GOSSIP FROM THE QUEEN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18012, 24 November 1926, Page 4

GOSSIP FROM THE QUEEN CITY.

(Special to the “Star.") AUCKLAND, November 21. A Wrestling Champion. Sam Clapham, the world's light, heavy-weight wrestling champion, is a passenger on the Aorangi, which left Auckland for Vancouver yesterday. Clapham has been on a visit to tralia where he had nine matches, of which he won seven, drew one and lost one. He has a number of cr. gagements to fulfil in America . and Europe during the next six months. He intends to rervisit Australia next year, and there is a possibility or arrangements being made for him to Wrestle in New Zealand. Sunday Tennis. The Warkworth Tennis Club decided at a special meeting last evening to allow play on the club courts on Sunday afternoons for senior members only. The voting was ID to 14 iti favour of Sunday play. Fast Swimming. Swimming in the final of the W aitemata Club’s 220yds handicap at the Tepid Baths last evening, G. Bridson. 440vds intermediate champion of New Zealand and record-holder, improved upon the New Zealand intermediate boys’ record for the distance by regi.: tering 2min 36 2-ssec, which is 3-ssc.: faster than E. V. Cunnold’s record made in the same pool. Another excellent swim was that cf Miss M. Farquhar, who won the ladies handicap in the fast 100yds time of Go 4*ssec. This is one of . the best performances ever recorded by a lady swimmer at an opening carnival in Auckland. The Wool Sale. The first Auckland wool sale of the season, which was to have commenced on Friday, will now begin at eight, o’clock to-morrow evening. 3he change has been made necessary owing to the large catalogue. The sale wiL continue on Friday. More Immigrants. The population of the Dominion will be increased by nearly 500 on the arrival at Auckland to-morrow of the Arawa, with immigrants aboard. A wireless message received yesterday stated that although bad weather had been experienced, the vessel should make port to-morrow afternoon. All the immigrants are well, and the passage has been an enjoyable one. The destinations of the newcomers are;— Christchurch 72, Dunedin 73. Auckland 101, Wellington 160, Napier and Gisborne 30; total 436. Cricket Fashions. Even the cricket field is not immune from the invasion of Dame Fashion. Possibly acting on the precedent of the styles in ladies’ skirts, it has been decreed that the white coats worn by cricket umpires should also be shorter. The time has come for the replenishment of the sports wardrobe of the umpires acting under the auspices of the Auckland Cricket Association, and when the matter came before the Management Committee last evening the question of style was mentioned. E. 11. Bowlev, the recently engaged player-coach, had stated that shorter coats were now worn by umpires in all important matches in England, and several members thought the Auckland umpires should also be a, la mode. The question will be discussed with a representative of the Umpires’ Associ ation before the new order is placed.

Experiments with Chilled Beef. A further interesting and valuable experiment in the storage of beef, by chilling, was concluderf yesterday at the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company’s works. On August 27 sixteen quarters of beef were placed in the chilling room, some wrapped in stockinette bags, and some uncovered. When inspected yesterday, after a period of thirteen weeks in the chilling chamber, the beef was in good condition, although there were slight indications of mould apparent on the covered quarters. The result of the experiment endorses the contention o‘ the general manager that the best method of chilled storage is circulation of air with a wet battery in a chamber originally designed for the storage of fruit and cheese. It has now been demonstrated that the sys tem is applicable to all classes of primary products that are transported overseas. It is claimed -that if a ship's hold or ’tween decks is fitted with a wet battery system the chambers could be used for the carriage of either cheese or fruit, and if the ratio of pipe surface and cubic feet of storage space were increased the chamber would be quite suitable for meat, butter, cheese and fruit. Fire on Rimutaka. No further advice concerning the fire on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Rimutaka, eh rout'' from New Zealand to England, was received by the, Auckland office of the company yesterday. 3he Auckland portion of the vessel s cargo is distributed throughout the ship, and until details come to hand of the locality of the fire and of the holds affected by water and smoke it will be impossible to say which consignors are concerned in the losses. The dairy produce shipments, amounting to 65,000 boxes of butter and 9000 .crates of cheese, are covered by an insurance policy taken out in the name of the. Dairy Produce Board. This policy covers the butter and cheese from the factory to London against all risks. Claims are made on the basis of the current jnarket quotations, plus five per cent, the quotation accepted being that of home and foreign exchange on the date of the fire or other cause of loss.