General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 5 February 1938, Page 14

General News

The Fishing Rivers The secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has received advice that the Hurunui, Ashley, Rakaia, Selwyn, Waimakariri, and Rangitata rivers are in good condition for week-end fishing. Long List of Vacancies “I have never seen so long a list of vacancies before,” said the chairman (Mr T. W. West) at a meeting of the Christchurch Technical College Board of Governors last evening. Mr West was commenting on the resignations of three part-time instructors and applications for leave of absence from five members. Some of the vacancies would not be easy to fill, he added. The appointments committee was instructed to fill the positions as soon as possible. Improvements at Waltham School Advice was received yesterday from the Minister for Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, that the Cabinet had approved of a grant for substantial alterations to the Waltham School. The main part of the work will be the remodelling, on open-air lines, of the infant room. The other classrooms at the school will benefit from improvements to the lighting and ventilation. Praise for Gardens All superintendents at the recent conference of superintendents of reserves were amazed at the progress made in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens during the last two or three years and were enthusiastic about the condition of the gardens, said the chairman (Mr H. Kitson) at a meeting of the Christchurch Domains Board yesterday. He said that Mr J. A. McPherson, the curator, had been highly praised for the work he had done in the gardens. Heavy Railway Traffic Though the train-running section of the Railways Department thought that the holiday rush traffic would by now be finished, it has been found necessary to put on an extra express to Dunedin this morning. Q tr ®^f which will leave Christchurch at 9.10 a m., will relieve the usual express of some of its very heavy booking. An extra express will also leave Dunedin for Christchurch as a relie f departing at 10.50 a.m. Reserves for the Sunday train to Timaru are also heav, £ r . t I hai ? expe and a second engine will probably jmve to added to that train. Every Saturday to the middle of March has been reserved for picnics or excursions, and most of the spare carriag will be brought into use. Further, the fine weather has brought harvesting on apace especially in the northern districts and railw |Y officials are being hard put to it to find sufficient rolling slock to meet demands. Against New Zealand “There is a feeling against New Zealand in Holland and Denmark, and even in Great Britain, for selling butter so cheaply in London, said Mr E. Bruce Levy, Director of the Grasslands Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in an address to the Palmerston North Rotary Club. The depression in price in Denmark, however, he added, “is held to be due to the diminished purchasing power of Europe and to self-sufficiency plans adopted by certain countries, and there is no question that these are the contributory causes.” Marlborough Sounds Oysters Although the ordinary open season for oysters commenced in the South Island on February 1, people in Marlborough who intended taking a few were disappointed to learn that the season, as it applies to Tory Channel, Queen Charlotte Sound, and Pelorus Sound, does not open until August 1. The reason is that these areas were closed for three years as from August 1, 1935, to allow time for the beds to develop, and as a result of the closure, according to reports from fishermen and others interested, the supply of oysters, when eventually the season does open, will be plentiful, particularly in Tory Channel. In Port Underwood the season will open on September 1, that*' area having been closed for three years as from September 1, 1935. It is considered, however, that possibly this particular area has not yet been closed long enough to permit of the oyster beds developing sufficiently to justify a reopening this year. Paddling Pool In Gardens A decision to ask the curator (Mr J. A. McPherson) to prepare a report as soon as possible on the advisability of discontinuing using the present paddling pool in the Botanic Gardens and forming an up-to-date playground and concrete paddling pool in North Hagley Park, south of Victoria Lake, was made by the Christchurch Domains Board yesterday. Lake Kanieri The Lake Kanieri Scenic Board has recently carried out several improvements. A new wharf has been erected at Sunny Bight and an approach is being prepared. Other improvements to be made include a diving board, and an island float for swimmers, approach tracks to Hans Bay and Mount Graham, and a new shelter shed. Record Trip from Auckland A record run of 60 hours from Auckland to Greymouth was completed yesterday by the Union Steam Ship Company’s steamer Kakapo. The vessel averaged more than 12 knots over the whole trip and reached Greymouth at 10 a.m. Fine weather was experienced on the journey by the Kakapo, which brought cargo from Auckland. It will load coal and timber for its return trip to Auckland. —Press Association. Old Comrades Meet During a recent meeting of the Hastings branch of the South African War Veterans Association two old comrades who had not met for 35 years were present. One of them had been a dental student before the war, and had seized the opportunity to gain a little practical experience with the troops. On one occasion he had extracted a tooth for his comrade, who claimed at the meeting that he had a more vivid recollection of the incident than the other. The operation was performed without ‘ painless” or gas, with the patient seated on a waggon pole. Maori Land Claim Mr George H. Skerrett (Awarua Plains) has received a letter from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) advising that the proposed conference about the Ngaitahu claim may be held during the third or fourth week of February and that only three Government representatives and three selected native representatives and the Maori member of Parliament for the district are permitted in the conference room. Other natives interested will be admitted in the building outside the conference room. They will not be permitted to be present and take part in the debate. Allowed to Keep Kiwi Permission has been granted by the Department of Internal Affairs for the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society to keep and exhibit the young kiwi recently found in the backcountry near Nuhaka and sent to the society’s farm at Greenmeadows. Transport of Fruit Complaints are being expressed by Auckland fruit merchants that fruit from the South Island is arriving in the city in very poor condition. The unsatisfactory transport system is blamed. Various fruits, which are not grown in Auckland, are supplied from the South Island, but if the conditions do not improve the supply may be discontinued. A consignment of apricots and greengage plums arrived in Auckland on Monday 1 y rail from Wellington off the Lyttelton steamer express, but most of the fruit was spoiled and the grower lost on his venture, in spite of the keen demand in the city. One of the chief reasons cited for the bad condition of the fruit is the time it is in transit. Coming from Otago and similar centres through Lyttelton, shipped to Wellington and then 'railed to Auckland, the fruit usually takes five or six days to arrive. A contributory factor is said to be that the produce is railed in ordinary goods trucks, which become very hot. A suggestion by Auckland merchants is that special insulated trucks should be provided.—“ The Press” Special Service. _ (