LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 April 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The big cargo of whale oil which was on the Norwegian whaling vessel, C. A. Larsen, when shie stniek a rock and sprang a leak, in Paterson’.s Inlet, Stewart- Island, has been pumped intothe oil t.anker Spinanger, which arrived, at Paterson’s Inlet on April 4. The Spinanger is a vessel of 10,000 tons, this being her maiden voyage. She will sail for New York with the oil which is valued at over £1,000,000. The fate of Presbyterian ministers after 70 years of age, in relation to the Church’s beneficiary fund, was discussed at the meeting of the Christobuirnh Presbytery recently, when it was found that the rules of* bhr* fund stipulated that years-of service of ministers over 70 years of age could not, he taken into account. When the Rev. D. Erwin argued that if a minister was in good health his years of service over 70 should be taken into account-, it wats. stated in reply that the rule was definite. and could lie altered only by resolution of the General Assembly. There are between three and four thousand new applications yearly for employment in the New Zealand. Railways. This number does not include these applicants who, having resigned from their previous employment with the Department are applying for re-em-ployment. Approximately 40 per cent, of the total number of- applications are renewed sometime during the year, t he following figures indicate the extent to which the Railways absorbed staff duirinrr the past three and a half years. New applications, 10,600; nominated for appointment. 4563; appointments. 3098; appointments —29 per cent, or new applications.

Dr. It. J. Tillyard, the newly-appoint-ed Commonwealth Entomologist has left Sydney on the Tahiti for the United States and Europe. The purpose of hi.s visit is to select, staffs for insects pests and noxious weeds research, work in Australia, and to establish two subbranclies for the work in England, and one in France. Dr. Tilly aid’s - absence will probably not exceed six months, and by the time of liis return laboratories and other bui 1 dings required for his work at Canberra will have beim ore tied. Dr. TUlyard’s appointment by the ministry was an attempt to control the blowflv pest in sheep in Australia by scientific means, and also to minimise the depredations of buffao flies, thrips, lucerne fleas, grass grubs, codtin moths and aphides of various kinds. H-'q work is divided roughly into two classes —the control of insect pests by their natui'a enemies, and the destruction of noxious weeds.

Friday evening has been fixed for the annual meeting of the MeremereO'hangai Sports Club in the Oliangai Hall, when a review will lie given ol the work of the past year and preliminary arrangements made for - the carrying on of the work of the coining year.

The Eltham Lawn Tennis Club s annual ball is to be held on Friday next in the Eltham Town Hall. Particulars are advertised in this issue.

In order to augment the funds of the Church of England in the Auroa district the ladies are organising a dance to be held in the Auroa Hall on Friday, May 11. They are making every possible arrangement to secure an enjoyable and successful evening.