NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 77, 1 April 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

Births registered in Wellington during March totalled 254, deaths 168, and notices of marriage 166, 35 marriages being performed by the registrar. The figures for the first quarter of the current year were 631 births, 450 deaths, and 446 notices of marriage, the registrar being called upon to officiate in 117 instances. These figures show but slight deviation from those of the corresponding periods last year.

Fine Catch of Salmon.

One of the best catches of quinnat salmon this season was made on Saturday by Mr. R. K. Bragg, of Christchurch, in the Rakaia River, states "The Press." He caught 14 fish of a total weight of 1611b, and an average weight of 11.1b. The two biggest fish in the catch weighed 191b and 181b respectively, and there were three fish weighing 131b. Mr. Bragg caught his fish some distance up from the river mouth between 11 a.m. and 6.45 p.m., after two days' unsuccessful fishing. April Fools and Fishes. The various restrictions, prohibitions, and shortages at the present time did not have the effect this morning of curbing the enthusiasm of youngsters and juvenile adults who kept up the time-honoured celebration of the first day of April. Outwardly indistinguishable from other folk, quite a number of respectable citizens of both sexes are now temporarily in the humiliating category of "April fools" (or, as our French cousins would call them, "April fishes"), while a like number of conspirators are no doubt chuckling to themselves in the recollection of the way in which they scored over their unsuspecting victims. Old (and silly) customs die hard. *,

Father's Responsibility.

One aspect of parental control was discussed by Miss J. R. Barr, former principal of the Timaru Girls' High School, in an address during Timaru Community Week, on the adolescent girl, with particular reference to the Eart the father played in some homes, ivariably, said Miss Barr, when the daughters sought some advice or asked for permission to keep certain appointments, the father would reply: "Oh, ask your mother." Then, when something happened that displeased the father, he would take refuge in the retort: "Well, no one consults me about anything!" This brought a ripple of laughter from an, audience composed largely of women. Sheep Breeding in New Zealand.

"My forbears bred sheep in the Romney Marshes for 300 years, and I have been very impressed to see how the various breeds of sheep have been improved in New Zealand," said Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the .United Kingdom in New Zealand, in Invercargill recently. "I was very impressed with the length of wool of the sheep in.Southland. In fact, if the length of wool goes on increasing, then in 100 years the sheep may be as big as elephants." Sir Harry Batterbee added he had also been interested to learn that the tennis lawns at Wimbledon were sown in fescue grass seed from Southland. Fishing at Rotorua. As the result of the prolonged dry spell, most lakes in the Rotorua district are now well below the levels usual at this time of the year, and as a result trout fishing has been considerably affected, states a Rotorua correspondent. In some areas, however, fairly good individual bags have been secured, although the fish being caught are generally small. While staying at the Okataina Fishing Lodge, the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, and party returned some good sport from the fly, taking about 21 fish in two days. • - Fishing at the eastern end of Lake Rotoiti, Major C. Lumley, of Tauranga, took a 10_lb fish which was in excellent condition. Very Dry and Sunny.

March in Wellington was exceptionally dry and sunny. The rainfall recorded at Kelburn was only 55 points, just over half an inch, whereas the average March rainfall is 283 points, or nearly three inches. Rain fell on only four days, 11 days with rain being the March average. It was the driest March since 1932, when only 35 points of rain were recorded. Temperatures throughout the month were slightly below the average, and there was a little more wind than usual. There was nearly an hour's sunshine a day more than usual. The total number of hours of bright sunshine was 219.5, which is 29.6 hours more than normal and which makes the good average of a little over seven hours a day.