NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 93, 19 April 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Pigeon Astray. A racing pigeon was found recently on the. beach at the northern end of Tom Bowling Hay, in the Far North, by Mr. L. M. Xeilson, of Kaitiiia. On one leg was an aluminium ring bearing tbe figures 194CFC3(1, while The other leg , carried a yellow rubber Imiihl, with the figures :>BG. When the matter was referred to him. an official of tlio Whangarei Pigeon Club said tho bird apparently ciime from the Cornwall or L'hristehurch Pigeon Flying Club?.

Forest Fires.

"A heavy toll with disastrous consequences is still being taken of \egetatioii as the result of carelessness, vandalism and the wrongful use of tire.' , says the animal report of tilt . Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. '"The society, together with many other organisations and (lovcrnnient Departments, lias endeavoured to lessen the fire menace. Tin , law on the matter and its enforcement is, however, lamentably weak."'

Piastres are "Ackers." "I'm getting <|iiito use<l to the Kvyptian money now." writes a soldier in Kgypt to a friend in Auckland. "We are paid in piastres, which we call ■Hckers.'" He jrw's on to explain that 100 piastres are equal to one pound Kgyiiian, and that a piastre can be split up intu 10 millienii's. In one pound sterling there are 07 J piastres. The piastre is worth approximately 2kl. and it is possible to get five, ten and 20 piastre pieces. A Xew Zealand private draws 100 piastres a week. Hedgehog , s Depredations. ■The public in general has very little idea of tho true status of the hedgehog as a pest."' said Mr. M. A. Kawlins at the annual meeting of the North Wairarapa sub-committee of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society in Mastcrton. "Jf the public really* understood the full nature of the hedgehogs' depredations, and their effects" upon bird life, little compunction would be felt in destroying them," he added. A member stated that a bounty of 3d a snout was being paid on hedgehogs.

Young Man's Troubles. Having volunteered for overseas service and. been rejected, having been deserted by a girl friend, and having received white feathers, a young man wrote to the police at Carteiton stating that lie intended, to commit suicide and that a young lady in Dannevirke would be able to toll them where to find his body. Later a man who had been working in this district was found in Dannevirke groaning and obviously in pain. At the public hospital it was: found that he had swallowed poison. Charged in the Police Court with attempting to commit suicide, the accused -was convicted and discharged. He was ordered to leave the district, being informed by the magistrate that his trouble was one of environment. Exchange of Native Seeds. A list of Xew Zealand native seeds available at the Christehurclv Botanic (iardens for exchange with botanic gardens and research Stations overseas was presented by the director, Mr. .T. A. McFherson, to a meeting of the Christchurch Domains Board. '"For a number of years it has been the custom to exchange seeds of New Zealand native plants with some 45 botanic gsirdene and research stations abroad," Mr. MoPherson said. "Each year they forward us their lists, ami the board's desiderata are marked and the lists returned. The hoard has been at a disadvantage in that the gardens have never compiled a list, but this has now been overcome. The list can be brought up to da t(9 each year, and will save wastage of seeds." Wellington Railway Line Blocked. Railway traffic between Wellington and Paekakariki was dislocated for about an hour and a half on Thursday morning after the leading wheels of a wagon attached to a. south-bound freight train left the rails two and a half miles south of Paekakariki. The ordinary express from Auckland, scheduled to reach Wellington at 7 a.m., was delayed for :?S minutes. Kailway buses provided transport for- early suburban passengers who usually travel by train. The lmshap occurred shortly before G a.m. on the single line section, which is now operated from Wellington under centralised traffic control. The wagon involved was one of the fourwheel type, but was not damaged. Only the leading wheels were affected, and by 7.:!0 a.m. the truck had been restored to tlie rails and the lin- , ami in opened to traffic. Other outwaitl and inward expresses were not delayed.

Black Shags and Trout. Efforts arc being made to exterminate black shags on Lake Waikarenioana, where there is a fairly large colony of -the birds. One or two parties of .sportsmen have l>een making an almost continuous onslaught on the shags, and their toll has boon large. Writing to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. \Y. K. Varry, .Mr. J. S. Jessep, the owner of TVnilii station, on the Wairoa-Waikareimmna Road, who takes a keen interest in the fishing on the lake, stated that since December last he had shot 'more than HO shags on the lake. Mr. Jessep said that from close examination he was satisfied the shags took ten times more-fish from Waikaremoana than did all the anglers put together. Mr. - Jessep has made many analyses of< the gullet of shags shot, and says all contained young trout, but a shag, he recently shot had a trout, measuring 17-in long ,md weighing 21b, partly down its gullet. Carelens Drivers.

