NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 18, 16 August 1928, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

NOTfcS FROM ALL PARTS. THE DOMINION DAY By DAY. HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE Flood Warnings. Danger and disaster by flood is invariably intensified when there is but little warning of the rising waters, j Realising tins, the Mauawatu-Oroua River Board has decided to instal electric flood-rise indicators on the two river bridges within their district. The indicators will be read! at the Post Offices, and information as to the rise of the rivers will be sent out by telephone, whilst tho local Press will also be informed. In addition to this the New Zealand Broadcastng Company and the Manawatu Radio Club have promised to assist in the good work. Farmers along the two rivers will thus have much earlier warning of the event of floods during the coming spring. nn Wanganui River Service. The opinion that it was, the duty of the Government to keep the Wanganui River steamer service going was expressed by Counoilflor Bolea at the meeting of the Taumaranui Borough Council. He voiced his opposition to the striking of a rate over the borough for the purpose of buying the fleet. The cities, • ho thought, derived a greater benefit from the tourist traffic than did Tau." maranui. The following resolution was carried: "That this council objects to the River Trust operating the river service, and is of opinion that the service is a national affair, and one for the Government to take over." The council further resolved to support a deputation of local bodies to approach the Government regarding the completion of the road to the Taumaranui houseboat. XX X X Noiseless Soup Spoon. A joke perpretrated by the president of the Auckland Rotary Club, air. G. W. Hutchison, caused am- ; usement at the club's luncheon this week. A laugh had been raised by a remark by Mr. Russell Chester, examiner for the Royal Academy of Music who, speaking of restaurants, said while he enjoyed a dance as much as anyone, he preferred to take his st,up "p-Vuiissimjo, rather than take cover under the playing of an orchestra." When the address was over, Mr. Hutchison grandiloquently \ presented Mr. Chester with a "noiseless soup spoon," the main feature of which,' was a hole in the bowl, from which the soup would pour as soon as it was filled. He made the presentatiojti as a memento of "a club whidi could partake of its soup in deathly silence."

XX X X Praise for Portraits. An overseas visitor, whose hobby during a work! tour is photography, speaks appraisingjry of the illustrative merit of New Zealand newspapers and periodicals. Also noticed was the high standard of general portrait work. o:>Te- of the studios inspected, he observed was using the very latest in lighting facilities. It consisted of sets of tub** fitted with bulbs containing mercur* which when ieleotrically heated, pleated a violet hue up the tubev This ouickly diffusing .to a perfec . .vhi+e daylight—a wonderful advaj J "' , g« for portrait purposes. The eh"»ct was to neutralise colours in such ■rcay as to hold and emphasise th* high lights which ordinary daylight seemed to flatten. The visitor mentioned that this system, a British invention, was used 'in several leading British studios, and at Hollywood in connection with 'film production. The Auckland installation represented a pioneer enterprise as far as New Zealand and Australia was concerned.

X S X Railway Inventions. The past year has been a record one for the suggestions and inventions branch of the New - Zealand Railways, says the current issue of the "Railways Magazine." The branch has had 1739 suggestions and inventions to deal with, some 500 {moret than has been received in any year since inception in 1925. Of these suggestions 131 have been adopted, and in some eases a monetary reward was paid. In addition there are about 150 suggestions ! still under consideration. Since the committee started work' oyer 3000 suggestions have poured in. Many of these ideas are highly technical, and are mainly supplied by the railway staff, but the public have submitted quite a number: While the majority of none of which have covered fresh? ground, have concerned safety at level crossings, it is extraordinary what a' vast scope has been covered by these sug-gestions-ranging from the berthing " whaling) ships at docks to the % fantastic and somewhat lr--..kvant invention of how to obscure iia.hes from artillery guns by a complicated, system of shutters. Quihe most novel idea submitted consists of organised entertainment foi passengers on long-distance runs. These would comprise dies, and humour. Another traveller considers that sleeping boards lhat would be to seat would be an excellent innovation.