LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Middle Years of Life "What would you v ' say -would bo middle life—about 45?" asked the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, of a medical witness during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court yesterday. On witness agreeing. His Honor Remarked with a smile: "I wouldn't. Perhaps I might have .'SO years ago." High Temperatures

Contrasting with the boisterous weather of the week-end, warm sumniei conditions have been • experienced in Auckland in the past two days. One ol' the highest temperatures recorded this summer, 80 degrees, was registered yesterday, when the minimum reading was 67 degrees. The day was line, with a moderate westerly breeze. Fine Show of Blooms

A spectacular display of 88 blooms 011 a single stem is provided 011 a plant believed to be a Japanese sacred lily, which is growing in the garden of Mrs. C. Carinont, of Forest Lake, Hamilton. The flowers are somewhat similar to the Christmas lilv, being white in colour, with black markings 011 the petals and with a yellow centre..

Children's Givings Toward the end of each year the children of Presbyterian Sunday schools throughout the Dominion arc asked to contribute to some special missionary object as a Christmas gift. This year their offerings have amounted to over £4Bl, which is by far the largest amount ever raised in this fund, llic gift this year is to be devoted to the building of a. Maori church at Waikaremoana.

Conscience Money

An account which had been outstanding for eight years almost to the day was paid yesterday to the St. John Ambulance Association. Without any accompanying note, the original account form, crumpled and dusty, was pinned to two postal notes to the value of £1 Is, to honour a debt incurred on January 15, 1932, for which the account was rendered slightly mora than a month later.

Night Sitting of Court The unusual course of holding a night sitting of the Supreme Court was adopted by the Chief Justice, Sit Michael Myers, last evening. Giving his reason when the Court was about to adjourn yesterday afternoon, His Honor said that he desired that the case then being heard should be completed to-day or otherwise justice would be delayed to people concerned in following cases. The Court adjourned at 5 p.m. and resumed its sitting at 7.30 p. 111., continuing until 10.30 p.lll. Mount Albert Rates

"This has been an historic year for the borough as regards the collection of rates," said the Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. H. A. Anderson, at last night's meeting of the .Borough Council. Of the amount levied, £70,342, a total of 93.33 per cent had been collected, compared with 85 per cent at the same date last year. The amount collected so far, including arrears, was £88,128, compared with £85,479 last year. Reporting upon the high percentage the town clerk stated that the estimated collection of both current rates and arrears, had been exceeded.

Vegetable Supplies / No supplies of vegetables, consigned regularly in fairly large quantities, have been received in Auckland from Ohakune since last Friday on account of the dislocation of Main Trunk train .traffic. As a result, the supplies of certain lines at the City Markets yesterday were not nearly as large as usual. Supplies from local growers and market gardeners in the country, however, were heavy, but the absence of expected consignments from Ohakune caused a shortage of cabbages and cauliflowers. Although rail traffic is not now hampered, it is thought that growers refrained from sending their vegetables owing to the possibility of delay in delivery. Pre-human Creatures

A cast of teeth of fossil pre-human creatures of the pleistocene era has been received by the Auckland War Memorial Museum from Mr. R. Broom, of the Transvaal Museum. These teeth relate to a discovery by a schoolboy on a farm at Krondraai of a skull of a large anthropoid. The skull is ape-like, but the teeth are similar to the human type. Mr. Broom explains that on discovering the skull in an outcrop of rock, the boy split it with a hammer. He gave a * piece to a friend, who handed it to Mr. Broom. Search was immediately made the boy, who was located "with four of the most valuable teeth in the world in his pocket."

Linen Flax Fibre v A start lias' been made with the production in New Zealand of linen flax fibre, and reports received by tho Department of Agriculture indicate that experimental crops grpwn in Marlborough and Canterbury have proved tho suitability of soil and climatic conditions for tho growing of this useful crop. The department is said to be alive to the importance of linen flax production in this country, and strenuous efforts are being made to increase its growth. Linen flax should not be confused with what is commonly known as New Zealand flax, which is much coarser and more closely related to hemp. Linen flax is used for tho spinning of the fine yarns from which tablecloths and bed linen are woven, and for the manufacture of the fine, yet very strong, linen threads largely used in the sewing of boots and shoes and" clothing, and many other commodities,of everyday use. Red Deer in South

Although for the best part of a decade relentless war has been waged upon the red deer, they are still plentiful in the' South Island back country. This confirms the opinion" repeatedly expressed by experienced stalkers, that the deer will never be exterminated. Constant shooting, however, has reduced their numbers to such an extent that their depredations, except in the far. south, are no longer serious. Runholders, however, are apprehensive lest the war should result in a big increase in the deer herds. The absence of most of the professional shooters, who, being for the most part fit, hardy, crack shotsj and of suitable'age, make excellent soldiers, is > likely to mean that the deer will be permitted a truce until the hostilities • elsewhere are ended. Wherever the Government shooters have carried out a prolonged campaign'the (leer, have been reduced to such an extent that it is rare even ill' the rutting season to see more than six or eight in a herd, and at this time of year more than two or three beasts together, where formerly twenties and thirties [ were common.