NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Attempted Burglaries. . , ' .Several residents at Eastbourne ana Muntai have reported attempted burglaries since the New Year. One night this week a safe was removed from a store and was found next morning beneath the Bona Bay Wharf blown open and a sum of money gone. The influx of hohdaymakers to the eastern bays has evidently attracted thieves, and'although no valuables are stated to have been stolen householders are sure that attempts have been made to enter their residences during absence. The practice of leaving dgors and windows open is apparently the cause of some of these reports. A person was heard moving in, the grounds of a house and trying the doors one night this week. It is understood that the matter is in the hands of the police. Hawkes Bay. Restoration I<oans. Orders in Council are published in tho "Gazette" published lasE eve-nine u ™™milM n0 »wing of a loan of £3000 by the Hawkes Bay County Council for restoring damage caused by the earthquake; also, for the borrowing of £2500 for the purpose of erecting tho Children's Home' at Eskdale (known as France House) to replace that destroyed by the earthquake. Superannuation Board. ' In the "Gazette" issued last evening it is notified that the poll for election of members of the Public Service Superannuation Board will closo on the Ist March.. The members to be elected are two representatives of tho Post and Telegraph Department, One representative of the Police Force, and three representatives of other Departments of the Public Service. Mussels Washed Ashore. The -washing ashore of quantities of large mussels on the ocean beach near the Whakatane Heads and harbour beaches recently is considered to lfavo been due to a submarine disturbance or a storm at sea (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The mussels were of the deep-sea variety, and were attached to seaweed. The.Natives gathered a rich harvest, taking cartloads for food. It was reported at: about the same time that thousands of jelly fish were washed in" the Tauranga Harbour and vicinity. Auckland's "Ohrißtmas Tree." Auckland's distinctive and decorative •Christmas tree, the pohutukawa, is much sought by gardeners in Southern centres, and each year tho popularity of the tree increases (says the "New Zealand Herald'). During Christmas and the' New Year residents of Wel-lington-were invpressed by excellent specimens of the pohutukawa in public parks and private gardens, and Wangaiiui also possesses some fine trees. A common mitake in the South is to endeavour to make the pohutukawa a trim ornamental tree. This attitude contrasts . strongly with Auckland's preference for preserving the pohutukawa in its natural surroundings. Thero are few finer sights than the smudge of crimson of the pohutukawa flowers on long stretches of the Bay of Plenty coast—a natural attraction noted by tho Maori colonists 600 years ago—or clumps of the tree clinging precariously to this cliffs of the Hauraki Gulf islands. The trees outside Auckland, of course, have not the maturity of those characteristic of the province. So ancient are some of the pohutukawas in the vicinity of Auckland that there are early Maori legends attached to them. Girl Missed from Beach. An eight-year-old girl, Betty Feck, is believed to have been drowned on Wednesday afternoon on the Strandon Beach under tragic circumstances (states a New Plymouth correspondent). The girl's mother and a/woman friend had been bathing in the sea. When they came out of the water they went up on a sandbank and from there tho mother saw the child. Thero were other bathers in the vicinity. Mrs. Fcek missed the child some time later, and then made inquiries for her. Constable King was on the beach at the time, and with his help a thorough search was started. In the evening members of tho East End Surf Club joined in the search. One of them, Mr. W. Henderson, went in with the belt and line, but the breakers were rolling in with unusual force, and prevented him from getting through to smooth water. An Aero Club machine, piloted by Mr. S. Green, with an observer, flew along the beach several times this morning, and then went four miles out over the sea, but nothing was seen.

Rotorua Baths Popular. The popularity of the new Blue bath and the AVard baths at Eotorua is shown by the exceptionally heavy business done during the Christmas and New Year week (states the "New Zealand Herald'). For the period 23rd December to 31st December, 3704 persons paid for admission to tho Ward baths and 3028 for admission to the Blue bath, and the volume of business had been, steadily maintained since Christmas. "But—There Are Bright Moments." "It was weary work for some of the examiners to weigh the merits of 150 to 250 papers," says the "Church Chronicle" in referring to the recent examinations conducted by the Wellington Diocesan Sunday School Association, "But, even in weighing examination papers, there are bright moments. It was a sheer joy to come across tho candidate who described Bar-Timaeus as a 'bung-eyed bloke what sat cadging in tho gutter.*. Bar-Timaeus was no anonymous puppet on that intelligent youngster's stage. And how is this for 'association of ideas'—'Saint Christopher discovered Columbus?' " Guilty or Not Guilty. A pungent and amusing commentary upon, the intricacy and uncertainty of proceedings in our Law Courts 60 years ago was made by a Maori warrior, Titokovraru, in January, 1882, when charged before the New Plymouth Bench with i having used threatening language at Manaia, says the Taranaki "Herald." Tho old warrior pleaded "guilty,'/ evidently thinking it useless to ,do otherwise. But the Bench, at the instance of the prosecuting counsel, entered a plea of-"not guilty" and proceeded to take evidence. The following ebnversation between the interpreter, Johnny Blake, and Titokowaru ensued: Blake: "The Magistrates .won't allow you to say you are guilty; they say you are not guilty." Tito (Wrapping his blanket round him, and preparing with an air, of satisfaction to leave th* dock): "Kapai" (good). Blake;" You mustn't go; they-are going to\try you now.". Tito (astonished): "What do they want to try mo for"if they say I'm not guilty?" Blake: "But you might'be guilty after all."