General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 6

General News

Notice to Advertisers While the restrictions announced by the Christchurch Gas Company, Ltd., continue, “The Press” asks its advertisers to have their copy in "The Press” office not later than 2 p.m. esch day, to ensure insertion the next day. Man Missing in Floods Unhurt “I am tifed of apologising for being alive. I am frightened to walk along the street in case people say again ‘Aren’t you dead?’ ’* said Mr B. Collins, manager of a flaxmill on the Ruamahanga river, in the Wairarapa district, yesterday. He was reported missing, believed drowned, during the flood. Mr Collins said he went in a canoe to a special cottage he had at a high level and stayed there till the flood waters went down. He was used to floods. —(P.A.) Carrot Baits for Rabbits

Two tons of shredded fresh carrots have been prepared at the Internal Marketing Division’s dehydration factory in Riccarton for experimental use in rabbit poisoning in the back country. It is hoped that the use of carrot baits in this form will overcome the transport difficulties and wastage involved in packing fresh carrots into the back country. Results of the experiment are awaited, and it is considered that if they are successful there will be an assured market for the shredded carrot. Gift of War-time Profits

A North Island man connected with the manufacture of cheese has notified the Government of his desire to give his war-time profits, amounting to £77,164, after tax deduction, to the British Government to assist Britain in its present difficulties. 'The donor’s name has not been disclosed, but he is believed to come from the Waikato district.—(P.S.S.) Exporting of Timber New Zealand timber is being shipped overseas. The Federal Steam Navigation Company’s vessel, Suffolk, which will leave Lyttelton to-morrow for London, via Cape Horn and Dakar, has some 600 cubic feet of its hold space devoted to a cargo of New Zealand red pine lengths. Other items on the Suffolk’s cargo list are small seeds, peas, and a little-heard-of export commodity, frozen poultry. The Suffolk will also carry frozen mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom. Tuberculosis Among Maoris The theory that Maoris were not less resistant to tuberculosis than Europeans but that the high incidence of disease among them was attributable to congested living conditions and incorrect diet was advanced by Dr. C. F. Wilson, of Otaki. at the first national conference of tuberculosis associations yesterday. A large proportion of the Maori population was living on social security benefits, said Dr. Wilson. He considered that if the Givernment supplied the Maoris with goods instead of money their general health would be ameliorated.— (P.A.) World Cycling Tour Michael McDonald, 27-year-old racing cyclist, of Johannesburg, who is on a cycling tour of the world, arrived in Timaru on Wednesday. He left Johannesburg on February 17, and cycled to Durban, a distance of 450 miles, in four days. After working his passage to Fremantle, he cycled through Australia, and arrived in New Zealand last month. A mishap to his cycle persuaded him to leave it in the North Island for repairs, and he travelled to the South Island by rail, going down as far* as Bluff. Since he began learning geography, he has planned such a tour, and his passport is endorsed for Great Britain, the United States. Canada, the Philippines, Brazil, the Argentine, New Zealand, Australia and India. From New Zealand he will go to America. Norfolk Island and N.Z. “What do the Norfolk Islanders wish in the matter?” asked Mr Irving Sladen at the council meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening, when Mr E. T. Beaven suggested that support should be given to the move by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to have Norfolk Island brought under New Zealand jurisdiction. “I would say that they would be terribly happy about it,” replied Mr Beaven. He explained that Norfolk Island fruit was sent to Australia. If shipping facilities were provided, and Norfolk Island came under New Zealand jurisdiction, extension of the growing of sub-tropical fruits could be encouraged. Australia was not very much concerned with extending fruit growing as she had so much territory producing similar fruit in the north. “Will that be our last territorial demand?” asked Mr L. J. Hensley, amid laughter, before the council decided to support the Auckland Chamber. Karetu’s Mixed Cargo The Union Steam Ship Company’s vessel, Karetu, which is unloading at Lyttelton, contains a cargo of unusual interest. Apart from such welcome commodities as hardwoods, bluegums, and other Australian sawn timbers, the ship carried a considerable supply of assorted fruit juices (apple and orange, largely), pineapples, and canary seed. An interesting item, too, was a consignment of macaroni and spaghetti, but no information was available concerning its destination. Carpets are being unloaded from the Karetu, together with wire rope, books, bottles (all of them empty), drugs, and, of interest to engineers, such equipment as machine parts, motor accessories, tools, and silica firebricks. The vessel loaded at the Australian ports of Port Kembla, Newcastle, and Sydney before sailing for New Zealand.

Thefts from Garages Thieves in Auckland are going to new extremes in their search for’tyrcs and other motor equipment. In the last few weeks the police have been faced with an epidemic of bold thefts from private garages in suburban areas. Locks have been broken from garage doors and motor-cars have been raised on jacks and stripped of their wheels while the owners have slept only a few feet away. Not only wheels, but tools and other articles have been taken away. A few isolated thefts of this type occurred over a month ago, but in the last week the offences have shown ah alarming increase. Thieves had a particularly good haul when they broke into the garage of a traveller for a motor firm. They left with about £9O worth of spare parts which had been placed in the car for delivery the next day, and with two wheels and tyres.—’(P.S.S.)

Supplies of Egg Pulp Because of shipping difficulties, Christchurch bakers and pastrycooks may be faced with a serious shortage of egg pulp if supplies are not obtained from Australia within the next few weeks. Efforts are now being made to obtain an allocation of refrigerated space on a ship at present in Sydney, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) and the Minister of Marketing (Mr E. L. Cullen) have been approached for this Present supplies of pulp are sufficient for only a few weeks, but it is hoped that the shortage will be averted. So far Christchurch bakers and pastrycooks have not been compelled to reduce their consumption of pulp and make up the balance with egg powder as has had to be done in Auckland. There is a shortage also of egg powder throughout the Dominion, but supplies for Christchurch are coming from the North Island. Fireworks Back Again Many small boys and girls in Christchurch saw fireworks for the first time in their lives yesterday when a small consignment from Britain was on sale in a city shop. Except for a few Chinese crackers, fireworks disaopeared from the shops early in the war, and only older children remembered them. As a result, there was a small queue at the fireworks counter when the shop opened in the morning, and numbers of small boys arrived in the afternoon after schdol. Most of the morning customers were fathers and mothers who wanted their children tn know the delights of letting off fireworks. Some of them bought large quantities, spending as much as 12s 6d or £l, and the counter was bare before the shop closed.