General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 10

General News

Talk of War “I think there is a lot of magnifying of the possibilities of another world war, due to a large extent to the press,” said Mr E. C. Lindsay, of London, a senior surgeon to the London General Hospital, when interviewed yesterday “We don’t hear much talk about it in London, and most of those who do talk about it say there will be no war. Refen mg to the arrangements that had been made for medical aid in a time of national emergency, Mr Lindsay said that although many asserted that nothing had been done, classes had been going on for some time, and the organisation for a possible crisis was very complete. Owners of Rings Wanted The police are still seeking owners for some of the jewellery and other property recovered from the group of boys who were charged with theft in the Children’s Court on Saturday. The chief items still unclaimed are three rings, one being a signet ring with the initials H.G.8., another a woman’s diamond ring, and the third a tortoiseshell ring inlaid with gold. The owners of the bulk of the property recovered have already been found. Increased Cost of Materials “The increased prices of practically all our requirements are making it difficult to keep job expenditures down to the estimates,” said Mr H. W. Harris, engineer to the Waimakariri River Trust, in a report presented to a meeting of the trust yesterday. “For example,” he said, “the increased price of petrol of Id a gallon in April and another Id in December results in a total increase for the year of approximately £45. Shovels, grubbers, and all other tools are up in price. Galvanised wire went up very steeply in'price early in the financial year, the extra expenditure entailed on these purchases to date being £157. Chaff is also much dearer than it was nine months ago.” Reads Paved with Coal Dick Whittington was told that in London he would find streets paved with gold. Travellers journeying on the West Coast between Greymouth and Westport may see roads paved with coal. Sometimes these roads extend for more than a furlong, being formed of nothing but coal. The roads lead from the main highway to small privately-owned mines. These roads, which bear the weight of heavily-laden lorries, are in some instances steeply banked, and for years have successfully withstood the wear and tear of the weather, and of the traffic which passes over them. Another German Flag Yet another German flag from Samoa has been brought to light—this time in Lyttelton. Mr R. J. Gilmore, a railway engine-driver, of 15 Ticehurst road, Lyttelton, brought into the Lyttelton office of “The Press” yesterday a German flag measuring five feet by three feet six inches. In the centre is a bugle surmounted by a crown, on which are a cross and the Imperial eagles. Mr Gilmore claims that the flag was actually that flown on the Post Office at Apia. He said that the idea that the soldiers in the occupation party from New Zealand spent their time scrambling for flags was ridiculous; the discioline was too strict for that. The flag he produced was given to him some time after the occupation by a member of the post office staff—not a German —with whom he became friendly. Drought in South Otago An exceptionally dry spell, the longest in living memory, is being experienced in the farming district between Milburn and Pukerau. in South Otago. Although rain has fallen in Canterbury, North Otago, and Southland, and to some extent relieved the dryness in those districts, there have been no showers in the Milburn area. “Surface watering was introduced for the first time at Waiwera recently, and travellers can now see the unusual phenomenon of an irrigated paddock in this district. The results are outstanding and go to show the exceptional dryness of surrounding paddocks, which an Australian visitor compared. with burned-out areas in the Commonwealth,’ said a stock and station agent. “Throughout the South Otago district, including Greenfield, Clydevale. Tuapeka West, Balclutha, and Milton, both swede and rape crops are badly affected and the roots are not showing any growth. Farmers are now looking for outside grazing for their sheep, which is most unusual, as these districts have always been able to carry stock.” In places farmers in a serious position, as they have to conserve root crops for winter feed.—“ The Press” Special Service. Rail-car’s Fast Trip The rail-car Arai-te-uru. with the General Manager of Railways (Mr G. H. Mackley) and other departmental officers, left Auckland yesterday morning at 8.35 a.m. and arrived at Wellington at 7.35 p.m., after making stops for inspection and other purposes aggregating 75 minutes; The actual running time for the 42b miles was 9 hours 45 minutes. On arrival at Wellington Mr Mackley said that the performance of the rail-car throughout the long journev was. as indicated by the actual running time, equal to the most optimistic expectations. The weather was perfect, which enabled those travelling in the rail-car to see King Country and other portions of the loute at their best. “The journey,” said “demonstrated in a practical way the advantages of rail-car travel for tourists and others who desire to view the scenic beauties of the Mam Trunk line under conditions which enable tne iournev to be done with a maxim urn of com fort and a minimum loss of time.” —Press Association. Drainage of Cust Valley Plans for improving v the drainage of the Cust Valiev will be completed in about a week, according to Mr P. R. Climie, secretary of the Canterbury Progress League. These plans will be submitted to the Rangiora County Council, which will call a meeting of ratepayers in the district to discuss the proposals. Mr Climie. in a report to the executive committee of the league last night, said that the scheme should commend itself to the ratepayers, and he understood it was very likely that all the ratepayers would agree to the proposals. Headlines in “The Press” “The newspapers will soon be treating us to a campaign of misrepresentation,” said Mr J. Roberts, president of the Canterbury Labour Representation Committee, at a meeting last evening. “In ‘The Press’ I saw a reference to the Freedom League. In large headlines it had ‘Defence of Freedom.’ From this one would think that the liberty of New Zealanders was in jeopardy through the action of the Labour Party.” A Disappointed Gathering A report was circulated in Westport on Tuesday that the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister for Marine, accompanied by Mrs Fraser, was a passenger on the Government steamer Matai, which arrived at midday from Bluff. A .representative gathering of residents, including members oi local bodies, assembled on the wharf to welcome the visitors. , Their ardour was considerably dampened, however, when it was found that the Minister and his wife were not aboard the ship It appears that Mr Fraser intended to make the-trip but had made no official intimation. His plans were later upset, and sHer visiting Invercargill he returned direct to Wellington.—“ The Press” Special Service. Meals for One Shilling a Day A statement that students at Studholme House the hostel of the home science department of Otago University, were fed for one shilling a day each surprised members of the executive committee of the Canterbury Progress League at their meeting iast night Ihe statement was made by Professor Ann Strong (Dean of the Faculty of ,Home Science at the university), who was asking for the co-opera-tion of the league in collecting £25,000 needed fo# new hostel accommodation. Professor Strong explained that the hostel was managed by the students and the low cost of meals, even though the provisions were bought in large quantities, was an indication of the \ alue of the training.