News Briefs

Evening Star, Issue 26103, 17 May 1947, Page 6

News Briefs

Egg Scarcity Eggs are again scarce in Dunedin, the supplies received this week by retailers being only sufficient to cover the requirements persons entitled to eggs under the priority system. This seasonal shortage has been aggravated through a shipment being sent to Wellington, where eggs are almost unprocurable, priorities being restricted to one egg a week. The normal ration of an egg a person is expected to be resumed shortly i'l Dunedin. Peat and Sawdust Fuel

Peat from the vast Rukuhia swamp, near Hamilton, combined with sawdust waste from nearby' sawmills, is to be made into a fuel for household use. The fuel will be provided in blocks about half the size of an ordinary brick. Samples of these blocks have already been made (says the ‘New Zealand Herald ’). They burn with a flame, but very little smoke, and leave scarcely any ash. They are stated to be superior for household purposes to much of the open-cast coal being marketed to-day. Plans are under way to float a company to turn out about 6,000 such blocks an hour at first. The inventor of the new fuel, Mr Herbert Hill, of Nelson, said that this production would be stepped up as more plant came to hand.

Mammoth Lift of 95 Tons Swung cleanly from the water by one of the mammoth derricks ‘of the British steamer Empire Charmian at Export wharf, a 95-ton steel tug achieved a new stevedoring record at Auckland by being the heaviest lift ever made on the waterfront. Tho tug was cradled in three wire slings attached to a spreader weighing 17 tons, and the full weight carried by the derrick amounted to 112 tons, eight tons below its safe working capacity. The tug, 75ft in length, was the first of 18 ships purchased by Unrra at Auckland for China to be loaded in the Empire Charmian. Remembrance of Founder The annual ceremony of remembrance of Edward Gibbon Wakefield as founder of New Zealand, was held at his grave in Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington, yesterday, when the Mayor, Mr W. Appleton, laid a wreath on the tombstone. The wreath is annually provided from a fund established in 1940 by Viscount Bledisloe. It bore the following inscription: “In respectful appreciation of a far-sighted colonising genius, from a former Governor-General.” Lost Coal Production The Mjllerton miners who have not worked since Tuesday are still idle, no satisfaction having been received in their negotiations with the Coal Council for increases in hewing rates. Since the trouble started four days ago it is estimated that over 1(000 tons of coal production has been lost. Early in the week some ships were held up at Westport because of a shortage of coal supplies and the position will not be improved by the present stoppage. Naseby Has Electricity Naseby has new lamps for old, electric light replacing the kerosene lamp in the borough last night. This occasion was marked at dusk, when the borough lamp-lighter, Mr William Jacob, lit the only remaining kerosene light outside the Public Hall at dusk, and at about 8 p.m., when the Mayoress, Mrs T. J. Wetherall, pressed a switch to illuminate this old Central Otago mining town. The reticulation of the borough with the Otago Electric Power Board’s supply was am event that was enthusiastically celebrated by residents, who crowded the town during the day to see a display of decorated floats and a sports meeting held on the recreation ground. The official ceremony of the . switching on of the electric power included speeches by. representatives of the Otago Electric Power Board and the Maniototo Countv Council, and by Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P. " Squatters" Annex Home

A building in Spey street was occupied by two families of “ squatters ” yesterday, one comprising the woman and her eight children, who were previously living in a condemned house in Clyde street. . Before they occupied the premises the “ squatters ” notified the owner and police that they were about to take action. The owner is reported to have forbidden the families to move in, but he refused, to make any comment on their action. The building was once a boarding house, but was being used as a store for furniture. The families had cleared several rooms of their contents, and intended to. live in them as long as possible, said ono of the women. Amity Fosters Production

The official statement made that 367,000,000 feet of sawn timber was produced in the year ended March 31, which was a New 7 Zealand record, proved conclusively that where there was co-operation between the workers’ union and the employers’ organisation harmonious relations tended to step up production, said the secretary of the Now 7 Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, Mr F. Craig. Such relationships did exist in the timber industry and the resulting high production would be appreciated b.v everyone, he said. Students Thank Patrons

Messrs Frank Holmes, president of the Otago University Students’ Association, and John Boyd-Wilson, capping controller, write thus to the editor:—“ The success of our capping celebrations depends very largely on the sympathy and goodwill of the Dunedin public. We hope, therefore, that you will allow us space in your columns to express, on behalf of the Students’ Association, our sincere thanks to the people of Dunedin for the magnificent way in which they have supported our efforts this week. Their generosity makes it possible for us to make a donation to three deserving charities. The proceeds from the procession, which should amount to about £750. will again be given to the Crippled Children Society, and out of the profits from tho book and concert, the International Student Service and the Food for Britain Fund will each have £IOO. The balance will assist the new Students’ Union .Building Fund. We should also like to thank publicly Cr. D. C. Jolly, the chief traffic insnector, Mr Barrett, and Dr A. It. Ellis, who were kind enough to help us inspect the procession. Though fhev found it unnecessary to use their censorial powers, they were most helpful in judging the merits of the floats, and their .willingness to act in such a capacity was greatly appreciated.”

" Winnie's " Paintings , When opening the annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts, the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, said he was interested to read that in the Royal Academy exhibition recently opened in London, two landscapes, which were painted by Mr Churchill and entered under the nom de plume, “ Mr Winter,” were exciting unusual interest. Mr Churchill had decided quite late in life to add to his already great achievements by becoming a painter, Sir Bernard said. He had continued painting whenever the opportunity presented itself, and, although he had not painted a large number of pictures, his work to date had always shown distinction and was much sought after. Mr Churchill had promised him one of his works, Sir 4 Bernard added, and if he received it he would exhibit it throughout the Dominion. Wellington Power Cuts The onlv power cuts in Wellington next week will be the overnight blanket cuts from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and the usual week-end cuts, reports an Association message. This substantial concession, which involves the removal of the morning and afternoon suburban cuts from Monday to Friday and the early evening half-hour cut in the .city area from Monday to Thursday inclusive and the overnight blanket cut on Thursday night, was last night by the general manager of the City Electricity Department, Mr L. B. Hutton. I Every Little helps' j Parcels for Corso distribution are of many types and come from many sources. The latest news . bulletin issued by this relief organisation quotes a letter from a (very) junior branch of the Women’s Division of the Federated Farmers. “We are sending,” "says tho letter, “ 80 cakes of soap, one small pink dog, one paper bag of cent bags for the little Greek girls to put in their handkies. We made these for them ourselves; one nicturo book, one box of plasticine, five ribbons, one doll, one bear (rabbit?).” Britain is " Home " “ Wo in Britain have always realised that New Zealand was a very loyal country, but it was not until I came here that I realised fully just how much people were attached to Britain,” said Mr W. P. J. Wright, of London, in an interview with the 1 Star.’ “ One thing that struck me was the great number who called Britain ‘ Home,’ and what is amazing is that among these are not only those who were born or educated in Britain, but younger folk who were perhaps never in'that country. I notice this particularly because T do not use tho word myself.”