General News

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27629, 9 April 1955, Page 6

General News

Depredations -of - Crickets Millions of crickets have moved in on crops and homes in the farm district of Ahuroa, in Northland, As large-scale poisoning is. costly, farmers are- waiting for heavy rain to fill in cracks in the ground that harbour the pests. There are numerous reports of the pests destroying acres of rape and turnips, and attacking clothing in houses. The Department of Agriculture recommends a poison bait of D.D.T. mixed with molasses and sawdust, poultry mash, or bran. But the farmer has to be quick. Noting the impending danger to his crop of swedes, one farmer recently sent for the poison, but when it arrived, his crop was gone. —(P.A.) S.P.C.A. Street Appeal

There was a good response to the street appeal on Thursday by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. By 8 p.m. more than £6OO had been collected with the contents of some boxes still to be counted. About the same amount was collected last year. The secretary of the society (Mr G. T. Bullock) thanked all who had responded to the appeal and also the 130 collectors who were engaged. Netting of Salmon

A party of men from the North Canterbury and Ashburton Acclimatisation Societies last night netted quinnat salmon in the tailrace of the Highbank hydro-electric power station. The water was shut off at 11 p.m., and the fishermen were expected to work until 4 a.m. today. The fish they catch will be marketed in Christchurch next week. The societies were operating under a permit from the Marine Department while the power station was being cleaned Bank Holidays The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has asked the Associated Banks to discontinue the closing of banks on Anniversary Day (which, in Canterbury, falls on December 16) because of its proximity to Christmas. Reporting to the council of the chamber on Thursday that the chamber had not yet received a reply from the banks, the president (Mr R. A. Witbrock) said it was interesting to note that the banks were taking an extra holiday at Easter this year. This might be an indication that the banks intended to discontinue the Anniversary Day holiday this year, he said. 94-year-old Plane Passenger

Believed to be the oldest passenger carried by the National Airways Cor_poration, 94-year-old Mr Tom Nicholls, of Spring Grove, Nelson, flew to Wellington on Thursday. It was his first flight. “It was a wonderful experience,” he said yesterday. He is spending a six-day holiday with friends at Ngaio. Mr Nicholls, who made the journey from Nelson alone, was not easily convinced that there was anything unusual about a man delaying his plane trip until his ninety-fifth year. Mr Nicholls’s visit to Wellington is connected with the 29-year-old former steeplechaser, Landmark, which has been the constant companion of his old age. They are now parted for the first time in 11 years. Mr Nicholls hopes that, while he is in Wellington, he will meet a former trainer of Landmark, Mr T. George. The bay gelding had 15 wins and 20 placings in his racing career.—(P.A.) Creeper Damage to School Buildings The Education Department has asked all school boards to make regular inspections to prevent damage by creepers on school buildings. The headmaster (Mr J. Leggat) told the Christchurch Boys’ High School Board that the Virginia creeper at the school was inspected every year, and trouble had been avoided. Hinemoa’s Arrival on Tuesday

Because the inter-island steamer Hinemoa will make a daylight trip to Wellington on Tuesday, it will arrive at Lyttelton that morning at 6.15 a.m. This will mean that the train meeting passengers at Lyttelton will arrive at Christchurch about 6.55 a.m. on Tuesday. Late Fee Boxes at Airports “As far as I know it is a new suggestion—and quite a good one, too,” said the Chief Postmaster (Mr H. R. Pool), commenting on a suggestion made at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening that late fee mail services be provided at airports throughout New Zealand. Mr F. W. Petre said that most air services in New Zealand were Governmentowned, and he could not see why they should not offer the same late fee services as the railways and the steamerexpress. He knew of one man who lived some six miles on one side of an airport who had to travel 12 miles tc the town on the other side of the airoort to post a letter, which the Post Office staff had to take six miles back to the airport. The suggestion will be considered by the council’s postal committee. Air Passengers at Harewood In March, 9432 air passengers were handled by the National Airways Corporation at Hare wood airport. This is an increase of 548 on the figure for March last year. There were 4632 departures and 4800 arrivals. Naval Governor-General When the next appointment of a Governor-General is being considered, the Ex-Royal Naval Men’s Association of New Zealand will make representations to the Prime Minister asking for the honour to be given to a naval man. This decision was reached at the annual conference of the association, which is being held in Christchurch. Chilled Egg Prices A price order fixing prices for chilled eggs 6d a dozen cheaper than fresh eggs was gazetted last week. Last season the price differential was 3d a dozen. The maximum retail prices tor chilled eggs in Canterbury are 4s lid a dozen for large hen eggs and 3s 9d for small. On the West Coast the prices are 5s 3d and 4s Id respectively. Fresh egg prices are unchanged. Fishing Rivers According to advice received by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, the condition of the fishing rivers at noon yesterday was:— Hurunui, Selwyn, Halswell and Waiau, clear and fishable; Ashley and Waimakariri, fishable; Lower Rakaia, discoloured. but clearing; Upper Rakaia, normal and clear. The weather at Lake Coleridge and Highbank. was calm and overcast.