NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Thick Fog-

There was a dense white fog over Wellington harbour last night, and the fog sirens, at Point Jerningham and Fryatt Quay were in use. The tops of the hills surrounding the harbour were above the fog and were bathed iu brilliant moonlight. Pensioners in Hospital.

The Wellington Hospital .Board has adopted the recommendation of the Commissioner of the Social Security Fund that 25 per cent, of old age and invalidity pensions be refunded to pensioners while in hospital.

500,000 Trout Eggs. The Department of Internal Affairs. Rotorua, has taken delivery of 500,000 brown trout eggs from Canterbury. The eggs will be hatched at the Government hatchery at Ngongotaha, and will later be liberated in lakes and rivers in the Rotorua district.

Duck’s Bid For Freedom. The unusual sight of a duck being chased along a footpath*by its owner attracted the attention of people in Courtenay Place yesterday afternoon. Quacking loudly the bird waddled along among pedestrians for a distance of about a chain ‘before it was. trapped in the door of a bookshop and restored to its owner.

History of Wellington Province. “The City of the Strait—Wellington and Its Province,” was the title approved yesterday by the Wellington Provincial Centennial Council for the history of the province which is to be published. Dr. G. H. Scholefield, reporting to the council, said that the history was going on well aud the work was up to date. Roll of Pioneers.

People were enrolling very freely on the provincial roll of pioneers, said Dr. G. H. Scholefield, reporting to the Wellington Provincial Centennial Council yesterday. A separate list of names and addresses of persons born in the province before 1865 who were still living was being kept. It might be possible to do something to entertain those people during the centennial, though no commitment had been made.

Bishop Cowie Anniversary. The 70th anniversary occurred on Thursday of the consecration of the first Bishop of Auckland, Dr. 1 William Garden Cowie, who succeeded Bishop Selwyn, Bishop of New’ Zealand, in the diocese in 1869, and held office till his death in 1902. Bishop Cowie, who was primate from 1893 onward, served as a chaplain in the Indian Mutiny, including the relief of Lucknow, and in the Afghan War of 1863.. He was consecrated in Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. A. C. Tait, Bishop Selwyn and six other bishops. Mrs. Cowie, who survived her husband by only seven weeks, is remembered as the founder of the Women’s Home, now St. Mary’s Homes, Otahuhu, and of the Children’s Home, now the Brett Home, Takapuna.

Albatross Colony. The erection of a ’fence excluding the public from the albatross breeding ground at Taiaroa Heads, but allowing free access to the signalmen’s houses, the lighthouse and the signal station, has been decided upon by the Otago Harbour Board. The engineer was instructed to proceed with the work immediately. The matter was discussed in committee as the result of a recommendation by the Standing Committee,., which was of the opinion that such a fence was necessary to allow the albatrosses to breed without interference. The erection of the fence has been approved by Mr. L. E. Richdale, who, from the beginning, has taken a particular interest in the establishment of an albatross rookery, and in future access to the breeding ground may be obtained only by permission from the Otago branch of the Royal Society, which will be in possession of the key to the gate in the fence.