NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Protection Against Fire. The policy-pursued by the Wellington Fire Board during recent years of constructing now- firo stations in the suburbs was referred to by Superintendent Creeke at the annual swearing-in of tho Wellington Firo Police la3t night. Speaking of the new stations at Miramar, Brooklyn, and Northland, Superintendent Creeke said that, particularly in tho case of the Northland station, tho new buildings had been equipped with the most modern fittings, and they had been designed with a view to meeting requirements for at least 25 years to come. The new fire alarm systems, he said, were second to none in the world. New Manawatu Bridge. To cost in tho vicinity of £25,000, the new bridge to span tho Manawatu River on the Woodville side of the Gorge, is expected to be completed in about fifteen months, if the river conditions remain favourable;. The new bridge will bo a ferroconcrete structuro of five spans, each of 80 feet; the present bridge has one span. The deck level will be tho same as at present, but a slight doviation will be made in the road to allow of the new structure to bo built on tho eastern side of the present bridge. The new bridge will be over 400 feet long and 20 feet wide, which will give sufficient room for cars to pass on the structure. Fifty Times Up Mount Egmont. By leading a party of members of tho Taranaki Alpine Club to the summit of Mount' Egmont' on Sunday, in the first winter ascent this season, Mr. L. W. Lovell, club captain, completed his fiftieth climb to tho top. This is considered to be a record for an amateur climber (states a New Plymouth correspondent). At tho summit of the mountain it was extremely cold, with a searching southerly wind blowing. Tho party stayed for an hour and a half, and then glissaded for .. a large part of tho way down. Mahonrmedan New Year. To-morrow, 29th May, begins the Mahommedan New Year, 1349. The Mahornmedan era, or era of the Hegira, is ' dated from tho first day of the month preceding- the flight of tho Prophet Mahomet from Mecca to Medina, which.took place on, 16th July, 622. The Mahommedan year is purely lunar and is reckoned in a way ,different to that to which wo are accustomed. As. thoro are less than one hundred Mahommedans in New Zealand, to-morrow's event will not attract much notice in this part of the world. For Returned Men. Appreciation of-the- £4 4s donation to the funds of the association and the tickets given to limbless returned men to see the matches played at Athletic Park, was expressed in a letter received at last evening's meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Eugby Union from Major Watson, secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association. Major Watson assured tho committee that tho money would bo well spent in the interests of Cx-serviee men. "I would also add," ho stated, "that the weekly tickets granted by your union for limb-, less returned men to attend football matches at Athletic Park aro very much appreciated by the recipients, and wo as an association aro grateful for the privilege extended them." Our Native Birds. , The following clauso with regard to native bird life is contained in the annual report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society:—"lncreasing attention is being directed, and rightly-, so, to thC fact that our native birds .are decreasing in number. While opinions may differ as to tho causes for the decrease, your council feels sure that everybody would deeply deplore the extinction of any of our beautiful and unique birds. An appeal is mado to all those who appreciate our birds, to do all in their power to prevent the killing of species whose, numbers are decreasing. The society's ranger, whose duties take him regularly into considerable bush areas in the Awaka, Wyndham, and surrounding districts, recently reports as follows: —'All native birds are on the increase, especially the native pigeon, parrakcet, parson-bird, bell-bird, black fautail, pied fantail, and torn-tit. I made inquiries in all tho different places I have been to, and found everyone of tho same opinion. Their food supply is very plentiful this year, and I attributo their increase to the_ great toll the opossum trappers are taking of their natural enemies the stoat, weasel, and bush\rat, and I believe the sparrowhawk and,owl take their toll too. There aro no other means of preserving native birds than by trapping their enemies.' " A New Forest. Preparations are in progress for the planting of trees on the Pebbly Hill afforestation area, between Winton and Gore during July, August, and September, telegraphs "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent. Three months of planting, after tho 'ground has been made ready, should suffice for the beginning of a large forest. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. do la Pcrrelle), while in Dunedin yesterday, said this work is to bo pushed on energetically. The young trees to be selected were all of a sort that furnish valuable timber, and the land set aside was of no use for agricultural purposes. Headlights on Wet, Bitumen. , An argument as to whether motorcar headlights will reveal dark objects on wet bitumen-surfaced roadways was raised in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon by Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell who was of the opinion that such objects could not bo , distinguished, no matter how bright the lights might bo, when the bitumen was wet. Constable Sutherland, in answer to a question by Mr. Treadwell, said that he had had a fair amount of motor experience, and could not agree with this view. "Do you mean to tell mo that you could distinguish a pedestrian in a dark suit on a wet bitumen road?" asked Mr. Treadwell. "Yes," answered the constable. "Then all I can say is you must have extraordinarily good lights, constable," concluded Mr. Treadwell.

Champion Dessert Apples. Cabled advice has been received in Nelson that the New Zealand Jonathan apples awarded the Southern Hemisphere championship for dessort classes at t?ie Royal Horticultural Society's show at Chelsea, London, were grown in the orchard of Mr. H. E. Stephens, of Stoke, Nelson. - ■ Widening Not The Cure. "Expressions of approval have been general for tho improvements carried out on tho Titahi Bay and NowlandsPaparangi roads, said the chairman*, of f Makara County Council (Mr. E. Windley) at the annual meeting to-day. "The council should endeavour to pay somo attention in the same direction to tha South Takapu and Horokiwi roads during the present year. While the council have a responsibility re : garding the dangers of a narrow road, au 'improvement does not always have the desired results. Before roads were improved drivers of motor vehicles were obliged to be careful and proceed slowly. With wider roads and an improved surface accidents are more frequent, even after making all allowances for increase in traffic. A few years ago wo had a dangerous narrow "main road; to-day we have a dangerous wide main road." , Trout-fishing Season. The trout-fishing season in the Taupo and Rotorua districts will closo next Saturday, after a season which has been a disappointment to "most sportsmen. The season in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's district closed at the end of last month (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Reports show that catches have not been nearly as numerous this season as in past years aiid experienced anglers state that it has been one of the poorest seasons for tho past 20 years. Very few fish have been in the rivers in the Taupo area, although the' condition of the fish landed has been good. At Easter flyfishermen experienced poor sport in the rivers.and lakes in the Rotorua-Taupo district, but it was thought that there would be a good run of fish after heavy rains. The water in the rivers has remained low, however, until now and the run has not taken place to the extent of past seasons, and it is not anticipated that tho conditions will improve before tho end of the month. This has been all the more unsatisfactory because weather conditions during the-past month have been almost perfect. That fishermen were cognisant of the position is shown by the fact that at the favourite pools where there aro usually many sportsmen in camp there has not been a third of the usual number this month. j