NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1939, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Rain Badly Needed.

Until Thursday evening when light showers fell, Wanganui city had been without rain for about eleven weeks, states "The Post's" representative. On Friday morning there was a further welcome fall, but it was not nearly enough to be of much use. Lawns are burnt brown, and in many nearby districts water is being carted for household purposes. The reserves are sadly in need of rain; the only reserve to have a liberal supply of water is the oval at Cook's Gardens, where the New Zealand Fire Brigades' Demonstrations are being held. Money Found in Dressing Sheds, * The solution to many alleged thefts of money from clothing left in the I dressing sheds at the Ashburton Domain Baths during the last forty years is thought to have been discovered by workmen who found many coins while demolishing the old sheds recently. One workman found coins amounting to more than 16s in one day, and had an unusual find of a gold half-sovereign, dated 1869. Other workmen- found numerous small coins. There were grating floors in the old sheds, and apparently coins were dropped by swimmers or fell from clothing which was carelessly thrown down, and the coins slipped through the flooring. Oratory Distrusted. The universal distrust of oratory today was emphasised by Mr. Kenneth Melvin when speaking at a luncheon of the Auckland Society of Arts, held in the society's rooms, Victoria Arcade, on Thursday, states the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. Melvin said oratory flowered in the nineteenth century, but this century it would appear to have gone to seed. However, one might be captured by the witchery of words, there remained a distrust of the speaker—the "word wangler." Mr. Melvin said he believed the first element of confusion in oratory was the tendency v to indentify words with things. Words were only labels, things were entities. The second element of confusion was the tendency to use abstract words. Misuse of words and the inflammation of passion were a crime. Eavesdroppers on Line. When in Melbourne recently Mr. ,A. J. Scott, of Christchurch, called Christchurch three times on the radiotelephone, but conversation was quite impossible. The • connections in Australia were tested, and everything between Sydney and Christchurch was found to be in order. Eventually, the Sydney authorities told Mr. Scott that the weakness must be due to "listening-in" oh the party line at Christchurch. "I suppose an overseas call is a temptation to other members of a party wire, but it should be well understood that such eavesdropping has serious consequences," said Mr. Scott. ."As it was, the whole circuit ■from Melbourne to Christchurch was disorganised for twenty minutes, and the call had to be repeated late at night, when 'the other people' had gone to bed." Work on Last Link. The contract for the removal of 20,974 cubic yards of spoil to form a cutting for the last link of the railway line into Dargaville is being carried out under great difficulties, states a correspondent. Although half the contract has been completed, progress has been affected by the fact that the men have had to construct a temporary road of sleepers into the cutting so that motor-trucks car. reach the mechanical navvy. Every inch of the cutting to date has had to be roaded in this fashion to overcome the water difficulty, and the total length of improvised roading is eight chains. A further eight chains has still to be completed. Another portion of the contract is a filling 12 chains long and from 12ft to 20ft high. This also is providing difficulties. On four occasions it has sunk and fallen away to such an extent that it has taken the drains and fences with it. Walking As An Exercise. "One of the finest and most inexpensive exercises one can undertake is walking," remarked the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) in the course of his reply to a sports club deputation at Dunedin on Wednesday, reports the "Otago Daily Times." A good brisk walk to work in the morning's fresh air, added the Minister, put sunshine into the heart and mind and generally set up a person in condition fit to tackle any job which came along during the day. "A week or two ago," Mr. Parry said, "the members of a city deputation travelled a short distance by motor-cars to discuss with me a gymnasium matter. During the interview it was asked what form of exercise I felt inclined, from my own personal experience and knowledge of physical training, to recommend the average city dweller to take up. It was a 'poser' to me, no doubt thought the deputation, but there were sharp, interesting looks from one to the other when I replied, j "Leave the car in the garage and do I some healthy walking!" (Laughter.) j