NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 208, 31 May 1935, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Motorists’ Final Rush The big rush to re-register motor-cars and secure the new number plates commenced in earnest yesterday. Not only were the tables within the Town Hall Concert Chamber fully occupied throughout the day. but there was even a waiting list at times for the emergency tables in the corridors. War Relief.

A total of 230 applications for action had been received by the War Relief Association during the past month, it was reported to the executive yesterday. Maori Arrives Late.

Strong northerly winds and high head seas were experienced by the Maori on her trip from Lyttelton to Wellington on Wednesday night, and the vessel arrived in port yesterday morning 45 minutes behind her usual time.

Wellington Schools Visited. Accompanied by the Director of Education and members of the Wellington Education Board, the Minister of Education, the Hon. S. G. Smith, yesterday visited the Kaiwarra, Wadestown, Brooklyn, Newtown, and Miramar South Schools. To-day the Minister will pay similar visits to the Paremata, I’abautanui, and Te Aro Schools.

Killing of Opossums. An Order-in-Council published in the latest “Gazette” announces that the open season for the taking or killing of opossums in certain acclimatisation districts has been fixed as follows: From noon on June 1 to noon ou August 1 (inclusive), in the Buller district; from noon, July 1, to noon, September 1, in the East Coast, Marlborough and Nelson districts: also in Southland; from noon, July 20, to noon, September 1, in the Feilding, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington districts. In each acclimatisation district the license fee is £2.

Rifles With a History. Rifles seized by the natives after the defeat of General Gordon aro still in constant use in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, it was stated recently by Mr. W. L. Mills, who has returned to Auckland after 22 years’ work for the Sudan United Mission. In the territory where Mr. Mills had been engaged the natives have shown a degree of skill in keeping the ancient weapons in working order, and even more ingenuity in procuring ammunition. They preserve the ancient cartridges, usually much battered, jealously, and manufacture gunpowder and bullets to reload the cartridges. Public Works Tenders.

Among the numerous tenders passed recently by the Public Works Department are the following important contracts:—Waitangi, wash-out bridge on ■the Napier-Wellington main highway, via Wairarapa, £8790/15/6, the Rope Construction Company; single men’s quarters at Narrow Neck military camp, Auckland, £17,041, A. G. Chapman; hangar No. 1, Wigram aerodrome, £14,580, C. 8. Luney; new lockup at Palmerston North police station, £3344, A. W. Wood; Taugahoe Stream bridge on the Auckland-Wellington main highway, via Taranaki, £4148, General Construction Company.

Fashion and Produce. Much amusement was caused at the annual conference of the Mid-Canter-bury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when during the course of his persidential address Mr. Raymond Oakley said: “Fashion has a big influence on the value of our produce. If woollen clothes became more fashionable with our women folk( wool would rise in price substantially. The latest fashion notes indicate tha*t curves are becoming more fashionable, so if the ladies drop this slimming craze and cat more in an endeavour to produce the desired curves, perhaps the value of our products will rise accordingly.”