Hawks and Pigeons.

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 139, 15 June 1933, Page 10

Hawks and Pigeons.

Tho "case of a pigeon being harried and finally killed by a sparrow hawk was reported to tho Wellington Acclimatisation .Society last night by Mr. 0.--Walton, Eketahuna, who wrote that tho hawk had got betwecn,the pigeon and the bush, eventually killing it. Tho hawk was stalked and shot, and the pigeon, deacU- and badly mauled, was found near it. Both bodies were forwarded to the society for examination. Rapid Increase of Mallard. Tho rapidity' with ' which, mallard duck increase, when unmolested was shown by a report received by the "Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night from Mr. H. G. Goodall, Bulls, who- stated that two pair had multiplied to 50 in two years on a protected farm. Tho question •of assisting the increase of mallard, which the chairman (Dr.' G. JT. V. Anson) characterised as a fine sporting bird, by distributing pairs to • farmers in sympathy with the society, which would prevent their being poached, was referred to the game committee. ■ Prohibition Propaganda. , A proposal by the Now Zealand Alii-' anco to carry, out Prohibition propaganda in the schools was described at a recent meeting of the New Zealand Licensing Reform AsspciatioiK as "a threatened abusk of our public school system," and t«s following resolution was carried:—"Tho association notes that the president of the New Zealand Alliance in his recent statement of Prohibition policy.claims that there is. need for tho more effective teaching of what he calls 'the truth about alcohol' in the schools. Prom this it is evident that the Prohibition Party intends to renew its efforts to use the schools for the purpose of Prohibition propaganda.. While this association supports theteaching of true temperance, it views with alarm this threatened abuse of our.public school system by the attempt to further the now universally discredited Prohibition plan, and resolves td take- all possible means to pwent it." Cancer Campaign. Amongst the delegates who will be attending* the cancer campaign meetings in Wellington will bo Sir Louis Barnett, Professor D'Ath, and Mr. W. E. C. Reid, from Otago, and Sir. H. T. D. Aoland, Dr. Bilcliffe, and Mr. Newburgh from Canterbury. Dr. J. S. Elliott, Wellington, who is president-of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Caucpr Campaign, will preside at all the meetings. The Wellington delegates are Dr. J. S. Elliott, Dr. P. P. Lynch, and Mr. Peter Fraser,-M.P., The Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and: Duriedin' and the chairmen of the four metropolitan hospital boards are also members of tho central committee. Delegates from the Auckland division for. the cancer^ campaign arc also expected to attend. Not Proven. .Water divining was' briefly discussed .at last night's meeting of tho Geological Section of the, Wellington Philosophical; Society, the opinion of members, generally being that the only* way to locate .water accurately was ' by. study of geological formations. Water divining was condemned as being quit.o .unreliable, several instances being quoted ,of the failure of diviners. The great need today for dairy farinefs and factories, it was stated, was a plentiful supply of water. If this was going to bq searched for solely, on the information given by diviners there might bo considerable needless expense. Nurses' Salaries. ■' : , ' The medical superintendent of the Hawko's Bay Hospital Board (Dr. A. C. 'B. Biggs) has, strongly, urged the board to * .consider an increase in, salaries for nurses who complete twelveimonths' servi.ee. Majiy nurses, he said- at the,, meeting of the board,- this week, were using • 'the .Napier Hospital only as a stopgap because the salaries, paid were Jov/er than the average- in New Zealand. It was fiiaking it very, difficult; to got suitable nurses for the theatre. At the present time in Napier there was only one theatre sister and one staff nurso who had been trying to get away where she would receive a higher salary. Dr. Biggs, suggested, an increase from the present scale of £67 10s to £75 a, year. After further discussion tho board referredl tho matter to a committee.1. ;'" FrOEtflsh on Auckland- Market. If an indication other than low temperatures were', needed to show the arrival of Winter, tho appearance , of frostfish, on 'the Auckland market would bo a sufficient sign (states the "H-eraid")-. Several have been seen in fish' shops in the city, and one particularly 'large specimen was displayed in a Newton store during the weekend. It came' ashore oil a beach near Auek-i land after ••' aii exceptionally ; chilly morning. As frostfish are never plentiful, and perhaps because of a certain romance connected with their appearance during cold weather, they rarely, fail to find buyers quickly. Inquiries show that except for an occasional specimen caught while trawling, there are no frostfish on the Wellington rnarr ket. •