NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23054, 3 December 1936, Page 18

NEWS IN BRIEF

The depredations of small birds and magpies on tree seeds and germinating seedlings were the subject of a report to the Selwyn Plantation Board by the superintendent, Mr R. G. Robinson, at a meeting of the board (reports the Christchurch Press). Mr Robinson said that the small birds were unusually troublesome this season, and magpies were causing damage over the sown area by disturbing the surface in their search for worms and insects. Although seeds were impregnated with fluid distasteful to the bird life before sowing, this did not prevent disturbance of the surface. Poisoned grain was effective in reducing the number of visiting sparrows and other small birds, but other me?;v would have to be resorted to to protect germinating seedlings against the magpie invasion. Special showing of curtains, cretonnes, Shadows, hearth rugs, squares* and linos, this week. See special window and interior display. All new goods. Prices right. Buy now.— The Mosgiel Drapery Warehouse. A. F. Cheyne and C 0.,... f The suggestion that two women are members of a New Zealand waterside workers’ union was made in the Arbitration Court at Wellington the other day. Applications for exemptions from the proposed clerical workers’ award were being heard, and a letter written to the court by Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation, was read. The letter asked that the citation of the federation as a party be struck out, one of the reasons given being that all members of the federation’s' staff were already members of waterside workers’ unions. Mr A. W. Croskery, workers’ advocate, said he doubted whether women could be members of a waterside workers’ union. The court reserved its decision on the application.

Strength, flavour, aroma! AH’ are found in the favourite “ Bourbon ” brand of coffee and chicory. “Bourbon ” is produced by specialists. Instructions in every tin... , “We shall not be able to undertake a wholesale consolidation of schools in Hawke’s Bay. but it will have to be done gradually, for all children of the small schools should have the opportunity of better education provided in bigger schools.” said Mr G. A. Maddison, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, when saying that about 100 small rural schools had now been consolidated throughout the Dominion. Members generally agreed that consolidation was a very wise move, and in Hawke’s Bay there were still several schools anxious to secure consolidation.

Grandism (3052): You may search a long time before discovering a man’s gift as genuinely welcome as a bottle of Grand House Whisky; 125... The value of a fish was expressed in new terms at a meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. Dr D. M’NDickson had been speaking of the many fish recovered from the drying Selwyn River and liberated elsewhere. Professor E. Percival said that as one grown fish was equal to about 1000 •fry, the fish which had been saved would be of greater value than 1,000,000 fry. “ You have in the North Island of New Zealand one of the most interesting and instructive volcanic regions opportunity for volcanologists,” said opportunity for colcanologists',” said Professor Howel Williams, of the University of California, in an address in Wellington. Tarawera was a volcanic plug, and the eruption of 1883 had been caused by the opening of a crevasse or crack across its dome, he explained. Just landed—A full selection of- English chiming and striking clocks, the latest designs.—Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians, 488 Moray place, Dunedin.. .

A slackening of building activity, apparently on account of the delay in completing the Government housing scheme, was reported to the Mount Albert Borough Council (Auckland! by the town clerk, Mr T. R. Congalton. Several builders stated that Jobs were being deferrred on this account, he said. In the past three weeks 12 building permits, including one for a house, of a total value of £1046, had been issued. For the 10 months ended October, 65 houses worth £41,092 had been erected, compared with 48 valued at £24,876 in the corresponding period last year. That the age of trees may be ascertained by the number of rings in the trunk, and the age of animals by the number and condition of their teeth, is common knowledge. The age of fish, however, is determined by the scales. This fact the members of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society learned when it was decided to compare the ages of the trout in the Ma-nganui-a-te-Ao Stream and the Mangawhero, so that the difference in size of the fish in the two streams might be ascertained. The scales of fish of similar size will be taken from the streams and sent to the scientific branch of the Department of Marine. Camp life needs some preparation. Gray and Sons, Milton, cater for this. Order now and the goods will be held until holiday time. Rifles, tents, clothing, groceries are ,all in demand... Hundreds of terns, which usually nest at the Rangitata River mouth, have nested in the upper reaches of the Orari River behind “ Silverton" this year, and many eggs and young have, attracted attention on the shingle of the riverbed there. It would seem that the change of location was made by some uncanny instinct, because the area at Rangitata mouth, which is usually used for nesting, was washed away by a big flood recently, arid f the birds had gone back to their cu - tomary grounds their eggs and young would have been washed out to sea. Visitors to the nesting grounds comment on the great care the terns show for their young. One visitor floated one of the young into the river and about 20 adult birds encircled it and headed it for the shore. The nests are so close together that it is difficult to avoid treading on them, and most of the young hatched out on t! e same day. Flies bring disease. Keep your windows and house clear of these troublesome pests by using our fly baths. Quality meat safes stocked in all sizes. —Dickinson’s. Ltd., Sheet Metal Workers, 441 Princes street...

When discussing the Auckland Acclimatisation Society’s liberality m freeing pheasants in the King Country early in the year, and the increase m the number of birds in the Taumarunui district, Mr A. E. Benn. of Lairdvale, said that his son accidental v ploughed up a nest containing 13 pheasants’ eggs recently. Although startled by the horses, the bird went only a short distance, for, when Mr Benn returned a little later, he noticed that the pheasant had made an attempt to collect the eggs and remake the nest. Mr Benn, however, remade the nest, and about two weeks later saw the bird with 11 young chicks, two eggs left in the nest being infertile.

Do not forget the assorted hamper of necessaries for Xmas and New Year cheer. State your requirements and vour order will be promptly attended to by W. Crossan, Waterloo, Caversham...

Mr A. N. Grigg, of Surrey Hills, Ashburton. president this year o' ? Ashburton Agricultural and Past A Association, has carried on a traditional connection with the association. Mr John Grigg, the founder of the Longbeach Estate, w.as the first president of the association in 1877. In the association’s twenty-fifth year his eldest son, Mr ' C. N. Grigg. was president. When it had its jubilee the association s president was Mr J. H. Grigg, eldest son of Mr J. C. N. Grigg. was president. When association has Just recently held its diamond jubilee. , , . .. Said a miser, checking o er his pile, “There’s two things really make ma rile; There’s Hitchon’s Ham and my glutThey°drag me nigh to poverty”..