NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

I Sickness Among Dairy Cows. j Thero exists at present a considerable amount of sickness amongst dairy j cows. According to a statement by Dr. O. J". Reakcs, Director-General of ; tho Department of Agriculture, tho ] great majority of the dairy cows affect- j ed have suffered from what is commonly known as milk fever, which generally attacks heavy milking animals and cows in from threo to fourteen days After calving. The Government veterinary and stock officers are doing their best to assist dairy fanners in controlling the disease by furnishing them with details of treatment. "Back-seat Drivers." The reason why ho could not possibly have been travelling at 29 m.p.h., tho speed alleged by tho traffic inspector, was given iv a new way by a motorist iv tho Petone Court yesterday, when ho was charged with speeding on a recent Sunday morning. "On Sundays," he said. "I have tho family iv the car. They ail drivo from the back scat, and 25 m.p.h. is considered a very fast speed by them." Defendant, however, admitted exceeding the 15 m.p.h. limit, and was convicted and lined. New Hutt Bridge. In connection with the new Hutt bridge, the Borough Engineer reported as follows to the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening:—"An average of ten men have been employed during the month, and steady progress has boon made, although the broken weather has delayed work on three occasions. The western . abutment site has been excavated and tho reinforced concrete wings and face erected up to deck level. Span No. 2 was concreted during tho month, and span No. 1 will be placed during tho first week of the present month, thus completing all the major concrete work. The parapet panels and coping have been completed on spans 5, G, 7, and 8." The Mayor reported that work on tho bridge approaches would be proceeded with immediately. ' 'An Ungodly Row." Jazz bands wero mentioned during the hearing of a maintenance case in the Magistrate 'a Court- yesterday. Tho defendant, who conducts an orchestra and earns a little extra money from time to time, said that his orchestra's hours of engagement were usually from 8 p.m. until midnight. "Are you sure?" queried Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M. "Only until midnight? My experience of some orchestras is that they keep up their ungodly row until 3 o'clock in tho morning, and disturb people." Why He Left Home. "Why did you leave your wife?" asked counsel of the defendant in a maintenance case in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. The defendant eyed counsel keenly, leant over the rail of tho witness-box, and replied: "Do you think it is a fair thing," he said, "for me to have to do tho washing week after week?" "But you didn't do that often, did you?" inquired counsel. "Oh, didn't I—just didn't II" answered tho defendant with somo emphasis. "Why, week-end after week-end I have done the washing." Building Record in Lower Hutt. "Building permits were issued last month for work to the valuo of nearly £.40,000, and it is most gratifying to see tho way building is still increasing," said Mr. W. T. Strand, Mayor of Lower Hutt, at last evening's meeting of his council. "I'or the month of July," continued Mr. Strand, "Lower | Hutt stood fifth for the Dominion, including tho cities. Tho figures for Lower Hutt for July wore not nearly as good as those for August, but as figures for other districts are not available- a comparison cannot be made." The actual figures for Lower Hutt for September total £39,785, comprising dwellings in wood £23,557, dwellings in brick or concrete £5245, shops £700, and other buildings £10,283. This constitutes a record for the borough. For tho corresponding month in 1927 the total was £23,495. Campbell Street Tram Stop. A number of residents of tho vicinity of Campbell street, "Karori, waited upon the Tramways Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon to protest against the changing of the tram stopping place from Campbell street to near Reading street. The speakers, Mr. L. A. Tracy and It. Watchman, contended that the old stopping place met the convenience of a much greater number of residents than the new stop, and that to walk from Campbell street to Beading street was dangerous, as there was no footpath and motor speeds along tho road wero high. Mr. Tracy, presenting a petition asking that the old stop be reinstated, said that it bore 143 signatures, from 111 houses, representing 441 people, whereas the Reading street stop served only 25 houses, with from 75 to 80 people. So it would be seen, he said, that the interests of 440 people were being sacrificed for those of 75 people. In tho vicinity of Campbell street thero wero 2G5 sections likely to bo settled within the next two years, whilst there were only eight sections not occupied near Beading street. Tho Mayor, as chairman of tho committee, said that tho representations made would reeeivo full consideration. Strange Visitor. A visitor from colder climes was discovered by a Petono motorist on the Hutt road ono evening recently. Approaching Ngahauranga from Wellington, the lights of the car allowed something emerging from the bushes and leisurely crossing tho road towards the sea. Hastily swerving to avoid it, tho motorist stopped, hardly believing his eyes as to the identity of the object. He.sent his sons back, and they returned with a half-grown penguin, but j bearing scars of the battle they had had ! to catch it. The bird was liberated in the water. Fuel Economy. Writing in the "New Zealand Railways Magazine," Mr. H. H. Sterling, tho General Manager, says:—"Anothor noteworthy feature is that sinco the commencement of tho current financial year a saving of £11,000 lias been effected in the railway fuel bill for the Dominion, mainly as a result of using a larger proportion of native soft coal on locomotives. This is an important feature in the measures adopted to help jin reducing operating costs, and I would ask the locomotive running staff to givo the cost factor due consideration when working with this class of fuel. When it is realised how important is the economy thus effected, the staff concerned will, I feel sure, have an increasingly friendly feeling towards the soft coals of New Zealand." A Boon to Cricket. "Daylight 6aving last summer proved a boon to cricketers," states the annual report of the Wellington Cricket Club. "It gave us far more play on Saturdays, and far more opportunities for pj-aeticc during tlio week. It is with great regret we note that it is not to come into general operation again this summer, but it is devoutly to be hoped that a measuvo so beneficial to city dwellers will be put into operation in. Wellington."