AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 October 1918, Page 3

AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

[From Our Own Correspondent]. Auckland, Oct. 28. FLYING SHIPS FOR AUCKLAND. The two seaplanes landed at Auckland by the Niagara for the Flying School at Kohimarama are the largest air-ships either in New Zealand or Australia. They are, in fact, the biggest things of their kind this side the Line. They are capable of travelling at the rate of nearly 80 miles an hour. When the machine now in course of construction at Kohimarama is completed the school will own a fleet of seven air-ships—the largest number in use at any flying school in Australasia. By the way, Auckland was treated to the spectacle of three fine seaplanes, belonging to Kohimarama, flying over the harbour on the day the Niagara arrived. They went to meet the big steamer, and their evolutions were witnessed by crowds of interested citizens. One of these aerial voyagers attained an altitude of 3,200 ft. On a recent occasion a visitor to the Auckland Flying School was conveyed from the city to the school by seaplane, doing the journey of several miles in a few minutes. As to risk, we have !?ir Joseph Ward's assurance that . " the element of danger has been almost entirely eliminated. Accidents, when they occur now, are due to the taking of risks that would not require to be faced at all under the conditions of flying in peace time." SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT ? The gathering of old colonists at the Auckland Town Hall the other afternoon to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the arrival of the Duchess of A.rgyle and the Jane Gifford proved a most interesting function, and one I should have been sorry to have missed. The old sailing ships named quitted England in the year 1842 —only five years after the late Queen Victoria ascended the throne—and of that sturdy band of pioneers none, I believe, now remain, or, if they do, they must have been babies in arms when they landed on these shores. But, so far as I know, death has claimed everyone of the passengers who came here 76 years ago by the Duchess of Argyle and the Jane Clifford. They met once every ten years, so long as any of them survived, until the year 1892^-their jubilee —since when the gathering has been open to all New Zealand colonists of 50 years' standing or upwards. As I gazed at the old folks present in such force the other afternoon I thought of the changes these ancients have witnessed since they said farewell to the Old Land in the longago. They have lived to see, in the land of tneir adoption, an obscure country situate at the uttermost ends of the earth, grow into such prominence that it has played no inconspicuous part in the great war and has been admitted to the councils of the Empire. And their children, or children's children, have won this recognition. A proud thought for the old pioneers, FOURTEEN DAYS. An individual answering to the somewhat uncommon name of House Worker was charged at Auckland Police Court with stealing three magazines, valued athalf-a-crown, from the Soldiers' book-bin at Grafton Bridge, The accused removed the magazines from the bin at 5 a.m. and doubtless supposed that the earliness of the hour would enable him to get clear away. But, wonderful to relate, a policeman witnessed the theft, and hurried after Mr House Worker to demand an explanation. This was not satisfactory. Accused said he had removed the books with the intention of presenting them to a wounded soldier. Asked what soldier, and he said "some soldier or other." As it happened that the old man had been convicted before of a similar offence he was sentenced to 14 days' hard. | There is reason to believe that thefts from these book-bins are not uncommon. You see it so seldom happens that a policeman is looking! THE FIVE-DAY WEEK OBJECTED TO? Mr Murray, well-known in connection with the boot-manu-facturing industry, is not all favourably disposed towards the five-day woi'king week inaugurated by the clothing trade of Auckland. He points out that other countries are lengthening the hours of labour, in order to

keep up production in the interests of the various industries concerned, and if, he says, we shorten the working hours we shall find our industries, after the war is over, suffer very seriously by coming into competition with other countries working six days a week and long hours at that. He further asserts that unless we work for all we are worth when the war is over we shall put back the hands of the industrial clock by ten years. All this may be very true. But after all the new departure made by the clothing trade was made purely experimentally. The five-day week was to be tried for four months, and if during that time the output of the factories for five days a week proves less than the output under the old six-day or rather five and a-half day week, then the old system is to be reverted to. It is entirely a question of output, and provided the former output can be maintained- under the new conditions why should the five-day week not be adhered to ? A PEST. Some rascal or other has been prowling about Kyber Pass of nights, lately, and frightening the life out of women and girls. He watches his opportunity and when he sees a woman or girl unattended will make up to her with the rather disconcerting remark: " Now I've got you," or something of that kind. I have i passed up and down Khyber Pass Road hundreds of times, daylight and dark, and never yet encountered' a policeman in that thoroughfare. Doubtless the prowler is aware of this state of things. If this scoundrel tried his little game in an American city, and there were no police on the job, the young men of the vicinity would form themselves into a vigilance committee, and j when the fellow was caught he would be tarred and feathered. As I have remarked before it is really not safe for any respectable woman or girl to be out and about after nightfall in Auckland without an escort, A "MORAL WELFARE" COMMITTEE. One result of the recent statements by Bishop Averill and others relative to immorality amongst schoolchildren and very young people has been the formation of a " Moral Welfare Committee " composed of business and professional men. At a public meeting this week in furtherance of this movement, the Rev. Jeffreys referred to the existing criminal law which fixed the age of consent at 16 years, and suggested that the age be raised to 18 years. He also urged the amendment of the law which decrees that a criminal prosecution in sexal cases where the girl is under 16 years must be instituted within six months of the commission of the offence, and advocated the extension of the time vfco nine or twelve months. The Anglican Synod which discussed the same matter at its last meeting demands that there shall be no time-limit in these cases, but that the prosecution of a man guilty rf an offence against a girl under the present age of consent shall be permissable at any time. This is plain commonsense.