NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Safety of Harbour Tugs,

That tugs were about the safest type of vessel in New Zealand harbours, as far as wreck or damage was concerned, was a statement by the chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board (Mr. W. J. A. McGregpr) at the meeting of the board recently, states the "Southland Daily News." He said that the history of New Zealand shipping showed that the harbour tugs always wore out, with few, if any, cases of wreckage. Increase in Petrol Prices. An increase ,of Jd a. gallon in the price of motor spirit throughout New Zealand as from this morning is announced by the oil companies. The reason is said to be the rising cost of recent overseas shipments, not only in the f.o.b. prices of motor spirit, but also in freight costs and rates of warrisk insurance. Pull details of the companies' increased" costs have been submitted to the Department of Industries and Commerce, which; after investigation, has approved the increase. Notice of the increase is contained in a Gazette notice. Registration of Dogs. Because the shipment of hydatids remedy from Europe to New Zealand has been delayed through the war, dog owners in the Dominion will have yet another month in which to register their animals. The necessary provision for this extension is contained in a regulation published in this week's Gazette. The date for the registration of dogs has been further extended till March 1. The original date for registration was January 1, but this was extended for a month because of the non-arrival of the hydatids remedy. Successful Show. ■ Although the Marton committee of the District Agricultural and Pastoral Association was afraid that war conditions would adversely affect the twenty-seventh annual show, both entries and attendance made it one of the most successful in the annals of the association, writes "The Post's" representative. In practically * every section 'competition was keen. The show was continued at night, when, the Feilding Caledonian Band and a party from the Royal New Zealand. Air Force at Ohakea Base gave a programme and displays. "Russia, Right or Wrong." "Unfortunately, there are people who are misled by certain forms of propaganda and are not able to reason for themselves," said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. R. M. Macfarlane,.M.P.> at a civic reception to the Deputy Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser). /'These people," he said, "are not prepared to accept the slogan, •Your country, right or wrong,' but subscribe to the doctrine, "Russia, right or wrong.' These people are fanatics, and are definitely enemies of the British Empire. While they seek its protection they will not assume its responsibilities." Valuable Gift to Patriotic Committee. Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, chairman of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, desires to acknowledge a valuable gift which has been made by Mr. H. Spear, of Oriental Parade. It is a grand piano combined with a player attachment, and a large number of rolls of-classical and other music have been included with the gift. The instrument is a very fine one and the gift is worth several hundred pounds. It has already been transferred to Trentham Camp, and will be used by the Metropolitan Entertainment Committee when. giving its regular entertainments in the camp. Mrs. Dennistoun-Wood has expressed her great satisfaction in having such an instrument available for the purpose. Shark Catches Itself. A large shark escaped from a party of anglers at Wangaehu Beach, Wanganui, only to catch itself with the trailing line a little later, states a Wanganui correspondent. . A knot had become tied in the line while it was tangled about 40ft . from the hook. When the shark was hooked it broke the line just behind ttie knot and made off. This was at high water. At low water the fishermen were surprised to find the shark and line on the beach, the fish having swum over a submerged log and the line being caught behind the knot. In an effort to get away, the large fish apparently rolled over and over, tying itself up, the line being so tight that its sides were cut through in several places. Music and the Centennial. Several suggestions for commemorating the Dominion's Centennial with some permanent memorial to the cause of music were made by Dr. Phillips, of Auckland, at the music teachers' conference in Wellington this week. Dr. Phillips proposed:—(l) That a small concert hall for teaching and performing the best music be erected in each of the four main centres; (2) that a Centennial Scholarship for Music be awarded annually; (3) that a musical festival be held in each centre during the year; (4) that a pageant of music be organised. After some discussion as (o the practicability of the four proposals, a motion was carried that thej Registration Board be asked to investigate the matter of organising a Centennial Scholarship as a national memorial. Arrangements have been made for local musical festivals. More Local Talent on the Afr. The preference given to certain records over local talent by the broadcasting authorities was deplored by Mr. George Johnstone at the annual meeting of the Music Teachers' Association in Wellington. He said that it was only one function of the radio to entertain, and he felt that, properly guided, there was a great opportunity for determining the standard of public taste. He moved: "That, in view of the importance of radio for education and entertainment, this conference urges that wherever possible our own performers be used in preference to certain records and imported talent. Further, that we would welcome a more sympathetic understanding than appears to exist in certain centres and that advantage be taken of the ;resence of Mr. Anderson Tyrer, or other specially qualified selectors, m order to. conduct a properly organised search for talent." The motion was carried. Rata at its Best. The red rata on the West Coast is now at its best, and a yellow rata at the Otira Gorge, which has been protected by the Government, is in bloom now for the first time in many years. "The snow-clad mountains, with their sides ablaze with rata bloom, the glacier glistening in the sun, and the restless blue > ocean on the other side make a scene that no artist could paint," said the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) on his return to Christchurch from the West Coast. "It is a challenge to the dullest imagination." The progress on the roads that will open up the West Coast and link Westland and Otago has been very satisfactory, according to the Minister. He said that the road had now been completed from Weheka to Bruce Bay, and the road across the Haast Pass had reached the divide. The Karangarua River was spanned by the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand. "These roads will open up unrivalled scenery to the public," lie said. j

