Missiles from the Air

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23886, 14 August 1939, Page 8

Missiles from the Air

Two parts of the engine cowling fell from one of the two Blackburn Baffin bombers that passed over New Plymouth on Saturday morning en route from Auckland to Christchurch (reports a Press Association telegram). One sheet of aluminium about 4ft by 2ft fell in the sand at Moturoa and the other at Fitzroy.

Fire Calls An automatic call from the Town Hall was answered by the City Fire Brigade at 7.51 on Saturday morning. A justifiable false alarm from the Main North road was answered at 1.30 p.m. At 10.46 yesterday morning the brigade attended to a chimney fire in School street, Roslyn. ,

A Freak Calf A freak calf was born at a farm near Te Aroha resembling in all respects a bulldog (states a Press Association message). The head, front legs, and body are true to the bulldog type, but in size it is smaller than an ordinary calf. It was sold on Friday for £3OO to be exhibited throughout the Dominion.

City Police Court In the City Police Court on Saturday a first offender who appeared before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., on a charge of drunkenness, was fined ss,iin default 24 hours' imprisonment.

Stocks of Steal Diminishing Licences to import constructional steel have now been severely restricted to works considered important, and, in consequence, reserve stocks of steel are steadily diminishing, not only for building requirements, but also for the engineering industry. Several important undertakings in Auckland (says the New Zealand Herald) are now' in abeyance through the position with steel. It is stated that contractors tendering for jobs are now attaching a condition to their tenders to protect themselves against the possibilities of delays in obtaining both licences to import and in the actual deliveries.

Organ Recital Despite the bad weather there was a good attendance at the organ recital given in the Town Hall last night by the city organist (Dr V. E. Galway). The programme was a well-varied one, the outstanding number being Chopin's Concerto in E minor, in which Miss Mavis McDonald was the solo pianist. Accompanied. by Dr Galway on the organ, she gave an outstanding presentation, and the number was one of the most beautiful given at a recital this year. Among the organ numbers to find favour with those present were the two interesting compositions by the French composer, Dallier, entitled "The Morning Star" and "Clear as the Sun." Wagner's "Ride of Valkyrie" was another popular piece, and John Ireland's " Holy Boy " was an attractive number. Other pieces played by Dr Galway were Chorus from " Samson " (Handel), Choral Prelude, "Jecu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Bach), and Introduction and Fugue (Rheinberger). Hawke's Bay Grass Seed

A return of £IOO,OOO has been received by Hawke's Bay farmers for certified ryegrass and clover seed harvested during last season. The quantities of clover harvested showed a marked increase when compared with the previous year. Though the dry conditions during the summer compelled the opening up to stock of some of the acreage which had been shut up for seed purposes, and gales earlier in "the season further reduced the crop, the yield from most properties was satisfactory. "A Great Little Country "

"I am satisfied that New Zealand is the greatest little country in the world, and that our labour conditions arid standards of living are superior to anything I have seen while abroad," states Mr John Roberts, secretary of the Clothing Trades' Federation, of Christchurch, in a letter to Miss A. E. Cossey, secretary of the Auckland Clothing Trades' Union. Mr Roberts, who was New Zealand employees' representative at the International Labour Conference at Geneva, writing from Geneva, stated that he had visited clothing factories in Canada and England and had gathered much valuable Information. He expected to, arrive in Auckland at the end of October.

Use of Motion Pictures '' The advantages to be gained from the use of motion picture films showing various. aspects of orchard work were stressed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation in Wellington last week. By this means, it was claimed, growers in the , more'remote districts would have the opportunity of seeing the methods' employed at the plant research station. The films could also be made the vehicle of acquainting growers in the various districts with methods employed by growers in othei districts to the general benefit of those engaged in the industry. It was pointed out that growers at the present time had no opportunity of gaining knowledge at first hand of what was being done in other districts. A remit was passed asking the federation to make inquiries into the matter.

