NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 71, 21 September 1937, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Dr. Masaryk's Funeral.

Flags on Government buildings were at half-mast today to mark the funeral of the late Dr. T. G. Masaryk, former President of the Republic of Czechoslovakia/who died last week near Prague. Dr. Masaryk was the first President, of the republic, which was formed in 1918, and he held the office until he retired in 1935.

Practice for Cricketers.

The first day on which cricket grounds become available is to be set aside for club practice games, consisting of a round of friendly matches, according to a decision reached at a meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association's management committee last night. A proviso has been made, however, that competition games must be commenced by October 23. Judging by present indications grounds will be available on October 16.

Thief's Clean Sweep.

While several Rugby matches were in progress on Nelson Park, Napier, on Saturday afternoon, a thief entered the dressing-sheds below the grandstand and decamped with several wristlet watches, pocket watches, and a large sum of money, reports the Napier "Daily Telegraph." Not content with objects removed from the pockets of the clothes hanging on the nails, he removed the clothing and piled it in a heap on the floor. Investigation revealed that the thief had made a clean sweep of all valuables left in the clothes.

Benzol as By-product.

The Palmerston North City Council last evening decided to obtain information regarding the installation of plant' for the production of benzol from town gas and the possible demand for such a product. The Department of Industries and Commerce advised that the Government had decided not to impose the excise duty on benzol produced as a by-product of domestic gas up to 500,000 gallons per annum and urged the desirability of giving the question of production the most serious consideration in view of the present and potential demand for the commodity at remunerative prices.

Minimising Fire Damage.

One of the methods employed in the United States to minimise the enormous damage caused annually by forest and grass fires is to print on the flaps of cigarette packets short messages urging smokers to do their part in the campaign. On the container of an American cigarette sold largely in New Zealand appears the following exhortation, "Be sure.to extinguish match, cigar, or cigarette before throwing away." The forest or grass fire problem in New Zealand is hardly comparable with that of the United States, but the adoption of the same idea in this country might bring valuable results.

Plant Research Building.

At Palmerston North, adjacent to Massey College and the dairy factory, there is in course of erection a substantial new building to house those engaged in grassland research work. The building should be completed early next year. In it will be up-to-date laboratories and offices, and on the land surrounding the building will be trial plots for ■ breeding ahd selecting, purposes. Those engaged in grassland research at the present time are housed in most inadequate quarters in Palmerston North, but with the opening of the new building far more thorough work will be undertaken in a realm of research which is of vital importance to a country like New Zealand, the wealth of which lies largely in its grass.

Dominion Newspapers Praised.

"On a visit abroad one learns to appreciate the extent of the foreign news which is published in New Zealand newspapers," said the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong.),' who returned to Auckland by the Aorangi on Sunday after an extensive tour overseas (reports the "New. Zealand Herald"). "I found it difficult, even in the call of the great dailies of the world capitals, to follow the trend of world events from day to day with the ease with which it can be done from the cable pages of New, Zealand's metropolitan dailies. In fact, apart from their political views, which I naturally think are open to improvement, I have seen few overseas newspapers which are better than New Zealand's best." »

Kowhai and Kumera.

An instance of the shrewd practical observation of nature so characteristic of the old-time Maori was quoted by Carrick Robertson when he was opening the show of native flowers at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Saturday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The Maoris, he said, always planted their kumera when the kowhai bloomed and at no other time. If they planted before that the kumera would probably be destroyed by frost and if "a. little later it might be eaten by parasites. So when the kowhai bloomed ,the whole tribe went out to plant their kumera with due ceremony. So much was this the custom that when they wanted to hint that a man was lazy they would use the proverb, "Where were you when the kowhai bloomed?" /

New Demands on Church.

