NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Not Manchuria. I Visitors to Manchuria must lie careful to mil it Maiiehukuo, Mr. A. 11. ttcanlan told the New Plymouth Rotary Cluli in an address, states the "Taranaki' Herald." Letters addressed to Manchuria, he said, were considered a slight to the Japanese, and were said to go astray in the post. Dunedin Pohutukawa Drive. I A suggestion that pohutukawa trees should be placed along the hurbour side of the Portobello Road was made to the Dunedin City Council on Monday evening (states the "Otago Daily Times"). *If it were practicable, and he understood that these trees grew readily close to the sea, the drive could be made very beautiful indeed. The Mayor, the Rev. K. T. Cox, questioned whether pohntukawas did grow well in the Dunedin zone, but was assured that they did and that there was one very line specimen to be Been in Royal Terrace. Hopes Not Realised. With expectation of having skilled obstetricians in the major towns, the people of New Zealand, organised by women's societies, raised, a few- years ago, a large sum of money to endow a travelling scholarship in obstetrics, said Dr. D. 0. McMillan at the opening of the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital jn Dunedin. Unfortunately, their expectations had not been realised, as although they obtained wide and valuable experience, only two of the 12 or 13 holders returned to the Dominion, and only one was practising obstetrics. The question was commended to the university authorities for urgent consideration, as the people who subscribed the money expected some return from its expenditure. ' Charges for Cycle Stadium. j Criticism of the action of the Papatoetoe Town Board in raising the charges for the use of the local cycle and sports stadium has been voiced by the Papatoetoe Ratepayers' Welfare League, which contrasts the charges with the more favourable rates ruling for the bowling, croquet and tennis cltih grounds. The league, in denouncing the board's action, declares that the proposed charges are extortionate and completely beyond the evele club's ability to pay. In the league's view the efforts of the club to promote physical training and develop athletic prowess have been of "community value. Fruit in Otago. Latest reports from Central Otago state that crop* of apricot* and greengages will be on the light side this season. Crops of cherries will be heavy in some districts and light in others. There should be good returns in all districts from peach and nectarine trees, but crops will not be heavy. Plum trees are showing plenty of blossom, but the fruit has not set up well, and it looks as if these crops will also be on the light side. Apple and Bon Chretien pear trees also have been affected by frost in a number of districts. It is not expected that the returns from the apple orchards will be as good as those of last year. The planting of tomatoes is not as heavy in Central Otago as in other years. This also applies to the Canterbury district. The smaller area follows on the extra cost of labour in the handling of tomato crops. Poverty Bay Wool Clip. A heavier clip of well-grown fleece is in prospect for the Gjsborne district this season, reports a correspondent. The sheep have come through the winter in good condition, with well-grown fleeces, giving every indication of a larger clip than last year," in spite of a reduction in the quantity of lambs' wool available as a result of smaller lambing percentages. Last year's clip was a little below average in weight, and possibly a little finer than normally. This season's is coming off bright, well-grown and in sound condition, though possibly not so fine in quality. Shearing gangs have made fair progress during the last few weeks, although those sheds which started early suffered through intermittent rain. Gangs in early October did not make much headway, but now wool is coming freely into the stores in Gisborne. Earthworms on Hauraki Plains. Farmers in the Turua, Xetherton and Ngatea districts, on the Hauraki Plains, are faced with a serious problem due to earthworms. According to many well-known authorities, the presence of earthworms in pasture land is distinctlv beneficial, but on the Hauraki Plains the worms are considered a definite menace, owing to the sheer weight of their numbers. The trouble first became noticeable three years ago, but the earthworms have since increased with rapidity. Many hundreds of acres are affected. By reason of their enormous numbers the worms have opened up the soil to such an extent that as soon as it is trodden on by stock it is reduced to mud. The grass is pressed nut and will not hold, and the cattle soon lose condition. The wastage of dairy cows is estimated at 35 per cent, and some farmers have temporarily removed their cattle or have suspended dairying. The trouble has caused the gravest concern to the farmers whose lands are affected, to mortgagees and to officers of the Agricultural Department. Extensive experimenting has been carried out with a view to combating the menace. Liming has been adopted, while copper sulphate on small areas has proved effective.

