NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 217, 13 September 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Distribution of Trout Ova Commenting on the distribution of 9,000,000 trout ova collected this seaeon at the Tokaanu hatchery, on the Tongariro River, the conservator at Rotorua, Mr. A. Kean, said that 3,000,000 of the ova had been planted in lakes and streams in the Rotorua district. A million of the ova had been sent to New South Wales, and a third consignment of 200,000 to Fiji to further the effort being made to establish trout there.

Scarcity of Glasses "Tumblers and glasses are so scarce in Edinburgh hotels that patrons are being requested to leave them behind after drinks have been consumed," writes a Scots correspondent. "One publican has posted a notice which reads: 'If the optician has ordered you to procure glasses, don't take ours!' " Obviously a similar situation exists in England, for the writer adds in conclusion: "In Birmingham glasses are so scarce that customers have to pay 6d deposit before being served with drinks."

Car and Workshop on Fire A fault in the electrical wiring of a small motor car caused it to catch fire about 10.30 last night in Jervois Road, Ponsonby. Fire engines from the Central and Western Districts stations attended the outbreak. The flames were put out with extinguishers after damage had been done to the wiring and rear portion of the car, which is owned by Mr. A. Pybus, 5, Wanganui Avenue, Heme Bay. When fire broke out at the cabinetmaking works owned by Mr. John Patterson, 6, Mahon Street, Newton, about 11.30 last night, two engines from the Central station and one from Western Districts were called. Slight damage was done to wall boarding and the contents of the premises, but the flames were extinguished with the fire aid equipment.

Postage Stamp Deal There was a rush on a suburban post office stamp machine the other evening when a buyer inserted one penny and was surprised to receive what he thought to be two twopenny stamps. He had three more pennies, which he-invested in what appeared to be a good return. Not being content with this, he went to his local club and borrowed the pennies from the frugal members present. Still two stamps were issued for one penny. Having nearly exhausted the supply of sumps in the machine, he returned to the club to work out the profit, but was sadly disappointed when another member pointed out the fact that for each penny he had spent he had received two halfpenny ■ sumps. He had not noticed the k stroke over the 2d in the poor light.

Warning to Kite Flyers The dangers of kite flying near overhead electric lines is emphasised by the Christchurch municipal electricity ' department in a statement asking parents and school teachers to warn children against the practice, and particularly to urge them to abandon any kite which becomes entangled with an overhead wire. Mangled Handcart

The Rugby League had built for Opai Asher, the custodian of Car law Park, a neat little handcart with pneumatic tyres. This was built so that he could draw it around easily. When he came on duty the other morning he could not find his "pram." A search was made, and presently, away up near the domain gate, he spied what looked like a neap of wood. It was the remains of the handcart, upside down, absolutely dismantled, with the wheels, springs and axle missing. The job of getting it that far must have been something of a task, and the party then evidently despaired of disappearing with the whole machine, and took the removable parts. The police are looking into the matter. Petrol for Home Guard By the free supply to E.P.S. and Home Guard in the county of 718 gallons of petrol used in training parades and the like, the Otorohanga County Council found that it had undertaken A further burden, reports the engineer. "When application was made for a refund of the petrol tax of 10d per gallon," he adds, "the request was refused, the reply being that the registrar was not empowered to make a refund except in respect of motor spirits used for a purpose other than as fuel for a motor vehicle. It thus appears that, for the privilege of supplying the Home Guard with free petrol (a responsibility of the Government), the council has to contribute to the Government £30 in taxation." The council decided to have the matter placed before the Defence Minister. Tanranga's Blackout

A suggestion that Auckland was a! blaze o# light at night compared! with Tauranga, "the Government, Departments being the worst offenders," was made*by Mr. C. P. Washer at a meeting of the Tauranga Borough Council, when a report came up from the electricity committee recommending the use of shrouds on street lights to give a greater degree of light than the present shades. The engineer reported that estimates for the shrouds greatly exceeded the price mentioned by the controller. Mr. Washer thought it a farce to have the degree of blackout they had in Tauranga, and Mr. L. R. Wilkinson remarked on the floodlighting used on Auckland wharves for working ships at night. The council decided to request an official to visit Taur*»"» to review the position thert.