NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Royal N.Z. Aero Club

The New Zealand Aero Club received advice yesterday that His Majesty the King has granted permission for the use of the title Royal. The club is now therefore the Royal New Zealand Aero Club, Incorporated.

Education Committee. The Parliamentary Committee appointed to inquire into the Education Amendment Bill introduced last session of Parliament will commence its sittings to-day.

Feathered Bonnets. Feathered bonnets are included for each of the new uniforms recently sent out from Scotland for the Wellington Police Pipe Band. This creates a precedent in pipe band history in the Dominion, no other band having a complete issue of feathered bonnets.

Unusually Large Peach. An unusually large peach has been grown by Mr. W. Paget, Claude Street, Hamilton. The peach weighs 170 z., is loin, in circumference, and belongs to the Golden Queen variety. The tree was propagated from a stump, and has ■been an excellent bearer.

A Selwyn Anniversary. The aniversary of the birth of George Augustus Selwyn, the great pioneer ibishop of New Zealand, falls to-day, for it was on April 5, 1809, that he was born at Hamstead, London. In 1841 he began his association with this country, and until 1868 he continued his labours for the welfare of the settlers and the Maori people.

Electric Rail-cars. Two more electric rail-cars from Liverpool reached Auckland on Sunday by the motor-ship Otaio. The care, which were carried on the ship’s after-deck, follow shipments of six others brought at fairly short intervals by the Cambridge, Brisbane Star, and Hertford. They will be landed on the Otaio’s arrival at Wellington on Saturday. ’ ' • ■

Coronation Oaks. It was stated at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Beautifying Society that the 65 acorns which had been sent out from Windsor Park ,as part of the Coronation ceremony, had now grown to a height of eight inches and were ready for planting out this year in a Coronation avenue. A subcommittee of two was appointed to confer with the authorities on the site. Two suggested sites were Pukerua Bay and Anderson Park.

Infectious Diseases. ■ •Seventeen cases of infectious disease and three deaths —two from tuberculosis and one from eclampsia—were reported to tfie Wellington office of the Health Department for the week ended yesterday. In the central Wellington area three cases each of scarlet fever, diphtheria and tuberculosis were reported; also two cases of erysipelas and one each of eclampsia, puerperal fever and lead-poisoning. In NelsonMarlborough there were two cases of scarlet fever and one case of poliomyelitis.

Coal Used by Railways. With the near approach of winter, when householders are beginning to budget for weekly supplies of fuel, it is interesting to know that last year the New Zealand Railways consumed close on 434,000 tons of coal, every particle of which was from New Zealand mines. In addition, nearly 109,000 tons of coke were used in various railway activities. Wherever possible, the Railways Department gives preference to New Zealand products. The''lntoxicated Motorist.

Braise for the efforts being made in New Zealand to force the intoxicated motorist off the road was expressed by the Rev. Dr. R. V. Bingham, Canada, who is conducting a lecturing tour of the Dominion, states “The Otago Daily Times.” “I am glad to hear that your magistrates are., treating these men severely,” said Dr. Bingham. “In Canada we have been very lax, and the death rate is soaring. It is about time that charges of this kind were made criminal.” • .

“Sometliing Serious.” Hearty laughter was aroused by a witness from a provincial centre who gave evidence for the workers during the hearing of the Dominion gas workers’ dispute in the Court of Arbitration yesterday. The man was being examined as to the degree of responsibility workers carried at times, even though their foreman lived at the works. “When do you call for the foreman?” he was asked. “Only when something serious goes wrong,” he replied. ‘‘When was the last time?” “Oh, about three months ago—when the bottom fell out of the boiler.”