NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26285, 17 October 1946, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Next Year’s School Terms The Otago Education Board decided yesterday that the first school term in 1947 will be commenced on Monday, February 3. the second term on Tuesday, May 27, and the third term on September 9. Wednesday, December 17, was decided upon as break-up day. Early Green Peas The first picking of green peas at Waimate this season was made at the week-end on the property of Mr George Mcßae, on the hillside above the town. Waimate has become noted during recent years for the production of early peas, the first consignments of which usually reach city markets about Labour Day each year. Issue of Ration Books Last year a total of 23,031 hosiery cards was issued in Dunedin, and in the first two days of the present issue no fewer than 7843 cards have been issued. The number of new ration books issued on the first two days of 1945 was 16,287, but in spite of inclement weather on Tuesday, 16,688 books were issued on the first two days of the distribution in Dunedin this year. It is expected that the total number of books issued in Dunedin will be approximately 66.000. Seals Still Numerous Although several thousand seals were taken during the season just closed it is the opinion of sealers at Bluff that the natural increase has not even been killed off. The rookeries of the west coast and Solander Islands are reported to be still covered. One of the men stated that if an open season were not declared next year it would be neces-r sary for a patrol boat to be constantly on they watch for poachers from overseas, particularly if whaling fleets go south. “ Backbone of the Farmers ” “We are used to hedring that the farmers are the backbone of the country, but the women are the backbone of the farmers,” said Mrs Harold McLeavey, of Manawatu (Dominion treasurer of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers), during an address to the interprovincial conference of the Women’s Division held at Ashburton on Tuesday. She added that farming was the greatest career in the world because it produced a true partnership between man and wife. Early Settlers’ Museum / The educational value of the exhibits in the Early Settlers’ Museum, particularly in view of the centenary celebrations in 1948, was stressed in a letter from the Early Settlers’ Association which was received by the Otago Education Board yesterday. It was suggested that arrangements should be made for senior pupils of schools in the province to pay periodical visits to the museum. The proposal was strongly supported by the chairman, Mr James Wallace, and Mr D. C. Cameron, and it was decided that the letter should be referred to the chief inspector. Mr R. W. Maxwell Postmen’s Drive The postmen in the city and suburbs are at present completing arrangements for the sale of health stamps which they will commence on the first day of the campaign, October 24. The plan of the postmen to carry stamps for sale will give householders the opportunity of using the stamps on first-day covers and having them impressed with the date stamp of that day. The postmen s drive will be continued for the first 10 days of the campaign. A Dunedin philatelist stated recently that the value of last year’s first-day covers had already increased considerably. Supplies of stamps, which will be sold in two denominations —3d and ljd—have now arrived in Dunedin. Free Hearing Aids? The provision of hearing aids, either free or at a low cots, was being considered by the Government, said the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, during an address to supporters at Waterloo on Monday night. In Great Britain Dlans were being.made to have hearing aids supplied to all deaf people by 1948, and in the meantime they would be sold at £lO each, a substantial reduction on the usual £2O and £3O. Great Britain was willing to supply New Zealand with these aids, but a British firm which manufactured them in New Zealand had offered to supply them at a lower cost. Vacancies in Industry The most significant feature in regard to vacancies in industry was the extraordinarily rapid increase in female vacancies after V-J Day, states the final report of the National SerDepartment. These followed a long period of stability in which the number of vacancies remained within approximately 1000 of the war-time peak of 4792 in March, 1945. Vacancies for males had not shown the same marked increase since V-J Day, and were more widely distributed over the industrial field, although 1816 (26 per cent.) were in building and construction, 816 (11 per cent.) in railways, and 817 (11 per cent.) in engineering. Archbishop Julius Memorial Nearly £9OOO was in hand towards a memorial to Archbishop Julius, said Archbishop West-Watson to the Anglican Synod in Christchurch on Monday. The war had prevented a campaign for funds, and if it'had not been for the war it might have been possible to proceed with, the extension of the chancel of the Christchurch Cathedral at a cost of between £II,OOO and £12,000. Building costs, however, had risen, and that part of the work was estimated to cost • £IB,OOO, and there was no prospect of proceeding with the work because of the shortage of labour and building materials. Rainbow at Night The unusual spectacle of a rainbow at night was seen in the southern skies in the early hours of Wednesday morning by a Ranfurly resident. The rainbow differed from that usually seen in the daytime - as distinct colours were not visible. Instead, one clear silver arch stood out against the dark clouds. The rainbow, one end of which was in the west and the other in .the south, formed nearly a complete half circle, the topmost point of the arch reaching high into the sky. It is considered that the phenomenon may have been caused by the rising moon in the north-east reflecting on the dark clouds mf a storm approaching from the south. Electric Soil Heating An experiment of interest to gardeners, a rarely-used method of heating soil m a propagating house, is at present being conducted at Bell Block. New Plymouth. Such beds are usually heated by warm water running through pipes in or- under the shelves of son. Sometimes insulated electric cable is used. The new equipment at Bell ‘Block is a modification of this second method,, but, instead of insulated wire, bare wire is used. The bed being wired at present is 32 feet long, 35 inches wide and 8 inches deep, and the galvanised steel wore runs the length of the bed and is in six lines six inches apart. The temperature will be thermostatically controlled. Honey Production At the end of March this year there were 9445 apiaries in New Zealand, states the annual report of the Department of Agriculture. Labour and equipment difficulties had compelled many beekeepers to reduce the number of their hives during the war, but there was a sharp increase in the number of domestic beekeepers, who endeavoured to offset the shortage of sugar and to supply sufficient honey for their own table use. The estimated normal production of honey in New Zealand from commercial and domestic apiaries was 3259 tons, while the production from all sources for the year ended March 31 was estimated to be not less than 3116 tons, and 89,9251b' of commercial beeswax.