Palmerston North Will Celebrate. Palmerston North, recently given civic status, and its fertile surrounding district will from November 2(1 to November 27 celebrate its diamond jubilee. A comprehensive programme providing for all manner of entertainment lias been drawn up, one of the most interesting features being the presentation of a locally-written drama on the history of the Manawatu. Housekeepers' Wages. The advisability of offering increased wages to housekeepers in view of the very great difficulty in getting women for the division's work, especially through' the busy and holiday seasons, occupied the attention of the advisory board of the women's division of the Farmers' I'nion for some considerable time last Saturday, states 1 lie Pahiatua "Herald." and various schemes for raising the status of domestic work, generally, and to make it more attractive to girls, we're outlined. To meet the present acute shortage of domestic labour, the importation of girls and women from Britain was suggested, also those of a suitable type from some European countries. Old Apostle Spoon. Deposited in the War Memorial Museum, on exhibition for a month, is an apostle spoon dated 1001, which has been loaned by Mrs. Mary Ring, of Onehunga, in whose family the spoon has been an heirloom for years. Sueh spoons came into vogue in western Europe as far back as the 1/Hli century, being in sets of twelve bearing rcprc- ntations of the apostles, with the addition of ;> master spoon of greater size, on which was the figure of Christ. Their vogue ended in the 17th century, and not many of these much-sought specimens of medieval craftsmanship have escaped the assiduous search of collectors during the last century. Another Viewpoint. Apropos a paragraph in this column a day or two ago suggesting callous cruelty to birds on the evidence of a starling found blind and showing signs of burning about the eyes, Air.' W. A. Watson, of St. Holier'* Ray, writes: — Your correspondent "Avifauna" is writing you thoughtless rubbish. Starlings not only insist on nesting in chimneys, but occasionally investigate. I myself once released a starling from the top of an oven where a fire was newly lit. We heard it crying. aT| d how it could exist for a few minutes in such a smoke is unbelievable. Its eyesight was quite unaffected, for it flew out of the kitchen door and away into the distance. Certainly a few more minutes might have blinded it, or more likely asphyxiated it. Trampers" Summer Vacation. Members of the Auckland Tramping Club, who plan to go to the Coromandel Ranges for, their summer vacation, will have ample scope for hill climbing on the rugged ranges of the peninsula which divides the Hauraki Gulf from , the southern ocean. It is intended to hire two buses for the trip and to leave the city on Christmas Eve. A base camp will be established on arrival at Port Charles or some other suitable point, and one or two-day trips, will be made, members using sleeping bags when away from the base camp for the night. The holiday, which in true camping tradition will be strenuous, will extend over ten days and will give the majority of members who take part an opportunity of seeing a part of the mountain system of the province which is Tittle frequented by trampers. As there has been an addition of numerous young men to the club's ranks during the year, youth will probablv be to the fore. A few women members may also take part. Those Were the Days. Speaking in reminiscent strain at the farewell tendered to him yesterday afternoon bv the Auckland District Law Society, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, who has retired from the position of senior stipendiary magistrate, mentioned that 4.3 years ago in an Auckland legal office he was taught how to fold a summons by Mr. C. J. Tunks. whom he was pleased to see present. Mr. Wilson described Auckland 43 years ago, and contrasted Queen Street then and now. "When one walked along Queen Street to work in the morning one saw shopkeepers taking down their shutters," said Mr. Wilson. "I don't know why there are no shutters on shops these days. I suppose it is because of 6 o'clock closing." The senior magistrate said the legal profession had also altered in habits of life, dress and appearance. In days long ago that he remembered barristers favoured the moustache, and conveyancers the beard. The habit of tea drinking wp.s almost unknown among legal men then. When a matter was fixed up it was customary to go. not to a tearoom, and have a drink on it. "Whet good feeling and fellowship there was in those days!'' he added. Gum Digging Revival. Large quantities of truin are being shipped away from the Far North, and practically the whole population of Te Hapua is now earning a good living by gum digging, writes a, Kaitaia correspondent. The market continues steady, and good wages can be earned. Gumwashins plants are also being installed, two being near Parengarenga. and these wity greatly increase the output, as some of the swamps contain very rich deposits. What was considered a. worked-out area recently produced £1000 worth of chips gum from one acre, and there are hundreds of acres of equal value in the district. Now that the lower grades of gum are commercially marketable it would seem that there will be a* much gum worked out in the future «s has been in the past, and the next .">0 years will not see the