News of the Day

Northern Advocate, 18 September 1939, Page 4

News of the Day

Jewish New Year.

The Jewish New Year, 5700, began on Thursday, September 14. The Jewish calendar, being both solar and lunar, is very complicated. The New Year does not always begin on the same date, and the number of days in the year varies. The years are numbered from the year of the Creation. « * » Three Shifts On Farm. Three sons of Mr Charles Cooper, a farmer, of Patutahi (Poverty Bay), are working day and night over three shifts of eight hours in an endeavour to complete preparation for sowing spring crops in case they are called for military service. They are working their tractor on three shifts and the machine has been going continuously, stopping only while the driver rests for a meal and for the refuelling of the machine.

Restoring Historic Church. An effort to replace the picturesque and historic parish church at Coromandel, which was built 70 years ago and was damaged beyond repair by a gale two years and a-half ago, is being made by the people of the district. The movement takes the form of an appeal for funds and voluntary workers to re-erect the building before Chr9istmas. • • ® Sulphur And Gardens. Many Rotorua gardeners have found that sulphur and gardens do not mix satisfactorily, but gardeners in the Government' Grounds, at least, have found one use for sulphur there. Close to the Internal Affairs Department building is a border of daffodils now coming into their spring glory. One end of the border, however, is further advanced than the other, and the explanation is that it has been found that the border and others, where there are traces of sulphur, are largely free from the attention of snails, slugs, and other garden pests. I * Refugee Stuamts. A scheme put forward by the New Zealand University Students’ Association to bring out five refugee students to New Zealand is receiving the support of the Victoria College Students’ Association. Referring to this matter the executive’s report to the annual meeting stated that Victoria University College had now agreed to guarantee at least one student. It was hoped that free lecture fees (and free board at Weir House if a male) might be obtained for such a student, and that funds might be raised to provide such student with an adequate money allowance. Mr A. H. Scotney had agreed to take in hand the organisation of a campaign for funds, and it was hoped that the college would lend all support to the campaign. The case was a humanitarian one and the retiring executive commended it to the college. **•}(■ Afternoon Tea For Footballers. “One of the things that are wrong with the Rugby game at the present time is Hhat the teams do not meet and fraternise after the games,” said Mr R. W. Britton at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union when urging that the union should arrange afternoon teas for players at Rugby Park. It would be possible to carry this out v at Rugby Park while it would not be I possible on other grounds where more | than two teams were engaged. Rivalry I was very keen on the field and some-1 times over-keen, he went on. There | would be more good fellowship if | the teams could meet at tea. It was | unfortunate, he said, that the women's | committee of the club had been dis- j banded, for they had performed a j valuable service for the game. The $ proposal was commended by the presi- J dent, Mr J. K. Moloney, who said that , at small cost the union could provide ? something unique in New Zealand ? Rugby. The entertainment committee | was empowered to make the necessary arrangements.

Donation For Emergency Committee. A grant of £5 was made by the Whangarei Commercial Vehicle Owners’ Association to the transport division of the Whangarei Emergency Precautions Committee. Decision to this effect was made by commercial vehicle owners at a special meeting.

Bobby Calf Trade Continues. Truckings of bobby calves from Whangarei continue to be fairly heavy, an average of 10 truck-loads being shipped twice a week. Cattle shipments are fairly light, although last Thursday fairly large numbers were dispatched to Westfield.

New Magistrate. Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., appointed to succeed Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., as magistrate in the Northland circuit, took his place on the Bench at the Whangarei Courthouse this morning. This was Mr Ferner’s first Court sitting on the circuit, Mr Morris having completed his duties on Saturday, when his retirement became effective.

Egg Prices. j The Auckland Egg Marketing Committee announces that wholesale egg prices are unchanged, as follows: Hen, first grade, l/6£ a dozen; B grade, l/4i; C grade, Hid. Duck, first grade, l/6i; B grade, l/s£. Country storekeepers’ minimum buying prices for first grade eggs are: Hen, 1/2 a dozen; duck, 1/2.

Building Dearer in N.Z. A five-roomed brick house which would cost £I2OO in New Zealand can be built in Sydney for £BOO, said Mr J. E. Guy, building contractor, of Wallace Street, who returned to New Zealand last week after visiting Australia. Labour costs in the two Dominions were about the same, Mr Guy commented, but building materials were much cheaper in Australia.

Boy Thrown From Sledge. Falling from a sledge which was running downhill, Norman Boswell, aged 9, fractured his left leg below the knee ,at 5 . o’clock last night. The accident, which was caused by the sledge striking a rough portion of ground, throwing.the boy off, occurred on the farm of his father, Mr W. Boswell, Station Road, Kamo. The condition of the boy was reported by Whangarei District Hospital authorities today to be good. $ # * Flock of Tuis. A glade of blossoming kowhai near the main road at Parua Bay is the home of a choir of tuis. Although this native bird is a rare soloist, his efforts in concerted numbers are not quite so attractive to the ear according to one motorist, who said the Parua Bay nectar sippers could be counted in dozens. Reference was made recently to a tui which appear-' ed in Upper Bank Street. Now a bird of the same species has intruded even closer to the business centre, of Whangarei, and is to be seen in the vicinity of Central Park. * * * Henry Wilson has opened out new lines of sheetings, towels, dress goods, underwear, .hosiery, etc. Prices all round show a slight decline, but owing to world conditions cannot be replaced at anywhere near the price.