NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Interpreters To assist incoming troops of the Ist Battalion.irish Fusiliers, in the capacity of interpreter, Sergeant D. A. Gavton, New Plymouth, formerly a prisoner of war in Stalag 18A, has remained in Austria, according to an airmail letter received by his mother, Mrs. F. W. Gayton, New Plymouth. He and three other New Zealanders who could have returned to England immediately have remained in Austria.

Suggested Visit by School Children Subject to satisfactory arrangements being made, the Rev. H. Irvine, of Inglewood, proposes to conduct a tour of about 500 school children from Auckland to Christchurch early in 1946. This was stated in the report of the expression and develop- . ment committee, presented at a meet- . ing of the Christchurch City Council: The committee has offered its>assistance, as it considers that the visit would be a means of advertising Christchurch. Agricultural Chemistry The chemistry section of the fields division, Department of Agriculture, which for many years occupied premises in Fairlie Terrace, Wellington, has been "last shifted to the Hamilton district, near the Ruakura animal research station. The section has a staff of six under the senior agricultural chemist, Mr. D. Waters. Its work includes ,the analysis of soils, fertilisers and feedstuffs and research into the uptake of plant food. The purpose of the move is to enable the chemistry sections to work in closer co-operation with the animal research station. Rat Poisons Two new rat poisons, developed in the United States, have been received in the Dominion laboratory for testing. They are known as "109" and "1030," but their composition is at present a secret. If the poisons prove as effective as has been claimed they may greatly lessen one of the most serious dangers to public health. Few of the many rat poisons officially tested in New Zealand from time to time have proved completely satisfactory. Some the rats eat and thrive o'ri.' "Oth'ers are not sufficiently palatable to' ensure'that enough will be .eaten to cause death. The problem is to secure a proper balance between • poison.and palatability.

Inquiry Fdr Swans ' Inquiries had been made from boroughs in both the North and South Islands in an effort to obtain white swans for the pond in the Wellington Botanical Gardens, said the director of parks and reserves,, Mr. J. G. McKenzie, in response to an inquiry. There were originally two swans on the pond, but the feathers of one became stuck with tar and the other one had subsequently been worried by dogs. Mr. McKenzie mentioned that it was impossible to keep black and white swans together in captivity, because they attacked each other.

Weed Menace What is described as one of the most troublesome of weeds, Paddy's lucerne, has made its appearance on the northern coast of Fiji (reports the Star's Suva correspondent). It is thought that the weed originally arrived in straw packing at the port of Vatia. The weed is reported to have spread over all the Vatia district and to have travelled as far as the Yaqara and Caboni estates belonging to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd. The company is seriously alarmed about the spread of the weed, which grows to a height of 3ft or 4ft on poor land and from sft to 6ft. on good soil. It completely destroys all grasses. Lost on Trams A firm of auctioneers was employed for the greater part of a full day this week selling some articles which absent-minded tram passengers had left behind them ,on the Wellington cars. Among these were dozens of attache cases of the common variety, and almost as many children's and women's handbags, which were readily bought at about a third of their original cost. Hundreds of gloves were sold in halfdozens (pairs), bringing anything between 6/ and 9/ a lot. In some cases buyers obtained two or three pairs of good woollen or leather gloves. While it might be easy to lose a piece of jewellery through a faulty catch, it was surprising to see a show case filled with bangles, brooches, earrings, finger rings, and even a wristlet watch. Then there were men s and women's , coats and waterproofs, pillows, rugs, quilts, some hats and a collection of fairly good-looking fountain pens. Almost all these articles were worth reclaiming, and if owners had applied for and described their lost possessions they would have been restored by the lost property department of the tramways.