmed, it turned out to sea again, dived and disappeared.

“It’s An Hl Wind.” “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good” is an adage that has proved true in at least one case in connection with yesterday’s flood. A young householder at New Plymouth, who during his three years of married life has not given his vegetable garden much attention, woke yesterday morning to discover a heap of pumpkins and marrows deposited by the flood waters against his wire netting. The flood had also deposited in the same place sufficient firewood to last hjm the winter. Preventing Fite

A suggestion that the Government might be asked tq make a film demonstrating the dangers of fire and methods of prevention was advanced by a delegate to the annual conference of the New Zealand branch, of the Institution of Fire Engineers at Christchurch. Copies of this film, he thought, might be distributed to the theatres as part of the propaganda for Fire Prevention Week. Several other suggestions were made for the improvement of the work done by the brigades in teaching methods of preventing fire. Fire Prevention Week Will be held this year in the middle of March.

'‘Doctors of Good Year.” “Is this a normal report, or is this just ‘soft soap’ to bluff the board?” asked a member of the Auckland Hospital Board when the report of the house committee was presented. The member referred to a letter written by the housekeeper of the residence at the hospital appreciating the good conduct of the young doctors during the past year. It was mentioned by the chairmah, Mr. W. Wallace, that in past years the housekeeper had complained of the behaviour of the young doctors. “They will become known as the doctors Of the good year, ’ remarked a member. “Perhaps the appreciative letter of their conduct could be attached to their testimonials.” Floods at Westown.

One would hardly expect to hear of a residence flooded on the higher levels of New Plymouth, but some residents of Tukapa Street, Westown, near the tram terminus, had that experience early yesterday morning. A house opposite Price Street owned by Mrs. Habowski, Midhirst, and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Quin, was flooded about a foot deep about 1 o’clock yesterday morning. So torrential was the downpour that the water channels were unable to cope with the flow, which backed up on to the road and then on to Mr. Quin’s property, doing considerable damage to carpets, etc. Mr. Quin waded out through the water with his wife, being given shelter by a neighbour, Mr. J. Stewart. A house on the Other side of the street, owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. R. Yeates and their young child, was also invaded by the flood, the occupants vacating it ahd seeking shelter with Mr. and Mrs. I. Lobb.

Mystery of “Fire-walking.” “It is inexplicable—as mysterious as the fabled rope trick,” said an Auckland scientist, discussing the “fire-walk-ing” ceremony as performed in Fiji fol the entertainment of the Royal party. One explanation that had been offered was that the stones were of a certain kind, which broke Open 'when trodden on, thus exposing a cool surface to the feet This, however, was untenable, as was another theory, that the feet were treated with some chemical preparation which rendered them temporarily immune from heat. A similar performance was to be seen in India, where it was jurt as baffling to the white man. There might be dispute as to whether the rope trick was ever actually performed, but there was certainly no doubt about the performance of fire walking, whidh remained. unique as a scientific puzzle. Persistent Tunneller.

A very popular member Of the Byrd expedition was Dr. L. H. Potaka, who joined late, but almost immediately took a high place in the esteem of the members. On his arrival he performed an operation that saved the life of one di the members, and thereafter his cheerful presence made itself felt in many other ways. One of the minor tragedies of the expedition was the loss of two cases of champagne, buried in snow, and never located. “The doctor was the most persistent tunneller I have ever seen,” said Rear-Admiral Byrd, adding that many of his men risked their lives over those two cases. “He was also the only member of the expedition who knew Where everything was kept. When anything was lost, the first appeal was to the doctor. You can quote me as saying he did a great job down there.”

A message from “Uncle Scrim, ’ of the Friendly Road, appears on page 14 of this issue, and further messages will appear in the supplements in subsequent Saturday issues of the News. Our Double’ Dry Cleaning process is now in operation. Suits and Costumes renovated for 4/6. J. K. Hawkins and Cd., Dry Cleaners and Dyers, comer Devon and Liardet Streets, New Flymouth. Stratford depot: Rudkin’s Confectionery.

Dance patrons are reminded of the dance to be held in the Tariki Hall next Monday night. There will be novelties galore, music by Hooker’s orchestra, euchre with good prizes (open orders) and trophies. Free buses from Stratford and Inglewood. The committee are sparing no efforts to give all a r ® a l (i time. Proceeds are in aid of the “pink” candidate in the M.W.D.F.U.* The residents of Tikorangi will' be interested to know that a cash store and bowser pumps have been opened at the corner of the Inland North and Ngatimaru Roads by Mr. W. L. Fault* The combined Old Boys’ sports clubs are holding a flannel dance in the Kawaroa Park Bungalow on Thursday. The music will be provided by jMcNeill’s Orchestra.*