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Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 150, 27 May 1936, Page 8

The Blenheim School Committee has commenced a daily issue of milk to pupils. Despite considerable preparation burglars made an unsuccessful attempt to blow open the safe at the Matangi (Waikato) Post Office during the week-end. At a function in Hamilton Mr F. E. McKenzie (president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society) said it was expected that shooting licenses sold this year would yield £3OOO, and that, with this extra revenue, his society would bo able to liberate 2000 pheasants and 3000 duck lor the next season if this number of birds were available. The intention of the provision exempting solicitors’ offices from the Shops and Offices Act—a provision it is proposed to repeal by amending legislation now before the House of Representatives —is sought by legal employees of Dunedin in a petition presented to Parliament yesterday by the Minister of Justice, Hon. H .G. R. Mason. The petition is signed by managing accountants, qualified clerks, unqualified clerks and typistes employed in legal offices. While Gabriel Read is generally given the credit lor being the discoveler of gold in Gabriel’s Gully, at the back of Lawrence, there is no doubt that Edward Peters, or “Black Peter,” was the first man to prospect in the district. At the seventy-fifth anniversary of the discovery of gold in Gabriel’s Gully little was said ot the work of “Black Peter,” but during the celebrations Mr Harry Hart appealed to those present to do something to show appreciation of the part played by Peters in the opening up of the gully. “I understand,” he said, “that ‘Black Peter’ is buried at Balclutha, where he spent the latter part of his life and I consider it would be a kindly and thoughful gesture if his grave were found and a small memorial erected over it.”

A fine crop of lemons has been ripened and harvested in a garden near Waimate, in the South Island.

It is proposed to reorganise the National Party in Southland, and a meeting is to bo held in about a month to discuss plans. Wallabies are rapidly increasing in numbers in certain parts of the South Island, particularly in and. around the district of Waimate.

Approximately COO retail firms in Dunedin are participating in New Zealand Industries Week, which has been inaugurated by the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association in order to stimulate trade and to impress on the general public the necessity for buying Dominion-made products. In a short adress at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Men’s Club last evening, Mr C. R. Barnicoat, M.Sc., of Massey College, stated that transportation bv refrigeration was a subject which should interest all who live in New Zealand as our income was very largeIv derived from products shipped in tliis manner.

During an address at the golden jubilee celebrations in St. Mark’s Church, Wellington, Rev. N. F. 13. Robertshawe said the processional Cross used in the church was made from oak taken from Lincoln Cathedral and was probably 700 years old. The Cross was presented to the church by Rev. D. C. Bates, formerly Government meteorologist. The most serious traffic blockage in the history of Hamilton occurred the other morning when hundreds of cars were brought to a standstill during the passage of a long train of about 60 trucks over the Victoria Street level crossing. It was five minutes before the train had passed, and the lines of vehicles extended along the main street to as far south as the traffic bridge. Though the booking of passages to England for next year, when the King’s coronation will take place, is extremely heavy, and many inquiries continue to be made for berths, there is one curious reaction. A number of people who wish to visit Great Britain next year have intimated to the tourist agencies concerned tlxat they desire to avoid being in London during the coronation festivities.

“I think 1 am correct in saying that the Farmers’ Union is being put to the test to-day as never before in its history,” said Mr N. Campbell in his address at the opening of the Farmers’ Union conference in Feilding today. “We are being called to adjudicate upon matters of the greatest national importance, and the result of our deliberations will be watched with keen interest by the general community.”

It must have been a very absentminded owner (says the Grey River Argus) who could forget that his car was missing for some two months. Some time ago a car was left in the Otira Gorge and was unclaimed for three weeks. It was then transported to Otira, where it remained for a month. In that time extensive inquiries eventually revealed that the owner is a resident of Te Awamutu, but so far as is known the car, a modern model, is still at Otira. “I have lived and served under four monarehs ,and I am amazed at the wonderful progress that has been made in the Empire during that period,” said Sir George Richardson, in speaking at an Empire Day dinner in Auckland. “Since the reign of Queen Victoria, when the Empire was consolidated, there have been most startling developments. We realise to-day what changes have been made with wireless and fast steamers, as they have brought the whole Empire together. Modern aircraft has brought us nearer to London than Wellington was in the days of Queen Victoria.” Tributes to both the broadcasting service and the Press of New Zealand were paid yesterday by Dr. David Lang, M.A., D.D., of Canada, in an address in Wellington. Dr. Lan" expressed his pleasure at the treatment he had received in New Zealand from the Press and the broadcasting authorities. In regard to broadcasting, he 6aid New Zealand was fortunate in not being subjected to a lot of cheap advertising “over the air,” one of the most objectionable features of the wireless service of the United States and Canada. “I must, too, congratulate you on your splendid newspapers,” said Dr. Lang. “They are so admirably written, and present such a capital combination of local and world-wide news.”

A rare and pretty fish wag caught on a line near Capo Saunclers (Otago) a few days ago and sent to Mr David Graham at Portsbello (Dunedin) for indentification and examination Mr Graham states that this is the second fish of this type to be caught on the east coast of Otago. It is 13 inches in length and a brilliant red over the whole body, the fins and edges being a decided crimson. There is a largo black spot on each side towards the tail and numerous minuto black dots over the thick part near the head, giving the fish an unusual and striking appearance. In form and structure it might bo mistaken for a small mold or even a schnapper. It is known to science as the red perch or Caesioperca lepidoptera. Red perch are occasionally taken in seine nets along the North Island coasts, and are common in parts of Australia. The first specimen was caught by Dr. Hector in Milford Sound in 18G3.