Display of Aurora

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24261, 1 April 1940, Page 6

Display of Aurora

: A week of unusual magnetic activity culminated on Saturday morning with a remarkably fine display of aurora, which illumined the whole of the southern and south-western sky for several hours. The display, with its constantly changing colours of iridescent light intersected by white streamers reaching almost to the zenith, was of extraordinary brilliance and reached its climax shortly before dawn, when the appearance of the sky resembled the reflection of a great fire. It was undoubtedly one of the finest displays of the Southern Lights ever seen in Dunedin.

Stock Reserves The v time within which taxpayers who have created stock reserves, which in accordance with the provision of the 1939 amendment of the Land and Income Tax Act have now to be disclosed, may apply for a reopening of their assessments back to 1935 so that the reserves can be brought in from that year onward has been extended to to-day.

Game Shooting Season It is usual for those who follow the sport of game shooting to purchase their licences a month or so before the opening of the season, so that they may, at the earliest date possible, “peg out their claims’’ for stands. This is done by selecting a site which is likely to prove suitable and placing upon it a peg bearing a board on which is marked the claimant’s name, address and licence number. This year, it should have been possible to commence pegging claims on April 4, but sportsmen will be unable to do so, as licences have not yet been issued. The delay in the printing of these is due to the fact that the Department of Internal Affairs has not yet finally decided upon the length of the season or on several other aspects of the game shooting regulations. Charge Against Alien

The seriousness with which the authorities viewed breaches of the aliens control emergency regulations was emphasised by Detective-sergeant Walsh in the Police Court at Auckland a few days ago, when a native of Germany, who was stated to be still a German national, Harry Boles, aged 36, mechanic and engineer, was charged with failing to notify a change of abode within seven days. “We know little of this man,” Mr Walsh added. “His wife is in Australia, and at present he is in custody awaiting sentence in the Supreme Court on a charge of bigamy. After arriving in New Zealand he went through a form of marriage with another woman.” In reply to the magistrate, Mr J. Morling, who asked if there was anything sinister in the man’s failure to advise the authorities, Mr Walsh said the police had no evidence that Boles had taken part in any subversive activities. “ These regulations have to be strictly observed. At the same time, however, I will accept the man’s explanation,” said the magistrate in imposing a fine of £lO. ■

Producer Gas for Vehicles

The necessity for the conservation of petrol supplies in Great Britain has inspired a British manufacturing firm to develop for commercial purposes a producer gas plant which is suitable for attachment to petrol-driven vehicles of the medium to heavy duty type. Weighing 3cwt complete, the producer and accessories form a compact unit which can be fitted to commercial vehicles with a minimum of inconvenience, and the running costs, using ordinary coal, are extremely low, a hopper-full of fuel, about 701 b, being sufficient to last about 70 miles. In New Zealand producer gas plants for vehicles have been tried with considerable success, and it would appear that the present time is opportune for the development of a plant by means of which operators of heavy traffic vehicles would be entirely independent of imported fuel supplies. Father and Son in Khaki

For two days in succession Mrs F. Jenyns has marched with troops leaving Whangarei. On Wednesday last she marched with her son, Private P. Jenyns, one of the most promising sportsmen in Whangarei; on Thursday she linked arms with her husband, Gunner Jenyns, marching in the front rank of the parade. Gunner Jenyns is also a v.ell-known sportsman. “I hope my son and I will be together at the front.” said Gunner Jenyns. “Although we have trained in different camps we are in the same echelon and are ‘ cobbers ’ in the real sense of the word.”

Edendale Achievement

Sugar of milk was selling in New Zealand at a lower price than in any other country in the world, said Mr D. F. Sandys Wunsch, manager of the Edendale sugar of milk factory, in an address to the University Association of Southland in Invercargill last week. The New Zealand price of the product had not been risen in 10 years. Some world-wide discussion had recently occurred about standards Which could be established for lactose. An Australian baby food concern had submitted specifications of purity which had been regarded in London as impossible of attainment. The Australian concern hacl replied by forwarding a sample of the Edendale factory’s product which fulfilled all the requirements and was then adopted as the standard with which all manfacturers should endeavour to comply.

Misdirected White Feathers White feathers have been received through the post recently (says ■ the New Zealand Herald) by dozens of Paeroa youths. Apparently the person responsible obtained a list of names from a report in. the local newspaper of the Paeroa Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club’s meeting, for practically every male competitor in the weekly sports received a feather. Almost all of the recipients of the feathers are many years too young to enlist. In some cases brief notes were also enclosed in the envelopes. Stranded Trout

Dry weather has created a serious problem for the Waimate Acclimatisation Society, as thousands of trout have been stranded in the rapidly drying Waihao river. As quickly as possible, members of the council of the society, with the ranger (Mr W. T. Cottee) have been netting the fish from pools and transferring them downstream, where the river is not stagnant. Already many thousands of trout have been saved in that way. In other dry years the society has had to take similar steps, but this year the position is particularly serious, and for a number of weeks the work of shifting trout has gone on. After the pools are netted, the fish are shifted by means of large drums of water on a motor lorry. The work has to be done quickly, as the fish are in the open air, while they are being transferred from the nets to the drums. After that, they cannot be left long in the drums, as they quickly consume the oxygen in the water. Motorists and Bees

According to information received by the Transport Department bees have been responsible for several motor accidents lately. On at least three occasions last month, the presence of a bee in a car has resulted in the vehicle leaving the road. Several weeks ago a Petone carrier was driving along the main road north of Paraparaumu when a bee alighted on his heck. While he was trying to dislodge it, the lorry swerved and hit a telegraph pole, smashing it in two and severely damaging the lorry. Since then two similar accidents have occurred, both in the Wairarapa district; neither, however, had serious consequences.

Bowlers Disturbed Disturbances are unusual on bowling greens, but one occurred at the Victoria Bowling Club’s green in the closing stages of the final of the Wellington Easter tournament. Players and spectators had their attention riveted on an unusually interesting game when the silence was shattered by a tremendous crash immediately behind the rink that was being used. Spectators jumped to their feet and startled players tunned to look at the corrugated iron fence that separates the green from the street. Somebody who looked outside reported that a motor lorry turning in the street had backed into the fence. No great damage was done and the game was continued in the usual peaceful atmosphere of bowls. Soldier Dragged by Train

A member of the second echelon on a special troop train was dragged several yards by a moving carriage at Waipawa on Thursday morning before he was pulled clear by his fellow soldiers. All the Waipawa members of the echelon had entrained and the station bell and the engine’s whistle had sounded a warning, but with the noise of the farewells of the crowd, the playing of the band, and a whistle at an adjacent timber mill, the first hint to most people of the train’s departure was given when it began to gather speed. Ten or 15 soldiers had not boarded the train, and in an endeavour to do so one of the men slipped and was dragged several yards before he was pulled clear. A badly-grazed face was the only injury he received. Several other men had a scramble to board the train, which was eventually stopped before it had gone 50 yards.

The Toko Farmers’ Club gymkhana has been postponed until Saturday, April 20, in order hot to clash with the Vincent races.

Returns of land should be completed and forwarded to the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington, C. 3, on or before April 11. Neglect to do so incurs liability to a penalty not exceeding £IOO. Coffee for breakfast! Order from your grocer a tin of “Bourbon,’’ the coffee of quality! Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie’s, coffee specialists 32 Octagon. Dunedin.—Advt For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers. 59 Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt.