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Evening Star, Issue 23666, 28 August 1940, Page 6

With the beginning yesterday of the appraisal in Dunedin of 3,Blß'bales of crutchiugs and oddments, the 1940-41 wool season was opened. Prior to the institution of the appraisal system of selling the August sale was looked upon as the wash-up of a,season, but under the appraisal the season commences on July 1, so that the wool sold at the current appraisal is in effect the first instalment of the new season’s realisation. The appraisal was completed this afternoon.

To be able to play a good game of Rugby and be operated on within an hour for appendicitis was the experience of a Hastings boy, Sidney Reid, son of Mr S. J. Reid, the well-known horse trainer, last week. Reid represented the Hastings primary schools in the Ross Shield Rugby tournament at Waipukurau, and following the match he became suddenly ill, and was rushed to a private hospital, where he was operated on without delay. His condition is reported to be satisfactory.

A clock of Greek design which has been a family heirloom since 1793 has been offered to the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council by anonymous donors. Formerly owned by relatives of Lord Kitchener and other prominent military and naval officers, it has been valued as an antique at £IOO. The clock probably will be sold to assist rehabilitation funds. ' '

The Waikouaiti Borough Council had before it on Monday the proposal made by the Government to form a_ national emergency reserve corps iu New Zealand. The project was approved and the mayor, councillors, and all the borough employees expressed their willingness to volunteer for enrolment in the Home Guard, agreeing to serve in any capacity in any local defence corps. The mayor and Cr M'Fie were appointed to represent the council at a meeting of local bodies to be convened at an early date by the Mayor of Dunedin, to arrange the geographical districts to be allotted to the local bodies concerned.

There is a keen demand for farms in the Manawatu, and the prices being asked by vendors are definitely in their favour in comparison with land sales in recent years (says the Wellington ‘ Post 1 ). In many eases cash is being offered, amounts up to £4,000 and £5,000 not being rare. At the present time the demand for farms is in excess of the supply. Farms of the smaller type, carrying up to 40 cows or 500 to 800 sheep on easy sheep country, are generally sought and in the main cleared land needing little development. Of the purchasers a large proportion are business or professional men seeking an investment which they anticipate will give them an assured income.

A ewe on the farm of Mr 11. M. Collins, Kairauga, Manawatu, has given birth to six lambs (reports the Auckland ‘Herald’)-', Five of the lambs have survived. Twins are comparatively common among sheep but sextuplets are practically unknown. Some discussion took place at the annual meeting of the Foroury Park Trotting Club last night concerning the suggestion which had been made in some quarters that racing and trotting meetings should not be permitted during the war period. Members agreed with the president (Mr B. S. Irwin) that it was for many reasons desirable that the sport should be carried on, and one member was particularly emphatic when he remarked: “ Why, over in England bombs have actually fallen on some of the tracks, while here on our course the worst that has happened is a few poisoned hares.” The statement aroused hearty .laughter, and was one of the episodes in lighter vein at a particularly happy meeting. The principal event of the Ashburton competitions, the piano solo championship (open), resulted; Miss Lois Manning (Christchurch), 250 points, 1; Miss Rosalind Johnston (Christchurch), 228, 2; Miss Gwen Kelly (Christchurch), 227, 3.—Press Association. In the Supreme Court to-day His Honour’ Mr Justice Kennedy granted decrees absolute in the proceedings for divorce brought by Frank Douglas Hereward Scott against Christina Adeline Scott, and by Leonard Gordon Scoble against Marion Allison Scoble. In the Supreme Court to-day, His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy heard an application for approval of a compromise of a claim for damages by a minor named Kevin Allan Morris, of Dunedin, against his employer, Otago Leather Goods Ltd. Mr A. N. Haggitt, who appeared for the company, said that the amount of damages had been agreed on between himself and Mr *J. P. Ward, who appeared for Morris, at £235. Morris, while at work on a machine' had lost the terminal joints of each of two fingers of his right hand. The settlement had been reached on payment of the sum named, including what the worker would have been entitled to under the Woi-kers’ Compensation Act. His Honour said that the compromise agreed,on was one in the interests of the infant and one that should have the court’s sanction. The claim had been wisely compromised. H’s Honour formally approved of the compromise.

A grey warbler at Titirangi has shown, in addition to commencing building operations at an unusually early date, a fine up-to-the-minute spirit in the utilisation of waste material (says the Auckland ‘Herald ’). . Last year’s nest has been systematically dismantled, carried to a tree about 10yds from the old position, and there formed into a fresh nest. Like the old, the new nest is attached to boughs of the liakea saligna, the bird being apparently aware that the gummy stems of this tree prove a deterrent to ground vermin.

The Government has not had time to secure a report on the sanitary conditions of the Rataua Village, which Were described yesterday by the coroner as disgraceful. This information was given to-day by Mr Armstrong, Minister of Health. A number of reports have been made by the Health Department on housing and the general conditions in' Maori villages, stated the Minister, who added : “ Only within the last few days Cabinet has discussed Maori housing and sanitation, and is acting, too.”—Parliamentary reporter. Stating that it is vital for Britain to maintain her export trade, and that exports are her fourth arm of defence, one of the principals of Messrs Slazengers Limited has written to overseas agents as follows:—“In so far as we are concerned, we are carrying on in a perfectly normal way; our export trade is either maintained or increased, except, of course, in Continental markets Our home trade has been better than anticipated—our factories are well spread and provided with airraid shelters, and alternative arrangements have been made in the event of a dire necessity.” Fire caused slight damage to a singlestory brick building at M‘Leocl Brothers’ soap works in Cumberland street tills morning, the City Brigade being summoned at 5.4. The outbreak was caused by pitch overheating. A grass tire on the Kensington railway embankment was subdued at 12.7 this afternoon.

According to the manager of one of the Wellington taxi companies, who has been in communication with the others, the taxi companies in Wellington are working with skeleton staffs. Of 180 taxis licensed to operate, 50 are off the roads owing to the petrol restrictions.—Press Association.