Advent of Spring.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 227, 24 August 1938, Page 8

Advent of Spring.

In Nelson already sonic pencil trees are in full blossom; from Motueka to Takaka, spring flowers —daffodils, camellias, wattle and even an occasional rhododendron —are in bloom. In contrast, and a reminder of the previous summer, can be seen in many gardens in Takaka lemon trees still loaded with ripe fruit. Imprisoned In Lift. Nine Wellington people found themselves unexpectedly imprisoned when their combined weights drove the lilt, designed for seven, down below the ground floor of the business liouse in which they worked. The door in consequence could not lie opened. Fortunately other tenants observed their plight. ; ' Going Into Hiding. “Because of the unsettled state of Europe, gold is going into hiding, there to-day, and consequently increasing in value/’ stated Professor B."E. Murphy when addressing the Palmerston North branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants last evening. “Gold is literally being buried, or planted in odd corners there'to-day for the same reason as in the Middle Ages— insecurity,” added Professor Murphy. Hardest Winter for Years. Residents of the Mackenzie Country, Canterbury, are agreed that they have experienced ■ the hardest winter for many years. For weeks past the country has been covered by snow, and a frost of 20. degrees has been considered more or less mild. Station owners have all had an anxious time, and many have moved thousands of sheep to lower levels, One man, for instance, has just completed the task of bringing in 8000 , sheep, which have to be hand fed. Dense Fog in Waikato. Motorists travelling between Auckland and Hamilton late on Saturday encountered heavy fogs, stated by several drivers to be the worst for many years. A Hamilton motorist stated that, with only, a few breaks, the fog extended in a dense blanket from Hamilton to the Pokeno deviation. On one occasion the ‘car, while travelling at a walking pace, mounted the’ footpath at Huntly, and on another the front wheels slipped off the road into heavy clay. It was a common sight to see groups of. three of four cars playing “follow tlie leader,” though it was more a case of the blind leading the blind, for these processions had to travel at a snail’s pace.

Petrol Station Hours Proposals tliafc petrol stations in Auckland city and surrounding areas siiould close on Sundays or that, alternately, there should be considerable restriction in hours are now being considered by petrol station owner's. Voting on the question is stated to be now in progress. Trouble Averted. Threatened disorganisation of Wellington’s tramway service by the adoption of what, from the public’s point of view, was likely to amount to ’a “go-slow” policy, has been averted by a decision to hold, on September 1, a special meeting of the tramways committee of the city council to consider matters in dispute. Freak Mutton-bird. A snow-white mutton-bird, caught on a rocky island in the far south of New Zealand by hunters who kill thousands of these birds annually for a table delicacy, has been sent to tlio Dominion Museum, and has been mounted for exhibition. The muttonbird is normally a sooty black, and cases of albinism are extremely rare. Indeed, only one previous example is known to the Museum authorities. Win for Interjector. “Did I understand you to say earlier in the meeting that you are honest, sincere, and truthful?” was a question asked of Mr O. C. Mazengarb, National candidate for Wellington Suburbs, at question-time, after an address at Khandallah. The chairman (Mr W. A. Veitch) rose at once and said that he could not permit a question like that. “Well, all I want to know,” replied the interjector, “is what kind of a politician a man who is all that will make?” (Loud laughter.) Touch of Spring. Heralding the approach of spring a flowering plum tree in the Square, next to the ladies’ rest room, is carrying a full blanket of blossom. The tree is the first in-the Square to reach this.stage, but is being closely followed by one near to Rangitikei Street. Close to the latter a magnolia tree is unfolding its delicate blooms, to the steadily increasing sunlight. Bulbs are now coming into their glory on the strip next to the railway line, on the north side, and a bed of primulas near Main Street West makes a striking picture. Public Works to Dairying. An interesting sidelight on the labour market in relation to farming was quoted by Mr P. T. Jamieson at the annual meeting, to-day, of the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union. Ho said he had recently advertised in the “Manawatu Standard” for a married farm manager, a house being provided. Between 6.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. on the evening of the advertisement there had been 19 personal replies received and of these 15 were from men on Public Works jobs. Enquiry had shown that Public Works employment was looked on far less favourably in wet weather than in fine. Social Security Measure. Consideration of the Social Security Bill was the principal business before a special meeting of the Dominion Friendly Societies’ Council held in Wellington yesterday. Interviewed, Mr A. G. Shrimpton (secretary of the council) said that no statement was available for publication dealing with the business done at the meeting of the attitude of friendly societies toward the Bill. It is understood that representatives of the council were to confer to-day with Cabinet Ministers regarding the proposals embodied in the Bill. Motor Taxation. The Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ pinion decided, yesterday, to take no action in reference to a request from the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that the Government be urged to spend the whole of the motor taxation revenue on road construction and maintenance. Although this was the union’s, policy, it was agreed that it would be unwise to disturb the existing position as if the concession asked for were granted the Government would make up the loss to the Consolidated Fund by increased taxation in other directions. Wellington Strata. Excavation work in connection with the foundations of a new building at the junction of Hunter Street and Lambton Quay, Wellington, has reached a point a couple of feet below the old beach level. About five feet below the general level of the ground a stratum of blue sand—the old beach —was penetrated. This was more on the Lambton Quay side than that of Hunter Street. On the Hunter Street corner the formation has proved to be solid rock, evidently a tongue of rock which ran out into the harbour. Veterinary Services. The need for an improved veterinary service in New Zealand was again advocated by Mr L. Hammond at a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, held in Hunterville yesterday. Mr .Hammond stated that the union was not satisfied that the Government was doing sufficient to meet the needs of the country. The union’s idea was that steps should be taken to train youths at Lincoln and Massey Colleges under New Zealand conditions so that they would grow up with the country and in close touch with its live stock troubles. It was intended to take the matter up with the Government on these lines. The speaker stated that from experience he knew that at I east 24 veterinary officers could be placed in the dairying industry at once if they were available. Practical Word Practice. A witness was being asked whether he knew the motor regulation 1 about keeping as close as practicable to the left-hand side of the road. “Do you know the meaning of ‘practicable’?” asked Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. Mr H. Quilliarn suggested the meaning was not fixed, but in this case it was plain it applied to the left of the bitumen. His Honour said the world had been the subject of different interpretations. He thought there was a distinction between “practical” nad “practicable.” “Practical” meant something done as a matter of rules, but “practicable” meant something possible but not done as a matter of rule. It was practical or possible to drive a motor lorry into a gutter, but it was not practicable. Farmers’ Motor Lorries. , “The Government admits that we have a good case, but is not prepared to concede our demands,” said Mr L. Hammond 'at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union in referring to the union’s request that farmers’ motor lorries used solely for the cartage of the farmer’s own produce should be exempt from the payment of heavy traffic license fees. The Government’s argument Mr Hammond added, was that if the union’s demand was conceded other sections of the community might ask for like concessions, and the lost revenue would require to be made up' by some other form of taxation. The meeting agreed that the union should continue to represent the position in an effort to obtain some redress for what was considered an unfair tax.