NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27038, 24 March 1949, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Bones of Giant Eagle The discovery of bones of the extinct New Zealand giant eagle in Pyramid Valley, Waikan, North Canterbury, has aroused considerable interest among ornithologists. Only one complete skeleton of this bird has previously been found. The skulls of two specimens of the giant eagle, or harpagornis, were unearthed during the excavations of moa bones by the Canterbury Museum staff in the valley, the second one only a few days ago. Sir Julius von Haast found a complete skeleton of the eagle in the moa deposits at Glenmark, North Canterbury, in 1867. This skeleton is now in the Otago Museum.

“ Populate or Perish ” “We have got to populate or perish. That is what faces us,” said Mr J. R. Hanan, M.P., in addressing the Invercargill Junior Chamber of Commerce. Mr Hanan added that the time might come when New Zealand might involuntarily receive immigrants into the country, and that New Zealanders might not like it. International Essay Contest

The United Nations Association of New Zealand has announced that the official entry forms, together with copies oY the “Declaration of Human Rights,” for the international essay contest are now available in Wellington. The competition, which is open to anyone between the ages of 20 and 35. who complies with the specified conditions, will close on May 1.

Water Situation No readings were taken at the Dunedin reservoirs yesterday—the Anniversary Day holiday. It was, however, not a holiday for burst mains and the resultant loss of water. A citizen reported to the Daily Times last evening a burst main in Tewsley street (between the Railway Station and the harbour). It was stated that “a great geyser was in full play,” and that the “ cascade was like a waterfall.” Antarctic Weather Ship

A weather ship, sponsored by Norway, Sweden and Britain combined, will operate in the Antarctic Ocean this autumn and winter. A landing party of British and Scandinavian scientists will undertake research on Crown Princess Astrid Land. The ship is a former German troopship, the Svalbard, 5000 tons, now flying the Norwegian colours. Leader of the expedition is General Hjlmar Liiser-. Larsen, who was chief of the Norwegian Air Force. Professor H. W. Ahlmann, of Stockholm University, is in charge of scientific planning. The expedition may call at New Zealand. The Farmer’s Life “Many townspeople still think that the farmer has a great life,” said Mr W. N. Perry, Dominion president of Federated Farmers, at a meeting of farmers in Invercargill. “They think that all the sheep farmer has to do is to sit down and watch the lambs and the wool grow, and then get a nice fat cheque, and that all the dairy farmer has to do is to milk the cows twice a day and collect his monthly cheque. But the fact is that farming entails-long hours of hard work. There is no such thing as a five-day, 40-hour week on the farm, because it is impracticable and impossible. The farmer has to work in all weathers and every day because stock demands attention all the time. That is one of the things we have to try to impress on the townspeople. They say that the farmers are always growling.” Wedding Dress Stolen An impudent theft, involving a wedding dress, was carried out in Christchurch recently. A married woman, living in Peterborough street, decided to sell her wedding dress, and advertised it for sale. A day or so later a brunette, aged about 26, called at the house and asked to see the dress. She said that she was going to be married “ on Easter Eve,” but did not mention the church. She inspected the dress, and inquired the price, whereupon the owner, feeling sympathetic with a girl who could not afford to buy a new wedding dress, named a sum well below its value. The girl then asked if she could take the dress out to the gate to show it to her mother before she made a decision. The owner agreed, and after an interval she went to the gate, but the girl and the dress had disappeared. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police.