Whalers’ Success.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 217, 12 August 1940, Page 6

Whalers’ Success.

With 106 whales captured, and. every likelihood of the migration continuing till the end of the month, the Tory Channel whalers have had the best season recorded for more than 100 yearsThe best previously recorded was last vear, when 81 whales were taken. Railway Crossing Speeds. Two persons were fined in the Magistrate’s Court by Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., to-day, for driving a motor-car across a railway line at a speed of more than. 15 miles an hour. The Magistrate said that the offence was not as bad as driving across the line in front of an approaching train, but the public had to recognise it as an offence. In each case the fine was £2 and costs. Akaroa Anniversary. Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the landing at Akaroa ol Captain Stanley, who asserted Britain’s effective occupation of territory already proclaimed British. Earlier the same year the French explorer d’Urville visited Akaroa, where French colonists and whalers had already arrived. In 1844 Franco finally recognised New Zealand as a British possession. Vandalism at Napier. Vandalism is prevalent in Napier, particularly in Milton lload, where residents’ fences, gates, and other property have frequently suffered as a result of the depredations of those responsible. The latest and most serious instance of acts of this nature occurred at lime works, were many drain-pipe connections were damaged when bricks were removed from a temporary wall and thrown at a stack of them. Dominion’s Help. “Wo in England cannot express our thanks enough for your help in fights ing and vour efforts in helping to keep food on "our tables,” states a resident of Cheshire, England, writing to a friend in Hamilton. “This mornmg we had eggs from New Zealand, and a leg of mutton for dinner, also from there. So you can tell how much indebted wo are to you. When the war is over we may be able to show our gratitude in a more substantial way.” Returned Men’s Interest.

As showing tho interest taken in the soldiers of tho present war by the Returned Soldiers’ Association, at the Dominion conference of the association 40 per cent of the remits had reference to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the dependants of the men, said Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of tho Palmerston North Returned Soldiers’ Association at a function given in honour of local members of the Third Echelon on Saturday night. Haystacks Destroyed.

Eire destroyed three fairly large haystacks, valued at about £SO on the farm of a .young German Jewish refugee, Mr Ernest Lion, at Hunua, 30 miles south of Auckland in the early hours of Saturday morning. Incendiarism by some person with an intimate knowledge of the locality is suspected by detectives, who are making investigations. Mr Lion settled at Hunua about two years ago and was joined by his elderly parents about six months ago after they had also been expelled from Germany. Melanesian Mission’s Plight. The serious position of missionary work in Melanesia as a result of lack of funds was referred to by the Bishop of Waikato (Rt. Rev. C. A. Cherrington) in his sermon in All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, last evening. The Bishop stated that the Bishop of Melanesia was dismissing his assistants and closing schools in the islands, while other valuable work carried on there had had to be-curtailed in various ways. Tho position was causing grave concern and would be discussed at a meeting of the Board of Missions in Wellington on Wednesday. The Bishop’s remarks were made in the coui-se of an appeal for generous support to the parish funds, yesterday being known as the “Day of Giving” at All Saints’.

Return From Leave. Members of the Third Echelon who have .been on leave began their return to camp to-day. As a result there were largo numbers of troops passing through Palmerston North by train. Opossums Plentiful. In various parts of the Wanganui district opossums are reported to be fairly plentiful. Opossums live on the leaves of trees and it has been noticeable that wattle buds are a favourite diet. “Britain Delivers the Goods.”

“Britain delivers tho goods” is the motto of a Bradford textile firm affixed to all exports. The Board of Trade emphasises that British goods continue to reach oversea markets despite Germany’s wild claims (states a Press Association cablegram). Unlighted Cycles.

When fining a defendant in the Magistrate’s Court to-dav for riding on unlighted cycle at night, Mr H. P. Lawn', S.M., said that he was increasing the amount of the fine for such breaches. Two such fines imposed at to-day\s sitting of the Court were of £1 with costs. Previously the penalty was 10s.

No Sovereigns in Belts. “You will jom with me in being sorry that wo cannot fill these with sovereigns,” said the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) to the audience when presenting each local member of the Third Echelon with a money belt at a complimentary function on Saturday night. “If we filled them the Minister of Finance would not allow them to be taken out of tho country.” Control of Distress Fund.

Commenting on the report from Hastings published on Saturday regarding the uses to which the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund of more than £500,000 is to be put, Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, said last night that there was no foundation for any suggestion that any other body than the National Patriotic Fund Board had the control of these moneys. There was also no justification for any belief that the board intended parting with that control,to any overseas organisation. Women’s Herd-Testers.

To meet a possible shortage of herdtesters during the war, a women’s herd-testing auxiliary has been formed. Already 20 applications have been received by the Auckland Herd Improvement Association, though no definite appointments have yet been made because a full staff of male testers was available. Recently 25 young women attended a special herdtesting course at Massey Agricultural College. The young woman who topped the examination in her division was also second in the whole class of 29 men and 25 women.

Housing In .Sweden. Sweden has several ingenious methods of permitting its people to erect their houses without capital, said Mr C. D. Taylor, of Palmei-ston North, at the Canterbury Travel Club’s reception. One of these methods was State-controlled and embodied the “build your own home” idea in the most literal sense. Government factories provided the necessary material. The would-be owner worked at weekends and in spare time, and his house took shape almost as though it were put together like a mechanical set. It was even possible to get expert advice on all knotty problems. By this means all types, from tiny villas to threestorey houses, were erected. Trade With Australia.

“Since the Government assumed control of the importation of citrus fruits in 1938, Australia has supplied the bulk of importations to New Zealand, and of this quantity New South Wales lias in each year supplied approximately 60 per cent, of the total shipments from Australia,” says the Minister of Marketing (Hon. W. Nash) in reference to trade with tho Commonwealth. “This is a complete answer to tho question as to whether a permit has been obtained for the entry of New South Wales fruit into New Zealand. As a result of negotiations with the Commonwealth Government, New Zealand is permitted to export to Australia a total of 5000 tons of potatoes in controlled quantities from July to October.” i