NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11867, 28 June 1924, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

On account of tlie heavy rain this week the Manawatu river rose 9 feet 10 inches. This is the highest rise this year. The Wairarapa Rugby Union has decided to make presentations to Messrs 0. Donald and Harvey, members of tho All Black team. The wind experienced at Waipukurau on Wednesday attained a high velocity. Several windows were blown out. Speaking at Captain Gipsy Pat Smith’s meeting last night the Rev. W. J. Connie said that during the last 20 years he had handled more church money than any man in New Zealand. Owing to the increasing volume cf business at the Wanganui court, the accommodation for the clerical staff is inadequate, and additions to the office are contemplated. Captain Gipsy Pat Smith told his congregation last night that last Saturday he went fishing and caught a conger eel, weighing 291 b, and six inches longer than “Mrs Pat.” (Laughter.) He also hoped to get a little more fishing to-day, as it was a “day off.” He leaves for Dunedin on Wednesday. The weather in the Tasman Sea has been exceptionally stormy for some time. Sinoe June 12th eleven vessels havo reached Auckland from overseas, and all had a stormy experience when approaching New Zealand. The storm area extended to the north-east coast of Australia and far north as Rarotonga. The wind blew with the force of a fresh to strong gale, varying from between south-west and north-west. Sixteen Lincoln rams from the flock of Messrs J. W. Hughes, Maxwelltown (Wanganui), and ten rams from the estate of the late R. R. Hamilton, Manutahi (Wanganui), are being exported to the Argentine early next month. It is understood Unit further consignments are to be exported from the flecks of the Bland Rayner Estate and Messrs W. Perry and Sorts, of Masterton. Modern methods of gas-making have had a deleterious effect on tar tor road-making, according to a statement made at a meeting at Carterton ’*y Mr A. J. Paterson, Wellington city engineer. 'The ingredients of most use for road-making were extracted by the high-pressure retorts, and that was why it was not probable tna 1 . such a good ta,r-macadam road as Queen street, Masterton, could be constructed nowadays (says an exchange). A Te Kawa fanner, Mr Alexander Stewart, received an injury to the jaw, ae a result of being kicked by a horse. He was driving a vehicle with two horses attached, and leaned over tp strike one of tlie animals with the reins. The other horse kicked out, catching Mr Stewart in the face. It wa3 feared hie jaw had been broken, but the exact nature of the injury cannot be stated until an X-ray examination has been made.

In the course of tlie toast list at Manawatu, Mr M. A. Conway gained applause and hearty laughter when he referred to “Sir-” James Nash. A few minutes later tho Prime Minister also had occasion to refer to Ml* Nash, when a voice interjected “Sir James,” again provoking applause. Mr Massey picked up the thread instantly, remarking: “There’s many a true word spoken m iest. I have known coming events to east tlieir shadows before, and it might be so in this case.”

While proceeding along the main road at Hastwell from Eketahuna to Masterton, an Eketahuna motorist named Nagel got into difficulties while passing another car with the result that bis car ran off the road and turned over on its side. A party of children and ladies in the car were considerably shaken, though only one, a small child, was injured, this being through cuts to the face and arms from broken windscreen glass. With the exception of a broken lamp and side curtains, the car was uninjured.

A plea for greater toleration on the part of councillors towards the office staff was mode by Councillor A. Walker at last night’s meeting a f the Eastbourne Borough Council. It was absolutely impossible, he said, with, the present chaos in the office to expect the town clerk to attend to every little detail without causing some delay. The constant asking of questions by councillors was very irritating to the town clerk. He also added that the Government auditor and the inspector wore at present in tlie office, and this factor was adding to the work.

There appears to be solid l ground for tho claim that New Zealand is the dairy farm of tho British Empire. It was stated by Sir W. M. Singleton, director of the dairy division, at the conference of the National Daily Association at Auckland, that no other country had anything like the same number of cows per 100 of tho population. The industry employed 78,000 persons last year, compared with 60,000 in 1919, while tho output of butter-fat had increased by 13 per cent. Dailyfarmers were becoming alert to tho value of herd-testing, and 1 tho latest record showed that over 146,000 had been tested, compared with 90,000 previously. The latest available census showed that in 1922 there was an increase of 1000 milking machines, and that 78,000 oowa extra were being milked by machinery.

At the Hospital Board meeting on Thursday during the discussion on the Radium Fund, Mr A. R. Hornblow said he thought the Government understood more of the statute than did the board. Ho did not agree with some of the previous speakers. He was not one who would discountenance any scheme that would better humanity, hut he feared that the -hoard was inclined to jump into things. It might he found that £IO,OOO would be sufficient. The board did a wrong thing, in bis opinion, in attempting to embrace other districts. If the board asked for a reasonable sum, probably tho Government would be agreeable. At the present time the Government had to be very careful over finance and what it did. Mr Hornblow wanted to know what Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin were doing regarding radium ? They were not clamouring for subsidy. He paid a high compliment to the Minister (Sir Maui Pomarc) for his efforts in connection with the .work of his valuable department.