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Evening Star, Issue 24003, 30 September 1941, Page 6

The Union Steam Ship Company announces that, commencing on October 1 from Lyttelton and October 2 from Welington, the express service steamers will make daylight sailings from each port, instead of the present evening sailings. The time of departure from Wellington will bo 8.15 atm. and from Lyttelton 8 a.m. There were no cases to engage attention of the magistrate in the Police Court this morning. In response to inquiries about her remarkable dye exhibition shown at the War Memorial Museum recently, Mrs Amy H. Hutchinson, of Hawke’s Bay, has prepared directions for dyeing wool with native and introduced trees, shrubs. lichens, or weeds. Her notes are published in a booklet issued in connection with the annual Chceseman memorial show of native plants and flowers. The booklet contains a list of tho plants used recently for dyeing, following up the experiments of Dir 13. C. Aston, of Wellington, and also a list of some 250 native plants, with their Maori or common names, their scientific names, and the family to which they belong. A spinning demonstration, using wool dyed with native barks and lichens, is to be given during the exhibition.

The opinion that the cut in the bank of the Waitahanui River made by Maoris and ruining about half a mile of the best fly fishing water in the Taupe district could be repaired only by Nature, and almost certainly would not be restored for the opening of the fishing season on November 1, was expressed by Mr A. Kean, conservator of fish and game in the Rotorua district. This was about tho fourth time in the past five years that a shorter channel had been cut into Lake Taupo, ho said, and on each occasion tho river had returned to its normal course, but only after months, the time taken depending on the frequency of westerly winds, which cause the mouth of the river to silt up. The Waitahanui River has fished consistently well for many years, and has tho special advantage that it provides one of the few stretches of sheltered fishing water on tho eastern side of tho lake during westerly weather. This water has now boon lost, with the river flowing straight into the lake instead of parallel to tho shore for half a mile. More than 46,000 donors in Australia arc registered with the Red Cross Transfusion Service, which is building up a blood bank, and already holds 1,900 gallons in liquid or .powdered form. When all registered donors have boon bled, storage will bo not less than 3,500 gallons. Most donors give a pint, some more, but half-pints are considered sufficient in many cases. Primarily designed to meet emergency conditions, the bank will be adapted for civilian needs. Considerable quantities of blood serum have been sent overseas to the fighting services. In Now South Wales 17,040 donors have registered since March 10. when tho first appeal was made. Of these, 15,000 arc in the Sydney metropolitan area. 1.450 in the Newcastle district, and 590 in Port Kcmbla and Wollongong. Searching blood tests arc conducted before a donor is accepted. Although most of the blood is preserved in liquid form in cold storage, much of it is now dried and packed in powder form in airtight bottles.

The Roslyn Fire Brigade received a call at 8.3 last evening to a grass fire at Wakari, and at 8.50 the Green Island Brigade attendc da gorso fire in Sunnyvale, Green Island. A minor outbreak received the attention of the City Brigade at 8.42 this morning, when a fire from a, superheated copper in a bouse at Musselburgh Rise'resulted in slight damage to some clothes.

A surprise awaited a St. John ambulance driver who was called by telephone to take a “ body ” to the mortuary at Auckland. The informant, who was genuinely astonished at subsequent developments, was waiting on the footpath when the ambulance arrived, and pointed out to the driver the “ dead ” man. The latter, who at that stage was some distance off. apparently recovered unaided from a sudden illness which resulted in him lapsing into unconsciousness in the street, and walked homo. The demand from Australia for New Zealand timber has become so strong that New Zealand timber exports could be trebled, providing the shipping space were available and the timber could bo spared from local requirements, according to'.Mr A. .1. Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association. Another feature of the timber industry at present, he added, was that England would take without limit all the Southland silver beech available. “ I have an old tom cut and I’m supposed to keep him, but he is never home,” said the mayor, Mr J. Guiniven, when the Takapuna Borough Council was discussing what was meant by the word “ keep ” regarding the keeping of horses at a riding school in Milford road. A letter was received stating that, while it had been decided to cease activities on September 22. the owner of the riding school denied that .she kept horses on the property in question. She said the property was used only as a club rendezvous.

