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Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 6, 7 December 1931, Page 6

A request that public servants’ superannuation allowances be assessed as earned income for the purposes of taxation was declined by the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, in a letter received at a meeting of the Superannuated Public Servants’ Association in Auckland.

A supposed hoax, which nearly turned into a tragedy, occurred in Central Park, Whangarei. Two bank clerks were sitting under, the trees eating their lunch when another young man arrived. He stripped and appeared in the latest bathing costume. “I can’t swim,” he confided to the others. He looked so athletic that they did not believe him. “You jump in there. It isn’t very deep,” they said, pomting to the main channel. In lie jumped. He was in difficulties immediately, his head bobbing up and down, and he called for help at each emergence. For a space the boys on the bank thought he was joking. Then, realising the true position, they jumped in and rescued him.

A decision to take a poll of its ratepayers on the proposal to amalgamate with the city has been made by the Mount Eden Borough Council. , The road which is being constructed by the Public Works Department irom Te Anau to Milford Sound is expected to be within four miles of Lake Gunn by Christmas.

In separating two dogs that were fighting at the College Street School garden »pary on Saurday, Mr C. L. Turnbull, of Fizherbert Avenue, a member of the committee, received painful injuries to one Ids hands. The Wanganui Centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society is to be invested with full powers to control Castleclilf Beach. They will have power to deal with surf bathing and to regulate the use of the beach according to the prevalence of danger to human life. The 1931 whaling ses.son on the North Auckland coast- closed a few days ago. During the winter and summer operations carried out- from the base at Whangaruumu 53 whales were captured. The catch this year was very good compared with the last lew seasons, and the whales were in good condition.

Larrikins did extensive damage to the shrubbery at the south end of St. James’ Park. Papanui, Christchurch, one night recently. A number of shrubs varying in height from 3ft to 6ft were ruthlessly torn out by the roots and thrown on to the lawn. Others which the vandals could not uproot were wantonly broken and destroyed. The Hamilton Borough Council has decided to add a section to the by-laws making it an offence for any person, without the prior consent of the council, to be in possession of liquor on premises which are licensed as public billiard rooms, theatres, public halls and places of amusement, or to take liquor on to these premises when they are open to the public. An improved tone was evident on the New Zealand Stock Exchange last week, following the result of the general election. The mandate given to the Coalition Government produced a feeling of quiet confidence, which was reflected in a rise in most of the important stocks. Government securities were especially affected and advances in price were registered rn varying degrees in each of the four cities.

An American who visited New Zealand during the voyage of the Malolo a year ago purchased in the Dominion a comprehensive collection of seeds of native flowering shrubs, and germinated them on his return to California. A large number of the plants flourished in the Californian climate, and they now form an interesting and much-admired New Zealand corner of his spacious garden. Other portions of the garden are devoted to the flora of Australia, the Pacific Islands, China and Japan.

Steady rain that fell throughout the district last night will be welcomed by farmers and others for pastures were in places becoming somewhat parched. The rain will also be appreciated by town residents and will do an immense amount of good to gardens. The fall for the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. to-day, as recorded by Mr T. R. Moore, “Waimarama,” Terrace End, amounted to 57 points. Beneficial rain has also fallen in the Wairarapa, but Hawke’s Bay is still badly in need of rain.

Commissioner Cunningham was recently invited to meet His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe at Government House. Their Excellencies manifested great interest in what the Army's leader in New Zealand had to say regarding the work of the organisation. The forthcoming visit of General and Mrs Higgins was referred to and His Excellency stated that it would afford Lady Bledisloe and himself the greatest pleasure to entertain them at Government House during their stay in Wellington. The ownership of a Maori canoe, which was made in IS4i , was the subject of an action in the Magistrate’s Court at Paeroa' recently, and his decision has now been given by Mr F. W. Platts, S.M. A great number of witnesses' gave evidence for both sides, and the history of the canoe was traced from the time’it was built until it came into the possession of one Haora Tererangi. The Magistrate ordered Mangu Clark to return the canoe, and, failing this, the Court should be asked to fix a sum of money in compensation. Securitv for appeal was fixed at £SO. In the Times (London! of October 30 the following letter appeared from Mrs A. M. Martineau, Sunny Corner, Ascot-:—“You were good enough to publish a letter from me on ‘Blended Butter’ not long ago. May I again appeal to everyone to insist on having •guaranteed’ New Zealand or Australian butter sent to them? I find that some of tile shops will make any excuse for sending blended butter (Argentine or Russian) instead, even when a standing order for colonial butter is given. The shopman will smile pityingly at you and say, ‘Of course, I can* procure you standard New Zealand butter, but our ‘own blend’ of New Zealand is far superior.’ ” Items of useful general information are often to be gleaned from expert witnesses in Court, and a valuable hint was dropped by a timber expert in the Supreme Court at Auckland as to one way of hindering the tendency for nails to split wood. Counsel was arguing that because a certain nail was blunted or burred at the point it must have been driven out again after being put in. and was surprised to be told by the witness that it was a common thing for carpenters to blunt a nail point in order to prevent splitting. “I never heard of such a thing!” exclaimed counsel, who was gently reminded by Mr Justice Smith that there were probably many things in joinery of which he had not heard.