General News

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21992, 16 January 1937, Page 12

General News

Four Modern Nccils "Personally I am convinced that quiet repose, well-ordered surroundings, good art, and vital religion must be added to our lives if our whole civilisation is riot to topple into absolute chaos," said Mr R. A. Lippincott, of Auckland, to the engineering and architectural section of the Science Congress at Auckland yesterday.—Press Association;

1 Condition of Rivers Just as it has been impossible this summer to predict the. weather for many hours ahead, so anglers have had to put up with many disappointments in the state of the trout streams. Yesterday, however, all of them were in good order, and it is expected that at the week-end they would be clear and fishable.

Plunkct System Praised

"Our low infant mortality rate is duo in large part to the operation of the Plunket system, which has been based on the recognition by the founder (Sir Truby King) of the need for adequte nutrition. He envisaged nutrition m its lullest sense, and it is to this fact that we owe our present pre-eminence in the care of our infant population." This was the tribute paid by Dr. 12. B. Gunson in a paper he read to the medical science and national health section of the Science Congress at Auckland yesterday.—Press Association.

Count von Luckncr's Visit to New Zealand

Word has been received by Mr Allan Harrison, of Christchurch, from Count Felix von Luckner, whose exploits in New Zealand waters during the Great War brought him into fame, that he intends sailing from Germany on a world- cruise in his new yacht in February. After visiting' Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa, Count von Luckner will come to his beloved New Zealand" as he terms the Dominion in a notp to Mr Harrison, accompanying a photograph of himself. The photograph he sends to Mr Harrison "with a cargo of good luck from the Seadevil," and across it is inscribed the words, "It's men that fight with ships . . ."

Widening of Evans Pass Road

More than usual care should be taken bymotorists at the crest of the Evans Pass road, on which improvements are now being carried out by the Public Works Department. The bank on one side of the road at the crest is being removed to allow a road of about 36 leet to be provided. A section about 16 feet wide by about six feet deep will be removed during the next 10 days, and the level of the roadway will be lowered by about four feet to improve the sight distance at the top of the pass. The part on which the department's gang is working has been fenced off and lighted, but the surface of the road has been cut about to an extent that calls for care in driving at night.

Protection itom Bovev

As a protection against borer and ants, sawn timber milled in Central Africa is “cooked” for four days in a 1 per cent.' solution of arsenic. Explaining this method to a representative of “The Press” at Westport, the Hon, C. S. Knight, M.L.C., ,of Northern Rhodesia, managing director of Zambesi Sawmills, Ltd., the largest timber firm in Central Africa, said that the treatment was completely effective. “I don’t see why it should not be used on your timber in New Zealand as a protection against borer,” said Mr Knight. “It is a cheap process, and does not harm the timber nor alter any of its properties.” Zambesi Sawmills, Ltd., is principally concerned with supplying railway sleepers, and they are all impregnated with arsenic. In some cases the sleepers are also dipped in tar so that the arsenic will be sealed inside the wood. The sleepers are made from a species of African teak, which is so hard that it is impossible to drive a nail into it. All holes required in the sleepers are electrically drilled before the sleepers leave the mill. The quantity of timber cut by Mr Knight’s company would probably surprise most New Zealand sawmillers. It is no less than 3,000,000 cubic feet a year, which }j equivalent to 36,000,000 superficial feet. Cheap Goggles The indiscriminate and increasing sale to the public of cheap goggles or “protectors,” with lenses of moulded glass, was condemned by the president of the Institute of Opticians of New Zealand (Mr E. A. Sargent, of Wellington) at the annual meeting of the institute in Auckland. “One cannot speak too strongly of some of the tinted ‘protectors’ that are put on the market,” he said. “It is our duty to warn the public against them. They are sold to protect the eyes from glare, but, while they may cut down illumination somewhat, they introduce at the same time factors that must conduce to strain and cause harm.” Mr Sargent added that in his opinion no registered optician should sell goggles which were not provided with properly worked “piano” lenses. ’ News from Home Although the' congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science did not.really start until Wednesday, when the delegates and members’ gathered in force at Auckland University College to listen to addresses and papers, the amount of mail delivered for the delegates was surprisingly large. A special letter rack was provided in the main vestibule of the college, and both it and a table beneath were covered with letters and papers not'only from many parts of New Zealand, but also from as many districts of Australia. Delegates expressed considerable aomiration for the promptitude with which-the mail was delivered by the Post, and Telegraph Department. Mere Traffic Inspectors By the end of the month 43 traffic inspectors, under the Main Highways Board, will be pat- ' rolling roads throughout New Zealand. Fourteen new inspectors, some of whom have already taken up their duties, were recently appointed. Others have not yet completed their training. For the purposes of administration each island in the Dominion has been divided into two groups, with a chief traffic inspector in, charge of each section. It will, therefore, bd possible for the chief inspectors to adjust their organisation to the traffic requirements on special occasions, such as race days.

Improvements to Auckland Harbour

After a comparative lull during the last five years in the extension of harbour facilities because of the economic conditions, the Auckland Harbour Board proposes to put in hand this year a vigorous policy of additions and improvements. The building of. a hew wharf west of Prince's wharf for accommodating coastal steamers, scows, and other small vessels, the roofing of the roadway on Prince's wharf between the existing sheds, considerable extensions and additions to the naval dockyard area, and the construction of the St. ' Mary's Bay boat harbour, are the major works projected, but other,: work is either contemplated or actually in hand. The new coastal shipping wharf is to be constructed of reinforced concrete and it willbe 466 feet long< with a width of 100 feet. The estimated cost is £43,000. There will also be shed accommodation for cargoes and all gear will be up-to-date. Estimated to cost £11,500, the roofing between the sheds on Prince's wharf will have a steel framework, and the roof will be some form of iron covering. It should ensure a considerable improvement in the handling of cargo in wet weather.

Heavy Fruit Losses

Hundreds of pounds have been lost by Gisborne orchardists and retailers through brown rot in stone < fruits during the last week. Tons of fruit have rotted on the trees, and much fruit picked as sound rotted in the shops before sales could be effected. The cause of the development of brown rot to such a great extent was the week of . warm rain between Christmas and New Year and the humid conditions since then. The losses were extensive because of the very heavy crops in" most orchards. The rain came when many of the crops were just ready to pickl Tomatoes, too, have suffered by the weather. ". On reaching the ripe stage many have gone pulpy in a ring round the bulkiest part of the fruit.