NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Plates for Learner Drivers. Approval of the idea of issuing new drivers with "L" plates for their cars to denote learner drivers was expressed by member's of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last night, though Mr. E. P. Hay disagreed with the proposal. It was decided to refer the matter to the North Island Motor Union. Boiled a Clock! Writing in the Weston-Super-Mare Deanery Magazine, the Rural Dean (the Rev. A. C. Schofield) says:—"Over fifty years ago, after several centuries of service, our ancient church clock stopped. The professional clockdoctors operated without success. The Vicar's young curate then tried his hand. He took the clock-home, boiled it in the copper, dried and oiled it, and his drastic treatment proved a lasting success. Hearing the story, I remarked (before learning his name) that a young man of such resourcefulness and courage was assuredly destined for big things. He died a month ago—Dr. Julius Churchill, retired Archbishop of New Zealand." Bush Destruction. A correspondent of the Forest and Bird Protection Society has reported to the executive that opossums, deer, pigs, and cattle are working havoc in the native bush on the hills around Palmerston North. He states that the opossums are cleaning up the konini and other succulent species, and that the other animals are eating up the undergrowth. "All we have now in the bush/* he continues, "is the overhead canopy and young rangioras, and karamus a few inches high. The young rangiora is gradually overcoming the fern on the outskirts of the forest." Captain E. V. Sanderson, president of the society, said that opossums were, particularly fond of the kotukutukii', commonly known as the konini (the name of its berry). On Kapiti Island, in the days when opossums were numerous, all those trees perished, except one, to which a dog was chained. Now that the opossums had been nearly exterminated on the native bird sanctuary, the kotukutuku trees were coming back. Drowningl Accidents. , Speaking at the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Society, the president said that statistics during the last 22 years showed a yearly average of 144 deaths by drowning, as compared with 196 deaths from motor accidents, states "The Post's" Dunediri representative. There was much, propaganda about safety first on the roads, but very little was said in regard to doing something about safety first on beaches. It was rather striking to find that during the first three months of this year there were more deaths from drowning than from motor accidents, and this showed the necessity for support from the public, local bodies, and the Government to assist the society in the work of life-saving on beaches. Another speaker said that the percentage of drowning accidents over road accidents was far too high, and the only method of combating that was the extension of activities on beaches and the extension of a knowledge of life-saving and swimming among school children. To Cheapen Flying Tuition. A suggestion has been made by Mr. J. C. Mercer, managing director of Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., at present visiting Wellington to take over the new D H. Dragonfly for the West Coast service, that New Zealand should adopt the policy, becoming general overseas, of using ultra-light planes for initial instruction of flying pupils. The ultralight machine, he said, was not suitable as a full training plane, but it had marked advantages in preliminary training. The cost of dual instruction, at present costing £3 10s an hour, could probably be reduced to £3, and the hire of a machine for solo flying could be reduced from £2 10s to perhaps 30s. Moreover, in the event of accident the cost of repair or replacement would be much less with one of ths new type light machines. The assembly of the Dragonfly is in hand, but will occupy several more days, as the machine arrived in crates ana actually more work has to be done than upon the Electra airliners, which arrived complete, except for wing extension, tail units, and radio equipment. Plant for Waikaremoana. Additional plant for the extension of the Waikaremoana hydro-electric station was hoisted from the Rangitiki by the floating crane yesterday and will be taken on to Waikokopu by coastal steamer. The main lifts were three great transformers, each over fourteen tons—solid enough, but still a long way behind the generator parts which were landed a few months ago, the biggest lift then being over 21 tons. From Waikokopu, just south of Mahia, the plant is taken by rail to Wairoa and then by road trolley to Tuai, where the hydro station stands. None of the heavy equipment has been taken past Wairoa as yet, partly because of the damage done to the roads during the floods at the beginning of the year, and also as work is still in hand on foundation construction. The present shipments are of turbine, generator, transformers, and other equipment associated with 1 the third generating unit in the Tuai power station. Later a great deal more equipment will arrive for the second power station, some miles below Tuai, for which major development the headworks and the preparation of the route of the pipeline are in hand.

Rental Car Insurance. The attention of the North Island Motor Union is to be drawn by the Automobile Association (Wellington) to the fact that some rental cars do not carry insurance against damage done by them to other cars. It was felt by speakers at last night's meeting of the executive of the association that such insurance was necessary as the drivers of rental cars were often "men of straw:" Museum Collection of Adzes. A good collection of Maori adzes is being built up at the Canterbury Museum, and during the last year a great many have been presented, according to the ethnologist (Mr. R. S. Duff), who recently received five more, three of which are of greenstone, states the "Press." They were found in various parts of the country, the donors being Messrs. R. E. Stace, G. Seaward, J. Anderson, C. Munro Smith, and A. Manning. The adzes, Mr. Duff said, are not necessarily used for exhibition, but they are very valuable for ethnological research work, especially when a record of where they were found is supplied. Smoking at Canterbury College. "The present regulation prohibiting smoking in the precincts of the college has been abolished," was a clause in the report of the College Committee adopted at the meeting on Monday afternoon of the Canterbury University College Council, states the "Press." It has been a long-estab-lished custom that students may not smoke in and round the college, and this was embodied in a regulation of the professorial board. Whakatane Hills Swept. The fire of three weeks ago on the hills at the back of Whakatane was followed by another on Monday, which completed the destruction of trees and scrub missed by the previous outbreak, states a Whakatane correspondent. The blaze oh Monday was nearer the shopping area. It burned pohutukawa trees above the Harbour Board quarry and on the slopes of the redoubt, and the old Maori pa of Papaka. The fire brigade used hoses to check the flames from spreading down to Commerce Street. The once picturesque hills behind the borough now present a very barren appearance, and the loss of exotic and native trees is regretted. Many small 'fires are reported throughout the district as a result of the prolonged dry spell.