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Evening Star, Issue 25422, 1 March 1945, Page 4

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, lias received the following message from Admiral _ Sir Bruce Fraser:—" I much appreciate all the kindness shown to me. and I am very grateful for the opportunity of meeting you and your Government. The cooperation and help which New Zealand has always given to the Royal Navy has been fullv demonstrated to me. All my beet wishes to you." The first meeting of the Central Milk Council was held in Wellington this week. Preliminary consideration was given to the question of setting up a number of milk districts, but it is understood that local authorities will be consulted before any action is taken. The second trial of Hugh Alexander Jaffray, aged 48, an army officer, on a charge of negligently driving a motor vehicle at Heretaunga on December 31 last, thereby causing the death of Robert Morrison, began in the Supreme Court in Wellington yesterday before Mr Justice Johnstone and a jury of 12. Mr W. H. Cunningham appeared for the Crown, and Mr G. G. G. Watson, with him Mr W. P. Shorland, for the accused. After the first trial the jury announced that they could not reach an agreement. The evidence yesterday was on the lines of that given in the first trial. The opinion that drastic measures were requined to deal with the opossum nuisance in many parts "of New Zealand was expressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, at the Dominion conference of the Acclimatisation Societies. _ Farmers, orcliardists, and people with gardens in proximity to bush areas were all protesting about the damage caused by opossums, the Minister said. It was imperative to face up to the problem. " The Main Highways Fund has not heen used to a very great degree for the purpose for which it was raised," said Mr J. M. Fraser, of Rangiora. giving evidence for the Town Clerks Institute of New Zealand to tho Parliamentary Committee on Local Government. This had been a godsend to the Government and counties, he added. The larger municipalities had had a most unjust and unfair deal over the whole matter. At every turn one found injustice to the boroughs, Mr Fraser said. . The Highways Board had not subsidised any roading work within tho large centres of the Dominion. Preferential treatment existed in favour of the counties and small boroughs against the cities and larger towns, ne added.

A tribute to the memory of the late Marshal Chernyakovsky, son \of a Jewish railwayman, who fell in the battle for Konigsberg, East Prussia, was paid by the Rev. S. Kantor at the Synagogue, Wellington, last Saturday. Mr Kantor said that Marshal Chernyakovsky Avas a product of the happy combination of tho Jew loyal to his country and his country tolerant towards him. The brilliant career of that valiant soldier strikingly indicated not only how high the Je,w could rise in public life, but how much he could contribute to the welfare of the country in which he lived.

A family living at Levels were visited by an albatross during last week-end; but it outstayed its welcome when it threatened to attack its unwilling hosts, (says the ' Timaru Herald.' Notwithstanding the warning of the "Ancient Mariner, as the bird had a wing span of 9ft 6in and seemed bent on doing harm, it was considered wiser to destoy it and offer the carcass to the Christchurch Museum. The total number of building permits issuedl by the city engineer's office in February was easily the largest recorded in Dunedin for one mouth for some time. The increase was mainly due to the issue of permits for a large number, of State houses. Altogether 110 permits were issued, the total value of the work sanctioned being £109,546, including 14 new dwellings of a total value of £20.160. The value of the 49 permits for State houses amounted to £67,987. In February, 1944, 53 permits of a total value of £31,887 were issued.

The audience reversed the usual procedure, and furnished a laugh for the artists during a recent performance of ' The Gondoliers '. (says a recent Melboure 'Age'). It was during the second act. The ducal party, clad in powdered wigs and elaborate court dress, was scattered picturesquely across the stage—when, out from the wings, hurreid a woman wearing hat and coat of strictly modern style and carrying an outsize in suitcases. A member of the audience, she had lost her way in the passages at His Majesty's, and. wandered on to the stage. Relating the insident at the Theatre Lovers' Club. Miss Elva Blair, who was playing Cassilda at the time, said a wave of laughter swept across the stage, but the unexpected appearance did not disconcert Ivan Menzies. " Would anyone else like an audition?" he blandly inquired. Miss Blair has sung all the leading soprano roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. With 26 roles to her credit, she is gradually overtaking the record set by Bernard Manning, who can lay claim to 30 characterisations. Public statements made recently that seagulls are not protected by law are erroneous, states the Forest and Bird Protection Society, and have led to illegal killings. Only one gull—the black-backed gull—is unprotected, ana the penalty for killing others is a heavy one.

The skill of Maori children at Whakarewarewa village gives them a good deal of loose change diving under water for money thrown by visitors, and the most active of them' can make several shillings in a busy afternoon. But it has often been conjectured how much money thrown into the water is not recovered by the children. -A clue to this was given recently after a fresh in the stream. On such an occasion the money lying in the bed is swept into two deep crevices, and only an experienced adult swimmer can remain under water long enough to recover it. From this source one man recently recovered £l7 8s and another over £5. Most of this was in pennies. In the Police Court this morning before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., Stephen Gerrard Third, aged 18. garage attendant, pleaded guilty to stealing a carton of American army field rationsvalued at 10s and not guilty to stealing three letters, the property of George McArthur and another. Chief-detec-tive T. Y. Hall said Third was already on probation for theft. He asked for a remand until March D. which was granted. Thomas Henry Smith, aged 57, labourer, a statutory first offender, was fined 10s in default 24 hours' imprisonment for drunkenness.