NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Correction. In the report of the address by His Excellency Lordßledisloe to the League of Mothers, which appeared in last night's "Post," His Excellency, as the- result of a typographical error, was made to refer to New Zealand as "tho British Empire's most English Dominion." The phrase used by His Excellency was "the British Empire's most British. Dominion." Good Meat. The quality of the meat which is being sold at an exceedingly cheap rate to those who are in need by the Distress Relief Committee, at Lower Hutt, received a high recommendation last evening, when one whp had received the meat stated that it was the best he had eaten since he came to the Dominion. Trampers as Rangers. Dealing with the subject of honorary rangers at the meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night, Mr. A. Seed suggested that prominent members of tramping clubs be approached to act in. that capacity, and to report on native birds and game. Those trampers who had done so in the past had proved very useful. It was decided to look further into this matter. Chasing Seagulls. The problem of how to keep the seagulls off their grounds is confronting the caretakers of the city reserves this wet weather. . Thousands of seagulls gathered on the Basiu Reserve this morning, and when the caretakers succeeded in frightening them off they flew away and descended on the nearest ground, which happened to be that at Wellington College. The gulls were equally unwelcome there; so much so, iv fact, that a gun was fired to send them away, so it was not long before they were back again at the Basin Reserve. The gulls serve a useful purpose in eating the grass grubs, but in wet weather their feet do much damage to hhs Uirfi»

Yesterday's Earthquake. Yesterday's little earthquake, from calculations made from the recording instruments at the Dominion Observatory, was centred some twenty to thirty miles from AVellington. It is thought to have had its origin out to sea in Cook Strait, negative evidence for this being the fact that no disturbance of high tension linos inland was reported from tho Public Works Department. Ready for Emergencies. "It was ' said after Waterloo that there would be no more war," said Major J. W. Crampton, Officer Commanding A Company First Battalion Canterbury Regiment, speaking to prospective recruits at Christchurch. "The same was said after tho last war. Yet in the Balkan States and China they liavo been scrapping and are scrapping yet. One never knows what is going to turn up and it is advisable to have an adequate force ready to meet any emergency." Fern Leaf at the Games. Ever since 1908, when the big meeting was held in London, New Zealand has been represented at the 'Olympic Games, but if sufficient funds are available as a result of the appeal being made to the public by the Now Zealand Olympic Games Council, the Dominion will have a stronger team at the next Games, at Los Angeles, California, at the end of July next year, than ever before. Although New Zealand was represented at the Games for the first time in 1908, it was not until the 1920 Games, held in Antwerp, Belgium, that New Zealand competed as a separate nation, and it was at that gathering that the All Black and fern leaf made their first appearance at these international contests. Date of Meeting of Synod. At the meeting of the Diocesan Synod last evening, Mr, G. Shirteliffc moved that the.Bishop be requested to convene the annual meeting of Synod for 1932 and 1933 f or-thc 'first week in October. He said it would no doubt be considered desirable that the meeting should take place at a time of the year when the weather was likely to be more favourable' than in July. In the course, of a brief discussion which ensued, it was pointed out that October was the busiest time of the year for the farmers. It was ultimately agreed that a request be made to the Bishop to call Synod to meet in May. Stood 600 Years. During the hearing, in the" Magistrate's Court at Invercargill, of a somewhat unusual case in which the question at issue was the ownership of a tree, the greater part of which had been blown across the boundary on to a neighbour's property during a heavy gale, Mr. G. M. Broughton, who appeared for the plaintiff, in his opening remarks to the Court, stated that the legal authorities on the point in dispute wore somewhat rare. "However, your Worship," counsel continued, "I have found a case in 1406 covering similar facts as occur in the present action." "When did you say?" queried the Magistrate- (Mr. "E. C. Levvey) with a bewildered smile. "In 1406 sir,," was Mr. Broughtonjs reply. "I did not think they were printing then," commented the Magistrate, smiling still more broadly. "At any rate, sir, the case, though nearly 500 years old, has apparently • never been over-ruled," Mr. Broughton remarked. Social Service Work. In a Teport of the Social Service Board of the Wellington Diocese, presented to the Synod last evening, it was stated that the amounts received for tho first five months of the current year- showed a declino of £250, and attention was drawn to the very serious position in which the institutions of tho diocese found themselves. If the social work of the Church was to be maintained, strenuous "efforts by both clergy and laity would bo needed. The board drew attention to the great work which was being done by the Wellington City Mission in this time of distress. While the spiritual side of the work had been kopt in. the forefront, great work had been done for the relief of the needy. The following resolution, moved by the Rev. C. H. Isaacson, secretary of tho Social Service Board, was carried:—"This Synod again emphasises the urgent claim of the social service of the Church, and appeals to all parishes and parochial districts to take their full share in supporting this work." Takable Size of Trout. Discussing the regulations for tho coming fishing season last night, tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society decided to obtain the views of sub-com-mittees before raising the limit takable size to ten inches. It was pointed out by Mr. E. J. Wiffen that in many of the smaller streams, such as the Korokoro and Kaiwarra, it was hard to find a ten-inch fish, and to raise the limit length to that would debar anglers from having sport in such streams. Mr. C. H. Bould was of the opinion that if the ten-inch limit had been imposed- years ago, the streams would be better stocked. There were few streams in the district where ten-inch fish could not bo got. The ranger (Mr. P. W. Wilson) said that the nine-inch limit could only apply to small streams running direct to the sea, and not to tributaries. . Other members asked what use nine-inch fish were, for either sport or food. If lack of food and water space produced stunted fish, tho fishing was not worth while. It was pointed out that a nine-inch' reservation for some streams would make the regulations difficult to carry out. It was decided to request sub-committees to specify small sea-running streams, in which the smaller sized fish should in their opinion be taken.