NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 239, 9 October 1928, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Filing Up the Cost. People who never pay a debt until ordered to do so by the Court are a fine source of revenue to the State, as wen as a means of income to the legal ™ ?° less than 36 lawyers attended the Magistrate's Court on debtors' day this week, and their costs, added to the accounts, must make this particular system of deferred payment an expensive business for the buyer. "Mo Chong He Ye." Which, being interpreted, is "The Uprising of the Republic of China," and is the name of to-morrows Chinese festival, the 17th anniversary of the founding of the republic. All Chinese business premises will be closed, and the prinevent will be a picnic at Ferndale, at which about 600 people will be present. There will be sports, both Chinese and European, and an Association football tournament will be one of the attractions. "Who Won?" Who won the club championship!" shouted 7," °" e of Auckland's representatives in *« - x j team which returned from South Africa to-day, to the crowd in the launch which met the steamer. "University! We beat your team in the final," answered a 'Varsity supporter who was in the launch. "Congratulations," smiled liuca,s, and those in the launch knew that the speaker was every bit as good a sport as when he went away. Mount Eden Bath Improvements. Ac E i xt ®" sive improvements are planned for the Mount Eden swimming baths. It was mentioned at the annual meeting of the Mount Eden Swimming Club last evening that the Borough Council proposed, in the near future, to endeavour to raise a loan to provide for the installation of a sterilisation-and heating plant, and also for the roofing over of the baths. It was in the interest or the swimmers, said the chairman, for all to do their bit towards getting the measure sanctioned by the ratepayers. Bare Legs in Fashion. "Thousands of men with bare heads and thousands of girls with bare legs—these were • JT? gr f at BUr P ris es I received on my arrival m California'," said Miss Betty Ross-Clarke, the actress, who appeared in Auckland some time ago, on her return to Australia from the States. Miss Clarke explained that, as most of the girls were too busy to go down to the beach, artificial sunburn replaced the stockings, and, as a result many small businesses were going bankrupt! Miss Clarke declared that, as the climatic conditions were similar here, she would not be surprised to see the fashion take hold in the Southern Hemisphere. The Transport Question. ~ decision as to whether or not it favours the Auckland Transport Act, passed bv both Houses of Parliament on Saturday, will "be made by the City Council at a special meeting on Ihursday afternoon. The provisions of the Act require action in this direction to be taken within 14 days, and nothing shall have any force until the council approves of the measure. Should approval be lent to the scheme, the council will immediately determine the date of the poll of ratepayers to decide whether or not the Act should be made law. The decision of the people is to be secured within 42 days of the passing of the Act—on or before November 17. The same issue will also be submitted to a poll of ratepayers in the remaining portions of the transport district within the same period. "Via New Zealand." The latest issue of "The Month" contains an article written by the Rev. Father C. C. Martindale, of England, which will be of particular interest to Auckland people. Father Martindale travelled to Sydney for the Eucharistic Congress, and on his way made a tour of the North Island of Aew Zealand. He speaks of "the Corinthian loveliness of Auckland" as seen from Mount Eden °* 2?®, . Tl "f e Hill » pays a tribute to the beauty ot Wellington, and confesses that he felt "halfshy in the presence of the marvels of the thermal district. "I left Wairakei fascinated," he adds, "and almost apologising to its marvels." Father Martindale said he would try hard to be the best tourist agent New Zealand had ever known. "In fairness to its Government and its people I could not be otherwise," he told an Australian His recollection of the amazing kindness of New Zealand people would always remain in his heart.

Dog Holds Up Court. Silence, back there!" called the orderly at the Police Court yesterday morning. But" the sandpaper effect of moving feet still continued. Again the constable demanded silence. Then a dog yelped, and the leisured gentry who daily throng the public portion of the Court laughed and tittered. "Who's got that dog? Put it out," said the orderly. Someone quietened the black pom which had walked into the Court in search of its master, who was a witness. However, a few minutes later it. was quite impossible to the evidence of a witness owing the poiu s loud cries. . Judging by its agonised protests, someone had accidentally stood on the pom's feet. The Court was held up by the disturbance, and iu the end the orderly was compelled to wade amongst the dense crowd packing the rear of the Court and forcibly eject the disturbing dog. The spectators thought the whole incident quite a joke, judging by the laughter that followed. It takes little to amuse these Police Court listeners-in. Presbyterian Orphanages. The anhounceinent that it is intended to close the Devonport Presbyterian Orphanage about the end of next month was made by Mr. S. J. Harbutt last evening at the annual meeting of the Auckland Presbyterian Orphanages and Social Service Association, over which the Rev. Thomas Halliday presided. The children will be accommodated between .the Leslie and Onehunga homes. Mr. Harbutt said that the general committee had been considering how long the orphanages should be called upon to carry the children. Better work might be done by not carrying the child to too high a standard in education. "Children wishing to proceed to secondary schools were not barred, but it was very difficult to keep children attending primary schools in the same institution as those attending secondary. The latter naturally looked down upon the former. It was also impossible to have boys going to work and living in the homes. It introduced a new influence into the home, and made it most difficult for the matron to keep discipline. Alternative schemes had suggested themselves to the committee. It was possible that a joint hostel might be run by the various Auckland orphanages. The other plan was that when a boy went" to work a home should be found for him with a private family. Scotland's Oreat Day. Two old Highlanders who were at the civic welcome to Lord Lovat at the Town Hall yester-. day were finely pleased with what they saw there. had come a long way to see and hear the distinguished visitor, the very sound of whose voice, so fragrant with Highland clearness and softness, made them feel, after a lapse of half a century, that they were once again on the slopes of their native glen. What pleased them most, however, was the kind of folk who were present at the reception. It was a characteristically Highland gathering, and they had not expected at this stage of the Dominion's history to see so many who were so typically Scotch. Their joy was full when Lord Lovat shook hands with them in that courtly fashion so common to the Highland chief, and more especially when in the presence of aged folk. They had had a grand day, and one they would never forget. The beloved home of their childhood in Beauly, the home of the Frasers. had been brought very close to them, and there was more than they could tell of in that pride of race which made them cling to the old chieftain days when the j head of the clan was a real leader and father to them aIL : — I