NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 73, 27 March 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Cricket. Inquiry. A correspondent ("Inquirer") asks for information as to when the Bannermans played in cricket Tests for Australia against England. C. Bannerman first played for Australia against England in the 1876-77 season when, in the first Test match on record, he made 165 (retired hurt), and was a member of the first Australian team in England (1878). He played, in only three Tests against England. A. C. Bannerman first represented Australia against England in 1878-79, and appeared in 28 Tests, his long record including visits to England with the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth (1893) Australian'teams. ' ' Swordflsh as Food. "It is an interesting fact that swordfish are not eaten in New Zealand, whereas in Havana, where the marlin variety are very large, the fish are Bold by native market fishermen at a minimum price of 4d a pound," remarked Mr. H. Rutherford, a graduate of Princeton University, United States, on returning to Auckland after a fishing trip in his own launch to the Bay of Islands. He said that marlins weighing as much as, 16001b. were caught off the coast of Cuba. Old Maori Customs. Though the timber of the kauriwas not much used by the old-time Maoris, totara being their principal utility tree, resin of the kauri was employed in some of their ancient customs, stated Miss L. M. Cranwell, botanist at the Auckland Museum, in the course of an address. The resin was used for a flare at night when the Maori had to move about in darkness, to which he had a strong aversion. The resin was also burned under green bark, and the soot was employed in the process of tattooing. The name.of resin, or kauri gum, when used for chewing, mixed with fragrant leaves, was "Kapia." ■ Totara bark and flax were utilised for band* ages for broken limbs. New Markets For Fruit. The intention of the Government to give a guarantee to fruitgrowers for the express purpose of developing new markets was disclosed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters), when moving the second reading of the Orchardtax Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council. The Minister also etated that, in view of the limited time available, the tax would become payable on May 1, and not April 1, as originally intened. Mr. Masters stressed the necessity for the development of markets, and said that this year it was intended to guarantee the fruitgrowers a certain amount ■of money to extend their markets. The countries in view were Canada, the United States of America, the West Indies, the East Indies, China, India, North Africa, and Palestine. The price would be c.i.fc, and would be plus the difference between, transport charges to the United Kingdom and charges to any of the countries he had named. Several members of the Council spoke in . support of the Bill, which doubles the tax for the purposes of providing a fund to be devoted to scientific research in combating. fruit diseases and the measure was read a second time.

New Zealand and Television. r - The suggestion that the Government should not lose sight of the advancements being made in television was emphasised by several speakers in theLegislatiye Council when the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was under consideration. The Bill received general support, though the Government was urged to cater for the districts in which radio reception was . poor. Nelson, particularly, it was stated, was an area which could well be given assistance. Other suggestions made were that more high-powered stations should be built, as that would mean that listeners would ,then be able to listen in with inexpensive sets; and that local talent should be, encouraged. Replying, the Leader of the Council (the Hon. R. Masters), said that New Zealand could not do anything at the moment as far as television was concerned, but the Government would keep in close touch,with the British authorities on the subject. Typhoid At Taumarunui. As a result of an outbreak of typhoid fever, the Taumarunui Hospital has been closed to visitors until further notice. The infection is reported to be. of a mild nature, but the action of excluding visitors has been taken as a precaution against its spread. Dr. J. Boyd, medical officer of health for the South Auckland district, stated that there were six definite cases of typhoid fever in the hospital, and three suspected cases. The majority of the patients were Europeans, although some Maoris had been affected The origin of the outbreak, he said, had not been discovered. Some of the patients were, from widelyseparated districts with different water supplies. A bacteriological test of the borough water supply has been taken, but the results have not yet been announced. v