Growing of Rice.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 22 November 1937, Page 8

Growing of Rice.

The experimental planting of rice in Cornwall Park. Hastings, is progressing A little more than two weeks ago two beds were planted by the superintendent of parks and reserves, Mr J. L. C McKenzie, and the seeds m one ot tlie beds have germinated and the plants are now about an inch high. Remuneration for Jury. After sitting for nine dayk in the Supreme Court and coming to a decision, an Auckland jury handed to Mr Justice Fair a letter which asked for an increase in the daily remuneration allowed jurors. His Honour in saying that other juries recently had made similar requests, remarked that the letter would be forwarded to the proper quarter and added that the present allowance was an unfair one to a considerable number of jurymen. Church Services at Camps. “Orders were issued some weeks a <r o that divine services should be held on Sundays in week-end camps, said Major K. L. Stewart, General Staff Officer of the Southern Command, when asked to comment at Christchurch on the protests against the training of territorial forces on Sunday recently made by the Presbyterian General Assembly and the North canterbury Methodist Synod. Throughout the South Island week-end military training was being held practically continuously, he added, and at these camps church services weie conducted. > 1 Battlefield Relics.

' A large cannon ball, shell fragments, and binder rifle ballets were included in a collection of relics found on the Gate Pa battle site, which was exhibited by the county engineer, Mr A. H. Bonham, at a meeting of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce. Mr Benham said that two of the trenches at the site on the western side of the main road had been opened. During the course of the work some old projectiles had been recovered from the bottom of the trenches and many fragments of shells, Snider rifle bullets and shell caps. An interesting find was a clap pipe typical of the specimens once smoked by the old Maoris,

I Air Pilot’s Record. ! To have flown for 4500 hours and to have trained 52 pilots has been the experience of Flight-Lieutenant AV. H. Lett, instructor to the Waikato Aero Club, Hamilton, who is giving up flying. Air Lett was responsible for inaugurating the AVaikato branch of the Auckland Aero Club.

M.P.’s Sports Attire. The appearance of Mr J. B. Cotterill, AI.P. for AVanganui, in Parliament last week in a blue blazer and sports flannels created a mild sensation and prompted the Christchurch Press to comment thus editorially : —i—‘ ‘lt was easily the most radical departure from the usual formal clothes that any member lias made in Parliament—not even excepting the tartan waistcoat Air ]>. AlcDougall, the member for Alataura.”

Anzac Park Improvements. Improvements are now being made to tlie area on . top of the cliff commanding a fine view of the city across the Manawatu River from Anzac Park, and much rubbishy undergrowth has been cleared away in readiness for the planting of shrubs. Rough tracks giving access have been widened into pathways, and it is understood that the present narrow road approach for cars will receive attention and he graded.

Mutton Bird Season. Over 100 Alaoris from all the central Bay of Plenty districts, together with a few Europeans, gathered yesterday and have left for AVliale Island for their annual campaign against tlie young mutton birds. Under good conditions tlie Alaoris should make their catches in about’ three days and leave the island, but with the changeable weatiier that is being experienced at present their stay may extend to a week.

Cyclist Injured. Head injuries which are causing concern were sustained by a boy, Glen Stallard AVilson, of Alatamau Street, Palmerston North, when he was involved in an accident, while riding a bicycle, with a motor car driven by Air AVilliam Waugli, a farmer, of Springfield, Masterton. It is understood that the boy, who is now in Hospital, ' was riding ’across the street from one house to another. The bicycle was badly damaged. Reporting the Road-Hog. “The Court was going to thank the witness,” interposed Mr E. C. Levvey, S.AL, in the Magistrate’s Court, at Christchurch, when counsel in a motor speeding case took a witness to for chasing two motor cars, which he considered were being driven in a dangerous manner, in order to take their numbers. “If more motorists would do as this man did it would stop a lot of the trouble we have with roadliogging,” remarked tlie Magistrate. American Athletic Coach.

The American athlete, Alfred Fitch, who has been engaged as a coach by tlie Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre. is due to arrive at Auckland next Friday. The Wellington centre executive has decided to ask Fitch to coach athletes in the evening and his services are also to be made available to the secondary schools during the day at times suitable to the colleges concerned. It is proposed that he shall pay visits to seven secondary schools. I Freemasons to Meet.

For the first time in five years, the annual communication of the Alasonic Grand Lodge under the New Zealand Constitution will be held in Auckland next week. The main item of procedure will be the reinstallation of the Gov-ernor-General, Viscount Galway, as Grand Alaster. The Past Grand Alaster, Colonel J. J. Esson, will perform the ceremony. In addition to the Auckland members at least 400 delegates from New Zealand lodges are expected to attend the convocation.

Children’s Paddling Pool. Children have been making good use, on sunny days, of the fine paddling pool presented to the city by the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and constructed in a sheltered part of the Botanical Gardens adjoining the Esplanade. It promises to be a delightful spot in tlie midsummer and is of very neat design and appearance. Crescentshaped and supported on pillars, a large pergola is a feature on one side of the shallow pool, and its green textured cement wall harmonises completely with the background of trees. Litter on Beaches.

Complaint was voiced at a meeting of the Hutt County Council about the litter left by weekenders and picnickers at the various parking areas at Plimmerton, Paraparaumu, Raumati, and Paekakariki beaches. Alany people who ought to know l>etter, it was stated, were in the habit of leaving tins, food, paper bags, and other debris about tne places to the annoyance of the permanent residents. In the interests of public health, it was pointed out, rubbish should be disposed of by burial, or burning, or the rubbish might even be taken home and placed in the domestic rubbish tin. Paraparaurtiuls Water Supply.

AVritten before tlie recent rains, the overseer’s report to Friday’s meeting of the Hutt County Council drew attention to the exceptional consumption of water at Paraparaumu Beach. During October over a million gallons of water had been used. The excessively dry conditions were , stated to be responsible, much of the water having 'been used for hosing gardens. As indications pointed to an even greate.r consumption during the coming summer months, it was stated that the position would have to be carefulbly considered to prevent a shortage, The question of imposing hosing restrictions was held over until the next council meeting. Parachutist’s Escape.

Jumping out of an aeroplane when it was only 1000 feet above the Auckland Domain on Saturday morning, tlie well-known parachutist, Air G. AV. Sellars, had a narrow escape from serious injury when he was able to sway his parachute just in time to void crashing through the glass roof of part of the winter gardens. As it was, lie landed heavily into a small garden plot alongside a concrete path and jarred himself considerably. The jump, was arranged as part of a Father Christmas gift distribution for children that had been organised bv an Auckland firm. Mr Sellars was to land on the Outer Domain as Father Christmas and was then to assist with the distribution of toys on the ground. A Uniformed Nation.

Germany was a uniformed nation, commented Dr 11. It. Whitehead, who returned to Palmerston North lust week after attending tlie AVorld Dairy Congress at Berlin, in an interview with a “Standard” reporter. He stated that even on the railway, when one crossed the frontier from Denmark into Germany, an immediate contrast was to he found in the bright green or blue uniforms of the German station officials compared with the more sombre dress of those in other countries. Alembors of the Nazi youth movement, which largely appeared to have displaced the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in Germany, swung along in their marching with military precision and, at a sharp word of command, would burst into a rhythmic song.