General News

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 6

General News

Rain Saves Trees Not only has the rain of the last few days greatly relieved the fire danger in the State forests in Canterbury, but it has also saved the lives of many trees planted by the State Forest Service during the winter. The Conservator of State Forests, Christchurch (Mr L. H. Bailey) said yesterday that almost 1.000,000 trees had been planted during the winter, mainly at Omihi on nassella tussock areas and at Ashley. Though these new trees were standing up to the dry conditions very well, had similar conditions continued until Christmas there might have been many casualties among them, said Mr Bailey. With the rain casualties would now be negligible. Forgotten Wedding Days “It is ridiculous that the Court should have to correct its own records because a petitioner in an affidavit swears a wrong date for his marriage,” said Mr Justice Callan in the Auckland Supreme Court during the hearing of an application for divorce. In evidence the petitioner said he was married on November 16, 1939, when the marriage certificate produced gave November 4 as the date. Counsel for petitioner (Mr Robinson): Quite a number of people, when giving their marriage dates, a»e not only days, but years, out. His Honour: If that is your experience, as the lawyer with the biggest divorce practice in Auckland, it is your duty not to accept marriage dates until they have been carefully checked with certificates. Pillagers Active

Pillagers are apparently intent on laying in a good stock of Christmas goods. One Christchurch company which regularly ships candied peel and ginger to all parts of New Zealand has just as regularly had some of its goods pillaged. The confectionery company sends supplies of ginger, candied peel, and cut peel on practically every coastal ship which leaves Lyttelton. In the last few months consignees have nearly always reported that at least one case has been broached. First Exported Irish Terrier What is thought to be the first Irish terrier exported from New , Zealand for breeding purposes has been sold by Mr J. P. Dowdall, of Addington, a well-known Irish terrier breeder and a successful show competitor. The dog was bought by a woman in Honolulu who intends to start breeding kennels. By the time the dog reaches Honolulu by air the cost to the buyer will be about £ 103. Search for Husbands Miss Mary Fothergill, aged 36, a brunette, living with her godmother in Freen Lane, London, would like to marry a New Zealand farmer. So would her godmother, aged 49. Miss Fothergill, in a letter to the Mayor of Auckland <Mr J. A. C. Allum), says she is from Georgia (South Russia) but is a naturalised British subject. She went to a finishing school in Italy and travelled extensively. She served in the armed forces during the war and has since been employed .on the clerical staff of a children’s missionary society. Her interests are tennis, riding, swimming, cycling, dancing, needlework and cooking. Her godmother is “a very good cook and housekeeper.”—(P.A.) Hubert the Mouse Hubert, the globe-trotting pet. mouse owned by Mr James Burnell-Higgs, a steward in the Rimutaka, has been destroyed. After travelling 25.000 miles round the world, surviving a shipwreck and making a trip across America, Hubert met his end after a Health Department inspection and a consultation between the captain and the ship's doctor. Prevention of Fires As a means of bringing home the dangers of fire to pupils of primary schools in Canterbury, 500 rulers inlaid with a variety of New Zealand grown timbers will shortly be sent out to schools in the district to be awarded to pupils who write the best essays on fire protection in each school. The scheme is being. sponsored by the Rural Fire Prevention Committee of the Canterbury Progress League. On the back of the rulers is the following message: “Be cateful with fires—matches have heads but no brains. With the compliments of the Rural Fire Committee, Canterbury

Progress League.” Carmelite Order for Wellington Nuns of the Carmelite Order are expected to arrive in New Zealand from Melbourne early in the New Year. They are to make a new foundation of their order in Wellington. Chinese Bishop’s Visit The Anglican Bishop of Fukien, 'China, the Rt. Rev. Chang Kwang-, hsu, is to visit Australia next year, and it is likely that he will visit New Zealand also. The bishop was ordained in America, returning to China in 1921. He was appointed assistant bishop of Fukien in 1943, and soon afterward bishop. His diocese is the largest in China in terms of numbers of churches and centres of work. Aerovan for Top-dressing-The first Miles Aerovart aircraft which has been purchased by the Government foe aerial top-dressing will be tested from Rongotai aerodrome on Monday. The aircraft is being assembled at the works of the de Havilland Aircraft Company of New Zealand. Ltd., at Rongotai, and will be handed over to the Royal New Zealand Air Force on Monday’ After its test flights the Aerovan will be flown to Auckland, where it will join a special section of No. 41 Squadron at Whenuapai. The second Aerovan is now on its way by ship from England. Mr Jordan Popular A tribute to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in Great Britain (Mr W. J. Jordan) was paid by Mr H. J. Quarrell, of Christchurch, who arrived back in New Zealand recently after an eight months’ tour of England. “Mr Jordan was very popular in England amongst everyone and appears to be doing good work,” said Mr Quarrell, in an interview yesterday. Elderly Patient Missing The police were searching last evening for an elderly patient, Henry Alcock. aged 79. who has been missing from Green Lane Hospital since yesterday morning. He was admitted to hospital from Great. Barrier Island on Tuesday. ■ About 10.30 a.m. Mr Alcock asked permission to go out in the sunshine to sun himself. He apparently walked off the hospital grounds. He was first missed at noon when he failed to appear for his midday meal. The police were notified in the afternoon after a hospital search party had failed to find him near the hospital.— (P.A.)