A Thought For To-day.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 39, 14 January 1944, Page 4

A Thought For To-day.

Evcrv to-morrow has two hnndlps. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.—H. W. Beecher. Light Earth Tremor. Shortly after 10.15 a.if. to-day a light earth tremor was felt in Palmerston North. It was the first for some time past. Shearing in Waikato.

The shearing season in the Waikatoe, prolonged by the dearth ot competent labour, is nearly finished, though a number of ewes have yet to be shorn. The offering at the next appraisal is expected to be exceptionally large. Applicants For Houses. The number of unsatisfied applications for houses throughout the Dominion at the end" of September last totalled 28,031, states Mr J. Thorn, M.P., in an article in the official Labour journal. The number classitiec. as urgent by the State Advances C'oiporation was 11,955.

A Railway Precaution. In order to avert danger from grass fires to adjacent fences and farm lands, which present a baked appearance at present, the Railway Department is burning off the growti at the sides of the line bctweer Bunnythorpe and Feilding. Tin menace of sparks from railway engines is serious just now bccausi of the prolonged dry weather. Plane Flies Into Cables.

Reporting to the Manawatu-Orom Power Board vesteidav, the engineei (Mr W. A. Waters) stated that, oi. January 11, an acroplaue flew inti the cables on the big span over the Pohangina River and brought tw of them down. It is now 14 month; since the same thing occurred, but oi that occasion the aeroplane crashec and was burnt. Over a year ago, three of the special cables were ordered from the United States, but t< date they had not arrived. Australian Grower's Generosity.

New Zealand hospitals will benefit by the generosity of Captain D. B Halhed, of Merbein, Victoria, chairman of the Victorian Central' Citrus Growers' Association. During tin visit of the acting-Director of Internal Marketing (Mr 11. P. Fraser) to the citrus growing area on the Mur ray ltiver in South Australian and Victoria, Captain Halhed offered, as a goodwill gesture to New Zealand. 500 cases of oranges from his grove for free distribution to hospitals in New Zealand. Maori Centenarian, The death has occurred at Kaikohe of Hare Irimana, .who was stated to be over 100 years old. About 18 months ago, when he was questioned on the matter, he stated that he was in his 103rd year. He enjoyed splendid health up to his last illness, which was very short. There is no official record available as to the date of his birth, but a younger sister who died 15 years ago, and whose age can be verified, would have been in her 91st year had she still been alive. An elder sister of Hare Irimana is living at Whiriuaki, in Hokianga County, and it is said that she is in her 107th year. Hare Irimana hi his earlier days enjoyed a wide reputation in the north owing to the excellent eight-plait oxhide bullock whips he made and which were eagerly sought, after by the bullock drivers of that day. Adventurous Canoe Trip. Bronzed and fit after nine days on the Wanganui ltiver and a somewhat hazardous trip to Paranui, about 20 miles above Pipiriki, five members of the Aramoho Boating Club have returned to Wanganui in the unotor-canoe Joan of Arc. They left Wanganui on January 4 and had hoped to reach Taumarunui, 144 miles distant, but because of engine trouble during the first few days had insufficient 'time in which to attempt the final stages. The trip was free from serious mishap and was rare in that a journey of this nature had not been undertaken on the Wanganui River for several years. The only incident which might have had major consequences to the canoe occurred at a point near Ranana, when the vessel was negotiating the Ruapirau Rapid. Caught by the swift current while negotiating a narrow, tricky passage strewn with snags, the canoe was swung against a stone wall, a rock piercing her hull immediately below the engine. After nearly two hours of exhausting work the canoe was hauled by ropes to safe water. Before the damaged hull could be repaired and the leak stopped it was necessary to remove the engine.