NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10689, 8 September 1920, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mr H. E. Holland (Buller) pointed out in the Houso of Representatives yesterday afternoon that no information had yet been given in response to his request for a return showing the number of homes and private houses,,- registered as factories. He asked whether there was any objection to the question being answered, or was there a difficulty in getting the information? Sir W. H.. Herries said that he would look into the matter. He had not known that the question had not been answered.

The average person is taller in the morning than in the evening—from three-eighths to "half an inch taller, says ''Everyday Science." Even when he has ceased growing he gains that much during a night's sleep and loses it again during the day. A long rest in bed ; often perceptibly and permaniently increases an invalid's heighti and the more rest a growing child has the taller he will grow. When we are lying down the spine is relieved of the weight of th© head, -which when we stand erect is sufficient to compress it measurably.

The interest aroused by tho spectacle of a one-armed tennis player at Wimbledon recalls the great feats of a ladj- player similarly handicapped (saya the London "Daily Chronicle"). Miss Hilda Hitchings, who was born with ono arm, succeeded in winning many championships, notably- those at Palnierston, in Now Zealand, in tho sin. files and ladies' doubles. Miss Hitchings, who is at present living in London, still plays a fine game, and is quite likely to he soon in some of tho tournaments this summer.

Yesterday was a colder day than usual, the thermometer registering as. low as 43 in the South Island. At 'Wellington tho air was sharp, but uith clear atmosphere, blue sky, and ah indulgent sun the day was most pleasant. , Russell and Tauranga (58) were the warmest spots in the Dominion, while Auckland was but three degrees cooler. The readings <hi other districts were: Gisborne 51, Napier 50, New Plymouth 55, Wanganui 54, Greymouth 57, Cliristchurch and Dunedm 53, Bluff 43.

According to a report made in Now York, fresh Canadian eggs at two dollars a dozen are being brought into tho United States for an ulterior pur. pose (writes the San Francisco correspondent of tho Christchurch "Press"). They are said to be strictly fresh, and goesess a peculiar "kick." Mr D. A. awyer, of Detroit, who has just arl rived in New York from his* homo town, stated that there appeared to bo more ways of getting liquor across from Canada than the recently-expos-ed method of shooting it in torpedoes.

The passengers by the Beltana during the recent voyag-e between Capetown and Sydney had a very perilous trip. Between Perth and Fremantle, a violent storm was encountered. The seas were described by n New Zealand passenger as terrific, and even the captain foa:ed that the bott could not weather the storm. Tho boat was hpve to and the passengers weie kept beneath battened hatches. A number of b.o.s. messages were received from other vessels in distress, aid the cap-; tain stated that the storm was tho worst ho.had ever experienced.

''While steaming from Suva for Auckland," said Mr A. Wisher, on arrival at the latter port, 'the vessel was suddenly brought to a. standstill at 2 o'clock one morning. Ii went out on deck to see what was tfe matter, and saw a light, apparently mating on the water and coming towards us from a nearbv island. In time tw» natives swnm alongside tho.vessel, ont towing a floating light and tho other a tin bos which contained tho mail The box was taken on hoard the Mokoia, the island mail was attached aid lowered, and tho swimmers thereupon set out for the island through the sharkinfested sea. This is the customary vn-ethod of working the mails tt this island."

The strength of the senior cadet units in -croup o (Wellington; on August 31st was 45 officers and 2408 othei ✓anko.

The postal authorities are advised that the R.M.S. Tahiti, which' sailed from Suva for Auckland on the. 6th. instant, carries 516 bags of mails ior Wellington.

A special class of instruction in musketry for senior cadet n.c.o.'s will bo held at the Garrison Hall, Buckle street, next week, commencing- on Monday evening at 7.15 o'clock. All u.c.o.'s must attend.

"What have vou got to say? asked the magistrate of a woman who was charged with drunkenness in the court yesterday. "How much will the line he?" eagerly responded the woman. *

In appreciation of the prompt work of the fire brigade, a donation ot £lO 10s has been forwarded by Cole? Drapery Company,' Cuba street, m connection with the recent outbreak of firo in Herbert street.

The trustees in the estate of the late Mrs Lissie Rathbone; of Waipawa, in terms of their trust, have allocated various sums to charitable 'and religious institutions. Tho full list will not be available for some time. Tho trustees have handed over the sum of £7OCO for the purpose of building a boys'' home in Waipawa.

Senior cadets and Territorials are forbidden fcy » new paragraph which i« being iiicserta-d in company, orders to carry any rounds of ball ammunition to a place of instruction, or :to take any Government ammunition, whether obtained on payment-or not, away from a rifle range or place of instruction. Special instructions are also being issued to prevent accidents on riil& ranges.

The schools in the Wellington Education Board msuict; wvsj-fc reopened yesterday after a term holiday of two oeks' duration. ConiideiinK the season and inc. amount of sickness usually prevalent at this time of year, the attendances were considered to be very satisfactory. In some cases Iha children were surprised to find that another day's respite, from studies (the inspector's holiday) was granttd i them. All schools -will lesurue stucn s to-day.

Writing to a Palmerston resident a business man in Sydney says:—"TheNew Zealanod footballers have come, conquered and gone, and have left behind a nanio that their country may well be proud of, They did splendidlv on the field, and even better socially, being spoken-,of everywhere as tho finest and best behaved crowd of men we have had in our midst. No wonder New Zealanders aro so loyal to their country. How can they help feeling that way when they are able to send such-fine men to Australia?"

A further warning was given at tho Magistrate's Court at Timaru to owners and prospective owners of niotorC3'cles. The regulation that the person disposing of a motor-cycle, as well as the person buying it, must notify the registering authority appears to be unknown, but Mr islosley, S.M., helped to impress the regulation upon those concerned by inflicting fines of 30s and costs 21s on three individuals who had come into possession in succession, of the same machine.. The work tluown : on the police- iu tracingsuch matters'is considerable. .

The cause of the extinction of the well-known native bird, the huia, has been the. subject of much researcn in philosophical circles. An interesting theory is advanced by Mr George K Miuon, of London, who after a closo study of the bird, has forwarded to the natural history section of the local Philosophical Society a paper upon a certain parasite of tho huia, which was read at tho annnal meeting of the section last evening. Mr Mason discovered upon specimens of tho bird which were sent Home to-him, a tick djstinRUished- by tho namo uaomopkysalis leachi,-.which he points out is really a mynah, an Indian bird .that probably transferred its infection to the huia upon being introduced to this conn try. The tick was found to havo fas-. tended itself firmly into the flesh sur-j rounding tho bill of the bird.