NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 74, 1 April 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wounded by Stingray.

An exciting experience befell Mr. Charles Clark, of Tauranga, on Wednesday afternoon, while he was netting fish with a party in the western area of tho harbour, off Omokoroa (states the "New Zealand Herald")- The party was drawing in the net in shallow water, the haul being a big one of snapper and trevalli. A large stingray, four feet across from tip to tip of its flaps, was also checked by the net, and before anyone was aware of its near presence it struck Mr. Clark a glancing blow below the right knee. Mr. Clark immediately went ashoro, where it was found that there were two wounds about three-eighths of an inch deep. First-aid was rendered, and the wound bandaged. On reaching Tauranga some hours later, Mr. Clark received surgical attention. The stiugray was pursued in a dinghy ;ind killed. It had two stings, a long one anil a short one. Kesearch Students. That scholars wishing to travel abroad for the purpose ■ of research should not bo involved in expense was urged by Professor J. Shelley at Canterbury College, when addressing a meeting of students who had assembled for the formation of a New Zealand National "Union of Students (states the "Lyttelton Times"). Professor Shelley stressed the importance of travel/ without which, he said, no education was complete. First-hand research now: ."entailed,- travelling to ■ obtain knowledge of actual conditions which might not b& obtainable at the university. Tho unification of students in tho world was necessary in order to assist such travelling for rosoarch. The world was the laboratory for many students. Every facility should be extended to students travelling around the world, and if a scholar needed to travel to'further his study, he should travel free. Hundreds of tourists-used the world as a toy, travelling for pleasure and wasting money. Why should not students, who by their learning improved tho world, be given every facility? Abolition of Examinations. The abolition of examinations was advocated by Professor J. Shelley at Canterbury. College when addressing tho New Zealand National Union of Students (states the "Lyttelton Times"). "Most members of tho teaching staffs of university colleges consider examinations unnecessary," said Professor Sholley. "Ithink that they should bo abolished. Unfortunately, whenever I have spoken in this direction, I have had as my audience those who possess firm convictions as to the value of examinations. Of course, many who attain degrees arc apt to bo biased in their views and consider examinations necessary and of value. On the other hand, those who fail to succeed at their examinations take the other view and condemn them as an Unqualified nuisance." Professor Shelley's last remark provoked mirth from | several of the audience who found some application to themselves in the professor's statement. The New (Jarratt Engines. Three of the new Garratt engines, with a tractive effort of 51,5801b, and j a working weight of 146 tons, will ' shortly bo on the North Island lines. Tho first has been tested and will soon be put on the road. The second has been assembled at the Potono Workshops and will bo tested on trial runs thif week. The third is in process of being assembled. A very strong draught h needed for tlic fumaeo and a little trouble has been experienced with the Garratts in coping with the ejected spark problem, but this will be ove-r-I ttoine.

Tho Collapsed Reservoir. The niiiking good of the old reservoir up Mount Kdon, which burst on 'll;h March, will not bo an expensive mutter, the city engineer, Mr. W. '}•). Bush, advised tho Auckland City Council on Thursday evening. A party wall to serve the new and the old reservoirs will cost £1240 and the replacement of the (loor back to the temporary j brick Avail, which it will not pay t-o dismantle, will cost approximately £880. Mr. Bush said also that with a divisional wall in tho new roservoir, the combined tanks would bo divided into throe parts, any one of which could be emptied for cleaning without interfering with tho water services. When the work was completed it was intended to subject the old reservoir to a thorough test. Oil Well Blows Out. The old No. o oil bore at Moturoa, once one of the most productive of the wells of tho Taranaki Oil Melds, Limited, and now abandoned, blew out a column of oil and water to a height of 50ft on Thursday morning. The I bore had always been active at regular ! intervals, and although boarded over has repeatedly blown tho covering off. Tho blow-out on Thursday, however, was of much greater force than usual, and tho activity continued for some time. Subsequently the bore behaved like a'geyser and threw up columns of oil and muddy water to heights of 15ft to 20ft at intervals.