News in Brief

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 250, 23 October 1935, Page 9

News in Brief

Eketahuna has practically no unemployed at the present time, only two names being on the registered list.

Provided there are no more frosts, there are prospects of record crops or fruit in the Canterbury province this season.

In an interview at Christchurch recently, the Chief Inspector of Eisheries stated that the whitebait regulations were a “perfect nightmare.”

Sheep-stealing is reported to be rife in the Auckland district. Prom one property ISO hoggets disappeared a few nights ago. Quail hav<3 made their appearance in the city and suburbs of Auckland, and in some of the domains they are very numerous.

Eollowing a brief discussion, the Wairarapa Hospital Board decided on Wednesday to build a new operating theatre at the Masterton Hospital at an estimated cost of £4OOO.

The following interesting paragraph appeared in the Wairarapa Standard on October 19th, ISSs—just fifty years ago: —“An American commercial journal attributes tho fall in the price of cheese in England to the increased importation of New Zealand meat to the United Kingdom,,, which has diminished the consumption of cheese.” Mrs J. E. Barker was the victim of, a peculiar and painful accident near her home at Waharoa. A fire had been lit some distance from a tree, and had apparently burnt itself out. Tho peat soil, however, had caught alight and burned underground, with the result that tbo path along which Mrs Barker walked had been undermined. Mrs Barker sustained severo shock and painful burns when she fell in the burning mass up to her knees. At the monthly meeting of the Levin Borough Council on Monday, Miss j, Newman, who has been senior office assistant for the past five years, tendered her resignation in view of her approaching marriage. His Worship the Mayor, Mr P. W. Goldsmith, stated that Miss Nwman had been a faithful servant and expressed the Avish for every happiness anl good luck for her future. In recognition of her services it avus decided to grant Miss Newman one month’s lca\'e of absence.

Bookstalls known in Japan as “Scotch Libraries” were described by Mr E. Sanders, of Auckland, avlio recently returned from a visit to the East. “It is really amusing to go past some of the bookstalls in large cities and see up to 40 or 50 people standing reading the books for sale, ” he said. “They actually come back the next day and reading from Avhere they finished the day before, and if the book happens to be sold before they have completed it, they become quite indignant with the proprietor.''

‘The thing that strikes you Avhen you look at the moon is its clear, tranquil app.caranee, ’ said Mr E. G. Jones, M.A., B.Sc., in an illustrated address on the universe to members of the Optimists’ Club at Auckland. There never seemed to be any movement on its surface, and the only clouds Avhick ever marred its clearness were those of the earth. Mr Jones shoAred some drawings of the landscape of the moon. Avitk its rugged valleys and cold, glistening ice caps. The sky was black, for there was no atmosphere, and the stars shone brilliantly.

“1 have conic back convinced that there are few -countries progressing more favourably under the altered trade conditions than Britain,” said Mr 61. S. Moss, of Wellington, who. has returned after a six months’ business trip to England. “Everyone is full of hope and has confidence in the future, and providing- the Italo-Abyssinian trouble does not spread, Britain is in for better times. Trade generally m Britain is much improved, and particularly is this true of engineering, the woodworking trade or anything allied to the construction of aircraft.’

Speaking at tho monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board yesterday, the chairman, Mr. G. A. Monk, stated that since last meeting Miss Tomlinson, machine operator, had tendered her resignation in view of her approaching marriage. Miss Tomlinson had been with tho Board for 104 years and her loss would be a very considerable one as far as the office staff weie concerned. It was recognised that Miss Tomlinson was one of the best machine operators in the district. In recognition of her long and faithful service the Board had decided to grant Miss Tomlinson one month’s leave of absence.

Many years ago when a shook of pine timber from Sweden had reached the Kaitaja dairy factory, North Auckland, a crayon drawing in.black and red, evidently of a Maori, was found on a butter box lid which had come with the timber. It was considered to be so good as to be well worthy of preservation, and ivas taken to the Auckland grading stores. Later it was brought to Palmerston North by Mr. G. M. Valentine, then factory superintendent at tho Massey Agricultural College, and now Assistant-Director of the Dairy Division. The drawing- has since been framed and now adorns the walls of the college factory office. Tho drawing has some features which might make it look similar in mode of expression to Epstein’s startling sculptures, because of tho prominence given to the profile, but it has more than a touch of originality and skill in expression.

The great advantage to Levin of a coastal afforestation scheme of pinus insignus planting extending from that centre to the mouth of the I’angitikci River was pointed out by Mr M. 11. Oram, Democrat candidate for the Manawatu electorate, during the course of his address in the Century hall, Levin. Mr. Oram outlined proposals whereby unemployed labour might be reabsorbed at standard rates of pay into reproductive work, and suggested this as one avenue of employment which would, bring unquestionable returns in the future. There would, ho considered, bo a 1 definite demand for pinus insignus timber for various purposes, and this coastal area was ideally situated to its growth. Levin, as the railhead through which timber would be despatched, would reap inestimable .benefit from such a scheme.