NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Conscience Money. The following sums forwarded by persons unknown as conscience money to the New Zealand Government have been received by the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. G. C. Rodda):—£l 10s, £5, and £1 to the Land and Income Tax, Department; 6s, 6s 6d, and £5 to the Railway Department; £2 to the Mental Hospitals Department; £1 and £5 to the Treasury. Arbor Day. The date gazetted for Arbor Day is August 3. In view of the national importance of tree-planting, local bodies throughout New Zealand are requested to organise suitable celebrations on that date. Where on account of local climatic conditions in any district August 3 is deemed unsuitable, the local bodies affected are invited to observe some other suitable day in that month. . Payment of Witnesses. An unusual position relating to-the payment of witnesses' expenses in a case in which breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act were alleged to have taken place was revealed in the Auckland Police Court on Tuesday, states the "New Zealaind Herald." SubInspector M. Flanagan stated that the case was set down for hearing last month, when counsel for defendant obtained an adjournment and guaranteed that defendant would pay the expenses of witnesses concerned. Unknown to counsel, however, defendant had died before the guarantee was made on his behalf, and the matter of paying the expenses of the witnesses who were later called would have to be decided by the Court. The Magistrate, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, ruled that payment should be made by the Police Department. Waimarama's Maiden Voyage. According to advice received by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, their new cargo vessel for the Australian and New Zealand service, the Waimarama, which was launched from the Belfast yard of Harland and Wolff, Ltd., on May 31, is to leave Liverpool on October 22 for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. She is due at Auckland on November 23 and at Wellington five days later. The Waimarama, which has a tonnage of 11,000, has the following approximate measurements:—Length overall, 535ft 6in; moulded beam, 70ft; and* depth, 43ft 6in. The new ship has been specially designed for the carriage of refrigerated produce and, in addition, will be able to carry over 1000 tons of cTiTlled beef. There will be accommodation for twelve passengers. The Waimarama will load Homewards in New Zealand, and after that will be engaged regularly in the Australian and New Zealand trade. Another Northern Outlet? The desirability of opening up communication from Wadestown to Ngaio as an outlet to the north, by improving the formation of the existing road, was stressed at a meeting of the Ngaio Progressive Association last night. "I wonder that this route has not been used before," said the chairman, Mr. H. L. Cummings. If a good road were put through, he added, ..excellent access would be provided from Ngaio to Karori' and Wadestown. Traffic coming from Wellington could also use the road as an outlet to the north by going up Aro Street into Kelburn and so to Ngaio. This would obviate the necessity of going through the city. Mr. E. Turksma said that when the Ngahauranga road was closed a greater volume of traffic would pass through Ngaio, and the burden would be easier if two outlets were provided. Mr. F. Johnson said that the Centennial Exhibition would also throw more traffic on the outlets. It was decided to point out to the City Council the necessity of having the work done. Copies of the letter would be sent to the Automobile Association and the Exhibition Company. Heavy Sheep Mortality. The cause of the heavy mortality among sheep in the Ashburton County is being thoroughly investigated by Mr. Ewer, of the Government Department of Agriculture, Livestock Divisio^n, who will be stationed at Ashburton Jpr some time, states the Christchurch. "Star-Sun." It has been noted that with each heavy rain there has been a further wave of deaths, this applying particularly to the summer months, but in June there was a decided improvement in the position, the sheep that were sick standing the cold spell, with frequent heavy rain, much better than similarly-conditioned sheep in earlier months. The deathrate dropped ty a large margin last month. The data so far collected seem to indicate that the root of the trouble lies in the pastures, and to this end a biochemical Station is to be established on a typical farm in the county for an extensive examination of pastures. The officer in charge of this station will take specimens of pastures after every change of weather. These samples will be sent to Christchurch without delay and there they will be treated in a special drying plant which is being installed at a cost of £50, and the specimens will be analysed. It is believed that a great deal of valuable information will be obtained over a number of seasons.