LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22198, 27 August 1935, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Steamer's Delay at Greymouth The prolonged spell of boisterous weather and rough seas on the West Coast has considerably delayed shipping. The Union Company's cargo steamer Kiwitea left Greymouth for Auckland yesterday morning, after being barbound for nine days. Minister Uses Maori Language During his recent visit to the Arowhenua Native School, near Temuka, the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Education, departed from his usual custom and addressed the children in the Maori language. Ho also asked that the replies be made in the native tongue. This was done, and later the children entertained tho Minister by singing a number of Maori songs. Cheque for £10,000,000 How many people can claim that they have signed a cheque for £10,000,000? The Hon. Adam Hamilton, PostmasterGeneral, is one who can. Speaking of the magnitude of the business of Parliament at the annual luncheon of the Southland League, he mentioned that he once had to sign a cheque for this amount. "I should have had a photograph taken on such an occasion," he added. Bequest to Otago University The Finance and Medical Committees of the Otago University Council reported to the last meeting of the council that a letter had been received from the Trustees, Executors Company, Limited, forwarding a cheque for £4OOO, being an interim payment from the estate of the late Dr. D. Colquhoun. The matter had been referred to the treasurer and registrar to make further .inquiries regarding investments. Cow for Leper Settlement One of the most pressing needs of the leper settlement at Chandkuri, India, is a herd of cows from which fresh milk for the inhabitants of the settlement might be secured daily. A plea was sent forth for assistance, and as the result of efforts made in Dunedin by Mrs. E. Hanson, whose appeals were generously responded to, enough money has been collected in Dunedin to purchase one cow for the use of the settlement. Shining Cuckoos Reported Since the announcement in the Herald yesterday that the shining cuckoo would shortly arrive in the Dominion after its long flight from overseas, the bird has been reported in both Reinuera and Onehunga. The distinctive notes of the bird have been heard during the past few days in a large garden in Upland Road, Remuera, while children attending the Methodist Sunday School, Onehunga, reported the bird two weeks ago. Honorary Rangers Dissatisfaction with the present system of appointing honorary rangers under the Animals Protection and Game Act was expressed at the last meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, when the recommendation of such a ranger for appointment was being discussed. It was decided to recommend to the Department of Internal Affairs that in future appointments should be for three years, and not for life, as at present. Motorists and Horse-power Tax

A unanimous protest against the imposition of a horse-power tax in New Zealand was made at the conference of the North Island Motor Union in New Plymouth. Speakers took two different lines of thought, however, one urging that the imposition of the tax would be discrimination in favour of English cars at the expense of American cars, and others that it would be adding an unbearable tax to the most heavily-taxed portion of the community. Early Nesting ,

In spite of the recent wet weather grey warblers have built a nest in a garden at Kohimarama, and the birds are now collecting food for their nestlings. The owner of the garden, who has studied the grey warblers for some years, considers the early nesting to be a record, as in no previous season have young birds been seen there before the third or fourth week in September. There is ample food for the young birds at present, in spite of their early appearance. University of Rome "He may be in Abyssinia," said a member of the Otago University Council, when an invitation was read from the University of Rome for the University of Otago to be represented at the opening of new buildings by Signor Mussolini. The chancellor, Mr. W. J. Morrell, said it had been suggested that the University of Otago be represented by Mr. A. D. Trendall, a distinguished student of the university, who was likely to be in Italy at the time. "That is if things are well," significantly added Mr. Morrell. The invitation to the ceremony was written in Latin. "It is quite good Latin," said Mr. Morrell, "but extremely illpunctuated." Ambitious Beautifying Scheme Many schemes have been proposed, not only in New Zealand, but also elsewhere, to beautify cities and suburbs. The latest scheme originates from the borough of Sumner, Christchurch, and was outlined to a meeting of the council by a deputation recently. This allows for raising £30,000 to provide picnic pavilions (to keep the trams full on wet days), an aviary, a pond of goldfish, a children's paradise of swings and slides, Roman rings, a merry-go-round, up-to-date bathing sheds, and sheltered seats. To brighten the town on Saturday nights a mouth-orgs.n band of the boys of the borough will be formed. The sea will bo kept in the estuary all day by flood-gates, and a stone bridge will link Clifton to South Brighton. Antarctic Whaling " There is not much fear of the whales in Antarctica being exterminated," said. Mr. E. Aagaard, who described to the Gisborne Rotary Club some of his experiences with the Antarctic whaling fleet. The industry had so far touched only a small sector of the great Antarctic Sea, and many whiles escaped for every one caught. It was his opinion that 100 years would elapse before whales there became extinct. He gave some surprising statistics relating to the length and weight of average whales of the various species, and mentioned that the blue whale measured from 20ft. to 25ft. in length when born. As the " cosmopolitan of the seas," the blue whale travels all over the oceans, and specimens marked in Japanese waters had been known to turn up in Antarctica 10 months later*