Although there are not so manymotor cars on the road daily since the petrol restrictions were reintroduced, the number of careless drivers in the city does not appear to have diminished. With less traffic their idiosyncrasies are more noticeable. '"While the average car driver is careful to observe all the rules concerning pedestrians, the city still contains a contingent of men and women who should join a suicide eqtiad," said a member of the A.A. this moming, who recounted a number of incidents that had recently come umler his notice in the city streets. "There are far too many drivers who pull out from the kerb without giving a signal, and this is a fruitful cause of accidents,' , he added. He also drew . attention to the number of cyclists who apparently thought they wore clever in attempting to weave through traffic by balance and with their hands in their poe'ets. "They do not realise their personal danger.' , lie said. "That is not as bad, , however, a.s theldanger'they esrosevtn motorists, who areSjrenenrTly Warned* if , any mischance thev collide with a evclist."

foods Delivery on Wharves, It was decided by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce council to make representations for verandah accommodation, so that delivery could be taken of goods on \wt days when there was an inllux of shipping at the port of Wellington, and the goods sheds were not aliie to take all the. goods. Mr. W. J. J. Blyth csaid that the alternative at present on wet days was to leave goods at the wharves and pay storage.

Social Security Revenue.

According to the latest i.->suc of tl

•"Abstract of Statistics,"' the revenue recehed by the Social Security Fund for the ten months ended January 31 last amounted to X 7,550,409. Unemployment benefits dropped in number from 4200 in January to 300.5 in February, payments under this head showing "a decline from A!2ti.Sso to £23,609. Sickness benefits rose in number from 2074 in Jamiaiy to 2704 in February, payment** increasing from j£l7,t>:>l to £20,105.

No Casualty! How badly injured must a naval man be before his name is entered on the ullieial casualty Hat I This question is prompted by a photograph published in the March issue of the ■"Navy," whjeb. lias just reached Xew Zealand. The photograph is of Commnader R. R. Craham, D.5.0., of H.M.S. Kxeter. It bears the caption, "He came home with 15 bits of shell scattered about his body. There were 30 before Exeter's surgeon got at him. Hut his name did not appear on the official casualty !Ls1!"

Bottles for Boxing Ring.

It was reported at the monthly meeting of the board of governors" of the Seddon Memorial Technical College yesterday that a large sum had been obtained through the sale of bottles collected by pupils, and that this money would be used for patriotic purposes. A foxing ring for the use of soldiers at the Pa pa ku ra camp had already been donated from money out of the fund. The sum of iJ2I had also been given recently to the Xew Zealand Crippled Children's Society from the proceeds of moving picture entertainments attended by the children.

Canine Guardian. A resident of St. Albans. Christchurch, goes one better than the Aucklauder whose dog rescued an escaping budgerigar by holding it down with its paw until the owner arrived. His storv is that he also has a budgie, and that his neighbour's dog has appointed himself guardian of the pet. The dog. a small retriever, will mount guard over the bird at times wheii it is allowed out of its cage, and at the approach of any stranger he will pick tlile bird up in his jaws and carry him to the door of its cage and allow the bird to hop inside. The. bird appears to enjoy the dou"s companionship, and is certainly not afraid of being held in his mouth. Oars and Fishing Nets. Difficulty in meeting the demand for oars and fishing nets in Auckland is one <>l the numerous effects of the import restrictions, and representations are. being made to the Government urging an increase in the quotas. Although oars are now manufactured in Xcrw Zealand from tawa, it is stated that this wood is unsuitable for oars over Bft in length, and that Canada, one of the important sources of supply, has a great advantage in possessing" a wood superior in strength and other qualities. The prohibition of imports of fishing nets from countries other than Britain, and the limitation of orders on Britain to half the value in 1038, has created a problem locally, and unless the restriction is modified hardship will result.

Social Security Benefits.

Concern that the medical and chemists ■benefits, for which members of the public are paying, have not yet been introduced, was expressed at the eoneluding session of the annual conference of the Manchester Unity (Auckland) 1.0.0. F. yesterday, and it was decided to make representations to the Government. It was pointed out that public statements had been made by responsible officials and Government .spokesmen that the chemists scheme was in readiness, and as. a consequence the delay in the operation of this section of the Act required explanation. The conference further resolved to forward the matter to the New Zealand branch of the society for further support, and to urge kjndre'd friendly societies to take appropriate action to support the resolution.

Esperanto Circle.

A meeting of Wellington's more experienced Ksperantists was held in the Pioneer C'Ulb's room recently, with the aim of forming a cultural organisation at tl(e meetings of which! only Esperanto would be spoken. Mr. B. ' Potts, who presided, said it had been felt that an organisation was needed which would be devoted entirely to the needs of more experienced exponents of the language —a place where Ksperanto only would be spoken and first-class programmes presented. The clubs would then engage entirely in tuition. It was time, he said, for Ksperanto in Xew Zealand to keep pace with the great developments in the Ksperanto movement abroad. It was decided that the name of the new organisation would be "La Ksperantista Kiiltura Hondo <le Wellington." One of tlue rules accepted was that a small monetary line would be imposed on anyone speaking a language other than Esperanto during the meetings of the circle.