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Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 40, 15 January 1935, Page 6

As the result of an expedition which they undertook. Misses Honor Partridge and Phyllis Scott, of Dunedm, are now able to claim the distinction of being the only women to climb two peaks of the ltemarkables. The Rotorua Borough Council has received information from the Director of Civil Aviation intimating that, as it is proposed to completely reconstruct the Rotorua aerodrome, the Government is prepared to spend a sum on improving the area. While working in the ground of a private residence yesterday, Mr A. L. Miles, of Oxford Street secretary of the Palmerston North Chrysanthemum Club, fell from a tree. He will be confined to his home for a few days with shock and bruises. The extraordinary heat in which Christchurch sweltered last week invaded even the Magistrate’s Court, a cool building if ever there was one. Permission was given by Mr H. A. Young, S.M., that coats might be removed jf desired. It was aji unusual sight to see detectives, counsel, and other Court officials who were not in uniform, carrying put their duties in shirt sleeves. Their Excellencies Lord and the Lady Bledisloe aro expected to arrive in Rotorua this week, and the Maoris will avail themselves of the opportunity to make them further presents. The Arawa Trust Board has had two caskets carved as. a farewell gift. In the larger casket it is proposed to place a film of the Waitangi celebrations. An address from the Maoris will also be presented in the form of a scroll attached to two lucky sticks. Great importance was attached to those sticks by the Maoris in bygone clays. A feature of Saturday’s wool sale in Napier that mads interesting commentary both on the healthier tone of the wool market and at the same time on the restricted limits within which the wool-buyers were operating, was the number of minor disputes which arose anving the buyers as to whose hid was successful, says an exchange. In a number of instances the auctioneers were called upon to sort out the successful buyers from among a clamouring crowd, all apparently with the same limit and all vigorously bidding it. Needless to say, this element in the sale, while more significant of limits than of unrestricted competition, raised many a smile among the spectators.

Rain is urgently needed at Rotorua, especially in the outlying portions of the district, where the residents are dependent on tanks for their water supply. Mortality still continues among the toheroas along this coast, says the Levin Chronicle. At low-tide many can be seen lying on the shore while others have managed to get just below the surface but failed to survive.

The “Spanish Prisoner” confidence trick, soliciting monetary aid in return for a large reimbursement, has made its appearance in Marton, a resident having received one of the letters that appear to be going the rounds. The heavy burden of exchange and its effect upon the finances of the Auckland Transport Board were referred to by the chairman (Mr J. A. C. Allum). The board has a much larger total of overseas debt than other transport authority in the Dominion. Mr Allum said that whereas the amount of exchange in 1928 was £l73—for the year 1934 it was £20,599.

The necessity for the taking of more strict measures in connection with the eradication of goatsrue was stressed at to-day’s meeting of the Kairanga County Council. Cr. M. W. Voss remarked that there was only one efficacious method of dealing with the weed—by grubbing, for the mere cutting of it down appeared to make the plants thrive.

Fifty-three applications for the joint position of baths custodian and caretaker for the Terrace End School were dealt with by a sub-committee of the School Committee, last evening, when the number was narrowed down to six. These applicants will appear personally beforo the School Committee for n final decision. Sir and Sirs J. M. Arthur, who at present occupy the position, are leaving for Scotland in February.

At to-day’s meeting of the Kairange County Council authority was given the engineer to make application to the Public Works Department for permission to prepare plans for tho reconstruction of the wooden portion of the bridge over the Oroua River at Awahuri. The cost of the structure, which it is estimated will entail an outlay of between £BOOO and £9OOO. will be borne by the Kairanga and Slanawatu County Councils, the Palmerston North City Council and the Main Highways Board. Investigations with a view to establishing tho identity of the man whoso body was taken from the Slanawatu River near the Fitzherbert Bridge yesterday morning are being pursued actively by the police. It is considered the body had been in the water at least a month, and may have been carried a considerable distance by the water. No man has been reported missing from Palmerston North for some time, and it is anticipated that under these circumstances identification may prove difficult. The suggestion that a minimum rate of 30s a year would bo adequate for the supply of electricity to small country churches where only one or two services a month were held was made by Sir W. McKay at the meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, yesterday afternoon. The managingsecretary (Mr K. W. Eglinton) stated that the minimum was £2 14s a year. Churches and halls in country districts, he added, had their meters read only once a year, the summer and winter consumption thus being joined together. No action was taken. Recently Sir H. J. Farrant received a. telephone call relating to a strange bird that had been picked up on the North Road, Invercargill, reports the Southland Times. He went out to see the bird, which had died since, and identified it as the dove prion, commonly known as the whale bird. Since then another bird has been picked up at Awarua, and yet another in Nelson Street. In times of severe storms at sea it often happens that birds are driven inland, but the weather has been quite calm, and it is hard to account for these birds coming in from the sea.