General News

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 12

General News

Rare Bird Seen A bittern, one of the heron family, was seen in a field opposite the Technical High School Hostel, Greymouth, on Thursday afternoon. The bird was devouring a frog. The bittern is rarely seen on the West Coast, and its usual habitat is a lonely marsh. Fish and Chips and Sales Tax Although it took five judges of the High Court of the Commonwealth of Australia to decide on June 7 that fish and chips were not subject to sales tax, a similar position is not likely to arise in New Zealand. The Collector of Customs (Mr C. O. Trownson) said yesterday that the point was not even debatable in New Zealand, as sales of fish and chips were definitely regarded as exempt from the tax. (The list of exemptions included fresh, raw or smoked fish, and also meals served in restaurants, fcafes and similar establishments. In Australia the case was brought before the judges when the Federal Commissioner of taxation proceeded against the owners of a fish and oyster saloon, claiming £ 269 as sales tax on fish and chips. The judges decided that fish and chips were not "produced" or "manufactured" within the meaning of the sales tax acts. School Holidays Describing the trials of school teachers of the early days in New Zealand, Mr H. F. Penlington stated, at a social arranged for the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute last night, that the teachers received merely five weeks at Christmas and two weeks in the winter, as holidays. This, he suggested, had been most inadequate, and he gave a long description of the hardships teachers had to face when sent to isolated parts of the Dominion. Although the life might bo hard and difficult, he said, it had been an excellent grounding for junior members of the profession. Roads Affected by Rain The light scattered showers which fell during the last week have left their mark on many of the country roads. The main north route as far as Leithfield has kept its surface well, but beyond that, end after the run towards Ambcrley, the road is very rough. Where the reconstruction work is being done the road is a quagmire. From there till the township is passed, care is necessary, as the surface is unformed and water is lying in the ruts. High Price for Eggs Two dozen first-grade hen eggs sold at an auction sale in the city last evening realised the 'ixtraordinary price of £2 3s. They were first knocked down for 4s, but the buyer handed them back to the auctioneer and they were resold 31 times. Even the ultimate buyer did not want them. He gave them to a man in the crowd. The reav.;n for the buyers handing them back again was that the sale was a benefit one for the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club. Most of the bidders were members of the club.

Progress at Waitaki The Waitaki river, which for a long period has been carrying from two to three times its usual volume of water, with occasional rises to flood capacity, has at last sunk to its normal winter level. For months the unusually high level of the river has been causing some variation of the scheduled programme of construction at the dam above Kurow. There has been no serious retarding of the work,- but the reduction in volume will probably facilitate the completion of f he dam. Construction is well up to schedule, and the undertaking still employs more than 700 men. Combating the White Butterfly "The white butterfly is going to be a real menace next season unless effective steps are taken to combat it," said the chairman of the Manukau County Council, Mr F. M. Waters, at a recent meeting of the council in supporting a request for assistance toward a campaign against the pest by the Otahuhu Technical .iigh School. It was stated that senior agriculture pupils at the school were making a special study of the white butterfly and parasites which destroy it. A donation of £lO was made toward the work being done at the school. Vanished Guarantors When the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board is erecting power lines in country districts, the settlers receiving the service are required to provide a guarantee to protect the board against loss, states the Wanganui "Herald." The necessity for this precaution was made evident at a meeting of the board, when it was stated that the Marybank line was not a paying proposition on account of some 80 per cent, of the farmers who had acted as guarantors having left their farms since the line was erected. Mr H. McLean said it was a case of the farmers paying too dearly for thenland. News by the Foot At the annual meeting of the Auckland City Mission the Rev. Jasper Calder invited those present to inspect the books of press cuttings kept since the mission started. These make an interesting record of the work of the mission as appearing in the press, and comprise a total of 1200 ft of news. The Highest Ideal "The highest ideal of all is to offer one's life for another," said Mr T. G. Queree, president of the Maranui Surf and Live-Saving Club, at the club's annual juniors' evening at Wellington. The training of members of a life-saving club was essentially towards tha'- ideal, and when they finally left the club it would be as properly trained citizens. A club was one of the finest schools of citizenship open to the modern boy.

Motorists travelling by train, note that you can park your car at the Gold Bank Taxis Garage, opposite tho Railway Station for Is per day; also if you run out of petrol at any time 'phone for a Gold Band taxi and have a supply sent out to you, as we are open day and night. In fact we never close. We also keep a tow rope handy to tow you in. —1 P. and D. Duncan, Limited. I would like to tell you what splendid results I have had with your new Chromaline cast shares. I have tried English and Local shares and even cast steel shares but have found your Chromaline superior to them all. I am sending you one of the three shares that have been on my three-furrow and ploughed 250 acres in hard, stony paddocks, and are still good for a lot more work. I would not have believed any shares could have done such excellent work.— Yours faithfully, Gray Bros., Kirwee. P. and D. Duncan, Limited, 196 Tuam street, Christchurch, and at Ashburton. —6