NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 229, 27 September 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Grammar School Improvements.

Final approval has «been given to the Auckland Grammar School Board to call for tenders for the addition of four class rooms to the Mount Albert Grammar School, to relieve the present overcrowding. The estimated cost of the rooms is £6444. A further £20 has been granted as subsidy for the library. The Divot Lifters. The Vogue of golf in Devonport last night exercised the local borough council, when a communication from their gardener requested a ruling on the matter of putting practice on the Domain. I have been asked by several people whether Devonport has established a municipal golf links," he wrote. "Last Sunday there were no less than twenty-five golfers on the green. Some of them can dnve from the bowling green corner over to Jubilee Avenue, while others can lift a foot of turf without hitting the ball." In view of the fact that these latter divot lifters did not bother to replace the damaged turf, and as their operations were a menace to the cricket pitches, as well as a danger to children playing on the field, the council decided to erect notices prohibiting srolfing practice on the Domain. Onehunga Fire Inquiry. A magisterial inquiry into the circumstances attending a fire at Onehunga is to be held to-morrow morning in the Courthouse, Onehunga, by Mr. F. H. Levien, SJM. The fire occurred in an unoccupied five-roomed house at 35, Lower Queen Street, Onehunga, at about 7.30 p.m on July 19 last. It was suppressed by the Onehunga Fire Brigade after doing damage to one ot the front rooms. The house is owned by Mr. D. Robertson, of Avondale. About a year ago it was severely damaged by fire and was empty at the time. It was subsequently virtually rebuilt. The inquiry is being held at the instigation of the Onehunga Fire Board, as per section of the Fire Brigades Act, 1926. Rival Blooms. "The daffodil need n*t fear the competition of the tulip in New Zealand," eaid Mr. W. Balich, a well-known horticultural authority, in a recent address. The tulip did not grow well here, but oven if it did he doubted whether it would ever take the daffodil's place. Speaking of the cultivation and cross fertilisation of the narcissus, Mr. Balch said that narcissus was the family name, and embraced all tho forms, while the word "daffodil" was more correctly applied to the trumpets and to forms with the longer cups The amount of pleasure you get out of raising daffodils is enormous," he said. "You will have many disappointments, but you aTe assured of great joy, and there is a chance that you will get something really good, and, perhaps, make a email fortune." " 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces." "This is a communication all the wav from Paris, gentlemen," said the Mayor of Devonport last evening, when No. 7 on the order paper was called. The letter was an impassioned plea from a resident of the borough who is now touring the Continent, that the Devonport Borough Council should, in his absence, do its best to clear the surplus growth of weeds from Bata Road, a tiny blind street thirteen thousand miles away from the Grand Hotel du Pavilion, close to the Champs Elysee, The correspondent, after referring to Paris as "tins most beautiful city with its glorious boulevards," said that he will bo '-very glad to get baok to delightful Devonport," and plaintively informed the council that '•many friends from abroad intend visiting me when I return, so please do not let me be ashamed of Rata Road when I return, after the glowin" accounts I have given of our country's beauties and of Devonport in particular." The letter was sytiipathetically received, and, for the *ake of Devonport's fair fame in France something i≤ to bo done to.reduce the crop of weeds.

A Practical Demonstration,

From Rissington (Hrfwke's Bay), comes the story of a young man who had been heard to wonder what was the sensation accompanying a knock-out blow, and whose curiosity was gratified in a strange but very convincing manner. While riding his horse over a stretch of rough country, the animal put one of its forefeet in a hole, throwing the young man forward. In attempting to recover itself the horse threw up its head and hit the rider on the side of the jaw, the effect on the recipient being immediate and profound unconsciousness, and a fall from the horse of which he was/ totally unaware. After a few seconds he awoke, remounted his steed and continued his journey, none tho worse for his enforced forty winks. "Now I know the sensation of a knock-out," he said. -'There's no sensation at all!"

"Lights Out." Mid-way throng]) the inwling which was held under the auspices of tin; Harbour Bridge Association in the Masonic Hall, Devoii|»ort. last evening, the electric lights began to flicker in omiuoif, fashion, and then slowly but surely to go. out. Mr. R. H. Grcville, who was speaking, was in no wise perturbed. "We can talk just as well in the dark," ]ie. said, and continued with his address. The audience showed no sign of restlessness, and listened attentively, applauding -at the right moments just as if the lights were full on. A resourceful caretaker soon appeared with candles set in high sconces, and their light cast ji radiant aura round the chairman's table a striking contrast to the obscurity of the hail. Then the electric system decided to resume duty! and all was well. The temporary "black-out" had added a touch of novelty to the proceedings and it was an interesting experience for a presliman who was present, to take his shorthand notes m the dark. Athletic Womanhood. The popularity of athletics among the women in England is referred to by Mr. H. Amos, manager of the New Zealand team which competed at the Olympic Games, in one of his reports to the New Zealand Olympic Council. "At the Middlesex meeting," he states, "there must have been over 2<>o competitors. The programme included every variety of competition—22o yards, 440 yards, half-mile (the longest), walking jumping, hurdling, putting the shot, relays, etc!' and the performances were distinctly good. Two world records were broken, Miss Marjorie Clark, of South Africa, cleared oft 3in in the high jump' and Miss Hitouii. of Japan, reached 18ft 4in ill | the long jump. Both these girls are very good; ] they are well built and proportioned, and have ' very attractive styles." When Opposition Encourages.

"The one thing that cheered me up when 1 went to Wellington on the harbour bridge deputation was the bitterness of the opposition," declared Mr. G. O'Halloran, at a meeting at Devonport last evening in support of the bridge proposals. "If ours had been a wild-cat scheme, as has been suggested in certain quarters, we tshould have been met with contempt. Instead of that, the opposition was very Litter indeed. It was really most encouraging." Another speaker (Mr. R. H. Greville) said Devonport was destined to become the Manly of Auckland, but the population of North Shore would never increase to its full possibility until the harbour bridge was built. The North Shore boroughs could easily carry a population of 50,000 and there were 16,000 acres of good land a little further north which could easily be developed, granted the facility of access which a bridge would afford. The engineering aspect of the matter was dealt with by Mr. K. P. Moore, who said the scheme was quite feasible and a bridge to fulfil all requirements could be built for £650,000. "I have taken an interest in the project for twenty years," sajd Mr. Moore, "and I hope to see it under way in five years' time."