Loans for War Expenses.

Two cheques, each for £1000, have been received by the Minister of Finance (the. Hon. W. Nash) as interestfree loans to help the Government's war expenses. One is from Mr. P. G. Nops, of Inglewood, whose loan is available for fiv«> years, and the other is from: Messrs. Woolleys Ltd., Auckland, and has been offered for the dura-, tion of the war. To ensure that his i whole cheque is available, Mr.. Nops j added 25s exchange. j Rescuers in Danger. j Going to the assistance of boys.in difficulties in the surf ,at Waitara. several of' the rescuers themselves were endangered, but the timely arrival of the. life-saving reel prevented any loss of life, states a New Plymouth correspondent. The boys were William McKoy, aged 14, Sydney Jury, aged 14, and William Candy, aged 12. Messrs." C. B. Ewens and E. Reader were two of the rescuers who had to be assisted ashore. The three boys were using plank j as surfboards in.the surf on the north side of the river when they found themselves some distance outside the breakers. McKoy, after some difficulty, managed to reach the beach and .told some men who were carting shingle off the beach. Mr. Ewens immediately went to the boys' assistance. Members of the Waitara Life-saving Club, Constable Lemra, and other helpers were soon on the beach, and after some dif* ficulty Jury and Candy were brought ashore. In the meantime a lorry had been dispatched to the west beach for the reel, when.it was seen that some members of the party that had helped in saving the lives of the two boys could not cope with the strong undertow. The line was taken out and Messrs. Ewens .and Reader were brought safely to. the beach. Rescue of Dog. A daring feat 'was performed by Mr. C. K. Fitzsimmons, of Taupo, when he rescued a large pedigree Labrador dog from just above the Huka Falls on Wednesday night, states a Taupo correspondent. Just before dark a woman noticed the dog, which belongs to Mr. Alan Pye, crouched in a small crevice of rock just clear of the water in the race below the swing bridge and about 20 feet-from, the. lip'of the falls. A party gathered, and Mr. Pye, assisted by others* lowered a large box, attached to a rope, and made vain efforts to induce the dog to enter the box. With darkness setting in after an hour's work, it was decided to abandon the rescue efforts until the morning. At about 10.15 p.m. Mr. Fitzsimmons arrived at the Huka Lodge, and on being told of the incident he and his wife decided to view the dog's position. He tied one end of the rope to a tree, lowered the box down the 30 feet to the dog, and then slid down the rope. Holding on to the rope with one hand, Mr. Fitzsimmons eventually got the dog into the box and secured it there. Meanwhile, his wife had been supplying the only light possible with the aid of a hand torch. Mr. Fitzsimmons then climbed the rope hand over hand to the top and afcistance was secured to haul the dog up. The water flows at about 30 miles an hour through the race, and how the dog managed to secure a footing on the small crevice in the slippery rock wall is difficult to understand.