NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 156, 30 March 1937, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Holiday Court List

The names of 21 defendants, an unusually large number for a holiday, were called in the AVellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday, and the sitting took nearly an hour. Many of the charges were the result of holiday festivities. Warmest Day for a Year. The Meteorological Office, AVellington, reports that Sunday's maximum temperature of 73.9 degrees was the warmest recorded at Kelburn since February 24, 1936. On that occasion the temperature was 79.1 degrees. Missing Plane. No search was made yesterday for the missing AA’estern Federate’d (N. 1. Flying Club’s light aeroplane which is thought to have fallen into Cook Strait near Makara last week. The heavy weather prevented searchers going along the shore, and neither launches or aircraft went to the place with the object of searching.

Nauseating Stench. AVhen the tide was well out on the western waterfront about 1 a.m. on Good Friday the lower residential slopes of Ponsonby and Herne Bay, Auckland, were troubled by a salty stench, borne up on the sultry breeze, it was so nauseating that it awakened some people from their sleep. A probable explanation, says the Auckland "Star,” is that the overhanging clouds formed a very low "ceiling,” and in the oppressive atmosphere the smell of the uncovered mudflats came up on the warm wind. Normally there is no smell of any kind.

Destruction of Deer. The roaring season, which is the best for shooting, is now beginning, and the destruction of deer in several of the watersheds in Canterbury is being undertaken by the Department of Internal Affairs. For this reason, private persons are forbidden to shoot on a number of large station holdings. Captain G. F. Yerex, director of the Government’s deer, thar and chamois destruction operations, explained that this action had been taken to facilitate the work of the official parties, and to avoid the risk of accidents, which had occurred in the past.

New Bathing Pavilion. The new bathing pavilion at Oriental Bay, with its flat Proeintal roof, and semi-circle of ornamental lamps, is now practically completed. The pavilion, which lias been finished in cement of tlie lightest biscuit brown tone, looks very well indeed, and has enhanced the appearance of the bay considerably, being a much more attractive structure, architecturally, than the old band rotunda now at Central Park. The new pavilion was lighted up for the first time on Saturday evening.

Depredations by Stoats. The stoat, which is stated to be one of the principal enemies of the native birds in New’ Zealand, is very numerous in the iSouth AA’estland district. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. AV. E. Parry, said, when visiting the south recently, that he had been informed by a farmer, who was deeply interested in the bird life of the country, that lie attributed the disappearance of the kiwi in the district to the stoat. The farmer had also said that he had from his own knowledge known stoats to live in the burrows of rabbits and not harm the rabbits.

Rough Trip from Kapiti. Eleven of a party of more than 40 members of the Tararua Tramping Club, encamped at Kapiti Island for Easter, had a rough trip back to the mainland yesterday morning. The majority of those in the party intend to return to-day, but yesterday’s contingent was obliged to brave the elements because of the necessity for resuming work this morning. The launch which plies Iwtween Kapiti and Parapiiraumu made several trips in spite of a yeasty sea whipped up by the strong north wind. All the campers were landed safely and their packs were also transported without mishap. The Man AVith Insomnia.

Counting sheep and trying to make his mind a blank failed to bring sleep to one of Auckland’s best-known followers of rowing. Finally he rolled out of bed, donned dressing gown and slippers, lit his pipe, and ensconced himself in front of the wireless. At first lie skipped merrily from country to country, sampling crooners, operas, orchestras, amateur stations and propagandists in turn. Then he struck Berlin, where Germany’s foremost prima donna and a famous pianist were combining their talents to delight a mighty audience listening to a concert of the Berlin State Opera House Orchestra. The music and a soothing smoke brought slow yawns. Before switching off lie turned the dial to Daventry, and au excited voice sounded through the curtain of static, “Oxford is in front.” The rowing enthusiast sat up with a jerk. He twisted the dials for better reception, and sat tar into the morning listening to the running'commentary of the race and the subsequent comment. He returned to bed and slept like a child. Next morning lie had difficulty in getting to work on time, so much difficulty that lie did not have time to shave.