General News

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21391, 6 February 1935, Page 10

General News

—« — Measuring River Levels Officers of the Public Works Department who are undertaking hydrological and topographical surveys in many parts of Canterbury at present are including in their work the recording of low levels in all the principal rivers and streams. It is stated that there are at present no authentic records of the lowest levels of these rivers, and that the present time, when many of them are as low as they have been for years, offers an excellent opportunity for securing figures for use in future comparisons. The survey so far has emphasised the seriousness of the shortage of water in many of the smaller streams which are not fed from the snow in the alps.

Road Paving in Heathcote County In Heathcote county several road paving works are in hand, or are contemplated. The application of the final coating of bitumen on the Upper Dyer's Pass road will be completed, it is expected, by the end of the present month. That portion of Colombo street from the bridge over the Heathcote river to the foot of Dyer's Pass road is to be topdressed. Motorists will be glad to learn that the portion of Page's road from Cuff's road to near Ottawa road is to receive two coats, one of tar and the other of bitumen. Tenders are being called for this work which, when completed, will give a sealed highway from Cathedral square to New Brighton. Another work to be put in hand is the sealing of that part of the Port Hills road in the Valley riding from Elson's corner to Thompson's corner which will complete the sealing from Scrutton's road to the railway arch. Slavery in Ethiopia Slavery still exists in Ethiopia, or Abyssinia, according to Mr R. J. Annand, who was interviewed on his arrival in Christchurch yesterday after working for about seven years with the Sudan Interior Mission. There are at present about 2,000,000 slaves. These will be released within 15 years, according to an agreement with the British Government and the League of Nations, whereby the slaves are gradually bought from the owners by the government. This gradual process enables the freed slaves to be absorbed into the population without the icar of social disturbance. Mr Annand added that a certain amount of illicit slave-dealing was still going on. No buying and selling could be seen by day, but at night gangs of slaves were occasionally seen being driven in chains. Governors of provinces still had as many as 15,000 slaves, some owners might have 1000; others had numbers ranging down to one or two. Poles Saved from Peat Fires A novel method has been used to r>ave the telegraph and electric power poles in the swamp areas between Morrinsville and Taupiri from the peat fires. Around each pole has been placed a circle of large etones from 15ft to 20ft in diameter, and the centre has been filled with earth. This method has proved successful, though the blackened poles tell how narrowly they escaped destruction. Less Tobacco Grown There has been a reduction in the area planted in tobacco for commercial purposes during the last year, reports the Director of the Horticultural Division of the Department of Agriculture. This, he remarks, was largely due to the fact that the manufacturing companies operating in the Motueka district, where the bulk of the crops is grown, intimated to growers at the beginning of the season that only the amount of leaf contracted for would be purchased, thereby placing a limit on the area planted. The total area under tobacco in the Dominion was approximately 2500 acres, the bulk of which—some 2000 acres—being cultivated in the Motueka district. In the other tobacco-producing districts the acreage was:—Auckland, 334 acres; Nelson, 60 acres; and Marlborough, 16 acres. A considerable quantity of tobacco was also grown in garden plots for private use.

Maori Race Praised "I have seen native races in many parts of the world, but I have never before seen any so high-minded, so unspoiled, so handsome, or so intellectually developed as the Maoris," said Mr Thomas Haythornthwaite, a Lancashire manufacturer,.in an interview with a "Hawke's Bay Tribune" reporter. "It has been a pleasure to me to see the cordiality of the relationship between the European people and the Maoris," he added, "and that relationship wi/1 stand high in the credit of both peoples. The way in which the Maoris have been accepted as a part of your race, and the justice that has been extended towards them, do honour to your country." The grace, the beauty, and the artistic talent of the Maoris whom he had seen and heard in entertainments at Rotorua had particularly impressed him. The Term "Relief Worker" "I have read with interest yom board's view on the tendency for the term 'relief worker' to be regarded as designating a standardised occupation," wrote the Commissioner of Unemployment, in a lettc to the Papakura Town Board. The commissioner said that forms U.B. 32 and 32a contained special provision for the declaration of an applicant's usual occupation. "A great many men have been on relief works for years, and probably lost touch with their trade," the letter continued, "and L agree with your board from a psychological point of view that it is unwise to encourage any practice that would tend to perpetuate the term 'relief worker.' " The chairman, Mr H. E. McEntee. said it was very gratifying to know that for once in a way the unemployment authorities agreed with the board's suggestion.

CHECKED LUGGAGE, delivered to and from the Railway for 6d only by the Gold Band Taxis large delivery fleet. Let us shift your furniture or any other carrying work you may have. It will pay you, as our prices are the lowest. TAXI FARES are half the price and our WEDDING CARS are being booked up well ahead for Easter Weddings. 'Phone 33-477. —3 The latest designed and cheapest plough is the Sunbeam, and Mr R. A. Belcher states that the three-fur-row plough which he purchased in June last has given him great satisfaction. It is light in draught and does excellent work. John Cowens, of West Eyreton, says that after trying out three of the well-known makes of shares, he has found that the Chromaline Shares made by P. and D. Duncan stand up to their work better than any of the others. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., 196 Tuam street, Christchurch, and at Ashburton. —1