NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 4, 6 January 1941, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Hottest Day Saturday was the hottest day experienced in Palmerston North this summer, the thermometer reading 81deg. Fahr. in the shade. On Friday the reading was 79deg. in the shade. Weraroa Escapees Five boys in residence at the Weraroa Training Farm who were members of a picnic party at Otaki Beach yesterday have absented themselves and their present whereabouts are unknown. Beach Fashions Changing trends of bathing costumes have been observed by bathers at Taranaki beaches and baths during the hoii days. The duller tones of previous years have been replaced by brightlycoloured costumes. Even for male wear, floral patterns are becoming increasingly popular. Paspalum Rust in North With the good growth of paspalum grass during December has come the fungus growth on the grass stalks. This paspalum rust first maue its appearance in Northland some years ago, and, unfortunately, has reappeared each summer. Being a sticky substance it clings to the clothes of persons walking through pastures and is extremely difficult to remove. Dominion’s Population The view that New Zealand could carry three o/ four times its present population was expressed by Professor J. F. Wilson, of the University of California, who is completing a two months’ tour of the Dominion. In ais opinion the high productivity of the land and the beneficent climate and the country's potentialities for production would stand a substantially larger population. Mountaineering in South The first east to west traverse oi Mount Tasman has been made by two members of the New Zealand Alpine Club, Messrs H. J. Stevenson and R. D. Dick. During the samo trip, in company with two other members of the New Zealand Alpine Cluib, these two men also climbed Mount Cook from the Haast Hut by way of Zurbriggeu’s ridge, which has not been climbed, for more than 25 years. Chapels in Camps Some time ago representatives of the Chaplains Committee of the' Presbyterian Assembly w r aited on the National Patriotic Fund Board to ask for the erection of chapels as attachments to the Y.M.C.A. huts at Papakura, Trentham and Burnham. The committee has now received a reply from the secretary of the board advising that arrangements are being made to carry out the requests of the committee.

High Birthrate in Pahiatua There has been an increase in the number of births in the Pahiatua registration district each year since 1937. According to figures supplied by the registrar, 136 babies were registered during 1940, a number which represents a birthrate of 30 per 1000 of population, which is well above the national rate. One hundred and twenty-seven infants were registered in 1939. In the year 1940 44 marriages and 43 deaths were recorded, the corresponding figures for the previous year being 45 and 36 respectively. In the month of December, 1940, the statistics show 14 births, three marriages and three deaths, while for the corresponding period of 1939 the figures were 12 births, six marriages and six deaths. Purer Milk The stringency of the regulations in the State of California concerning the production of milk lor human consumption was emphasised by Professor J. F. Wilson, of the University of California, when commenting upon the standards of primary production in the United States and in New Zealand. Professor Wilson has spent about two months touring the Dominion. “The regulations are designed to afford the maximum protection of human health,” remarked Professor Wilson. “Raw milk sold for human consumption must come from herds tested regularly. All milk from untested herds has to be processed by a pasteurising plants before being sold for human consumption.” Personally, ho agreed that no regulations governing the sale of milk could be too exacting. Cricket Incident

Partial dislodgments of cricket bails have caused many controversies in cricket circles, but an even more unusual incident took place in a match between Napier High School Old Boys and Hastings High School Old Boys in Hastings. L. Mitchell, of Hastings, had barely opened his score when a ball struck the batsman's pads and rolled against the wicket. It was found that the bail had been dislodged from its groove, but had not fallen to the ground, which, however, w r ould mean that he was out. A request was made for the umpire to inspect the bail, but before he could arrive at the wicket a gust of wind, which was blowing strongly at the time, caused the bail to move back into its socket, and the umpire could give only a not-out decision. Mitchell continued with his innings, making 45, which included 26 off one over, but his team lost the game by five runs. A somewhat similar incident occurred during the Manawatu-Grafton match in Palmerston North on Friday.

Native Bird Sanctuary Lake Tutira, on the Wairoa Road, 29 miles from Napier, is proving increasingly popular as a picnic and camping resort. With Tutira is associated the name of the New Zealand naturalist, the late Mr. W. H. Guthrie Smith, who lived on the shores of the lake for more than 50 years. Native birds abound, the souibro-hued, golden-voiced tui predominating in the sanctuary. Mr. Guthrie (Smith was a champion of the wild life of the lake and many thousands of wild creatures owe their existence to the interest of the naturalist. Nosting duck take full advantage of the heavy foliage growing down to the edge of the Avater. This has been a good season for breeding and flocks of ducklings are found in every inlet. The floods ot 1938 killed thousands of trout in the lake, but good breeding seasons in the intervening years have gone for tq restore their numbers. Anglers this year have had several good catches, the fish being in fine condition, but with the sudden appearance of quantities of green beetle in the past fortnight the .trout have not taken the fly so well.