Speaking of the housing position in Wellington as “ tragic,” Mr Leslie Jones, at the annual meeting of the Ileal Estate Institute, said; “'When the soldiers come back in numbers I do not know what will happen. It is difficulty to supply the demand now, and it will be a hundred times worse then. Also there are the Civil servants who arc being transferred in thousands to Wellington. They can’t buy houses because they have left their homes in other centres let. They come to Wellington and spend more than they can afford in hotels and boarding houses. Wo hear a lot about State houses, but it _ appears to me that there is no possibility of the general public getting these houses. They will have to be kept for the soldiers. If they are not, L wouldn’t like to bo in the shoes of the Minister of Housing-” An egg weighing 9Joz and measuring sin long by BJin round would not be a bad effort for an ostrich, but such an egg was actually laid in Invercargill by a White Leghorn hen belonging to Mrs W. M'Donald, Beatrice street (says the ‘Southland Nows’). The egg, which appears to bo normal in every respect but the extraordinary size (about four times that of a normal egg), was laid by a hen which has been a regular layer of average-sized eggs. Despite its prodigious achievement, the bird is still alive and appears to bo well, although it has not yet attempted to repeat the performance. At the meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association executive last night, a circular was received from Dominion headquarters which stated, in connection with the sending of chocolate overseas, that it must be remembered that such parcels must proceed through the tropics, and the condition of chocolate on arrival depends a good deal on where it has been stored on the ship. If stowed below the waterline it suffers considerably, and is not edible when opened. After a lengthy hearing, finality was reached yesterday afternoon in ■ the claim brought by John James Morris and Winston Taylor against James Gow, farmer, of the Taicri, for the alleged shooting of two dogs belonging to the plaintiffs. The hearing was before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., who stated at the conclusion of the evidence that he was not satisfied that the dogs seen by defendant were those belonging to plaintiffs or that they were shot on defendant's land. Ho gave judgment for Morris for £3, with costs (£2 ISs) and for £S with costs (£5 Ids) for Taylor. At the hearing plaintiffs were represented by Mr G, T. Baylce. while Mr C. J. L. White appeared for the defendant.

Every woman with a garden in Christchurch will shortly bo as'kcd to grow one row of beans as a special war effort. When ready for picking the beans will bo collected at a central depot, dried by a special process, and then packed to be sent to men on minesweepers. Canadian women have had a similiar .scheme in operation for some time, and have found it most successful as a means of sending green vegetables to the men. Miss L. hi. Wilkinson, general secretary of the Women’s Land Army, will be in charge of the work in Christchurch. By sawing off halt of a road-sign on the West Coast, vandals have misdirected some motorists ignorant of the district, according to a West Coast member of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), speaking at the annual meeting of the association. Motorists travelling to Nelson had been surprised, ho said, to find themselves at a place “ with one pub and a few houses.” The reason was that the word 1 ‘ Creek ” had on one occasion been sawn off the sign reading “Nelson Creek.” Au interesting sidelight on trading methods in Egypt is thrown by a notice in the ‘Egyptian Mail.’ It reads: “ Subscribers in Upper Egypt arc reminded that the price of the ‘ Egyptian Mail ’ is 10 milliemes, and that newspaper vendors are not entitled to sell it at 15 to 20 milliemes. Any reader who should come across a vendor trying to soli the paper at a higher price than 10 milliemes is asked to notify.the management at once.” As most people know, shopkeepers and itinerant vendors in Middle Eastern and Far Eastern countries always ask ranch morn for an article than they expect to got. Bargaining is an essential feature of buying and selling in these countries. But the system also extends to newspapers, without the bargaining. For example in Colombo the newsboys ask twice the published price for their newspapers, and expect to got it. Wherever possible, Dunedin taxi drivers, in common) with others throughout Now Zealand, will double up on passengers. This step has become necessary in the interests of the conservation of petrol supplies, and was suggested to the Taxi Proprietors’ Association by the Commissioner of Transport, who has circularised taxi men throughout the country. It is suggested that whore two or more passengers arc going in approximately the same direction, and when there is no unnecessary delay, one taxi only bo used. 'Much of this typo of business can kio carried on from such points ns the railway station. Further, where calls come in to pick up fares in given districts and times arc stipulated, it is hoped to again fall in with the commissioner’s recommendation. No compulsion will be used, but towards the end of any given month when fuel is short, if a passenger refuses to double up with another person, then ho may find himself loft with no other alternative but to walk. No suggestion has been made regarding any reduction in fares, and this is hardly possible, except with a number of passengers oyer longer distance trips.