New Zealand Accent Dr Frederick Staton, Mus.Bac, conductor of the Sheffield Philharmonic Society's choir and a musical authority, says definitely that New Zealanders have an accent. "I can notice it in the children during examinations," said Dr Staton. "It is quite obvious. I should say it approximates the London Cockney—not in the worst sense of the word, but something between the educated Londoner and the Cockney." Asked if he had any ideas as to the genesis of accent, and its development, as was so strongly noticeable in Canadian and American,, people, Dr Staton said he had given the subject considerable thought, as he had toured Canada several times and he had a theory which.he intended to expound at a later date. He rather prided himself (like the professor in "Pygmalion") on being able to place a man's country by his speech. He placed New Zealand in the south of England category.

Old Maori Defences The destruction of some, old Maori defence works to make way for the Musick memorial radio station at Tamaki has aroused a protest from historical organisations in Auckland (states the New Zealand Herald). The station covers an area formerly occupied by a large Maori pa. The Auckland Historical Society sent a telegram on Tuesday to the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) and to the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple), asking that work should be suspended until the question could be investigated. The association considers tha* some of the fortifications should be preserved. The Auckland Maori Association has also registered its protest. The former pa belonged to the Ngati-Taoa tribe, which captured it from another tribe probably more than two centuries ago. The fortifications remaining included a deep ditch, part of which has now been filled in, from one cliff to the other. All the outer defence works have been recently levelled. Primary Producer*

Support was given by the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation conference, which was concluded in Wellington last week, to the effort being made through the New Zealand Primary Producers' Ancillary Council to draw primary producers' organisations, closer together with a view to matters of common interest being dealt with more effectively. Unfortunately, said Mr J. George (Otago), the controversy was creeping in of town versus country or primary producers versus industrialists and manufacturers. That was to be regretted, because their interests were intermingled. . He felt that a federation of the primary producers' organisations would be of advantage to the primary producers as a whole.

Heavy Potato Plantings All gardeners, from the most modest amateur to the largest supplier df she market, appeal' to be seeking profit from the present shortage of potatoes. Planting is going on all over the North Island, and demand for seed has been so keen for the last month that the price has risen almost as high as that for table potatoes. From Pukekphe and Gisborne come reports of substantial sowing, and round Auckland is plenty of evidence of the same activity. However, potatoes planted now will not be ready till the full weight of the main Pukekohe crop is on the market, and, if it is up to expectations, prices should have fallen considerably by. that time. The growers who will profit most are those who planted some time ago and whose potatoes, having survived frost and snow, will be-ready before the end of next month. Already small supplies of new potatoes are coming on the Auckland market. Enlarging Auckland C.P.O.

Plans have been drawn in Wellington for the remodelling of the ground floor and part of other .floors of the Auckland chief post office under a scheme that embraces the four-storey addition at the back of the building (states the New Zealand Herald). Features include the trebling of the floor space on' the ground floor, the placing of postal boxes on the street level, a new entrance to the private box lobby, which will be in the basement, and the removal of the telephones from the Queen street boxes to a place inside the building. It is proposed that most public business will be done over a huge semi-circular counter in a central area, which will be 83ft by 64ft, compared with the present space of 44ft by 42ft. This central area will represent an increase of floor space of 3464 square feet. Postal as well as telegraphic and savings bank business will be transacted in the area. Parcels post and postal office Customs work will be transferred from Albert street. The increase in public accommodation on the ground floor will be made possible chiefly by the removal of the mail sorting room to the new building at the back. Lost in Plantation Mas*

Lost in a maze of . tracks winding throughout the 15,000 acres of forestry block at Tokoroa, two young women of Putaruru, South Auckland, travelling in a car, had an unenviable experience. The two young women left Putaruru at 2 p.m. to pick up a friend living in the heart of the plantation area. They mistook a turning and soon found themselves hopelessly lost in the forest area. Realising that they were going further astray by continuing on the rough track through the trees, they endeavoured to turn back, but their car became bogged in soft' earth. The travellers set out on foot for the home of Mr-N. Spraggon, which they reached in time to learn that search parties, including employees of the forestry company, had already set out to look for them. The evening was well advanced, but the task of locating the car in the forest plantation was successfully undertaken, and it was put back on the right track at 11 p.m. The young women considered themselves fortunate in not having to spend a frosty night alone in the pine plantation.