General News

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23132, 23 September 1940, Page 6

General News

“No Litter-bugs” “I am delighted to say that this year there were no litter-bugs, and all the rubbish which was collected could have been contained in half a hat-box.” This comment was made last evening by Mr J. A. McPherson (curator of _ the Christchurch Botanic Gardens) when reviewing the behaviour of the people who visited the gardens and park yesterday for Daffodil Sunday. Mr McPherson said the city should be proud of its record of cleanliness through preventing the spread of litter in its reserves. . He added that the behaviour of the extremely large crow'ds which visited the gardens left nothing to be desired. Tramping Excursion Popular The popularity of the_ railway tramping excursions was evident again yesterday, when two trains, each of 19 carriages, were necessary to take the 1200 excursionists to Cass. Lunch was served on arrival at Cass, and after an hour’s rest the trampers set out on an eight-mile scramble along the ridges between Lakes Grasmere, Pearson,, and Sarah, ending at the Craigieburn station. Afternoon tea was taken here, before the excursionists entrained for the return journey. The weather was perfect for the outing. Restoration of Old Sod House A party of members', of the Mount Pleasant Boating Club began work on Saturday on the restoration of the old sod house which has stood beside the Heathcote bridge for more than 60 years. Said to have been built by a stranded sailor, the house was a landmark from the days of the steam trams, but parts of two walls and the huge fireplace and chimney are all that remained in latter years. Some unique and valuable timber which was removed from the house is said to be still in existence, and it is hoped to recover it. Good progress was made by the yachtsmen on Saturday. As one of them remarked, sod building and thatching were lost arts which they were trying to learn as the work proceeded. Women Police Appointments of women police are to be made soon. Applications are being called for unmarried or widowed women between the ages of 25 and 40. Successful applicants must have superior educational qualifications, including shorthand and typing, and must be of good health. Several inquiries have already been received at police offices. Tithe System for Churches The adoption of the tithe system for church finance was advocated by the Rev. L. B. Neale, president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference, in addressing a meeting in Gisborne, when he suggested a contribution of 2s in the pound for the church. “Christian democracy is at the crossroads,” said Mr Neale, “and you cannot run a church on threepenny bits and bazaars. It is no good giving something that does not cost you something. If you are earning £3 a /eek, then 6s belongs to God, and if you are not giving it to Him you are robbing God. The church needs men who will give money before they are dead. Pyjama prayers are not enough. The tithe system is commended and almost commanded throughout all books in the Bible.” Minister’s Warning A warning that acts of vandalism or theft in State housing developments throughout New Zealand would henceforth bo severely dealt with has been issued by the Minister for Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. The Minister stated that the action of careless and, in some cases, dishonest persons, had caused loss, inconvenience, and delay to the housing scheme, fie wished to make it perfectly clear to the public that a continuance of the nuisance could not be tolerated. Professor Honoured The bronze plaque and tablet perpetuating Professor H. B. Kirk’s long association with Victoria University College will be ready for placing at the main entrance of the new biology block by November. Miss Margaret Butler has been entrusted with the work, and this has progressed as far as the stage of the final bronze casting, which will shortly be put in hand. The plaque shows Professor Kirk’s profile in basrelief, and is three-quarters life size, while the tablet records the gratitude and affection of colleagues and students between 1903 and the present year. Free Hospital Beds The fact that many persons who were well able to pay for their beds in public hospitals were claiming free beds under the social security scheme was the subject of comment at the meeting of the Southland Hospital Board on Thursday. “Even a millionaire can claim a free bed in a hospital now,” said the chairman (Mr T.-Golden). Dr. J. A. Pottinger said that the idea of getting something for nothing was infectious and was spreading to persons who were well able to pay. Increases in Wages Opposition to general increases in wages similar to the 5 per cent, rise recently awarded by the Arbitration Court was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. It was felt that, as increases in the cost of living bore most heavily on men with families, any action to relieve the position should be taken, not by increasing wages gene ,lly, but by increasing family allowances and by providing further relief from taxation for taxpayers with family responsibilities. New Zealand Trade with Noumea The possibility of establishing trade between Noumea and New Zealand through Auckland was discussed at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. After receiving negative replies from two local shipping companies, it was decided that nothing further could be done at present. Rhodesian Weapons Three Rhodesian weapons of interest have been given to the Dominion Museum by Mr H. B. Jacobs, Ngaio, who collected them when in that country some 40 odd years ago. Two are spears, one a formidable double-ender with metal fashioned by the natives, while the other has ah iron end which came from Birmingham. The binding on each displays exquisite native workmanship. The third weapon is a knobkerrie which is skilfully bound with fine brass wire fashioned by the natives. Rare Birds for Zoo Two giant petrels are now included in the collection at the Auckland Zoo. One was washed up on the Waihi beach early in August and nursed back to strength by Mrs C. A. Rae, who sent it to the zoo when it had completely recovered. The second bird was rescued and revived in similar circumstances by Mrs Rae a few days ago. Artificial sea-water is made at the zoo for the birds to drink. The discovery of the two birds is regarded as being specially remarkable because the oldest fishermen on the Waihi beach have stated that they have never previously seen the petrel. Although it is widely distributed over the temperate and high southern latitudes, and occasionally wanders north of the equator, it is a rare visitor to New Zealand waters. With a uniform colouring of slatey-brown, the giant petrel has a length of about 32in and a wing-spread of no less than 66in, its powers of flight being fully equal to those of the albatross. Its habits are vulturelike, as it lives largely on the blubber and flesh of dead whales and seals and on sea-birds. A decision to send a call to the Rev. P. Gladstone Hughes, Auckland, was unanimously reached at a congregational meeting of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Wellington, last week. The charge became vacant on the departure of the Rev. J. R. Blanchard to Adelaide. Mr Hughes has been minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Auckland, since February, 1935. After a distinguished career at the University of Wales and later at Cambridge, Mr Hughes was a master in secondary schools for seven years before entering the ministry. He was minister at Anglesey, Wales, for six years and then came to New Zealand, and in 1921 he entered on a ministry at Timaru that proved to be conspicuously successful in the 12 years of his charge. In 1933 he went to England with his wife and family and was in charge of a church near Newcastle-on-Tyne for a year. He returned to New Zealand in October, 1934. During his residence in the Dominion, he has taken a prominent part in public activities. -