NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Quail as Pet. A tame Californian quail is the unusual pet roaming the garden of Mrs. Bryant, 10, Wellesley Road, Napier. The •bird has made the garden its home for some time past, and enjoys a meal of bread crumbs. Heads and Tails. "We cut o per cent off the dog's nose by way of extra tax and tack it on to his tail by giving a 5 per cent rise in wages,' said Mr. J. A. Lee at* the Town Hall last night, when addressing an audience of aibout 1800 at a meeting called by the Democratic Labour party. "But thousands of people do not get this rise because they are on fixed incomes or pensions," he added. Yellow Kowhai. The yellow kowhai has this season had an unusually long period of beauty. It noteworthy that this tree is growing in popularity, many people having promising young trees in their gardens and shrubberies. Tuis find the kowhai very attractive, Ibut have a bad habit of tearing off the blooms, so that after they have visited the trees the ground is often carpeted with yellow. Calves Born with Earmarks. A heifer on a property on the Eastern Boundary Road, Whakatane, has given 'birth to twin calves, and each of the offspring has the ( earmarks of the mother. Had there (been a single calf, with a single earmark, the occurrence would have 'been peculiar enough, but for twin calves to be marked on both ears, although it is understood to have been known -before, is a freak of Nature. The mark, incidentally, consists of a "U" out of the tip of the ears.

"England Goes On." Writing to a relative in New Zealand, a member of the merchant marine, who has been right in the middle of the blitzkrieg on the south-east coast of England, assures hie ocrrespondent that those who are in it do not feel at all depressed or worried. "Whatever you hear or think," he writes, "rememlber that here in England, despite all kinds of bombings and threats, the spirit still holds and the bulldog 'breed is coming out in grand style. One can't help but thrill at the spirit of the folk. Come what may, England goes on forever." Lake Yields its Treasures. People are said to throw away their money at race meetings, but they do not do so in the Take at Waiiganui racecourse. This lake, a reproduction in miniature of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, has 'been drained and cleaned by the men of the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment, encamped at Wanganui. It yielded up a penny and a halfpenny and a wrist watch from its depths. Now the men use it for a swimming pool. It is also used as a repository for social offenders against unofficial laws of the rank and file. Rotorua Christmas Carnival. Rotorua Borough Council has decided to proceed with its usual programme of carnival festivities between Christmas and New Year, and last night approved a report by the Advancement Committee which submitted a number of entertainments for approval. These (writes the "Star's" correspondent) include Maori and sacred concerts, fireworks display, a Scots' night, fancy dress competitions and a procession. This year, it was decided, no daylight procession will be held on New Year's Eve, the only procession arranged for being in the evening to culminate in a ceremony which will mark the passing of the year. After Ten Years. Although the gallery at the Mount Albert Grammar School has not been used for ten years, faults having developed after the Napier earthquake, the Board of Governors yesterday discussed . the question of the cost of carrying out ; necessary strengthening work. To do ' the strengthening of the gallery and also improve the sight line would cost £460, of which the board's share would be approximately £150. It was decided that as the work of strengthening the I gallery would be £210 the Education I Department be asked to make a grant I of that amount, the work of improving the sight l.ne to remain in abeyance inj the meantime. j