NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 3, 3 May 1929, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

NOTES FROM ALC PARTS.

THE DOMINION DAY BY DAY,

HERE. THERE, AND EVERYWMIIRJT

FISHING ON LAKE TARAWERA.

A party fishing on Lake Tarawera last Thursday ran into big fish. Tnt»r basket contained fish of 13, 11 and 9 pounds, and all were over five pounds. The conclusion arrived at by many fishermen is that the season opens and cloisies tooi early, says the 'itotorua Chronicle." The biggest fisli which was ever taken, out of Lake Rotoiti was taken on the last day of the season, at Okere. Fish now being got are in magnificent condition.

"THE SOUL OF ANZAC." A letter from Field-Marshall Sir William Birdwood has been received by the headmistress of the MasseyBirdwood School* which serves two ex-soldier settlements a few. miles from Henderson. The Field-Marshal wrote to say how proud he felt to be associated in the name of the district and school with one whom he held ini such high esteem as his) old and revered friend, the late Mr. W. F. Massey. Portraits of Mr. Massey and Sir William Birdwood were Junveiled at the school on Anzao Day.

SHOT IN THE LAKES DISTRICT.

Deer stalkers have secured some good heads in. the South Westland forest. Eight deer were shot near Lansborough by Mr. Balfour-Brown, an English visitor, who was accompanied by Mr. C. Hodgkinson, a well-known guide of the Lakes district. The heads, which will be shipped to England, are all rather on the small as far as lenjgth and spread go but they are symmetrical, of the eight heads, one is a fourteenpointer, two are . thirteen-pointers, four are twelve-pointers, and the remaining one is an eleven-pointer. The outstanding head is a thirteen-pointer which Js 45hi in length, and 'has af spread of 36Jin. . FOOTBALL IN THE SCHOOLS. "It might, perhaps, not be out of place to mention that much opposition to the Soccer code is still being shown by a considerable number of headmasters, both primary and secondary," states tihe (aftntaal report of the New Zealand Football Association. "This is in direct conflict with the expressed opinion cf the Department (of Edutoatotri and a subcommittee of the N.Z.F.A. Council is how dealing with the matter. The game continues to make headway in the schools of the Dominion, particularly in the secondary schools; and Wellington and Aucklad are fo be congratulated upon their success in this direction. It is a matter of regret that owing to lack of finance the council cannot at present continue its policy of donating school footballs." STATE ADVANCES AUTHORISED. Applications totalling 259 were considered and loans amounting to £221,120 were authorised at a recent meeting of the State Advances Board according to a statement made by tne Prime Minister (the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) yesterday afternoon. The numbers of applications and, the total amount of the loans authorised under the resective headings were: — Rural advances, 28, £39,945; advances to settlers, 85, £75,730; advances to workers, 146, £1U5,445. The advances where valuations have been received have all been dealt with," the Prime Minister added. "The latest figures show a larger number of workers' advances than settlers. The difference being £29,715. The 1 position as a whole I consider to be very satisfactory." MORE PEOPLE LIVE TO BE OLD Comment is occasionally heard on the fact that many more people in these days live to a great age than was the case years ago. This is especially noticeable in Auckland, for many Southern people, on retiring, come to Auckland to spend their last years. But the statistics for the whole dominion reveal tlw striking change that lias been made in the last 40 years. In 1887, for instance, only 7 per cent, of the peopld reaiched the age of 70 years or over; in 1927, the percentage was just on 33. In 1887 only 2.36 per cQiitt.. of people lived to be 80 years or more; in 1927 the percentage was nearly 15. The man (and even more so, the woman) who reached the Biblical maximum of "Three score years and ten" can in these days look forward with good hope of voting at several more elections yet.