NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 69, 19 September 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Animal Protection in Auckland. "There is little or nothing done for old horses, man's most hard-working friend," saM Mr. C. F. Quinnell, president of the Animal Protection Society, at the inaugural meeting of the societj% reports the "New Zealand Herald." "Very little is done to preserve our wild bird life; there is no home for homeless animals in the Auckland province and no clinic where rich and poor may bring their animals for free treatment and free advice." Mr. Quinnell stated that one of the main objects of the society was to stimulate interest among children. Houses Not Sold. A great deal has been written concerning the scarcity of houses in Hastings, but the experience at a public auction last week suggested that the demand is only for the renting of houses, and that even at a very low figure cash purchasers; are not the order of the day, states the Napier "Daily Telegraph." The auction was for the disposal of a number of dwellings owned by an estate, and of the twelve houses offered only four were sold by auction, and the average price of the four was only just over £470. Whitebait Catches. There were heavy runs of whitebait in the estuary of the Waikato River last week, reports the "New Zealand Herald." After a long wait since the opening of the season on July 1, whitebait fishermen are now receiving rich returns. One man received £22 for the week's catches. On his best day he secured 1171b of whitebait. The canning factory on the riverside near Te Kohanga commenced operations at the beginning of September and is now handling a large quantity of whitebait. Heavier supplies are also being sent from the Waikato to shops in the North Island. The Machine Age. The man who invented a wheelbarrow did a more permanent job of work than he knew, for barrows have remained barrows ever since, a load to push in themselves. Not so a new batch of wheelbarrows used by the road builders at the Exhibition grounds. These are rubber tyred—balloon tyres at that—and are built of one of the aluminium alloys, with a saving in weight of between 40 and 501b, so that the bin capacity can be made considerably larger and the return trip, empty, is just so much walking along. A trial was made by the council some time age, of a really mechanical barrow, with a caterpillar tread in place of the wheel, but it was too heavy on spares or made the horses shy, or something like that. In any case it was not a wheelbarrow. Honey Season in Canterbury. "Because of the improved weather, beekeepers have had an opportunity to examine their hives, and in most cases the bees have been found to have come through the winter in an exceptionally good condition," Mr. W. J. Fix, apiary instructor for the Department of Agriculture, told the Christchurch "Press." "Although the win*ar was extremely cold, the bees were not affected adversely," he said. "In view of the heavy rainfall during the winter, the coming season in Canterbury should prove good, but, of course, it is yet too early in the season to make a forecast, as everything depends on the weather during the summer months. In the Canterbury Province, beekeepers rely mainly on clover for feed, and practically 80 per cent, of the crop comes from this source. As the nectar secretion of clover is governed to a great extent by the general weather conditions, it will be seen that it is very difficult to estimate the crop at • this early stage. Beekeepers generally 'seem to be perfectly satisfied with the | marketing conditions and prices received for last year's crop on the local market," he concluded.

Teachers on Exchange. For the first time since the system existing between New Zealand and other countries of exchanging teachers was inaugurated, there are now as many as nine teachers on exchange in the Otago and Southland districts, states the "Southland News." These comprise eight women from England and a man from New South Wales. All nine were originally posted to Otago, but owing to the unusually large number, two were lent to the Southland district. "Blossom Time." In orchards and private gardens throughout Central Otago at the present time the traveller is confronted on all sides with a profusion of colour which is a delight to the eye, states the "Otago Daily Times." The fruit trees are now nearing full blossom in certain districts, and around Roxburgh, Clyde, and Alexandra, pink and white blossoms make a picturesque scene. Almond blossom, which is used to decorate many a table, is bountiful this year, and is to be seen in many private gardens. Stately poplar trees and beautiful willows are bursting into leaf, and in a few weeks' time they should be at their best. Licensing of Cows. ■ Motor-cars have their licence plates; dogs have their registration collars. The latest identification mark craze, however, is reported from Russell, whose town board has decided to enforce licensing of cows grazing on local roads, states the "Northern Advocate." A method similar to that adopted in the licensing of motor-cars is to be put into effect, the owner i having to purchase' his collar before ! March 31 each year, and attach it before April 1. Any cow not wearing its licence after that date will be deemed an unlicensed animal, and the owner will be liable to police court action. The town board has decided to adhere strictly to the Grazing Licensing Act. Worst Corner in Lower Hutt. Nine-tenths of the spectators who gather about the too-frequent smashes at the intersection of Waterloo Road and Cornwall Street pass the same remark: "The worst corner in Lower Hutt." Yesterday afternoon there was another smash, with a great deal of noise and damage to bodywork, but no broken bones. Waterloo Road carries a fair volume "of generally fast traffic, and Cornwall Street, which is merely a connecting street between Knight's Road and Bang's Crescent, carries a good deal more than drivers on the Waterloo Road rup. appear to expect. High hedges and' fences complete the set-up. Some improvement was made on one angle of the corner by setting back a six-foot fence a year or more .ago, but the collisions continue, with a remarkable absence of really serious consequences, even ! when, not long ago, a racegoer—high in legal circles in Wellington—and the driver of a lorry loaded with roofing tiles met in the middle of the intersection. The succession of collisions at this corner are all the proof that is needed that something more should be done to improve visibility. Money Hard to Find. Considerable difficulty in raising a special loan of £ 1050 at 3£ per cent, for sewer construction on St. Andrews Hill is being experienced by the Heathcote County Council, states the "Christchurch Press". The county chairman (Mr. A. G. Williams) reported that the position was serious. It was only a small amount of money, but the work, which was necessary, was being held up for want of it. Reporting that since the last meeting he had been unable to make any progress towards i arranging the loan, the clerk. Mr. J. P. E. Veale, said that he had received I a letter from the Minister, of Finance (the Hon. Walter Nash) stating that new arrangements in the State Advances Corporation to deal with such loans might in the near future provide the money needed. So far, however, he had not received advice from the Corporation. He said that on a trip to Wellington he was making in the near future, he would try to assist the position by making personal contacts. . Anniversary of Tory's Arrival. Tomorrow will be the ninety-ninth anniversary of the arrival at Port Nicholson of the Tory, the first ship sent out by the New Zealand Land Company. Opposition shown by the English Government to the company, which was founded early in 1839 by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, caused the ship to be dispatched secretly from Plymouth on May 12, 1839. A fine vessel of 400 tons and.armed with eight guns, the Tory was under the direction of Colonel William Wakefield, who was instructed to acquire land from the [ Maoris. Mr. Edward Jerningham Wakefield, son of the founder of the company, was among those aboard. When the ship arrived here the two Maori chiefs Epuni and Wharepori were said to be not long in finding their way on board, passing the night there, and offering to sell the* 5 harbour and the land adjoining. The next day Colonel Wakefield, accompanied by Dicky Barrett, was taken up the Hutt River in a canoe by some Natives to have a look at the land offered for sale. After much wrangling with other chiefs a deal was made, part of the purchase price being 135 stand of arms, 21 kegs of gunpowder, one cask of ball cartridges, night caps, pipes, 144 Jews' harps, 1200 fishing hooks, and 12 sticks of sealing wax. On September 30 Colonel Wakefield ordered the flag to be hoisted at the flagstaff on the shore, and the same was done at the main of the Tory, which saluted it with 21 guns, to the great delight of the Maoris at the noise and smoke. I