NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1934, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Government will benefit to the extent of £2039 5$ 3d as a result of the Taranaki Jockey Club’s Christmas meeting, The amount is made up as follows: Totalisator tax, £994 3s 3d; dividend tax, £965 17s; stakes tax, £79 ss. As if setting an example to the business people of New Plymouth, an early start was made yesterday with the garbing of the Post Office in bunting for the arrival of the Duke of Gloucester at New Plymouth on Thursday. Long strings of flags presented a gay sight and attracted the attention of many pedestrians.

About I*2 inches of rain has been recorded during the past week. Climatic conditions have been outstandingly good for the holiday period, and the rains experienced at night have done much to revive pastures. Vegetable gardens have benefited considerably, while country people who were in the unfortunate position of having to carry water for household requirements have had tanks replenished and thus overcome their trouble, for the time being at any rate.

During the last six weeks a New Plymouth firm has sold between 65 and 70 cars, both new and second-hand. About 20 new cars of on a make alone are on their way to New Plymouth from Wellington to fill the orders of as many North Taranaki residents.

It is reported there will be at least two nominations for the vacancy on the Taranaki Education Board caused by the resignation of the Hon. S. G. Smith, New Plymouth. Mr. W. W. Thomson, Devon Street west, and Mr. W. G. Reid, Fitzroy, are mentioned as likely candidates.

Pilot Brecken, flying an Auckland Aero Club Moth, ZK-AAT, landed at the New Plymouth airport yesterday. He had with him another Auckland resident, Mr. Cramp, as passenger. The fliers encountered very bad flying conditions near Auckland, but they soon ran into fine weather and made good time over the rest of the journey. The return trip was made yesterday afternoon. Golf is very popular among naval officers, and the party that New Plymouth from H.M.A.S. Australia were no receptions. They played a round at Waiwakaiho prior to going to the races on Thursday, and yesterday morning determined to have another before leaving for the mountain at 9.30. Accordingly four of the party, accompanied by Mr. H. W. Kirkby, New Plymouth, made a start at 6.15 a.m. and completed the round.

An unexpected drenching was experienced by Pilot-Officer “Scotty” Fraser while giving parachute jumping exhibitions at Waihi beach. The parachutist had made a jump and aimed to land on the beach, but could not reach his objective, and came down in the surf about 50 yards from the shore. The silken parachute retained a considerable quantity of air, and Mr. Fraser reached the shore without any difficulty, floating with the parachute.

A large shark swimming about 60 yards from the shore is reported to have been seen off Karaka Bay, Wellington, a few days ago. Although Wellington is generally regarded as not being a port of call for sharks, the hot weather may have been responsible for luring the fish inside the Heads. Sand sharks and other small species which are not of man-eating habits are usually the only varieties seen at Wellington.

The high quality of New Zealand wool packs was referred to at a recent meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union by Mr. J. J. Dickson, who considered that every support should be accorded this new industry by farmers. Mr. Dickson said that the packs were selling at the same price as imported packs, and he had found them very satisfactory. The meeting passed a resolution recommending farmers to support the new industry, and suggesting to the company that it consider the manufacture of grain sacks in New Zealand.

When Bishop Bennett visited the West Coast recently he secured a fine piece of greenstone, which he is sending to Archdeacon Johnstone, vicar of Parramatta, New South Wales. The archdeacon is Samuel Marsden’s fourth successor at Parramatta, and when he was in New Zealand for the consecration of Bishop Hilliard at Nelson. he said that he would like to have a piece of greenstone to build into the base of the tower of Marsden’s old church. The block secured by Bishop Bennett should prove very suitable for the purpose. Probably part of the face will be polished and the rest left in the rough.

The birthrate in New Zealand has been falling consistently for the last 15 years, and it is now a third less than it was in 1920. Ulis decline, if continued for another 15 years, is likely to mean that the population of the Dominion will stop increasing, and may thereafter even begin to decrease. In 1933 the i-ate of natural increase (8.61 per thousand) was only half of what it was in 1914, and a quarter of what it was between 1865 and 1870. These general tendencies have continued in the first nine months of 1934, though the birthrate appears to be declining only half as fast as in 1933. As an offset to this, however, there have been far more deaths, so that the excess of births over deaths for the nine months is 900 less than it was for the same period last year.

There were over 35,000 more paid radio receiving licenses in New Zealand at the end of last month than at the corresponding date last year, according to figures supplied by the Post and Telegraph Department. The total number of paid receiving licenses on November 30 was 144,779, compared with 109,554 at the end of November, 1933, and 139,380 at the end of October this year. The licenses were distributed as follows: Auckland 44,101, Wellington 54,302, Canterbury 26,614, Otago 19,762. The grand total of licenses was 147,116, there being, in addition, 1154 dealers* permits, 839 transmitting, three experimental, one special, 314 free and 26 broadcasting.

At last dress reform for men has apparently arrived, says the Wanganui Herald. During the last few weeks of hot summer weather men’s commensense has asserted itself and different clothing has been adopted by many who previously w r ent about in suits and vests. Young men have adopted the coatless style, while older men may ba seen wearing suits of light materials. A business man was seen walking along the Avenue in a khaki shirt and shorts. Motorists, too, have adopted sensible attire for driving, some of them wearing only bathing suits or singlets and trousers.

In a short chat before entraining for the north Mr. A. W. Arthurton, who has made a thorough tour of the South Island in company with his wife, told a Dunedin Star reporter that the British railways have, as from about July of this year, made a rapid and firm advance in traffic and financially, their stocks being now regarded as worth higher prices. Replying to a remark to the effect that the news would be satisfactory to New Zealanders who believe that this Dominion cannot prosper unless England prospers, he added: “It is also true that England cannot do without New Zealand. For a small country yours is one of the best. I have seen its natural beauty and I have met your people, and I am not ynly charmed with the experience but filled with hope as to New Zealand's future.”

Speaking at Tawhero school breakup ceremony the Rev. G. S. King mentioned wonderful feats of memory of Mr. James Gow, who had been a school inspector in the South Island. The inspector visited the schools in his district once or twice in a year and could remember all the names of the pupils with whom he came in contact during those visits. The speaker had tested this on one occasion when referring to a boy at Orari school. Nine years later when his name was mentioned to Mr. Gow he remembered the boy well. Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., is also gifted with a most retentive memory and gave several instances of this while at Wanganui, which included naming all the shops in order along the avenue from the post office to Guyton Stret and back on the other side to the Rutland Hotel.

With congenial and health giving surroundings, St. Cuthbert's Presbyterian College for Girls offers an education which may truely be said to be one of the finest in the Dominion- Those parents who wish theii' daughters to carry an asset which may be gained only from a college such as St. Cuthbert’s should not! fail to make enquiries and obtain prospedtus from the Registrar. For further particulars see advertisement on page 3.*