NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Freighter's Maiden Trip.

On her first visit to Wellington, the Blue Star Line's new motor-freighter Imperial Star is ; expected to arrive here about 10 a.m. tomorrow from Auckland. She is a speedy ship of 10,800 tons gross, and was built lastyear by Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Her length is nearly 520 feet. On her maiden trip from Belfast to Auckland in ballast the Imperial Star made an excellent passage of 29 days 9 hours; the average speed being over 16 knots. Penguins at Fort Dorset. Although penguins are not often seen around Wellington, two of these birds have chosen to make their nest in a tunnel at Fort Dorset. They took possession of the tunnel some weeks ago and since then several young penguins have been hatched out. Their home is 170 ft above the sea and each night the male bird descends the steep , hill to catch fish for the mother and young: Although 106 rounds were fired from the 6in guns at a recent shoot the birds, who live, quite close to the battery, were in no ' way disturbed and seemed content with" their hilltop home. Hospital Finance. It was decided by the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union last night to communicate with the Hospital. Boards' Association informing the association of its deep interest in regard to national'health insurance and hospital finance, and ask: ing the association if It will meet a joint committee from the Farmers' Union and the Counties' Association before the association completes its proposals. Stray Dog Nuisance. Stray dogs and the nuisance and inconvenience they cause farmers was the subject of a remit adopted at the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union last night. It was decided to urge the Government to consider, amending the Dog Registration. Act or the Police Offences Act, making it compulsory for owners to tie up their dogs at night. Cost of Ammunition. . Particularly in • view •of the rabbit menace in certain districts, the opinion was expressed' at-last night's meeting of the Dominion executive of the NewZealand Farmers' Union that there was a need for cheaper ammunition. It was decided to press for a reduction of duties on ammunition. Meat Board Personnel. The Dominion executive, of .'.the. New Zealand Farmers' Union last night adopted a North Taranaki remit pressing for representation of the dairy industry on the Meat Board. Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., the president, quoted a recent happening to show that, in his opinion, it was necessary that there should be representation. The dairy industry, he said, produced a considerable quantity of meat for export and yet had no representation on!- the board. Soldier Governor-General. Reference to Viscount Galway, New Zealand's new Governor-General, was made by General Sir "Alexander Godley when speaking at "a' reception arranged for him by the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association last night. General Godley said he knew Viscount Galway very well. He was a soldier and commanded his' regiment until four or five years 'ago. "He is a good soldier, and for.that reason'he.will be warmly received by you as soldiers," said General Godley. ' Ecclesiastical Coincidence. The next Moderator of the Church of Scotland Assembly is to be the Rev. Dr. Marshall Buchanan Lang. This appointment, writes "The Post's" Dunedin correspondent, will have particular interest in that Dr. tang is a brother of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It will be an unprecedented occurrence in the ecclesiastical history of the United Kingdom that two' brothers should occupy: at the' same time the highest positions in ,the national churches of Scotland and England. Gymnasium Wanted? Amongst tfie suggestions made in connection with the extension of the Te Aro Baths is that there should be incorporated a public gymnasium. It is pointed out that Wellington has not a gymnasium worthy of thevathletic talent in the city, and also that one* of sufficient dimensions • would, with a small subscription,-pay, well for itself. There are a few hardy souls who dive into the water all the winter, but it is contended that the number of winter bathers would be increased if' a "gym." were an actual part of the baths. Going in in cold blood 'is much less attractive than the plunge while Heated after training. Hot Weather Uniforms. .'. • Auckland's tramway conductors and' motormen are to -have navy- blue tunics of a light material in future during the summer months, according to a decision made by the Auckland Transport Board. It was reported that £215 would.be required to provide 620 tunics, one to be issued to each conductor and motorman. A conductor wearing a sample tunic appeared before the board ,for inspection by members. Members expressed approval of the principle of providing cooler uniforms for the tramwaymen during the hot weather, the "Herald" reports, although one member, who had asked for a report on the subject at, a previous meeting of the board, confessed that he ,felt a little disappointed at the appearance of the tunic. He considered it should have had an open collar. The board decided to authorise the provision of a tunic for each man at the earliest possible date. Fire on Baranga. ■'..-."..' Advice has been received in Sydney that an outbreak of fire occurred in the general cargo on board the Shaw, Savill, and Albion steamer Raranga when the was unloading produce from New Zealand at Avonmouth. The advice states thafthe full extent of the damage had not been ascertained, but it was thought that about 2000 crates of cheese had been affected and the insulated hold No. 3 had been damaged by fire, and water. The vessel loaded a large quantity of New Zealand produce at Wanganui, New Plymouth, Napier, Auckland,. Wellington, and Lyttelton, and arrived at London on January 11. For Further Experience. Making a trip to England to get further flying experience, Mr. C. J. Melrose, the young Australian aviator, was a through passenger by the Aorangi, accompanied by his mother. He was entertained by the Auckland Aero Club at the Mangere Aerodrome. Although somewhat reluctant to discuss his future plans, Mr. Melrose told a "Herald" reporter that he intended to see something of Canadian flying, and on his. arrival in Britain to extend his experience of civil aviation, particularly with regard to seaplanes. Since the Centenary Air Race, Mr..Melrose has been taking a lively interest in flying and recently made the pioneer flight from-Adelaide to Launceston. He belittled the interest taken in this flight, which had been made safer by the fact that King Island shortened the land-to-land distances to about 50 miles. South' Australia, his home State, was still rather behind in civil aviation, although there was considerable activity in the direction of flying in connection with the opening up. of goldfields in the interior.' .