NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 15, 18 July 1932, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Carcass of a Whale Sighted. Efforts were being made to-day to locate the carcass of a large whale .which was passed in Cook Strait about 2.15 p.m. yesterday by the steamer Kai-\ toke when inward i bound from 'Westport. The dead ■whale, in addition to constituting a danger to small craft, would prove a considerable annoyance; and one difftcultvto remove, if it were cast up on the beach. /' ' ■ • ■ Makes Farming Pay. "I know no occupation in New Zealand better than dairy farming for returns,"- said DrjH; E. Aunett, of'Matangi, who 'lectured recently in Otorohanga (states the"Auckland Star"). "Always provided a man. has the necessary capital for'financing a farm, of 50 to 100 acres," he. added. He- quoted a ease of a man farming 50.acres who had got his costs of production do\vn to. ?d per pound of buttcifat, these included an allowance -of £150 ■'. a year for his own labour. 'He- admitted that such cases were exceptional, but quoted'them to show what;coul&.be done in favourable circumstances. '■ . The Ney? Comet. .-";■ ' The coniet discovered .by- Mr. 31. GeddeSj.'of Qtago, has been observed on, nine, evenings- during the past fortnight.: by ■:"WSy.; A. Bryee, of Hamilton, whoistates'thatithas become brighter, althptiglUiit is stilll not Visible to the naked eye (states an Auckland telegram). From Mi*. Bifyce 's observations, the comet's path will take it very close to Alpha Grucisi the bright, star, forming the foot or soutli,point of the Southern Cro3S. It was nearest this star yesterday, when the'two objects were less than a degree of arc apart, rendering its location comparatively easy even with a telescope of moderate power. During this week the comet -will traverse, the length of the Southern: Cross, and at the week-end will be very close to Gamma. Criicis, the north point of the constellation. From then onward its path 'through the constellation of the Centaur will follow: fairly closely that of the comet .discovered last April. Search for Oil. ;, - " A new steel derrick for the No. 3 well, .which is to be sunk by Moturoa Oilfields, Limited, operating at New Plymouth, was purchased in England by Mr.X. E; Pcdersen, drilling superintendent of the company, ,who returned to New Plymouth* last week from England.'-; The derrick will'be'accompanied by various equipment, such as producing gear, steel wheels, etc. They Bhould arrive in ISTew Plymouth iv three weeks ora month,; when all will be ready for them; » Mr}; Pedersen expressed gratiilcation at the;results given by the No. 2 well in his absence. Here, it has been definitely proved, he says, that water can be shut off, andy if it; is, that production will '^qntinue./ Another piece of equipment: which, is :due at' New Plymouth in a few daya'is a special type of pump. The present well is to have the tubing withdrawn and is to be cleaned out in the near future. Subsequently the pump.will.be used) if necessary, to increase the production above the present flow. Mr. >G. N. Taylor general manager of the company, stated that operations at New Plymouth ■ were being watched with interest by tho .major oil overseas, * '

Solved Problem of Perpetual Motion. Tho largo number of official engagements which the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and. the Lady Bledisloe have fulfilled since they went into residence at Auckland was commented upon by speakers at the Diocesan High. School for Girls during a visit of Their Excellencies (states the "Now Zealand Herald")- 'Tho chairman of the school council, Mr. C. J. Tuuks, said it was a marvel to him how they managed to pack so many engagements into their day. Archbishop Avorill said Their Excellencies appeared to have solved-the problem of perpetual motion by their1 ceaseless activities. ■ "I do not consider mine an idle position,' ' said his Grace, "but I do not know how Their Excellencies manage to carry put so many engagements as they do. And I may say they seem to thrive on it." He hoped, when the. time came for them to leave the Dominion, that they would always regard themselves as "life members "of this distant outpost of the British Empire." Delay Proves Fortunate. Dairy companies which consigned produce to London by the steamer Pakeha are fortunate. Just after roundiug, the East Cape on ■ her voyage from Auckland to London, via Cape Horn, the Pakeha developed a leak and changed her course to Wellington, where she was docked. Consequently, instead ,of reaching London on 24th June, her schedule date, she arrived a fortnight later. In the meantime butter prices had registered a strong advance from 96s to 98s a cwt on 23rd Juno to 104s to 106s at present, while cheese had moved up from 56s to 57s to 58s 6d to 60s a cwt during the same period. The Pakeha carried approximately 18,000 boxes of butter, all. from Auckland, and 7600 crates of cheese, of which 2100 crates were from* Auckland. Air this produce will not be on consignment, but the realisation price of the consigned portion will yield to companies an attractive premium on the prices they w,ould have received had the vessel not been delayed.' EducationJßoards' Elections. The biennial election of education boards throughout New* Zealand is now taking place. Half of the members in the Wellington district, which is divided .into six wards, retire every two year's, and this year seven are retiring, but they are all eligible for re.election; However, Mr. A. V, Hutchings,; of the HuttHorowhenua rural area, is not seeking re-election. In the. Wellington district polls are necessary in the Wellington and-:Hutt-Petone urban areas onlyi One candidate' only was nominated ia each of the following areas, and consequently no polls are necessary:-z-Wai-rarapa rural, Marlborough rural, Mastertori. urban v and Hutt-Horowhenua rural. Polling closes at 5 p.m. oil Wednesday, but under the Act it is not possible for the returning officer to examine the ballot papers until'thr> fifteenth day after the close of the polls. This is to enable votes by ihail to come in. The results of the elections will be available on 4th August. Hookey Player's Unlucky Number. Is thirteen, an unlucky number? H. Jones, the young North Shore hockey player who had the misfortune to miss a trip to Australia with the New Zealand representative team, has good reason to believe that it is, says the Atickland,"Star." Early last week he received a note from the manager of the team, Mr. S. G. Holland, asking if ho .was superstitious. He replied that he was not. . Later in tlie week he received a further note from Mr; Holland informing him that he had been allotted number thirteen, as his official'playing number for the tour. Then came his bad luck, v In running for a tram he slipped and fell heavily on a safety zone, severely injuring his knee. Complications v set in, and on Monday the young player was .informed that. He would not tie able to play hockey again for: som.o weeks.'. Consequently, the selectors Jiad no other course but to p^ick another player to take his place, and the Devohpbrt representative was not. 6u board the Maunganui when she sailed from- Wellington with the 'team' . ..'i-.-' ■'-. ■ ':.'■■■ •:.-.'>:-.;. ■ . ■