NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Hamilton Tree-planting. In the course of the Centennial treeplanting scheme, more than 0000 trees have been planted in Hamilton this season, according to ;i statement made by Mr. AV. H. Paul at a meeting of the Hamilton Domain .Board. Of this number about lr>oo had been planted at the lake, and approximately three-quarters on domain property. With the exception of about 350, all the trees were native specimens. City Water Mains. Extensive waterworks have been planned by the Auckland City Council in connection with a development loan of £221.800, which has been arranged. A feeder main is to be provided from ' 1 the reservoir in Hopetoun Street to the waterfront, via the new Xelson Street extension, as a major work, but in the meantime a number of smaller mains will be dealt with, one being the placing' of a new Bin main in Eden Crescent to provide for industrial development and large buildings in that area. Quarters for Farm Workers. Farmers are planning a community scheme to provide accommodation for i farm labourers. A plan at present being explored in Central Tarasiaki to ensure casual farm labour being available in the district has been approved by the North Taranaki Council of Primary Production, and recommended for more general adoption by rural communities. It was reported that farmers in one district were proposing to form themselves into a special rating ar;a, with a view to securing money borrowed from the county council to erect a better type of house in a central spot to accommodate workers selected by committee, wJio would become available for casual work.

Picking Flowers in Parks. "Some people, especially women, fust cannot keep their hands off," commented the chairman, Mr. F. A. Swarbrick, at a meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board, when the subject of the indiscriminate picking of flowers on domain land* was being discussed. A report made by the foreman, Mr. H. Darrall, stated that he had caught a woman picking some of the daffodils growing beneatli the trees on the banks of the lake. When approached, she said she thought they were growing wild. It was considered by some of the members of the board that much of the pickin" was done by people who did not think", or failed to see, that it was an offence. Children's Art Appreciated. The exhibition of children's art which was displayed at the National Gallery in Wellington last year, and which created interest both in the capital city and other centres, was also greatly admired when subsequently sent to Australia. Sydney has become interested in a children's art exhibition) which includes the New Zealand collection. As the exhibition is to be sent round the New South Wales main country schools, permission had to be asked for an extension of the time originally arranged. The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, in granting the request, expressed pleasure at the good use being made by the New South Wales education authorities of the New Zealand collection.

Nurses on Horseback. Believed, to be the first unit of its kind ■jn New Zealand, the Gisborne mounted auxiliary of the Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Association began on Tuesday one week's intensive training for work as mounted nurses. The members will be trained in first aid and general nursing work, aiid by means of horses will provide their own transportation to inaccessible parts of the district in time of emergency. The scheme has the full approval of the medical officers of the association and of the officer commanding the National Military Reserve in this district. It is proposed that the new unit will act in concert with the home defence forces if the latter are called upon. The immediate objective, however, is to furnish the district with an auxiliary corps of women accustomed to riding and able to take care of themselves, and bring nursing assistance to patient*, in area's where medical and specialised nursing aid is not immediately available.