General News

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21285, 3 October 1934, Page 10

General News

——♦ Books for the Blind About 60 volumes of Braille literature arrived at the Christchurch Public Library yesterday. The consignment is a miscellaneous collection of 22 separate works, averaging three volumes each, and will be kept here for about six months before being returned to the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, Auckland, in exchange for a different set of books. There are about 12 blind persons in Christchurch who make use of the Braille literature at the l'b'.-ary. A wide variety of books is available and included in those received yesterday were A. P. Herbert's "Misleading Cases," a school story for girls, Jean Webster's "Daddy Longlegs," and several other novels.

More Lime Wanted "From my own observation and enquiry in many dilfcrent parts of this Dominion I am convinced that lime is insufficiently applied to grassland. That no obvious result Is optically discernible is no criterion whatever of the necessity for its use," declared the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe. in his address at the opening of the New Zealand Grasslands Association's conference at New Plymouth yesterday. "Few farmers in New Zealand can afford to neglect its application without risk of some appreciable reduction in the quantity or quality of their grassland products. It stands to reason, although often forgotten, that all animals require liir? -.s well as phosphates for the framework of their bodies, their teeth, and their milk, and that, as the surface soil in New Zealand (whatever be the underlying strata) : -. generally sour, they are bound to suffer, and derivatively also those human beings who consume their products, unless it be applied to the land or added to their ration. It. would be interesting to know how far the prevalence in this Dominion of rickets and dental caries is traceable to this cause."

The Unfortunate Handicapper There was some amusement at the annual meeting of the East Christchurch Swimming Club last evening when the previous year's handicapper (Mr L. \V. J. Clarkson) was renominated for the position. The proposer and seconder declared tha* they were thoroughly dissatisfied with the handicapping, neither having won a handicap race last season, but they were confident that he could do better in future. "I do not know that I am very flattered by the nomination," remarked Mr Clarkson, "and I would remind my proposers that the handicapper has last laugh." The president (Mr Angus Donaldson) said that it was almost impossible for a handicapper to please everyone, and that club was forturrte which possessed a handicapper who could earn- out his work regardless of the opinion of members. Fall in Dairy Values "It is not hard to understand why there is a depression on ii New Zealand when I mention that although the company sent more than douLle the amount of dairy produce overseas last year the monetary return was less than in the previous year," remarked Mr John Fisher at the annual meeting of the Southland Farmers' Dairy Federation at Invercargill. "If you take into consideration that we are only one of the many hundreds of factories in New Zealan '. it is not hard for you to realise the effect of the fall in dairy produce values in the Dominion."

Waimakariri Flood After reaching a peak flood level of 7ft Gin late on Monday night the flood in the Waimakariri river began to subside" early yesterday morning and by noon was about 4ft above normal. The river continued to fall steadily during the afternoon and evening. An inspection made by officials of the Waimakariri River Trust after the flood indicated that no damage had been done to the protective works and the flooding had not been serious at any point. The newly-cut channels and the crossbank had stood up to the severe test well, it was stated. A visitor to the river yesterday said that slight erosion was still taking place on the south bank of the river at the lower end of Coutts Island.

A Teaching Vacancy Some surprise has been expressed in teaching circles at the following announcement in the vacancy list of the Wellington Education Board, which appears in the October issue of the "New Zealand Education Gaz.ette": "Grade O, aided schools (£ls per annum per child in average attendance, where salary does not exceed £120; board and lodgings provided free: Manaroa (6), 14 miles by launch from Picton: rate £9O; Protestant mistress required." Exception is taken to what is considered to be the introduction of the religious test in State school appointments. "It is an unheard-of thing," declared one teacher. An official statement from an officer of the Education Board in reply to a question on the subject says that the circumstances were peculiar and somewhat difficult. All the children came from one family, which was Protestant, and the parents had specially asked that a teacher of that denomination should be sent. The board has given the matter very careful consideration. —Pi-ess Association.

Shortage of Timber A reminder that the bush is last losing its best timber was unconsciously furnished to the meeting of the Wanganui Farmers' Union, this week, when a member, Mr O. Hawken, said that he could not get a ouote for posts, "for love nor money." Ho suggested that an agency be established in the union's office "so that farmers could be assisted in the matter of posts, battens, and timber. The matter was left to the secretary.

Km- Wedd i!!;:.-, sn.-ia! functions; TUP RLUK STAR TAXIS arc at. your .-<n-v.ee boiu day and niu'ln. Efficient and courteous drivers, whose fares arc the cheapest in the Dominion, arc always available. Rind 35-228 or 35-229 for prompt attention. BLUE STAR IAXI SERVICE. Hook. R.M.D., Via Timnn; 23.T, 34. Messrs P. and D. Duncan, Ltd. Deal Sir.-Just a few lines to say what I think of your newly-designed 10-coul-ter Drill that I purchased. I would like to express my pleasure with the work it is capable of doing, the ease with which 4 horses can draw it on the hills and the simple method available to adjust the depth ot sowing without stopping the team, also the simple method of altering the pitch of the coulters which should prove very useful when rape and turnip sowing time comes round. 1 am quite satistied there is no better drill made anywhere that will give better service for a greater number of years with so little expense to the farmer. ' Sgd.\ John Dempsey. P. and D. Duncan, Limited, 196 Tuam street. Christchurch, anc" at Ashburtnn. D 2915—1