NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 147, 24 June 1939, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Whitebait Fishermen Foxton fishermen are preparing for the whitebait season 'which begins next month. It is reported that whitebait have already been seen in the Manawatu. The river at present, though, is \n semi-flood. White Herop A very lino specimen of white heron was observed in Waimca Lake, Waikanae, recently, by Mr. D. J. Gibbs, wlk. advised fellow members of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday night to see this rare bird there if possible. Price of Woodbines. Cigarettes remain cheap in England, despite Budget impositions. “ Woodbines Red Label,” shortly to bo introduced at five for 2d and ten for 4d, will bo a new brand of cigarettes. They will be distinct from “Woodbines,” the price of which will remain five for 2id and ten for 4Jd. Imported Timbers. Christchurch timber merchants report that the saw-milling industry in New Zealand has bcnelitcd considerably as a result of the import restrictions. Tho only timbers being imported to-day are redwood and Oregon. Redwood is considered to bo essential for the making of window sashes, while Oregon is only permitted in long lengths that are extremely difficult to procure in New Zealand. A New Method.

When the caretaker found a bottle prised to find in it the photograph of a in Stanley Park, Auckland, he was surprised to liud in it the photograph of a young woman. The bottle also contained her address and a request to the finder to communicate with her at Rotorua and enclose his own photograph. This (comments the Auckland Star) is surely tho latest development of initiative among modern maidens. World Peace Conference.

The form of the petition requesting the New Zealand Government to-take steps to bring about a World Conference on economic and other, questions affecting tho peace of the world was endorsed by the Auckland City Council. A copy of the petition was forwarded by tho National Pence Council of New Zealand, asking for endorsement, and there was a supporting letter from the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, stating that the Government considered that such a conference was desirable.

Theft From Child’s Money-box Leo Thomas Trevor Schou, a labourer aged 22, of Palmerston North, appeared before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged that on Juno 21, 1939, at Palmerston North, lie stole 1-ls in money, the property of Albert Walter Woodley. 11c pleaded guilty. Detective Ormo Power said accused robbed a child’s moneybox at his married sister’s house. There was no need for him to steal as he was earning lit a week, out of which he was paying 22s Gd for -board. Accused was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restition forthwith. Java's Teeming Millions “Few people realise that the world’s largest insular empire is the Dutch East Indies,” said Mr. R. Power, assistant Canadian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, in the course of an address on the Dutch East Indies at the weekly luncheon of the Hamilton Rotary Club. Mr. Power said the island of Java, which was approximately the same size as the North Island of New Zealand, was tho most densely populated area in the world, with a population to 46,00,000 people. If a visitor were to drive throughout the island, ho would never be out of sight of a human boing. Other islands in the Indies had a total population of 30,000,000. Pork Pies in Tins

Tho presence of a pork pio in a tin caught the attention of tho industrial magistrate (Mr. J. A. Gilmour) when the Otago and Southland preserved foods, jam and starch factories’ employees dispute was being heard in the Arbitration Court at Dunedin. “Do you really put pork pics in tins?” asked Mr. Gilmour, rather incredulously, of an employers’ witness. The answer was in the affirmative and the magistrate commented that tho fact that the public could buy canned pies did not seem to be very well advertised. “That is because cammed pies are not sold to any extent in New Zealand,” the witness replied. “They are exported chiefly to New Guinea and the South Sea Islands, where they arc very popular.” “Underground Poultry.”

Rabbit provides a fairly popular dish in many New Zealand households, but those who enjoy their rabbit stewed, fried, or baked might be more than a little surprised to hear that in some quarters it is not regarded as meat. This strange fact was brought to light at a sitting of the Arbitration Court in Dunedin, when a factory manager was giving particulars of his employees who were covered under the New Zealand freezing workers’ award. “Wo can all types of all meat,” ho said, “and the workers engaged in this work arc covered by the freezing workers’ award; that is, except those canning rabbits. The inspector of factories has ruled that rabbit is not meat.” “Not meat?” queried tho industrial Magistrate (Mr. J. A. Gilmour) with a smile. “What does he call it? Underground poultry?” Ventriloquism.

It happened at the Otabuhu railway workshops. A locomotive had just come to a ponderous stop, and the workmen standing alongside prepared to begin their work. Suddenly, through the hissing of escaping steam, they were horrified to hear from underneath the engine the sound of a dog yelping in agony. They had not seen an animal about when the locomotive was approaching, but the sound was not to bo mistaken. Two of the men seemed literally to hurl theinselvos on their stomachs alongside the engine, and, thrusting their heads and shoulders underneath, tried to locate tho distressed animal. Tlioy could see nothing, but the piteous crying continued. It seemed to shift as they wormed about from end to eild of the locomotive, making muffled sounds of appropriate sympathy. After three minutes of this, they heard a sound that definitely was not a dog yelping. It was that of a man doubled up and almost helpless with laughter. They have an accomplished ventriloquist at the shops. «