In his pastoral letter which prefaces the eighty-fourth annual report of St. John's Church, the .Rev. J. R. Blanchard refers to the new demands which changing conditions make upon the Church. "There is evidence that this is being felt in other lands," he writes, "and that efforts are being made to meet it. A- Presbyterian minister of note in one large city, for example, declares that 'the days of single ministries in the towns . . . are over. If the average large town church is to fulfil its complex function in a complex world, only a group with well-defined spheres of labour can break up the diversity of duties, without themselves breaking down. . . .' The city wherein we are placed is growing. As it extends, the. problems for such a-church as St. John's will Increase in number and in complexity. Each congregation in the city is striving, in its own sphere, to keep up with its task. Hence there is overlapping in effort, undue strain upon the man-power involved, and multiplication of expense incurred. If the time is not now opportune, it soon will be, when the city congregations should put their hearts and heads together to face the situation and to consider what can be done within the range of that which is practicable."

Traffic-minded Sheep.

"These sheep dodge the traffic; they are used to cars," said a defendant, Roy George Mexted, when charged in the Magistrate's Court today with allowing sheep to wander on the main north highway at Tawa Flat. "They certainly dodge traffic; they dodged my car,. or I dodged them," replied Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. "They are a nuisance on the road, however,") added Mr. Mosley. Mr. A. C. Crawford, of the Transport Department, said that there had been a number of complaints about these sheep at Tawa Flat. The defendant said that the sheep were used to eat down the grass on the housing estate at Tawa Flat. If the sheep were not there, the grass would grow long, and there would be a danger of five. "The sheep must be. kept oft the road," said Mr. Mosley, imposing a flue of 10s and cost*,

Well-known Landmark Destroyed,

/ Because it had become a danger to road users the famous fern arch, one of the features of the Bullcr Gorge Road, has had to be blasted down (states the "Press"). After the 1929 earthquake part of this fern-covered stone archway which crossed the road a short distance on the Westport side of Tiroroa fell away, and since then further falls of rock have left the archway in a dangerous state. Public Works Department engineers were forced to order the demolition of this well-known beauty spot. , Widening operations have been proceeding at this point for several months and the remainder of the arch was removed a few days ago.

New Zealand's "Sprint" Drinkers.

"New Zealanders have the reputation of being 'sprint' drinkers," said Major D. F. Leckie, in an address on his experiences as a member of the New Zealand Coronation contingent to 'London, which he gave at the annual reunion of the Southland Boys' High 'School Old Boys' Association. "People in England and Scotland do their drinking in a much more pleasant and agreeable fashion than we do in New Zealand," he said. "Here, because of the licensing laws perhaps, it seems to be a case of 'go while the luck's in." In Great Britain, however, drinking is done more leisurely and with more regard for' social enjoyment. And at social functions large quantities of liquor are consumed, but no one ever seems to get intoxicated."

Infectious Diseases.

There were two deaths from tuberculosis in the Central Wellington area during 'the past week, according to a bulletin issued by the district office of the Health Department yesterday. During the week there was one death from tuberculosis in the WanganuiHorowhenua area and one from puerperal fever and one from tetanus in the Wairarapa-Hawke's . Bay area. During the same period the Central WeUington area notified three cases of scarlet fe.ver, three of diphtheria, three of erysipelas, four of tuberculosis, two of bacillary dysentery, and one of septic abortion. In the- Nelson-Marl-borough area there was one case each of scarlet fever, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, and puerperal fever. The Wanganui-Horowhenua area notified three cases of scarlet fever, and one each of. tuberculosis, cerebro-spinal meningitis; and erysipelas. Of the three cases in the Wairarapa-Hawke's Bay area, two were of tuberculosis and one was of tetanus.

Importance of a Farthing.

How one farthing, though appearing an insignificant sum on paper, counted much in the dairy industry, was made clear to farmers by Mr. J. G. Brechin, secretary, ol the Pahiatua Co-operative Dairy Company, when addressing a meeting at Mangamutu yesterday. A saving in production of id per lb but-/ terfat meant £372 to the milk sup-' pliers of that company, £SOO to the cream suppliers, and £131 to whey cream suppliers, a total of £1403. This figure could be doubled if the suppliers could save id per lb, equal to £2806, which would pay the whole of the wages of the assistants (except £100) each year and so realise nearly £3000 for paying a bonus to suppliers. Add to this the additional sum which highquality milkf and cream would give and there would be an additional bonus of not less than £4500 every year.