NEWS of the DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23044, 7 September 1949, Page 6

NEWS of the DAY

Council's Sympathy Sympathy with Mr. J. S. Wauchop, an ex-member of the Gisborne Borough Council, in the recent death of his wife was expressed at last night's meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council. Largest Ship to Berth Due to visit New Plymouth early next year is the 16,948-ton passenger liner Rangitiki. She will be the largest ship to berth at the New Plymouth port.

Motu Girl’s Competitions Success Competing in the recent festival of the Wellington Competitions Society Miss Joan Whitehead, daughter of Mrs. F. Read, Motu, won the Ena Rapley Cup for pianoforte in the 18 to 21 years age group. Miss Whitehead was also placed second in the sight-reading class for her age group and was highly commended in a piano solo, own selec-tion.-—S.R. Home Aid Service The home aid service in the Wai kato has been doubled in strength, with four aids operating. Since inauguration of the service two years ago, under the direction of the Department of Labour and Employment, invaluable assistance has been given in homes where there are maternity and sickness cases by the two aids operating. Parked Three Weeks A salesman to a New Plymouth firm who drove one of the company’s cars to Napier, parked it in Emerson street, and then abandoned it, gave the Napier police a problem recently. The vehicle was left locked in a 20minute limit area for three weeks before it was removed by a breakdown truck. The police traced the owners of the vecicle. which was returned to Taranaki.

Brewery Horses to Disappear

The picturesque brewery horses of Christchurch will soon disappear from the streets. New Zealand Breweries, Limited, will withdraw its team later this month and the horses will be sold at auction. Their place will be taken by motor-trucks to provide quicker transport. Subterranean Noise An unusual subterranean noise was heard recently by residents of Sawyers Arftis, Highsted and Veitchs Roads, near Christchurch. Descriptions of the noise varied between “a low moan” and “a sort of gurgling,” but the sound was loud enough to bring residents out of doors to investigate, and to disturb cattle, which started to bellow. “Shock” Treatment Equipment is being developed by the Dominion Physical Laboratory to give an alternative method of shock treatment for certain mental cases. The new method, known as the “brief stimuli” treatment, involves the application of using an alternating voltage for a set period as is done at present. The work is being done at the request of the Department of Health. Aerial Topdressing One of the most interested spectators at the recent aerial topdressing display at Ohariu Valley, near Wellington, was the Waikato member, Mr, G. F. Sim, who intends shortly to ask the Minister of Agricuture, Mr. E. L. Cullen, whether he would arrange for a similar demonstration to be given in the Waikato. Mr. Nash and Carpets “Mr. Nash seems to look on carpets as luxuries," says the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ and New Zealand Representatives’ Association in its annual report. “Evidently," says the report, "the Minister is of the erroneous opinion that the New Zealand carpet factories can supply a good percentage of our local demand. Unless further 1949 licenses are issued soon, carpet stocks will be at a very low ebb indeed by the end of 1949.”

History of South African Contingents A history of the New Zealand Contingents who fought in the South African War is now in the hands of the printer, according to the annual report of the Internal Affairs Department. It is thought the history will be published in September. One of the chief difficulties in preparing the history, the report says, was lack of suitable photographs. and an appeal was made to the South African War Veterans’ Association. The South African War ended in 1902.

Teeth and Gold-Posts How a South African visitor asked to give his impressions of New Zealand had replied it was “a land of mortgages, artificial teeth and goal-posts” was related by the Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. Rogers, at a civic welcome to the visiting Otago Rugby team. "I don't think the mortgages are such a problem nowadays,” said Mr. Rogers amid laughter. “And my experience of artificial teeth is confined to my own set. However. I think we are all agreed that there can’t be too many goal-posts.” Finland’s X-ray Scheme While in Stockholm, Dr. E. P. Allen, Now Plymouth, learned some details of the mass miniature X-ray scheme in Finland, where it has been developed to a much greater degree than in New Zealand. The scheme was controlled by a body representing the Government health service, employers, trades councils, insurance companies, schools and universities and its records showed that it had covered 93 per cent of the entire population of the country. The fact that it was still conducted on a voluntary basis made the results even more remarkable, he added.

Maori Whitebait Carriers An instance of the use of ancient Maori crafts was given in Christchurch by Mr. F. Bennington, inspector of fisheries for the Marine Department. A typical example was the method used by South Westland Maoris for transporting whitebait, he said. Two baskets were woven out of flax, and after the whitebait had been placed in the smaller of the two. the baskets were telescoped together, thus forming a watertight compartment. The whitebait could (hen be left five or six days in Urn sun and wind and would be perfectly fresh when taken out. Because of their watertight qualities, the baskets were often user) as water carriers.