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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 8

An indication of 'the acute water shortage at the’ Rocks was supplied by an Invercargill resident whose Riverton crib has only one tank (states the Southland Times). One day recently, so dire had become the need that, going to the Rocks by car, he deemed it worth while to carry two benzine tins of water from Invercargill to Ills seaside home.

To-day is the 57th anniversary of the arrival in New Zealand of the First Middlesex Regiment (“The Diehards”). In 1927 the total sunshine in Nelson as recorded by the Cawthron Institute amounted to 2560 hours 23 minutes, a day average of over seven hours. During his absence on holiday someone entered the borne of Mr A. H. Cavell, solicitor, of Christchurch, and stole a considerable quantity of silver and glassware. A trial shipment of Palestine oranges from Jaffa will reach Auckland by the Ulimaroa from Sydney on Tuesday. Comprising about 2000 cases, the consignment is the first of its kind to bo brought to New Zealand. Subject to revision by the Assessment Court, the city valuer estimates that the total rateable value of Auckland for tlie year 1928-29 will be £2,474,684, compared with £2,262,210 last year, an increase of 9.3 per cent.

Two Bluff residents paid a visit to the stokehold of the oil burner Cumberland and were permitted to light one of the fires (says the Southland Times). By some mishap the oil threw backwards, completely ruining the suit of one gentleman and splashing the collar and shirt of the other.

The Government intends to appoint an officer to-take charge of the provision of meteorological information to aviators in Now Zealand in accordance with the recommendation of tlie Imperial Airways Aiission which was here a few months ago. Before taking up duty lie will undergo training in London.

The twenty-eighth anniversary of tlie departure of the second New Zealand Contingent to take part in the fciouth African War fell yesterday. The contingent, comiunuled by Major Craddock, and consisting of 258 ollicers and men, loft Wellington in the steamer Waiwera on January 20, 1900, anu arrived at°Durban on February 18. With largo mobs of sheep on the road between lLatawai and Opotiki motor-car drivers are experiencing some difficulty in travelling along that route (says an exchange). it is estimated that there are approximately 18,DUO sheep bound tor the Waikato on the road, while more aiyj expected shortly. It is stated that already from 25,000 to 30,U00 breeding ewes have left Poverty Bay for the Waikato this season.

Representatives of a number of organisations concerned with tlie welfare of the blind wore present at kiie memorial service to the fate Sir Arthur T'earson, which was held at Holy Trinity Church, St. Alarylebone, London, on the evening of December 9th. Alany other distinguished people attended and there was a muster of war-blinued men from St. Dunstan’s, the great organisation which Sir Arthur Pearson fouudeu during the war. Though braked by its driver, a Post and Telegraph Department lorry almost suffered serious damage in the Parliamentary Grounds, Wellington, yesterday. The driver, who was in the Bowen street vestibule of Parliament Buildings, suddenly saw his lorry moving down kill, and caught it just as it passed the edge of a steep bank. The vehicle was arrested by a tree after tearing a gap in a hedge, but it broke the tree badly with the impact. South Canterbury farmers are complaining loudly concerning the havoc that is being wrought by small birds among the early-ripening cereal crops (says the Timaru Herald). It is stated that the small bird nuisance is worse this season than ever it has been in South Canterbury and 'that some of the early oat crops, which promised to yield well, will now scarcely be worth cutting. The need for concerted action of farmers to destroy small birds in the winter months is urged. “One of the difficulties of the Presbyterian system is that congregations are ministered to by one man, year in and year out,” said the Rev. Hector Maclean, when speaking at a valedictory social tendered in his honour at Dunedin by the members of St. Andrew’s Church. He added that in his opinion one man, however clover he might be, could not possibly satisfy everyone. It was not right that he should minister to the same people indefinitely. Tliero should be more frequent opportunities for them to hear others and thus every need would be filled.