General News

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22245, 9 November 1937, Page 10

General News

Gored by a Bull Injuries to the bodv were suffered by Leonard Giddens, of French Farm, Banks Peninsula, when he was gored by a bull recently. Giddens was attacked by the bull in a paddock and was forced back against a barbed-wire fence. A son, L. Giddens, observed his father s plight, and with the aid of dogs was able to rescue him. IVIr Giddens was admitted to the Akaroa Hospital. His condition is reported to be satisfactory. Returned Soldiers Benefit “I have pleasure in forwarding the enclosed cheque for £6O, being the amount allocated to your association from the proceeds of community singing held at the Civic Theatre during the year.” This was an extract from a letter received last evening at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association. It was signed by the Mayor, Mr J. W. Beanland. Bridge Over Waitaki River In preparation for the construction of the new railway bridge which is to be erected over the Waitaki river on the downstream side of the present combined traffic and railway bridge, test piles will shortly be driven in the river bed to ascertain the type of ground on which the foundations will rest. It is expected that when this work is completed an early start will be made with the construction of the bridge. The Railways Department has in view for the coming financial year an extensive programme of bridge renewal work in the Otago district. Magpies a Menace Believing that the time has come when the protection on magpies should be removed, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society intends to approach the New Zealand Farmers’ Union with a view of making joint representations to the Government. At a meeting of the council of the society recently it was reported that magpies were now a menace in the Feilding district. Evidence was gradually accumulating that magpies were becoming a menace to human beings, as well as to birds, stated the chairman, Dr. G. F. V. Anson. The law seemed to be a bad one. and as such it was being honoured in the breach. There might be some reason for continuing the protection, but he did not know what it was. Training College Nominees Officials at the Canterbury Education Board’s offices were kept busy yesterday when some of the’ 114 nominees for the vacancies at the Christchurch Training College were being examined. After the medical examination the candidates had to be interviewed by the selection committee, and it was not known yesterday when the last nominee would be put through. Groups of applicants have also to be examined in Timaru, Greymouth, and Ashburton. Bees in Library Bees which recently swarmed in the hollow walls of the Whangarei Public Library have created a difficult problem for the library authorities. It has been found necessary :o block all holes in the lower part of the building. The bees, imprisoned and cut off from food supplies, will starve to death. The space between the walls provides the bees with a veritable fortress. Eventually some bricks will have to be removed to enable the inside of the wall to be cleaned once the bees are dead. Dairy Farmers’ Advantage “The dairy farmer of New South Wales is at an initial disadvantage compared with the New Zealand producer in the matter of climatic conditions,” said Mr L. G. Ashton, editor of the “Primary Producer” and a member of the New South Wales farmers’ party which visited Hamilton recently. Mr Ashton, who was formerly farming at Te Kawa, said that although the greater number of dairying districts in New South Wales received rainfalls much above those of New Zealand farming areas, the fall was not so evenly distributed and droughts still presented a problem. He said that where temperatures on some New South Wales dairy farms ranged as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the minimum temperatures were not as low as those experienced in New Zealand. Souvenir of 1902 Coronation A souvenir of the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 has been received by an Auckland resident from relatives in England. This takes the form of three carved hen egg shells, which, but for a small incision at each end are perfect. The carving is of delicate workmanship, being one-thousandth of an inch in depth. The lettering records the Coronation and the date. Wireless for Returned Soldiers A modern system of wireless equipment is shortly to be installed at the Auckland Mental Hospital for the entertainment of the returned soldier inmates. It will be placed in the main hall at the hospital and provides for the playing of records at amplified strength, as well as for listening in to broadcast programmes through loud-speakers. An up-to-date microphone circuit will assist vocalists and other entertainers who visit the hospital to give items with the best effect. The cost of the complete set is about £SO, and the money has been provided for the purpose largely through the interest of Mr F. T. Vercoe, a member of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association. Nelson’s Sunshine Wellington congratulated itself upon having the sunniest October it has ever experienced, with a total of 255.5 hours, which is an average of 8.2 hours a day. Nelson did even better than that and enhanced its reputation for being sunny. The month’s total of bright sunshine there was 266.9 hours, 11.4 hours better than Wellington, and an average of 8.6 hours a day. Probably when all the monthly returns are received, Nelson will be found to be at the top of the list. Operation on Boy’s Brain Encouraging reports were received by the last air mail concerning the boy Frank Murphy, of Dunback, Otago, who was sent from New Zealand to the London Hospital as the result of a public subscription. The operation on the brain, which took place about September 14, lasted seven hours. This was followed by a course of X-ray treatment. On October 13 the surgeon (Mr Hugh Cairns, also a New Zealander) stated that there was a decided improvement in the boy’s condition. Eyesight had improved, and the child was running about happily. Mr Cairns wishes to keep him under observation, and suggests that the boy should go to school in England for about six months, reporting for inspection every month, so that his progress under normal conditions can be studied. The boy and his mother recently went to Deal for three weeks to stay with the mother of a scout doctor who is interested in the boy. While in England, Mrs Murphy has received much kindness from various societies and has lived at a hostel managed'by Toe H and handy to the London Hospital. A Definition of Wine “In all the ages since Noah planted a vineyard and made wine after the Great Flood there does not appear to have been a definition of what is wine—at least, not one considered explicit enough to satisfy the requirements of the Australian Federal Department of Commerce and the numerous administrative bodies dealing with trade,” says the Melbourne “Age.” Millenniums after Noah a wise man remarked, ‘Wine is a mocker,’ but that was more by way of a commentary or injunction than a clear definition. Just a year ago the Federal Viticultural Council appointed a committee to provide a definition. It has concluded its work and produced the following:—‘Wine is the product of the partial or complete alcoholic fermentation solely of the juice of fresh grapes, to which pure wine spirit may or may not have been added. Pure wine spirit is a distillate resulting from the distillation of the product of the alcoholic fermentation solely of natural sugar derived from grapes.’ *