NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 198, 31 July 1931, Page 3

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

Napier Nurses’ Home

No Scarlet Fever

Provisional authority to recommence work on the Nurses’ Home at the Napier Hospital has been given to the Plawke’s Bay Hospital Board by the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy.

♦ * » Members to Retire ' No fewer than 12 members of the Legislative Council are timed to retire during 1932. They are: Hons. E. W. Alison, D. T. Fleming, J. B. Gow, G. J. Garland, A. F. Hawke, Sir J. R. Sinclair, J. Stewart, G. M. Thomson and W. H. Triggs (all on May 7); L. M. Isitt, Sir R. H. Rhodes and G. Witty (all October 28).

A Blessing in Disguise “I believe that in a year or two the present depression will be looked upon as one of the most beneficent things which ever happened to mankind,” said Mr. T. M. Burke, a prominent real estate owner and dealer, of Melbourne, who struck an optimistic note in commenting upon conditions in Australia after his arrival at Auckland by the Aorangi yesterday. * * ♦ Severe Winter An evidence of the severity of the winter in the hills of Otago is the migration, of wild pigs to the lower country. One party of hunters at Waikouaiti, about 30 miles northwest of Dunedin, recently secured 12 pigs, which were all in good condition, one weighing 1501 b. These pigs were all shot within 20 minutes’ run from the township.

Thoughtful Gift A very thoughtful gift with the object of relieving any distress which may exist among the returned soldiers of Blenheim,has been received by Mr. P. Coldwell, a member of the R.S.A. executive, from Mr. T. Harcourt Williams, of Kaluma. It comprises a cattle beast and a quantity of potatoes. The R.S.A. executive has handed the gifts on to the Relief Committee, with a proviso that the wants of returned soldiers shall be given first consideration.

Cold in Dunedin , Some idea of the cold weather in Dimedin may be gained from the fact ..that the pond in the Botanical Gardens ,was recently frozen over, and employees were engaged in extracting stones, some of which were as large as a man’s head, that had been frozen into the. ice. For this wqrk, which was described as being unique for the gardens, planks were spread across the pond, and the ice was thick enough to bear the pressure put upon it.

fOOICS IN BRIEF - TOWN «NO COUNTRV

Five cases of diphtheria were admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital during June. There was a total absence of scarlet fever.

Gold Coins Little reliance will in future be placed on assertions that there are no more gold coins left in the country after the experience of a Hamilton motor-cycle dealer on Saturday. The dealer received from a Maori residing at Whangaroa, North Auckland, £Yi in gold coins. They were sent through the post in a cheap leather purse covered in thin brown paper and bearing a penny stamp. The money, which was sent in part payment of a motor-cycle which the Maori had seen advertised in a‘newspaper, comprised sovereigns and half-sover-eigns, one dating as far back as IS3(J.

Rotorua Lakes Recent wet weather has had al marked effect upon the lakes in the Rotorua, region. Although Lake Rotorua is still below its normal level, it has risen considerably during the last month, and is still gaining - . It is estimated that Taupo has risen about 15in in a fortnight, and the island at the outlet, which has been bare , for the last 18 months, iis now covered with water. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that this island used to be a favourite spawning ground for fish, and now that it is covered again the trout are returning in large numbers. Discussing prospects for the next fishing season, Mr. W. G. Kean, curktor of fish and game, said that there were splendid runs of fish in all parts of the district.

Growth of Gambling The enormous growth of gambling in New Zealand was viewed with concern at a meeting of the Society of Friends in Auckland. The opinion was expressed that gambling encouraged people to take risks in speculation, and it was stated that many forms of gambling were already illegal and there was a severe penalty for gambling which resulted in bankruptcy. Instead of using lotteries to relieve distress it should be recognised that the gambling spirit relied upon to gain subscriptions was often the direct cause of distress. A motion was passed strongly urging the present Government, which had allowed a recurrence of lotteries previously curtailed, to reconsider the position and bring to an end “this danger to national life.” A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the Prime Minister.