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Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 111, 10 April 1934, Page 6

Old-age pensions in force in Australia on March 23 numbered 179,739, an increase of about 3100 in the last 12 months.

The Hamilton Beautifying Society is asking the Borough Council to increase its annual grant of £IOOO. The society last year spent about £ISOO. A police raid at Waiau recently unearthed a store of nearly 400 gallons of home-brewed honeymead, says an exchange. The raid was the work of a Christchurch constable, who visited the locality disguised as a tramp. More than 1600 boys have been found positions on the land under the Now South Wales rural employment scheme. An official report states that not 3 per cent, of the boys have proved unsuitable, and 1200 have opened Savings Bank accounts. At a meeting of the Wellington School Committees’ and Educational Federation it was decided that the Education Department be approached to amend the staffing regulations of the larger schools to ensure a maximum of 35 pupils to each teacher. There are at present sixty-nine unemployed registered at Pahiatua, of which number 39 are engaged under the No 5 scheme, 25 under the No. 4a scheme, and five under the No. 4b scheme. The number of registrations under the No. 5 scheme last month were 45, and this time last year totalled 57.

The meteorological figures for Lake Tekapo (Canterbury) for March are as follow: The sun shone on 28 days for a total of 198.8 hours, the daily average for the month being 6.4 hours. The total sunshine for the year to March 31 was 700.9 hours, giving a daily average of 71ir 42min. liain fell on seven days for a total of .81 inches, and the total rainfall for the year to March 31 was 5.96 inches. Unbroken sunshine during each day was experienced in the Easter holidays.

An unusual trouble this summer at the sugar refining works at Chelsea, Auckland, has been an invasion of bees intent on raiding the syrup vats, and stingingly resentful of any attempt to head off their designs on the sweets of the establishment. In a hot atmosphere, and with a minimum of clothing on the inside workers at the refinery have suffered quite a number of casualties in their battles with bees, and have had frequent recourse to the “blue bag,” as treatment for stings. Many thousands, probably millions, of bees have been drowned in the syrup vats, necessitating careful removal. No doulit the bee colonies of apiaries near Birkenhead have suffered considerably. Only once before has the refinery suffered such extensive bee raids. Apparently it is a result of the unusual summer conditions and their effect on the flower and clover pollens.

Trees and shrubs in the Marlborough Sounds district have been greatly affected by the recent drought, the dry weather being responsible for many being killed. The Johnsonville Town Board has decided to hold a meeting in a certain street after dark one night to investigate the complaints which have been made to it regarding the lack of lighting. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce last night decided to protest at the amended scale of telegraph charges imposed by the Government recently, supporting the Dunedin and Wellington chambers in this connection. During the two year's of its service, concluded on March 31, the Wellington boy employment committee has placed 1269 boys in employment, temporary and permanent. The Unemployment Board has made a further grant of £IOO in appreciation of the work done. Nominations for the two vacant seats on tho Woodville Borough Council closed at noon on Saturday, but no nominations were received. This was the fifth occasion on which nominations have been called without a citizen coming forward to offer his services as a councillor. An outbreak of measles is still affecting the attendance at schools in Palmerston North, according to reports received by school committees, last evening. In the case of Milson, it was reported that the attendance on some days was less than 75 per cent, of the roll number.

There was an amusing moment during the progress of the New South Wales v. New Zealand golf matches at Auckland last Saturday. The players, as is well-known, are careful in seeing that bits of grass are moved out of the way on the putting green. One golfer saw a little black spot about the size of a marble and went to remove it, but it was a bumble bee, and it quickly sailed away—as did the player. The judge at the Okoke. (Taranaki) dog trials, the veteran Mr H. Lambert, Pukeko, resides only a few miles in a direct line from the trial ground, whereas to make the trip by motor car entails a journey of over 30 miles. Accompanied by another enthusiast and well-known competitor, Mr S. George, he set out early in the morning on a four miles’ trek through bush and over hills, having during a considerable portion of the journey to travel through a heavy fog. After over an hour and a half of very rough walking they readied Piko Road, whence they were motored the nine miles to the scene of the trials. The statement that lie had been offered a good job for life at any salary lie cared to name was made by Sir Hubert Wilkins, tlie Polar explorer, during an address to the Palmerston North Rotary Club yesterday. He said the overtures had come from a group of grain market speculators who operated chiefly in the Chicago wheat pool. The condition they imposed was that he “must lay off” his work, in his Polar explorations, of securing meteorological data which would enable the seasons ultimately to be forecast. They realised that this would mean the end of their speculations.. Needless to say, he had not accepted the offer. A splendid 'example of an athlete triumphing over a physical disability was provided by I<\ E. Watt at the Auckland secondary schools’ sports tournament on Saturday afternoon. Watt, who is a pupil of the Auckland Grammar School, has a withered right arm, and he appeared on the track with that limb in a sling. In the senior mile championship he scored a runaway victory, and although lie had no oiio to pace him over the latter part of the journey he succeeded in breaking the record established by him a year ago. His time on Sa.tnrdav was 4.33 3-5, a time which bettered the previous best by no less than llsee. Watt also ran splendidly as a member of the victorious Auckland Grammar School team in the senior relay, in which event a record time was registered.