NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Toheroa Beds. By a regulation issued last night, the toheroa beds on the beach between the Otaki and Waikanae Rivers are closed until January 15. Another regulation extends the close season for Foveaux Strait oysters to February 15. Conscience Money. Treasury acknowledges receipt of the following amounts of conscience money forwarded by persons unknown: Two amounts of £5 to the Land and Income Tax Department, £10 and lOd to the Post and Telegraph Department, £5 to the Railway Department, £2 to Treasury, and 6s to the Customs Department. Reciprocal Judgments. The Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act, which was passed in 1934, is extended to cover France and Belgium, under regulations issued last night. The Act, when passed, applied to Britain, but contained a proviso that it could be extended to any foreign country following the signing of the requisite convention. The general effect of the extended Act is that it entitles an applicant without suing to register a judgment in the Courts in Britain, France, and Belgium, which will enforce it. Saving Stranded Trout. An important undertaking of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society during the summer when streams, particularly the upper Selwyn, dry up, is the transport of live fish from a drying stream to one not affected by dry weather, states the "Press." The fish committee of the society reported to the council on Tuesday that in November 6000 fish were salvaged from the upper Selwyn and adjacent streams. Members expressed satisfaction that the coot worked out at only one-fifth of a penny for each fish. Ball of Fire in Sky. During a storm at Westport early on Tuesday morning a ball of fire was seen to be dropping from the sky to the ground near St. John's Church, in Queen Street, states the "Press." It broke in mid-air, throwing a shower of bright lights over a wide area. The explosion was followed by a violent clap of thunder. There was a somewhat similar occurrence at Nikau recently. No Strained Hearts. "I think we ought to kill this bogy that rowing is a very strenuous sport," said Mr. B. Walker, representing the Avon Rowing Club, at a meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association, reports the "Star-Sun." "Recently there appeared in the Wellington papers an account of how the Petone Club, wishing to get rid of its 'fours,' offered them to various schools free, with a view to fostering the sport, but the offer was refused because rowing 'was liable to.strain the boys' hearts.' That leaves an impression of strained hearts in the minds of the public, and so long as this impression of rowing exists we can make little progress," said Mr. Walker. Labour for Farms. Already this season more than 400 public works employees have been granted leave on favourable terms for shearing, haymaking, and other seasonal work in the agricultural and pastoral industries. In making this statement last evening, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) said that the indications were that large numbers of additional men would make themselves available for farm work in the New Year. To give further assistance to farmers, the Minister said he was encouraging public works employees to help with haymaking and harvesting during the Christmas-New Year vacation in all districts where there was a shortage of suitable labour. Wheat Regulations. The scheme of control in the wheat, flour, and bread industries will be continued during the 1939-40 season under regulations gazetted last night. In explanation of the regulations, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said that the scheme of control in the wheat, flour, and bread industries had continued to operate very satisfactorily in the interests of wheat farmers, flourmillers, bakers, and consumers. Organisations concerned had expressed satisfaction with the working of the scheme and it had not been considered necessary to make any changes in the form of the regulations controlling the industries. Accordingly it had been decided to continue the operation of the regulations which had served so well in the 1937----38 season. The new regulations just gazetted were of a purely machinery character and merely made such alterations in the principal regulations as were necessary to make them applicable to the 1939-40 season. In New Zealand's Desert. There are New Zealanders unaware that a desert exists in the centre of the North Island, writes the "Auckland Star's" Taihape correspondent. Many and varied are the experiences of travellers who have used the Desert Road, between Tokaanu and Waiouru, but the following incident v/ill probably bring back quite a few memor _A es: i party travelling fro*n Tokaanu recently had dallied too long there, making their travelling time too short to make Taihape that night to keep an appointment. So they decided to take the shorter route, instead of the National Park Road. Their troubles began when half-way through the desert. Bowling along with everything seeming to be in their favour, they ran into a sand drift, and their car remained fast stuck, so a weary party tramped into a Public Works -amp not far distant, where they were put up for the night. They made an early start next morning with tools and equipment to free their car. Imagine their surprise, however, when they found the roadway clear and the car standing ready to be driven off. The only explanation was that an air current caused by the position of the car had sifted the sand away as easily as it had been deposited there.