NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Discharged Soldiers. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the Horowhenua County Council meeting with the decision of the Government that after a returned soldier had been discharged the Department had no further liability as to hospital treatment, states "The Post's" Levin correspondent. Past experience had shown that even after discharge latent disabilities owing to war causes developed. The amount allowed to hospitals under the Social Security Act was 6s a day, and the cost per patient to the ratepayers was 12s above that. The care of these men was a matter for the State, and the State should make full payment in all cases. Fishing, Swimming, and Home Guard. Waikanae issues a challenge to all districts in the Dominion to equal its record for Home Guard enrolments., "Waikanae is generally regarded as a place where good tr6ut fishing and sea bathing under pleasant conditions can be obtained," states a report from the Home Guard, "but the good people of Waikanae consider they have another and more praiseworthy reason for fame. This seaside and farming community challenges any district in the whole of the Dominion to equal their record—97 per cent, of the available population is enrolled in the Home Guard. Waikanae is very proud of this record." Wooden Bridge Saved. A national service was performed by Home Guardsmen in extinguishing an outbreak of fire under a wooden bridge across the Ngaruroro River. It was discovered in its early stages when seen from the parade ground of the Clive unit nearby, states a report from Napier. A. crosspiece below the decking was well alight, evidently from a dropped match or cigarette butt. Guardsmen climbed into the under* structure of the bridge and with buckets of water quelled the blaze, which, if it had been left for another 10 minutes or so, would have been difficult to handle, being seated in dry tar-covered timbers. Auckland's Moist Heat. Occupants of offices in Auckland on Wednesday and Thursday sweltered in sultry oppressive heat, the result of very high humidity.* Many felt the uncomfortable results of this humidity but attributed it to temperature. An official at the Auckland Meteorological Office, explaining the effects of moisture in the atmosphere, said humidity, as much as temperature, added to the discomfort of a sultry day. Records kept in Auckland show the approximate monthly mean of relative humidity for February to be 75 per cent. On Monday it was fairly low, being about 63 per cent. It was slightly higher on Tuesday, while on Wednesday it ranged between 80 and 85 per cent. At 6 a.m. on Thursday, the recorded humidity was as high as 91 per cent., but it decreased during the day, reaching 76 per cent, at 3 p.m. It rose again to 88 per cent, by 6 p.m. The early morning and evening usually have the highest percentages, while the period about noon has the lowest. Butterfly Pest. Gardens in Auckland show considerable evidence of the depredations of the white butterfly. It is reported that in many home gardens dahlia leaves are laden with the eggs of the butterfly, and calendula plants, usually neglected by the pest, have been ruined by the riddling of their leaves. The opinion was expressed that the parasite imported to combat the pest had failed. An official at the Government scientific research station at Mount Albert stated that it was not unexpected that the pests would do damage in small gardens. The parasite was introduced to reduce destruction on large areas of farmlands where crops were grown extensively and considerable success had been . obtained. One or two eggs on a cabbage leaf in a field of vegetables would probably not be noticed, but in home gardens where small quantities were grown any damage would be more easily seen. The official said he was satisfied there had been reasonable success from the introduction of the parasite, but it would probably not be of appreciable advantage yet in small gardens.