LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Game Farm Operations Preparations are now being, mado at the State game farm at Ngongotaha for the approaching breeding season, And the breeding pons" have already been set out. The young birds for liberation for the next shooting season will be bred from 95 high standard stock birds which have been selected by the department from the fully grown birds held over from last season. Concrete through Window Falling from the upper 'portion of Army Headquarters building in Featlierston Street, Wellington, which is at present undergoing repair, a piece of concrete crashed through a window into Major-General J. E. Duigan's office. The General was absent at tho time, but the noise considerably startled members of tho staff in offices near by. Immediate steps were taken to protect the windows with a covering of wire-netting. Liner's Full Complement Carrying • a total of 083 passengers, tho Matson liner Mariposa had no vacant berths when she reached Auckland yesterday morning fnmi San Francisco, via ports. Although 173 passengers left the ship hero, every berth was again taken before tho liner sailed last night for Sydney, a number of intending travellers being unable to secure passages. An exceptionally large number of people farewelled the Mariposa from Prince's Wharf. Air Force and Acclimatisation. A suggestion that the Air Force should be asked to assist the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society by taking aerial photographs of swans' breeding grounds so that a record of the number of nests could bo made was put forward by Professor E. Percival at a meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. He said that it might be possible that an indication of the swan population, to within 10 per cent could be obtained in this way. Visitors to Court Interested visitors to the Supreme Court yesterday wero the boys from a commercial class at tho Auckland Grammar School. Before the Court opened, they inspected some of the beautiful wood carvings about the old courtroom, and afterward listened to Mr. Justice Fair dealing with a nupiber of applications for discharge from bankruptcy. An uncontested divorce petition was adjourned for further evidence beforo the boys lc.ft the Court to pursue their observation lesson elsewhere.

First Strawberries of Season The first strawberries of the season made their appearance at the City Markets yesterday, a consignment of half a crate, or seven chips, coming forward. The fruit, which was grown at Birkdale, was of the Captain Cook variety and, although rather small, was of excellent quality. Keen interest "was shown and the strawberries were sold at 2s 7d a chip. The lirst strawberries usually come on the market about the first or second week in October. The first grapes to come on the'market for a considerable period also were available yesterday, a shipment having arrived from California by the Mariposa. Art Society's New Gallery The Government proposes to build a new art gallery for the Canterbury Society of Arts in Gloucester Street, Christchurch, to replace the society's present gallery in Durham Street, which is to bo pulled down to mti.ko room for new law courts, lhe Gloucester Street site is part of a piece of land acquired some time ago for the National Broadcasting Service, when it was understood that a new station was to be erected there. It is thought probable that a considerable part of the material in the present building, possibly even the bricks, will be used in the construction of the new building. Cuckoo's Early Arrival A shining cuckoo, killed by a cat at Ealing, Mid-Canterbury, on September 17, has been sent to the Canterbury Museum. This is very early for the bird to be seen in Canterbury, according to the curator of the museum, Mr. R. A. Falla. He said the fact that it was a male bird confirmed previous observations that the male birdu reached the Dominion from their winter quarters in the Solomon Islands before the females. The old birds left the Dominion again in February, and were followed about a month or six weeks later by the young of the season, who appeared to be able to find their way satisfactorily. Footwear Fashions Shoe fashions and the condition of the trade overseas were discussed by I Mr. J. Goldberg, of Sydney, who was a through passenger hy the Mariposa yesterday, after a five months' tour of England, America and the Continent. He said women could expect to find something of a change in shoo styles within a short period, in accordance with the trend of fashions in other countries. There was nothing new in men's shoes, however, as orthodox stylos continued in favour. Mr. Goldberg added that the shoe trade in England had suffered a severe setback through an invasion of imports from Budapest, where the industry was subsidised.

South African War Medals After lodging his application five years ago, Mr. E. H. Foley, of Westerfield, Ashburton, County, has just .received two South African War medals in recognition of his services. Mr. Foley, who wis first a lance-corporal in Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guards, and ihen a private in Marshall's Horse, asked the Veterans' Association in Christchurch five years ago if it could assist him to obtain the service medals. The association took up the request through the military authorities to the War Office, London, which searched the records mado about 37 years ago to verify Mr. Foley's claim, and despatched the medals, which arrived in New Zealand a few weeks ago. Old School Tie Several references to opinions on worth of the "Old School Tie" tradition were made last night at the annual gathering of the Auckland branch of the Christ's College Old Boys' Association. Archbishop Averill, the Rev. G. V. Gerard, Bishop-Elect of Waiapu, and Mr. J. W. Shaw said that there was no gainsaying the fact that where such a tradition gave pupils of different schools standards by which to set their conduct, it was of inestimable value. Too much store was sot by the easy criticism that the tradition was merely snobbishness. It was only snobbish when it led boys and old boys of schools to believe that no other schools in the world could provide equal education and that no other pupils or old boys were so clever.