Untitled

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 44, 19 January 1935, Page 6

Two young cuckoos, which for a week or ten days have been in a Thames garden, are being fed by two pairs of white eyes. An announcement that he intends to contest the Marsden seat at the next Parliamentary general election as an Independent candidate has been made by Mr St. Clair Jounnaux, of Whangarei. The Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt) informed the members of the Auckland Hospital Board at a meeting this week that the death rate from tuberculosis had been reduced in New Zealand until it was now the lowest in the world. The disease was not yet wiped out, and it was estimated that for every death there were about ten active cases. Complaints of the dust nuisance created by motorists who persisted, for no legitimate reason, in driving with two wheels on the bitumen and two on the loose metal surface at the side of the road were voiced at the meeting of the Manawatu Automobile Association, last evening. Others following behind, it was said, were “choked” with dust, and visibility was obscured. It was a breach of the rules of road courtesy. A sparrow found its way into the house of a Hamilton resident during his absence on holiday. It had evidently explored the kitchen in search of food and eventually detected some crumbs in an electric toaster. In attempting to secure these its head became stuck between the bars of the rack on which the toast rests and it was unable to free itself. When the owner returned it was still fluttering feebly, but soon recovered when he released it, and flew away apparently little worse for its experience.

A new post office lias been completed at Taumarunui.

About 200 men are still employed at the Waitaki hydro-electric works, where much work still remains to be done.

It is expected that a census of the New Zealand population will be taken early next year. The last census was deferred in 1931.

Manawatu’s contingent of Boy Scouts who attended the Melbourne Centenary Jamboree at Frankston are expected to return to Palmerston North on Tuesday morning. A columbarium, or building having many small niches for the reception of urns containing ashes from cremations, will be completed at the Karori Cemetery, Wellington, shortly.

Federal statistics show that the percentage of unemployment in Australia at the middle of November was 18.8 per cent. This was the lowest percentage recorded since May, 1930, when the rate was 18.5 per cent. Old settlers state that they have never seen the Wairarapa Lake so well patronised by wild fowl ns it is to-day. The close season of last year has had a wonderful effect in restoring game to this fine water reserve. Among the proposals to come before the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture at its annual conference in Dunedin on January 24 is one that the Government again be urged to consider favourably the necessity for the establishment of a national botanic garden. The young Maori girl, Agues MacDonald, who was injured as a result of tailing on a manuka stake at Holcio Beach on Wednesday, is reported to be progressing satisfactorily by the Palmerston North Hospital authorities. The accident occurred when the girl jumped into a stream from a footbridge.

The Manawatu Automobile Association, last evening, decided to inquire what steps the Ma.in Highways Board were taking to co-operate with the Railway Department in the improvement of level crossings. It was mentioned that some of the crossings in Palmerston North were very bumpy and in a bad state. The New South Wales Education Department proposes to teach boys how to make model aeroplanes,', as a part of their school training. The department hopes, by -this means, to give boys practical instruction in the elementary principles of aeronautics, which lias become a subject in the State schools’ curriculum.

The contribution of the New Zealand Government towards the Royal Empire Society’s new building in London will be New Zealand timber valued at £6OO. It has been suggested that the timber should be used for panelling and flooring one of the committee rooms, the panelling to be in figured rimu and the flooring in either matai or Southland beech. An investigation of traffic noises in Palmerston Nqrth is to bo undertaken by the Manawatu Automobile Association’s service officer. This action follows a suggestion made to the association’s committee last evening by Mr R. T. Jaggarr], who asked for a report on the noises made in the city by motor-cycles, and the horns of both taxis and private motor vehicles. A number of remits dealing with the preservation of forest are to come before the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. The introduction of the Native Plants Protection Act is approved, and it will be urged that all possible steps should be taken to ensure the permanent preservation of suitable areas of indigenous forests in the Dominion.

The party of ten American scientists who arrived in New Zealand recently are now visiting Russell for the purpose of making a scientific study of seaweed. They have spent five months in Australia and Tasmania and expect to remain in New Zealand about, two months. They will work mostly in the Bay of Islands and Stewart Island, and perhaps in some of the bays near Wellington. The Manawatu Automobile Association, last evening, decided to submit a remit to the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union on February 5 asking the latter body to induce the Manawatu County Council to complete arrangements for sealing the remaining nine miles of the Himatangi-Sanson route at the earliest possible moment. The Main Highways Board lias offered a £4 to £1 subsidy and the county is asking for a £G to £1 subsidy. A bush-tire on Saddle Road, Woodville, on Thursday, caused some damage to Messrs T. H. Williams and R. G. Smith’s properties. The flames swept across the road in one place, setting fire to one of the bridges. The Woodville County Council staff under the engineer (Mr W. J. Hawkes) had a busy time subduing the flames. Other fires were prevalent at Kumeroa and on the Hall Block. “After a serious grass fire recently a witness stated that he saw a car load of men proceeding to the races throwing lighted matches from the vehicle," reported the service officer (Mr V. Crichton) to the committee of the Manawatu Automobile Association last evening. “Owing to the prevalence of fires it is suggested that some further warning be given to road users of the danger to property through lighted cigarette ends, etc., being thrown on the dry grass. Not many liners of late have had so hearty a send-off as that accorded the Rangitata, which left Auckland last night for London, taking with her the Grenadier Guards Band and eight officers and 150 Imperial ratings from H.M.S. Dunedin who have completed three years’ service in New Zealand. Long before 5 o’clock, the announced time of sailing, some thousands of people had gathered alongside the liner at the Queen’s Wharf.

The North Island Motor Union is to be requested by the Manawatu Automobile Association, in consequence of a remit approved at a meeting of the committee of the association, last evening, to ask the Main Highways Board to indicate what steps, if any, it is taking, or local bodies to take, in the direction of improving sealed surfaced highways which have developed corrugations on the surface, and whether any satisfactory remedy exists for effecting the necessary improvements without complete resurfacing. This is distinct from maintenance on sealed highways where the surface wears, cracks, etc., and has to be removed.-

The Manawatu Aero Chib’s first annual picnic will bo held at Waiterere Beach on Anniversary Day, January 22, and promises to bo a great success. Arrangements have boon made to flag off a portion of the beach for flying, while an attractive programme of foot races and car events has been arranged. The Waiterere Domain Board havo made arrangements with 2YA to broadcast a special Waiterere weather report at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The public are cordially invited and a pleasant day should be enjoyed. Transport arrangements are advertised in this issue. With this hot weather there will be weeks of days when a light weight frock will be essential. A fresh set of the ever popular spun silks have just been opened. Smart pin checks and stripes of all tones. Fast colours and only 2s lid yard. Collincon and Cunninghamo Ltd.—Advt.