The Levin Daily Chronicle TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 February 1939, Page 4

The Levin Daily Chronicle TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“This is a new word, isn’t it?” asked Mr. Justice O’Regan in the Arbitration Court in Wellington, when the “radiotricians” award was under discussion. “Have you made application to have the word included in the dictionary?” a*ked Mr. W. Cecil (employers’ representative). His Honour: “If it’s in use long enough it will get into the dictionary. They-will put ‘finalise’ in the dictionary ultimately,”

A schoolboy “howler” which rocked with laughter the 500 ex-pupils who attended the Park and Waihopai' Schools’ Jubilee banquet in Invercargill, was told by Dr. A. A. Tennent, of Wellington. He said that a small boy, on being asked by the teacher to state what he knew of the death of Napoleon, scratched his head and then answered: “Napoleon died as a result of his confinement in St. Helen’s.”

It Avas recently reported that the entry to New Zealand of English ales had been preA T ented by the import restrictions. An importer of. Scottish ales states that he has been allowed one-third of last year’s imports as the quota for the first half of this year, and he understood that importers of English beer who had been doing a regular business had been allowed a similar cpiota, states a message from Wellington.

“I am not going to take great pains with this/’ said the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, when laying the foundation of the new manual training block at the Rotorua High School. ~“It has generally been my experience that after the Minister of Education has finished laying a foundation stone the real workmen come along afterward and take it away until it can be properly laid.”

Two German opticians had applied to Dunedin firms for positions, according to a report presented to the annual conference in Wellington of the Institute of Opticians of New Zealand. Delegates from other centres said they also had received applications from German subjects. It was decided that, considering the high standard of the examinations in New Zealand, nothing could be done to assist refugees, although sympathy was expressed with them.

The presence of two breeds of dogs new to Auckland shows, Afghan and Elk hounds, at the Auckland Kennel CluN Show, created much interest. The Elk hounds are not unlike the “huskie” of Polar fame, having pointed upstanding ears and tail curling upward over the hindquarters. The Afghan hound is of unusual build and colouring. Taller than a greyhound, the hair of its coat is long and uni*, form from shoulders to the paws.

A party consisting of 125 employees of the Post and Telegraph at Palmerston North made a trip of 18 miles up the Wanganui River as far as Hipango ■'ni Sunday. Leaving the city by bus they were taken by a specially chartered boat up the river, arriving at their destination at 12.30. The time until 5 o’clock Avas spent in tramping, sAvimming and canoeing. The party reached the city on their return at about 8.3*0. The organisers were Messrs E, Patterson and Y. Stagpoole.

A long swim from the beach at Point Chevalier to the Devonport Wharf was undertaken at Auckland on Sundav afternoon by Mr. J, D. Foster, of Point Chevalier, in an attempt on the record for the same SAvim Avhich he set up 11 years ago. Mr. Foster, who is aged 64, made the crossing on February 12th, .1928, in 3 hours 20 minutes. He improved on that time by about 25 minutes. Leaving Point Chevalier beach shortly after 1 o’clock, he reached OeAmnport at 3.56. He was in no way distressed by his swim.

A final reminder is given of the garden party arranged by the Levin branch of the W.D.F.U., to be held at Major Tatum’s residence, Manakau, tomorroAV afternoon. It is hoped there will be a large attendance of members and their friends, as the function will take the place of the usual monthly social afternoon. Numerous competitions have been arranged, and visitors are assured of spending a very enjoyable afternoon in delightful surroundings. The small price of admission (1/6) entitles visitors to afternoon tea and participation in the competitions.

Pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists, are obliged to observe the railway by-laAv, Avhich states that if a train is within half a mile of a crossing, nobody shall attempt to cross over the line. This was emphasised in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday Avhen ,a Avoman pedestrian was charged with crossing the line in the Square when the engine Avas two chains off. The case was brought as a warning and no penalty was asked for by the police. Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., said he had seen pedestrians crossing the line when the engine was right on the crossing.

For the first time, rare plants from the high mountains of New Zealand have reached Great Britain alive. Th'ey were carried by air mail in a vacuum flask. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Edinburgh have been anxious for years to obtain species of alpine plants from New Zealand. Various attempts have been made to send them forward, but with little success. The latest attempt was made by the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The thermos flask contained various specimens of the New Zealand vegetable sheep and other rare alpines. It left Christchurch on December 21st, and arrived, at Edinburgh on January 9th. The experiment was not an entire success, but a number of the plants arrived in excellent condition.

Speakers and writers on Fitness Week emphasised the virtue of an abundant supply of wholesome food, said Mr. J. H. Stevens in an address before members of the Palmerston North Rotary Club yesterday. They did not realise that the average man and woman who weighed about 10 stone consumed more solid food than a cow weighing 50 stone. Yet not one cow in a hundred Avas ever unwell, rvhilst one person in 10 Avas on the sick list several times a year. The Maori, who regarded health as a sacred thing and considered sickness a disgrace, had little to eat because of the difficulty of acquiring food. Though no satisfactory conclusion could be at, it was estimated that the number of accidents caused by defectiA’e vision was fewer than 3 per cent., said Mr. E. R. Boyd in a report on traffic regulations and visual requirements presented to the annual conference of the Institute of Opticians of New Zealand held in Wellington. The conference approA r ed of a resolution that the inadequacies, of the present Adsual certificate be pointed out, with ■a vieAV to drawing up a neAV and more suitable form covering the recording or visual acuity Avith and without glasses, and having provision for the noting of any other visual defect which might an effect on the capability of the driA r er,