Building is keeping on a level in Dunedin which compares quite well with the amount of construction going on last year. This is shown by the value of permits issued for the month—£39.679. Last year it was £40,5-19. The Talboys Homo last year accounted for £3,420, and there were eight Government and 12 other houses. This year the Hospital Board has another alteration job on its hands at £3,061, and there are nine Government houses and 13 others. The Government houses this year average nearly £1,200, about £IOO a house more than last year. Seven arc to be constructed at Prospect Bank (Wakari) and two at Calton Hill. One of the latter is a double unit to cost £2,195. The generosity of the cricket clubs and of the cricketing community generally has enabled the Albion-Y.M.C.A. Club to provide for sufficient equipment to enable them to carry on. AVith cash donations, promises, and the subscriptions and donations of the club’s own members, together with a planned special effort, sufficient funds arc assured to reinstate most of the equipment lost in the fire at Logan Park. The shining cuckoo, which comes back to New' Zealand at.this time of the year from its wdutor resorts in Melanesia, has arrived in Dunedin, its distinctive note being heard about 8 o’clock this morning by a resident in the Cannington road area. The regularity of the_return of the bird is remarkable. This year it w r as first heard in Dunedin on September 30, last year on September,29, and the year before on September 30. The shining cuckoo is known by the Maoris as Maui's bird, and the hearing of its call is regarded as the signal to begin planting. A sea elephant, about 12ft long, was seen at Allday Bay (North Otago) last week.

Received by a local business concern is an unusually interesting circular from one of its English agents. The circular, which is headed ‘ War Commentary,’ and on which a huge “ V” symbol is prominently displayed, consists only of a short extract from a well-known book. The sentiments of the extract have been rather freely expressed for some time past, and in themselves would not be the subject of a news ipapagraph at this juncture. But the source of the extract is most surprising, and so the circular assumes an odd interest. Here is the quotation, just as it is set out on the circular: “ The British nation can be counted upon to carry through to victory any struggle that it once enters upon, no matter how long such a struggle may last or however great the sacrifice that may ho necessary, or whatever the means that have to be employed; and all this even though the actual military equipment at hand may be utterly inadequate when compared with that of, other nations.” —An extract from chapter 12 of ‘Mein Kampf,’ by Adolph Hitler.

A decision to have a number of morale cards printed for distribution to householders was made by the One Tree Hill Borough Council. It was explained that the proposal for the metropolitan area was that the City Council and all other local authorities should have cards printed and distributed on the same day. Two complaints were, received at last night’s monthly meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. The first was with reference to the recent casting into the Waikaia River of hundreds of poisoned rabbits. It was pointed i out that poison trails invariably resulted in the destruction of wild pigs wherever this nuisance existed, but it was realised, nevertheless, that the dumping of the rabbits into the river constituted an offence against the law. It was decided that a copy of the letter be referred to the police of the locality for their investigation. The other complaint came from Dunedin North, alleging that certain school children were in the habit of stoning the fish in tho Leith in the vicinity of the St. David street bridge. Tho letter stated that when the complainant remonstrated with the offenders he was greeted with a tirade of abuse from the other side of tho stream. The matter was referred to the police department. Recent trends in the population figures, warned against by .statisticians, are well exemplified by the local statistics for the mouth of births, deaths, nnd marriages. There has been a sharp increase in deaths, 12] this month compared with DO last year. For the quarter the figures arc 1312 and 292 last year. Marriages have decreased, only IS being solemnised this month, compared with 74 in the period last year. For the quarter the figures are 180 this year and 265 last year. Births have not altered greatly. This month’s 141 compare with 144 last September. The figures for the quarter show a decrease of 10, 435 children being born in the period this year and 445 last year.

The drawing of “ Call and Collect ” art 11 nioit i- to lake place at the Masonic Hall, Tin' Terrace, Wellington, 10-niorrow morning, commencing at 8.30 o’clock.