General News

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21399, 15 February 1935, Page 10

General News

❖ Praise for Newspapers High praise for the newspapers of the Dominion was expressed by the Hon. J. M. Drew, leader of the Legislative Council of Western Australia, yesterday. He said that they were not so compressed as the Australian papers, and the news was much easier to read. The absence of prejudice was remarkable, and all through them he noted the calm argument and the effort to be fair. He was also very pleased with the type of people he had met in New Zealand. They appeared to be of a superior grade, and he had sometimes stopped stray persons to ask them questions just to iudge their characters. He was very pleased with the whole atmosphere of the country. Jellyfish Stings Several surf bathers at Castlecliff recently have felt the ill effects of coming into contact with jellyfish, either in the water or on shore, says the "Wanganui Herald." The other day a surfing enthusiast caught one of these unwelcome and poisonous sea nettles in the neck of his bathing costume, and before he could dislodge it it inflicted severe stings on his body. He suffered intense pain for several hours, which was only relieved by the application of hot* fomentations. It is also reported that a young girl was treated at the hospital, for stings, while several bathers have suffered discomfort. Tug-of-War with Octopus That an octopus, even a fairly small one, is strong enough to hold its own in a tug-of-war with 3 man was proved by an incident at Point Jerningham, Wellington, yesterday. A bather who had just left the water was sitting on the beach when he noticed an octopus swimming in shallow water near some rocks. Its full measurement was probably about five feet, and the man, thinking he would be able to pull it from •the rocks and throw it ashore, gave chase and took hold of two tentacles, each about as thick as a broom handle. In spite of his every effort against it, the octopus continued to pull away from him and steadily backed into deeper water, where it finally escaped.— The Press" Special Service. Damage by Caterpillars Greyish green caterpillars, which reach the length of an inch when full grown, have been causing considerable damage to dahlia and zinnia blooms in New Plymouth gardens. The caterpillar conceals itself in the swelling bud, eating the cushion and base of the undeveloped netals. The result, especially in the case of dahlias, which are often disbudded to produce larger blooms, is that the plant is greatly disfigured.

Cheaper Electricity to University A cheaper rate for electricity used in the instruction of students is to be charged the Auckland University College, according to a decision made at a meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board this week. The supply engineer, Mr E. Hutchison, stated in a report that the Seddon Memorial Technical College was charged a flat rate of one penny a gross unit for all power used in the engineering laboratory and science classes. The university was to be supplied on the same basis. It would mean a saving to the university of £2O a year. Free Cigarette Papers Some time ago the issue of cigarette papers to the patients of the Tokanui Mental Hospital was stopped. Mr F. Findlay, official visitor to the institution, made representations to the department on the matter, and he has now received intimation from the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. Sir Alexander Young) to the effect that the issue has been resumed not only to the patients at Tokanui, but at all other institutions under the control of the department.

Unusual Architecture An unusual type of architecture has been adopted for the exhibition hall that is in course of erection at the Waikato Winter Show buildings in Hamilton. There is hardly a structural detail in the new building that will be found in any other building in New Zealand, says a northern paper. The hall is a huge polygonal arch with a span of 83ft, rising to a height of 50ft over its length of'224ft. On all four sides there will be a gallery 15ft wide, while a balcony will be erected at one end from which the audience in the hall can be addressed. New High School Bell The new bell to be presented to the New Plymouth Girls' High School by the past pupils has been ordered from England at an approximate cost of £ 65. It will weigh 3cwt and have a diameter of two feet, and will be housed at the end of the. assembly hall in a belfry to be erected by the High School board. Mrs Baker-Gabb, the oldest surviving teacher, has been invited to ring it for the first time on the morning of Easter Saturday. Bluff Granite Quarries The quarries at Bluff which have supplied the granite required for the Dunedin Post Office are now producing granite for the Wellington railway station building, and as a considerable quantity of the same sort is specified for the Government Life Insurance building in Wellington there is every prospect of those quarries being worked for some time. Tendency to Dogmatism A tendency among New Zealanders to dogmatism was attributed by Mr K. E. Bullen, speaking at a Rotary Club luncheon in Auckland this week, to a failure to "think mathematically." Mr Bullen, who recently spent two and a half years in England and on the Continent, is lecturer in mathematics at the Auckland University College. Mr Bullen said that mathematics had far wider implications than a study of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry at school would indicate. In its wider sense mathematics involved a philosophy of life. It implied a freedom from all pre-conceived ideas. Initially mathematics should take nothing for granted. Naturally modern scientific theories clashed in some ways with the "commonsense" ideas of the average man. just as the theory of a global earth conflicted with 'them centuries ago. BRIDAL CARS of the very latest and with no trade marks are those of the Gold Band Taxis. They are also the most popular and largest fleet with a record of 21 weddings in one day, and are being booked up fell ahead ior Easter Weddings, so let us book up yours now. Our charges are also the lowest, so why pay more? 'Phone 33-477. Thank you. —2