NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 301, 15 September 1933, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF

Items of Interest FROM ALL QUARTERS A Dunedin amateur gardener reports, for the benefit of all whom, it may concern, that he has successfully coped with the annoyance of having his hyacinth spikes and other • early bulb blooms nipped off by birds, says the “Star.” It is with him a simple process, costing nothing and involving no risk. He soaks a little bread and grain and sprinkles the compound near the plants he wishes to preserve, and the birds return thanks by being content with this prepared breakfast. A new form of “wrecking” has made its appearance in Dunedin, the owner of a brand-new motor-cycle being the victim. He left his cycle parked in Cargill Road one night last week, and rode it home to Mosgiel -find back into the city, where the machine broke down completely. On taking down the engine a repair firm found that a tin of grinding paste had been poured into the oil tank. The engine was ruined. The oil had a heavy consistency, and chemical analysis by oil experts ascertained that grinding paste* was the damaging-material used. Wide interest was taken in Christchurch recently In the screening of a film on life-saving. It was shown at the Civic Theatre under the auspices of the Canterbury head centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society. The screening occupied thirty minutes, and was attended by several councillors and members of interested organisations in Christchurch. The picture was produced by the Royal Life-Saving Society in England, and is of considerable vahi.e, showing as it does details of the methods of -life-saving, and resuscitation at present in use. Undoubted signs, of spring are evidenced by the very excellent display of prime spring lamb being made by Messrs. Barber and Co, .137 Lambtpn Quay, opposite W.F.C.A.... There seems to be this year a tenon the part of a number of pastoral farmers in Otago to break up a portion of their main grass areas with a view to growing greep crops, such as rape, kale, turnips, and sometimes oats and barley, to serve for fattening lambs or providing extra winter feed. This change Is largely owing to the failure of certain types of grassland to respond fo top-dressing. It is proved, says a leading authority on the subject, that the best responses to top-dressing are obtained from good English grasses, and that the indigenous grasses, such as danthonla, brown-top, etc., give poor results. A brill with its eyes and stomach on the wrong side was caught by Mr. D. Wilson, of the trawler Venture, and forwarded to Mr. David H. Graham for- examination, states the “Otago Daily Times.” Occasionally a flounder is seen with its eyes on the reversed side, but the phenomena in other species of flatfish is uncommon. Mr. Graham states that it is usual for the left eye of the brill to rotate to the right side, but for some obscure reason the right eye has moved to the left side, and instead of the right side being coloured, it has become colourless and the left side speckled. The fish was in perfect condition and quite normal in every other respect.

The practice of taking samples of beer from pumps in use at licensed hotels was continued, and 118 samples were taken for analysis (states the annual report of the Dunedin city sanitary inspector). Of this number twenty-six were found to contain traces of lead, and one contained traces of both lead and copper. The proprietors concerned have been warned and have been required to make the necessary alterations to pipes, etc., so as to prevent contamination. Tlie plans which have been overhauled have been resampled, With improved results. The remainder ate out of use in the meantime.

One of the most interesting episodes to be depicted in connection with the historical pageant at the Confidence Carnival in November will be a moving tableau representing the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, to which event fresh interest was added recently by the acquisition aud presentation to the nation of the land surrounding the spot where this Magna Charter of the Maori race was signed. Mr. Maurice Ralph, the producer, is at prevent very busy collecting Ills forces for the presentation of the various scenes that are to comprise the pageant. He is to leave for Otakl to-morrow morning to consult with the Maori people who are to take part in the various scenes depicting native life in the early days.

Sailors, rum, and the sea are, in the minds of most people, an inseparable combination. As well have Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark as a battleship without its rum ration, but this is the plight of the Royal Australian Navy says the “Otiigo Daily Times.” Officially there is no “grog” on board ship. There is no daily distribution of rum of the kind that has existed from time immemorial in the British Navy. The tradition is observed In the New Zealand Squadron, however, and In this respect the ships’ companies of H.M.S. Diomede and H.M.S. Dunedin are generally envied by the crews of the visiting Australian cruisers. Asked why Australians should be denied rum, an officer of 11.M.A.5. Australia laid tlie responsibility for this form of prohibition at the door of a well-known rear-admiral of the fleet, who discouraged the rum ration, and justified himself by saying that Australians did not need rum; they were bad enough without It.