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Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 4

The growing of exceptionally large tomatoes, believed to he of an island species, are being experimented with in the Elsthorpe district,' with a view to using them in the canning industry. One of the variety seen in Hastings weighed just on a pound. In spite of the weight it is stated that there has been an exceptionally heavy yield. Although similar in shape to the ordinary tomato, they are more of a pinky shade in colour._ The seeds are being saved with a view to more extensive planting next year. The most disconcerting predicament so far reported as having resulted from the afternoon electric power cuts was experienced by an American army officer, who was submitted to one hour's solitary confinement in a dark lift in the Waverley Hotel (Auckland). The officer entered the lift on the third floor just on 4 o'clock and was midway between the third and second floors when the light went' out and the lift came to an abrupt stop.

On a recent visit to Dunedin a well-known Auckland medical practitioner lost a glove. On returning to his home he was surprised to receive a letter from a Dunedin resident stating: " Some little time ago my father, aged 80, found a man's left-hand deerskin glove. As your name was printed on the inside, he asked me to forward it to you." The doctor acknowledged by letter the safe return of the glove. An unexpected item on the programme at the citizens' farewell to the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) and Lady Newall at Wellington, was a hrief speech by the latter. Before Lady Newall approached the microphone she was observed in conversation with one of her daughters. Her Excellency created a general laugh in the Town Hall when she divulged its terms. " One of my daughters has just said to me: ' Mummy, it is no use you" speaking. Daddy has said it all for you!'" Lady Newall explained. However, she felt that, on the last occasion of meeting the citizens of Wellington, she wished to add her thanks for the many kindnesses she had received, particularly from her fellow war workers. " I am going to be frank," said Lady Newall. "We became such good friends, because we have seen our mistakes as well as our sucesses. I shall always recall my many good friends hern with true affection." Demobilisation authorities in America are faced with a problem not encountered in New Zealand, states the ' R.S.A. Review.' This is the demobilisation of 23,000 odd dogs that served overseas. Over half of them saw active service, 140 as mine-detect-ing dogs, 151 as messengers, 268 as sleigh dogs, 541 aa scouts, and more than 9,000 as sentries. Of 15 breeds originally enlisted, Alsatians turned out to be the most satisfactory. The American forces lost 5,808 dogs from all causes while on duty, although only a small percentage could be regarded an battle casualties. Of those that came back, 446 were found to be unalterably affected by their war experience. At the army's dog rehabilitation centre at Fort Robinson, they were destroyed with the consent of their owners. They had become incorrigible killers. An interesting example of the manner in which British industry reacted to the spur of war needs was quoted by Lord Forrester, noted English industrialist, in an address to a meeting of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives' Association, at Auckland. Four or five factories' on the north-west coast of Scotland, he said, had been employed on extracting resins from seaweed, which were compounded with certain metals to form plastics. One of these dissolvable plastics was extensively used in the manufacture of supply parachutes for the resistance movement in Norway. The parachutes dissolved when dropped in the sea, and the containers were recovered later by a special technique. Formerly used by the Navy, a number of radio telephony sets, which have been obtained by the Auckland Harbour Board, will be used chiefly for ship-to-shore work. The first two are being installed in the pilot launch Waitemata and at the Mount Victoria Signal station. These will replace the Morse sets used before the war and not installed again, and will enable the Waitemata to maintain speech contact with Mount Victoria during her runs into Rangitoto Channel and to the pilot station. Other telephony sets will be installed in the relieving pilot launch, Ferro, the Harbourmaster's Queen's wharf office, and at Tiritiri Signal station. The set at Tiritiri will serve for emergency use in the event of a breakdown in the telephone line to Mount Victoria and Queen's wharf. One set is being held in reserve. It is considered that it could, in case of necessity, be placed in the tug William C. Daldy, which is now fitted for ocean rescue operations. The sets have a range of 200 miles, and would be well suited for work off the coast, if necessary.

A visit of considerable political significance will he paid by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, on Saturday, to Ngaruawahia. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Native Minister, Mr Mason, and the representative of the Maori race on the Executive Council, Mr Tirikatene. The purpose of the visit will be to discuss Maori problems in ' general and the long-standing claims of the Waikato tribes for compensation for lands confiscated after the war of 1863. It is also stated that the status of King Koroki will be discussed on Saturday with the Prime Minister. The meeting, which will be one of the largest for some time, will also include representa* tives of the South Auckland, Taranaki, and King Country tribes. At a meeting of members of the Otago Retailers' Association recently a motion of appreciation was recorded in respect of the services rendered by Mr J. Caldwell as the representative on the Patriotic Council. Mention was made of the fact that the retailers have been responsible for raising over £30,000 for patriotic purposes, and this micoess was in a larae measure due to the hard work nut in by Mr Caldwell. This amount was in excess of the quota allocated.

At a sitting of the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., judgment by default with costs was given in the following case: Wholesale Radio Dealers Ltd., (in voluntary liquidation); v. Nana Lupton, £6 for balance owing on hire of sound system.

A new menace to native insect-eat-ing birds, in addition to rapidly-in-creasing magpies which slaughter fantails that do not keep to the shelter of the bush, and which the society's rangers considered should have protection on them lifted, was the indiscriminate use of D.D.T., an insecticide which was like an. atomic bomb to insect life, said the chairman, Mr D. J. Gibbs, at a recent meeting of, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. "It certainly kills the flies, but it also kills the bees," he said "It kills the white butterfly but it also kills the Red 1 Admiral, so pretty in our autumn gardens. Will it kill the ladybird and other insects which provide much food in our trout streams? Anglers and garden observers must be on the lookout for the possibility of serious consequences if our insect life is interfered with, and scientists should check up to see that the power given to them is used for good) and not for evil."

"The decision is not mine to make, and it will depend on the wishes of the Labour Representation Committees concerned," said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, on Saturday, when asked which Wellington seat he would contest at the coming General Election Under the proposed changes to boundaries, as recommended by the Electoral Representation Commission, there is speculation whether the Prime Minister will contest Mount Victoria or Brooklyn. The latter approximates nearest to his present Wellington Central seat.

An Association message from Wellington reports that the Government has purchased the Awatea estate of Mr A. J. Speedy, Tinui, consisting of 3 195 acres, for soldier settlement. The property is 24 miles from Masterton. Unfavourable weather caused the suspension of the trans-Tasman air service to-day, reports a Wellington message. The Tasman Empire Airways flying boat Awarua was scheduled to reach Auckland from, Sydney this afternoon, hut the crossing has been delayed 24 hours. Advice has been received by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, that all the contingents visitiug London for the Victory Parade will be located at Kensington Gardens. The camps will begin to open on Mav 15 in readiness for the arrival of the overseas contingents. The New Zealanders, said Mr Jones, were due to arrive in London on May 31. The officer commandin"- troops on the Maunganui, by which the contingent would travel to the Uinted Kingdom, would be Lieutenantcolonel L. W. Andrew, V.C., who would also be in charge of the army detachment in the Victory Parade.