LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22393, 14 April 1936, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Barometer's Steadiness The barometer has been remarkably steady this month, and the wet weather during the week-end did not influence its movement. Since April 1 it has been above 30.00 in. and the readings for the 13 days of the month varied only ,15in. ranging between 30.10 in. and 30.25 in. Eels as Food Encouragement of the eating of eels by New Zealanders to prevent the eels from eating trout is advocated by Mr. R. Maltwood, of Jersey, Channel Islands, who has been visiting New Zealand for the angling. Mr. Maltwood said the eel properly cooked was delicious and highly prized in England. Vehicular Ferries Busy Three vehicular ferries running between Devonport and Auckland last evening were kept particularly busy. The largest number of motor-cars was travelling from the North Shore to the city. For a period of several hours about six o'clock the queue of waiting vehicles extended for over half-a-milo along Queen'B Parade. Trains Arrive Late Owing to the rush of Easter traffic some trains were delayed last night and the daylight limited, which was scheduled to arrive at 11 o'clock, did not arrive until nearly midnight. A heavily-loaded express from Rotorua was an hour and a-half late, arriving at about 12.30 o'clock this morning. Jiot-li trains were met by special trams.

Signs Wilfully Damaged A despicable act is reported by tho New Plymouth Model Flyine Club. At the entrance to its premises are a number of signs and showcases. Somo person has covered the signs with tar and the glass fronts of the showcases have also been smothered. The damage amounts to several pounds. Tho matter has been reported to tho police.

Shooting Season With tho approach of the shooting season Hawke's Bay sportsmen are beginning to make preparations for the opening on May 1. In spite of the adverso conditions the secretary of the Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society, Mr. R. M. Chadwick, stated recently that there were enough quail and pheasants in evidence to justify the promise of a satisfactory season for sportsmen. Ducks were reported to bo plentiful in all districts. Interest in Demolition Work

The work of demolishing the old Shortland Street post office was continued yesterday, although the day was a holiday. The activities of the workmen breaking down the brick walls were watched with considerable interest by numbers of spectators, there being a small group of people standing in Fort Street, near the rear of the building, nearly all day. As some moved away other passers-by stopped and became interested.

Horses Removed at Waiheke Several horses were removed from their paddocks at Waiheke Island on Sunday night. Three were taken from a paddock at Oneroa, two others which were tethered at Surfdale disappeared, while the gate of a paddock in which the St. John Ambulance representative on the island keeps the horse used for patrol work was opened, but tho horso did not stray. It was removed from the paddock on Saturday night, hut was found after some delay on Sunday morning. Climbing Up the Stairs Held up by his opponent with a particularly punishing hammerlock an amateur wrestler in one of the preliminary bouts at the Town Hal! last night chose an unusual way of breaking the hold. He walked across tho ring into a corner with his opponent stilT holding on grimly, and began to climb up the ropes as if they were stairs, putting a foot on each side. By the time he reached the third rope his opponent was losing tho hold and a few moments later tho enterprising wrestler was free to carry on the bout.

Confetti Prohibited When the 12 couples who had arranged to be married by the registrar of marriages at Wellington arrived for the ceremony last week they were tactfully reminded that confetti must not be thrown in the office. Some difficulty had been experienced on previous occasions bj' the amount of confetti thrown in the office and building, and notices were recently put up prohibiting its use. The well-wishers of a couple who were recently married by the registrar obeyed the instructions, but they created an even greater nuisance —they used rice.

Plant Intelligence The behaviour of a pumpkin plant in his garden has led a Mount Eden resident to wonder whether he is witnessing a pure coincidence or a noteworthy exhibition of plant intelligence. Having trailed in the manner of its kind over some high open shrubbery the plant has deposited a large pumpkin weighing many pounds just at a spot where an iron bar with one end on a roof is in place to support its weight. Had the pumpkin come a few inches one way or the other from where it is, it must have crashed its way through to the ground.

Teachers' Training College Tho Wellington Teachers' Training College at Kelburn is still being prepared for the purposes for which it was originally designed. Its use for other purposes during the last few years has made it .impossible for it to be used again at once for lectures, so in the meantime tho students who reassembled there a month or so ago are studying teaching methods in tho various primary schools. When the collego is ready for them, which will bo in tho very near future, lectures will commence again, and the 219 students will bo able to take the usual courses. Whether there will be any official opening of the college has not been decided. Possibly the students will just take possession and carry on. Science and Practice

Emphasising -that the primary object of Lincoln College was the training of young farmers, several speakers at the last meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association referred to what they considered the danger of too much bias on the scientific and research side. Mr. R. C. Todhunter stated that although scientific men wore needed, it was not desirable that too many of them should direct the college. Mr. R. W. Lochhead said that if it was desired to teach young men to be practical farmers it was no good having only scientific work at the college, for science was no good without practice. Mr. J. Deans said it was true that scientific work had to be included in the training of young farmers, but there was the danger of the college being controlled b.v men who tended to the scientific side rather than the practical.