NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 113, 14 May 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Control of Rivers Feeling that matters of far-needing importance aro contained in the proposed Rivers Bill, the Kairanga County Council intends to call a conference of interested district local bodies, so that the proposals may be dismissed and delegates appointed to give evidence before the committee set up by the Government. Home Guard Enrolment. “The settlers and districts within the county are to be congratulated upon the fine enrolment in their respective Home Guard units,” said the chairman of the Kairanga County Council (Cr. W. R. Hopcroft) at the monthly meeting of that body yesterday. “In many districts 90 per cent of the available manhood has joined up.” The Common Jury “By common jury vre don’t mean that you are common people,” observed the Hon. Mr. Justice Blair in the Palmerston North Supreme Court yesterday during his summing up of a criminal case. “By common jury we mean that you jurymen are common to all classes. If wo had princes here they would have to serve on the jury alongside the paupers.” Lorries Damaging Roads “From my observations I am of the opinion that most of the damage to our roads is caused by the present-day fastmoving lorries and not by motor-cars,” stated Cr. W. R. Hopcroft, chairman of the Kairanga Country Council, in the course of his annual report, presented at yesterday’s meeting of the council. “Although the speed of motor-lorries is governed by regulations, very few drive within the prescribed limits.” New Rangiotu Bridge. The cost of a new bridge at Rangiotu across the Oroua River, including land compensation and the provision of access to the Rongotea highway, is estimated at £12,350, according to advice received by the Kairanga County Council yesterday. Preliminary plans were submitted by a firm of consulting engineers to the Public Works Department in February, and when departmental approval is received, detailed drawings will be proceeded with.

Guilty Verdict. In the Palmerston North Supreme Court yesterday a jury engaged in the retrial of William John Wright, shopkeeper, of Palmerston North, on two charges of indecent assault, found him guilty and he w r as remanded for sentence. The jury comprised Messrs. F. G. Murphy (foreman), J. W. Marriott, F. C. Conway, T. T. Reid, A. B. Laing, C. A. Hyde, C. J. Christensen, B. P. Trehey, P. R. Milverton, H. C. Olsen, T. H. Davidson and F. K. Judd. Mr. H. R. Cooper conducted the prosecution and Mr. A. M. Ongley appeared as counsel for accused.

Large Agricultural Plough. What is believed to be the largest agricultural plough ever to operate in this country, and perhaps even soutn of the line, was seen at work in Southland recently. About 800 Southland farmers watched the plough, with a furrow 18in. deep and 3ft. wide, turn over bush stumps, rushes, gorse and submerged timber with ease. The plough, which was designed and built in Invercargill for contract work in breaking-in bush country, is pulled by a 40 horsepower tractor. Giant discs are used to break the soil down to a good working surface. Boat for Flood Rescues The need for a boat being kept in Palmerston North for use in the event of an emergency was stressed by the Kairanga County (Mr. L. C. Pickering) at the monthly meeting of the council yesterday. During the recent flood, he stated, it had been impossible to secure a suitable boat; nil that it had been possible to secure in the district were frail structures which had been incapable, under the conditions existing, of doing all that was needed. He suggested that it would be au advantage for a suitable boat to be kept in some convenient location, such as the Fire Station, where it could be obtained by the police in the event of an emergency. The chairman (Cr. W. R. Hopcroft) said he would bring the matter before the next meeting of the Emergency Precautions Scheme Committee. Altered Postage Stamps. Postage stamps bearing the portrait of King George VI., which were introduced in New Zealand following the accession of His Majesty and were withdrawn temporarily during the currency of the Centennial commemorative series, are now being issued overprinted with new values, the idea being to use up stocks of denominations for which there is little demand consequent on the change in postage rates after the outbreak of war. The denominations affected are the 4d. and which have been overprinted for use as Id. and 2d. stamps respectively. When stocks of the overprinted ±a stamps are exhausted, it is intended to print the normal I'd. stamp in green, instead of red, and the normal id. stamp in light brown, instead of green. Further colour changes in respect of the lid. and 3d. stamps are to follow when stocks of the current stamps of these denominations are exhausted, these changes being necessary to comply -with the regulations of the Universal Postal Union. 150 Butterflies Released. In spite of drizzling rain a gathering of more than 100 people at the Auckland Domain flower garden last Sunday afternoon watched an unusual demonstration, the public liberation of about 150 Monarch butterflies. The butterflies were released by Mr. T. Skeates, of Titirangi, who for 11 years has been breeding this species. Mr. Skeates, who this season lias bred and distributed more thau (500 Monarch butterflies, said they were not pests. He urged residents to grow swan plants in their gardens and encourage the spread of the butterflies. The butterflies were released from a large basket and from boxes. A number of children held flowers for them to alight on and the butterflies, after circling over the heads of the crowd, gathered in clusters on the blooms before soaring to distant parts of the garden. Mr. Skeates said that in the next few days many of the butterflies would have reached many parts of the province. They have the power of sustained flight and about 60 years ago reached New Zealand from the Fiji group.