News in Brief

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 373, 15 March 1932, Page 6

News in Brief

“ Please Explain.” A Raetihi radio enthusiast tuned into KFI, Los Angeles, at 7.45 one evening recently. The reception was good (says an exchange), and, with the idea of writing to the station and getting a verification card back, he dotted down on a slip of paper the title of a good tenor song that was being sung. 11 is radio set was in his office, and he inadvertently left the slip on the pretty lady stenographer’s desk. It read, “ Dearie, I Love You.” In the morning she handed it over to the radio fan’s wife. His explanations were coldly received, and it is evident that he will be under suspicion until confirmation is received from the Californian station. A Camp for “Swaggers.” About halfw’ay between Eltham and Stratford an unusual camp has been established. It is in the nature of a dug-out. The ingenious builder selected a portion of a deep ditch where at one time tar in drums was stored to keep it away from the sun. With drums that have been cut in half, making useful sheets of iron, a serviceable and waterproof shelter has been erected. For beds, the place has been lined with dry fern. A handy fireplace has also been constructed by simply using a discarded drum through which a bar has been fixed. Altogether, reports a Taranaki exchange, it is a very comfortable camp, and it is out of sight of the roadway, so that the great majority of passers-by are not aware of its presence. Rangitata to Call at Bermuda. The motor-liner Rangitata, which left London on Thursday for New' Zealand, w’ill call at Bermuda and Kingston. This is the first time for a number of years that a passenger liner belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company has called at Bermuda, which is a popular tourist resort. It is thought that the Rangitata has passengers from England on board for Bermuda. On her last trip out the Rangitiki, which is at present loading on the New Zealand coast, disembarked a number of passengers at Jamaica, which is becoming popular with tourists who wish to spend their money in British territory. Kingston (Jamaica) has also come into prominence as a coaling port for vessels belonging to the Shaw, SaviJl and Albion Company while en route between New Zealand and England, and going via the Panama Canal. Maoris Seek Parley. Overtures for a friendly understanding with Rata, the Maori “ King,” and his Waikato followers, have several times been made by Wiremu Ratana, of Wanganui. In furtherance of this desire a conference was organised and was to have been held at Te Kuiti last week. Natives from North Auckland, Tauranga, Thames, Pukekohe, Wanganui and Te Kuiti, totalling 1400, gathered there, but Rata and his followers did not arrive.