AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 June 1918, Page 2

AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

[From Our Own Correspondent!

Auckland, June 25

THE N,Z PRESS DELEGATES

The six journalists who left Auckland two or three days ago for England and the Western Front as the guests of the Imperial Government, .were honored by a civic "send-off" at the Town Hall on the day of their departure. Mayor Gunson presided and made the customary " few remarks," in the course of which he referred to the "important mission" of the delegates, and said several things calculated to please them. Mr G. Fenwick (Otago Daily Times), as senior member of the party, responded on behalf of the latter. It was qaite an interesting speechlet. " I believe," said Mr Fenwick, " the people of New Zealand realise that our visit is not merely a complimentary one in recognition of the great services rendered the Empire by the Dominion in the present world struggle. There is 1 something of deeper significance in the mission, I feel sure, although none of us are at present able to say in just what respect lays the significance." The speaker then went on to more than hint that possibly the delegates would become the recipients of secrets of State, and acquire information "part of which might be divulged on their return, and part be of great importance in influencing their future Council." All of which was doubtless very gratifying— from the delegates' point of view. The trip, I understand, will occupy about four months, about three months and a-half of which will be occupied in travelling. The remaining ten days or a fortnight will no doubt be devoted by the delegates to hearing those secrets of State referred to by Mr Fenwick, and to acquiring that important information to which he also referred. Well, they ought to be back long before Christmas, and in the meantime we must possess our souls in patience until they return, and we learn what was " the deeper significance "of their mission. I should be sorry to detract in the smallest degree from the enormous importance attaching to the latter, and neither would I hint for worlds that these six newspaper men have gone on what amounts to a little press picnic organised by the Imperial authorities as a very slight recognition of what New Zealand has done, and is doing, to help win the war.

VALUED AT 60/-

At the Hamilton Police-Court, a day or two ago, the value of a young lady's leg was asseseed at £3. At all events that was the amount that William Henry Martin, 17 years of age, was ordered to pay when charged with reckless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road; He was travelling on a motorcycle when he collided with the unfortunate young lady, and fractured har leg. Like a large number of other motor-cyclists William Henry appears to have got the impression somehow that the road belonged to him, and that if any pedestrian was foolis,h enough to get run down it was. no fault of his. The motor-cycle is a menace to the public. Nineteen riders out of twenty will exceed the speed limit if they, get half a chance. Accidents from this cause are fairly plentiful all over the Dominion, and the wonder is that more people are not killed. What with motor-cars, cycles, and motorcycles and their constant invasion of footpaths (in the suburbs) by cyclists the humble foot-passenger will be crowded out altogether. THE SENTRY AND THE SAILOR. At Auckland Police Court, this week, Albert Dillon, a sailor, was charged with attempting to mislead a sentry on the Queen's Wharf, by stating that he belonged to a ship lying at the wharf and had lost his pass. He owned up, and said he wanted to get on the ship to look for a job and told the sentry a fairytale in order to- effect his object. The Magistrate looked grave. " Any person wishing to get aboard a ship to plant a bomb might use just the same excuse," he said, " and consequently a strict view has to be taken of any endeavour to get on the wharf by trickery. Fined 40s or seven days, in future a heavier penalty will be imposed, even in cases where there is a reasonable explanation." Quite right, your Lordship. The precautions against unauthorised persons gaining access to the Auckland wharves are now most stringent. But up to about a year ago, or less, the wharves were quite unguarded, anyone could go aboard the ships that wanted to, and wander all over them. It was the repeated

warnings i^^^^^^^^^^^^^H at last aro^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J a sense °^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| running, allow, anJQ|^^^^^^^^^^^^| things whicnJ^^^^^^^^^^^H the hands of p^^^^^^^^^^^H " planting a boi^^^^^^^^^^H It is a little JucHq^^^^^^B the attempts of i.n^i^^^^^^| who would certainly offended if they were mSK^H sidered educated, to pronouncH the name of the Supreme Coil mander of the Allied ForjH Most people refer to the latterfH conversation, as " Fox,"- wh^| some call him " Fock." As famous strategist is a Frenchd^B and spells his name Foch, correct pronunciation is, course, Fosche. The wdW "Allies" is also very generally! mispronounced. Ninety - nine] people out of a hundred prof nounce it " Al-lies," with the accent on the first syllable. Yet these people would not accent the first syllable of "Alliance." THE FJRST "V.C." TO RETURN. Down South Lieut. Frickleton V.C., ''our first Y.C. hero to return," as he has been called, received an enthusiastic public welcome, as befitted the recipient of the highest military honour it is within the power of the Empire to bestow. He landed in Auckland, and this city had the first opportunity to greet him as he deserves to be greeted. "Xet nothing was done, and he was allowed to pass through the city as if were the merest nobody. A' man like that should be accorded a civic reception. He would assuredly have merited such an honor at least as well as some people I know of.