NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Welcome to 1936.

The New Year was greeted in the usual fashion by a noisy and goodhumoured crowd in the Post Office Square during the dying hours of 1935 on Tuesday night. Many weird sounds emanated from alleged musical instruments wielded by those of the younger generation, while those whose years were more numerous looked on at the fun. At the first stroke of the clock chiming the hour which ushered in the New Year there was more noise than ever and cheering, coupled with hat and handkerchief wavings. As the crowd dispersed and wended its way home strange noises continued to resound from all parts of the city and suburbs. Race Train Delayed. A mishap to one of the race trains returning from Tauherenikau yesterday gave the occupants an additional three hours during which to meditate over the day's- gains or losses. The cause of the delay was the derailing of the front bogie of the engine, just north of Mungaroa. A relief train eventually brought the stranded passengers to Wellington while a fleet of buses went to Kaitoke to bring back the second race train's passengers, who would otherwise have been held up by the first train. Real Flood-Lighting. Bathers who have enjoyed night swimming at Westshore, Napier, during recent evenings have been astonished by the large amount of "phosphorus" in the sea, extending right up to the beach, states the "Hawke's Bay Herald." On entering the surf one appears to create a wave of submarine illumination, which increases in intensity as the water is disturbed. When swimming, one's path through the water is illuminated by thousands of tiny points of light. Christinas Illuminations. Auckland seems to have lagged behind other centres this year in the matter of Christmas illuminations (states the "New Zealand Herald"). A holiday-maker who returned from the south said he had been very much impressed by the way in which the streets of Nelson were decked_ out with strings of coloured electric lights. He saw a good deal of similar decoration in Wellington, although he was not there at night. The Square at Palmerston North, as viewed.from the limited express, was worth going a long way to see. The fronts of the buildings were covered with lights of every hue. More lamps had been hung across the streets and a tall tree had been festooned with them like a Christmas tree. "Surely the City Council, the Power Board, and the retailers could arrange to have Queen Street and Karangahape Road decorated like this at Christmas and New Year," remarked the traveller. Otaki Health Camp. Just over a hundred children, whose ages range from five to fourteen, arc at present enjoying life to the full in the Children's Health Camp at Otaki. Glorious weather, the sparkling sea, and acres of sandhills, combined with loving care and good food, arc giving these youngsters the time of their lives. Such a happy and healthy life out oC doors is an entire novelty to many of the children whose homes arc in congested city areas where such delights are not obtainable.

Use for Trawler's Bridge.

An unusual structure graces the new. tennis court at the western end of the Devonport Naval Base (stales Ihe -New Zealand Herald"). It presents the appearance of a small hut or a large chicken coop, and it is used as a pavilion. Actually it is the old bridge of the Admiralty trawler Wakakura. A new.bridge had to be provided for j the little vessel some months ago, bul { the ingenuity of the Navy saved the; condemned structure from demolition, and officers of the New Zealand Division of Ihe Royal Navy can almost think they are on board ship while they are waiting for a game. Holiday Traffic. Holiday resorts near Wellington were crowded yesterday, and the transport services were kept busy throughout the day. Eastbourne proved one of the most popular spots for the day trippers. Over 3000 made the trip lo the bays by ferry steamer, and large numbers travelled from Wellington and the Hutt Valley by bus. The ferry and bus authorities have every reason for satisfaction at the returns, which were the highest for a considerable time. Plimmerton proved the most popular of the northern beaches, and although large numbers travelled by rail the traffic was not as heavy as on Christmas Day. This is attributed to the number of people who have moved to the seaside for the whole of the holiday period. Over 2000 made the excursion trip to Picton. The number travelling by the Lyttelton express steamers was naturally not so great as on the previous days, but from now on the steamers and trains will be well filled with people returning to their homes. Geysers Celebrate. An old resident of Rotorua recalls that the' Whakarewarewa geysers held their own celebration on Christmas Day, when no fewer than four of the best-known geysers were playing simultaneously for a period (states the "New Zealand Herald"). While Pohutu gave an impressive display the neighbouring Prince of Wales Feathers were also playing, while Waikorohilu was in full blast and Kereru, which has played very occasionally in recent years, shot up to a height of over 20ft. The resident stated that it was most unusual, within his recollection, for these four geysers to play at the same time. A Sunny Year. The year 1935 will go down in meteorological history as a sunny year. The total sunshine recorded in Wellington during the twelve months was over 100 hours, above the average, 2147.2 hours being the year's total compared with a yearly average of 2044.3 hours. The approximate mean temperature for the year was just over half a degree above normal. The rainfall approximated the average, although the number of days with rain was rather fewer than usual. The mean run of the wind per day was below the average. A few flakes of snow fell on one day in May and frosts were recorded on 24 occasions. Warm weather continued for the first four months of the year as a legacy from the exceptional heat of November and December, 1934, but the spring was cold. Wives and Lodges. In proposing a toast at a lodge banquet in Bluff on Saturday evening, the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones) raised a laugh by suggesting that all married men should be glad of the opportunity of allowing their wives to become members of ladies' lodges, states the' "Southland Times." "From what I have seen tonight, lodge members are not allowed to talk all the lime, nor all at once," Mr. Jones said. "It is commonly supposed ladies regard unrestricted conversation as their special prerogative. The strict discipline of a lodge in this respect would be excellent training for a wife, and it would certainly make for peace in the home—especially for the so-called head of the house." Mr. Jones's remarks were feelingly applauded by the many married men present. Neglected South Island? Commenting on the South Island agitation for a greater share in tourist publicity, the annual report of the New Zealand Tourist League contains the following paragraph: "From time to time there are reports from South Island groups of a suspicion that Tourist Department officials show a bias to North Island resorts in planning itineraries. But we think that.this.is groundless ,because the tourist's wishes as to what he can see in the time are the main thing to be considered. We feel that the reason that the South Island does not get its due share of visitors from overseas, is first the fact that North Island ports are called at by trans-Pacific steamers and secondly lack of time on the part of the visitors who do not realise the extent of our scenery and allow themselves insufficient; time in the country. It is curious that during the thirty years that the Tourist Department has been in operation, practically all the Ministers have come from the South Island, and surely they would not have countenanced any favouritism against their home districts. Is it a coincidence that after the time of Sir Joseph Waijd, who energetically launched the Department, the charge of lack of imagination and drive has occurred during the time South Island Ministers had direction?"