DOMINION NEW'S CROSS BETWEEN SHEEP AND GOAT BORN

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1946, Page 9

DOMINION NEW'S CROSS BETWEEN SHEEP AND GOAT BORN

An offspring believed to be a cross between a goat and a sheep has been born to a Romney ewe on the Big Hill station at Kereru, Hawke’s Bay.. Formerly it has been considered impossible for goats and sheep to inter-breed and this is regarded as the first instance of its kind in the Dominion. The lamb, or kid, has a sheep’s body, but it has the long, smooth hair of a goat. It has the long tail of a sheep and the horns of a goat are growing rapidly. The strange animal was found running with its mother when a large draft of sheep was brought in from the rough country at the foot of the ranges for docking. The youngster, a male, is healthy and exceptionally active. Large numbers of goats infest the country in which sheep were running during the winter.

Finance for Temporary Housing. By an amendment gazetted last night to the Local Authorities (Temporary Housing) Emergency Regulations, 194’4, local authorities are empowered to borrow money by overdraft for temporary housing work. This extends the power already granted to borrow by special loan.— (P.A.I

Child Drowned. - A two-year-old child who fell in the Waitara river at Waitara to-day while playing, was drowned before help arrived. He was Garry John Steel, a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Steel, of Waitara. The child’s body was recovered about a mile downstream from where he fell from the bank. —New Plymouth, December 5.

Milner Scholarship. The trustees of the Milner Memorial Scholarship Bursary, including free board for the holder at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, offered to sons of former Waitaki servicemen in memory of the late rector, Mr. Frank Milner, have now accepted office and will select the holder of the scholarship before December 17. The Waitaki Old Boys’ Association has launched an appeal for £lO,OOO for a memorial at Waitaki in memory of former Waitaki servicemen who were killed in the last Avar. —Oamaru, December 5.

Course at Defence College. Two senior officers of the New Zealand armed services, one from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the other from the Army, Will represent New Zealand at the 1947 course at the Imperial Defence College in Great Britain. They will be Air Commodore S. Wallingford, C.8.E., and Brigadier C. E. Weir, C. 8., C.8.E., D.S.O. Announcing the selection of these officers the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) said the course was of 12 months duration and would begin in January. It would be attended by senior officers from all the Dominions and from the Imperial forces.—lP.A.) Record Price for Grapes.

The highest price ever paid in New Zealand for grapes was obtained at the Auckland markets yesterday morning when four lib bunches, grown by Mrs. D. Nichols, of Otahuhu, brought 17/- a pound. This breaks the record set up in August of this year when three 121 b cases, grown at Mangere, brought IG/- a pound in the markets. Another bunch of grapes grown by Mr. E. J. Knight, of Mangere, sold yesterday for 16/- a pound. The city shop which bought Mrs. Nichols’s grapes was selling them at 19/- a bunch. Only one bunch had been sold last evening. When grapes are in season 3/- a pound is a good price.—(P.A.) Naval Benevolent Fund.

The excess of fricome from all sources over total expenditure for the year ended July 31, 1946, was £ll7l, compared with £3427 in 1945, states the annual report of the trustees of the New Zealand Naval Benevolent Fund. The decrease was mainly due to a reduction of £1662 in contributions from the Canteen Board and canteen rebates, as well as a decrease of £229 in donations. Funds held at July 31 totalled £19,528, compared with £15,950 in 1945. This increase was partially due to a grant of. £.1867 received from the King George V fund for sailors. A new constitution is being issued to all ships and establishments in the next few weeks.— (P.A.)