NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 112, 15 May 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Fire in \v asa-nouse. At 3.30 a.m. on Sunday Mrs. J. D. Abraham, of 211 Broadway, was awakened by the noise made by a Are which had broken out in the wash-house. The brigade was summoned to suppress the blaze. The major damage occurred to a wall dividing the building from a similar one next door. Mrs. J. A. Nash owns the premises which were insured. Long Lives The longevity of the pioneering settlers from Scotland is well illustrated by the following facts in regard to the family of Mr. and Mrs. James Gray, who landed at Port Chalmers in 1862, and one of whose daughters, Mrs. Janet Henderson, died suddenly at Milton on Tuesday. Mr. Gray died at the age of 70 as the result of an accident, Mrs. Gray at 86, six daughters at the respective ages of 80, 86, 72, 89, 78 and 76, and two sons at 78 and 72. Two other sons were drowned in the Waihopai River at the ages of 11 and 13. The two daughters surviving are now aged 93 and 82. American Fleet Movement Interest was given the voyage of the British steamer City of Kimberley from New York to Auckland by the decision last mouth to move portion of the United States Pacific fleet from Hampton Roads to the Pacific Coast with the utmost despatch. Part of the fleet was at Hampton Roads during a call by the steamer, and while the ship was at sea , numerous wireless messages recalling shore parties were received. The City of Kimberley passed through the Panama Canal ahead of the fleet, but other ships in the New Zealand service were held back in order to give the warships right of way. Catch by Night. While in the course of his rounds of the business area of Hastings between 1 and 2 o’clock on Saturday morning, the nightwatchman, Mr. Alex Ferguson, apprehended a Napier boy whom he caught allegedly making an attempt to break into a Heretaunga Street shop. The lad will, it is understood, bo brought before the Children’s Court in due course. So far this year the Hastings police have been caused considerable trouble by juvenile crime in the town, but after bringing several batches of boys before the Court there has been a comparatively quiet period over the past month or two, during which time only occasional cases have been heard. Shortage of Feed As a result of the shortage of stock feed in the Gisborne district this year supplies of dry fodder are being secured from widely-separated districts. A substantial shipment of hay is due at Gisborne by the Wainui to-day. This is the first occasion on which it has been necessary to draw on the South Island for Gisborne hay supplies. Usually the district is self-supporting in this respect, but the failure of the spring growth, together with the acute shortage of feed throughout the summer and early autumn, has left farmers with insufficient stocks. Arrangements also have been made for the arrival of other dry fodder, and a shipment of chaff is expected by the Pakura from Picton this week. Seaman’s Wager

Clad in Eastern robe and Moslem fez, and camouflaged by a generous growth of bronze beard, a supply rating from H.M.S. Achilles strode up Queen Street from Customs Street to the Auckland Town Hall at 5 o’clock on Friday afternoon and won £5 from some fellow ratings. He finished the course more confidently than he began. The wager began obscurely in H.M.S. Achilles after her return from England. Along with a number of other ratings, the one who caused amusement in Queen Street took the opportunity of growing a beard. According to the regulations which governs such a comfort, it was trimmed neatly to a point after the fashion favoured by the late King George V, whose beard was the only model recognised by the Navy. Radio Serials

“Children between the ages of six and 12 appear to be ardent radio listeners, but generally pick as favourites the very programmes which teachers, if not parents, view with special concern—the thriller, mystery, low comedy and melodramatic adventure,” stated the Broadcasting and Youth Committee report presented by the convener (Mr. L. R. K. Denny) to the annual conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association. It was stated in regard to serials presented from some stations that they were sometimes lurid and objectionable in part, but were undoubtedly popular. It was felt that some good purpose could be served by drawing the attention of the broadcasting authorities to those features of the programmes on which the conference expressed an adverse opinion. That educational organisations were taking cognisance of the influence of these features might act as a deterrent. Fiji Gold Mines

“Gold mining in Fiji, having reached the stage of paying dividends, may confidently expect many years of life,” said Mr. F. W. R. Godden, who was a through passenger by the Mariposa for Sydney. Mr. Godden recently resigned from the position of general manager of the Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, having accepted a position as manager of Bulolo Gold Dredging, Limited, New Guinea. For five years before he went to Fiji, Mr. Godden was associated with gold mining in New Guinea. He was in Fiji three years, and witnessed considerable development in mining. There were three mines, where 1200 men were employed, including 120 Europeans. Mining conditions in the two countries were vastly different, continued Mr. Godden. Diesel electric drilling was employed in Fiji, where hillsides were attacked, just as they had been sluiced in parts of New Zealand in gold rush days. Only dredging was done at Bulolo, where hydro-electric plants were used, and 1700 natives were employed in addition to 330 Europeans.

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