News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1940, Page 4

News Of The Day

Pig- Column Appreciated. Appreciation concerning the matter and manner of presentation of the current weekly “Pig Notes” feature in Saturday’s edition of the “Advocate” was expressed by delegates from outlying districts at this week’s meeting of the Northland District Pig Council. Presentation of important information in a non-technical way and inclusion of interesting personal paragraphs were meeting with a good reception among farmers, it was said.

Army Reinforcements. New Zealand would have to find 1800 recruits a month to provide reinforcements to keep the full division promised to Great Britain in the field throughout the war, commented Mr H. D. Caro, Mayor of Hamilton, at a meeting of the South Auckland zone executive cf the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, in Hamilton recently. An active recruiting campaign for the district was inaugurated.

$ # • <* Museum’s Live Tuatara

After five years of solitary seclusion in a spacious enclosure in the courtyard at the back of the building, ihe Dominion Museum’s live tuatara lizard had its peaceful ruminations somewhat rudely disturbed recently. It was placed on public view in a specially contrived tank in one of the windows. What this reptile of ancient lineage had to say about the change fs not known, as tuataras are not vocal. However, it continued its lifelong occupation of sitting, and perhaps thinking. Of interested spectators it took not the slightest notice: its only concern seemed to be its hipbath, in which it sat half immersed all through the day, • an occupation which seemed entirely appropriate to the weather.

afi; R * « Economic Value of Seaweed. A study of the economic value of seaweed at Stewart Island has recently been made by a party of botanists who visited the island. Miss Lucy M. Cranwell, F.L.S., botanist of the Auckland Museum, who has returned to Invercargill from the island, said that

there was an abundance round the island of the common kelp, which has special economic value as a source of sea minerals. During the last war this variety had been extensively used by the United States of America for the production of acetone for explosives. The possibilities for its use were very great, and the quantities available appeared to be such that in time of need a valuable industry could be developed. * * * tf Stolen Potatoes. The unpleasant experience of waking up in ihe morning and finding that 17 100-foot potato drills had been turned over in one of his paddocks and the potatoes stolen befell a Taien farmer one day last week. His only clue was that a lorry had been seen near the paddock on the previous evening, and on such slim evidence it is unlikely that the culprit could be discovered. Meanwhile the justifiably irate farmer has written down a very considerable quantity of new potatoes as “gone with the wind.”

War Soap From Coal. The Germans are to produce syn-1 thetie fat from coal, states the Frank-£ fort correspondent of the 'Copen-1 hagen “Politiken.” Among other things j this will be used for a special tj'pe of ] war soap. A new company has been | formed to produce the fat. Another? company with seven factories if try- f ing'to extract the utmost from several j thousand tons of whale oil v/Mcri it| has received. i

Boys’ aftd girls’ school clothes have? always been a strong point with Henry | Wilson. Ask the mothers of the district f where they buy their children’s school | Clothes and they will invariably; say, I “At Wilson’s.” Quality, price and? style all come to those who shop at! Wilson’s! U

Mushrooms Appear. With copious rain and humid conditions mushrooms have made an early appearance in Northland this season. Spawn scattered on a lawn in Third Avenue has realised good results, and some pickers have been out in paddocks. Mushrooms usually are not plentiful until the autumn.

Barley for Pigs. Announcement of the fixed price for barley for pig feed evoked considerable discussion at this week’s meeting of the Northland District Pig Council. On the motion of Mr G. A. Morphette (Kaingaroa) it was resolved that the immediate attention of the Minister for Marketing be drawn to any attempt to exceed the fixed price of 3/4 per bushel.

Lecture Torn'. There is a feeling that much good would result to Northland farmers if Dr. C. P. McMeekan, authority on all classes of stock breeding, were able to visit the district and give a series of lectures. With the object of raising funds to finance such a tour, the Northland District Pig Council has appointed a special sub-committee comprising Messrs H. E. Johnson, H. W. Ellis and J. B. Logan.

Resignation. Major D. G. Morrison, representative cf the New Zealand Pig Breeders' Association, has tendered his resignation to the Northland District Pig Council upon taking up military duties. This was accepted with regret at the last meeting of the council, and appreciation voiced of the valuable services rendered by Major Morrison. In filling the vacancy, the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association will be asked to appoint a representative to hold office only during the term of Major Morrison’s absence.

German Owl’s Defenders. In several districts of New Zealand there are still some farmers who contend that the German owl does more good than harm. That notion is scouted by Mr Edgar F. Stead, a wellknown naturalist, of Christchurch, whose accurate observations of bird life have appeared in several of his books. He is a keen protector of native birds and a vigorous destroyer of their enemies. On his estate he has found clear proof of the Gentian owl's guilt as a murderer, and therefore this alien is under sentence of death. A torch is used at night to detect the owls, which are then shot.

* ss» t>. * Matric. Student at Sea. The anxiety of at least one Whangarei High School scholar, who sat for his university entrance examination, will not be relieved by the announcement of the names of successful candidates today. He is E. F. Packwood, son of Mr R. H. Packwood, District Engineer for Northland. With his brother Gordon, he is aboard an Islands schooner returning from the Kermadecs, where a holiday of 10 days was spent. With no radio apparatus and manned by a native crew, the boat is about two days’ off the New Zealand const on her return voyage.