NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1935, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Maori, who was arrested at Awakino yesterday by Detective A. B. Meiklejohn and Constable Powell, will appear in the New Plymouth Police Court this morning on a charge of sheep stealing at Awakino early in January. Ripening Grapes.

The grapes in the hothouse at Brooklands, New Plymouth, are fast ripening in the warm weather. The head gardener, Mr. T. Boulton, expects to be able to cut the first bunches in about 10 days' time.

Improving Drive. Several relief workers are employed at New Plymouth in improving the main drive through the gardens at Brooklands. From the gates to the bush art the far end the edges of the lawns are being banked with cement.

Carrington Road Extension Open. The Carrington Road extension from the Momona stream to the junction with Pitone Road is now open to traffic. An official ceremony will be held next week but cars may go through already. The Automobile Association (Taranaki) has thoroughly sign-posted the new road which will considerably assist motorists making this interesting trip. Democratic Party Active.

“Our organisation is just about complete now,” said Mr. A. E. Davy, organiser of the Democratic Party, who was at Eltham y esterday, “and we intend to concentrate on candidates. Already citizens in both islands have offered their services and by the end of February, it is hoped, a complete list of candidates will be published.”

Rata Trees Stripped. Many rata trees at Arthur Pass National Park have recently been damaged by persons stripping them of their blooms, according to complaints received by the park board, states the Press. Mr. S. T. Barnett, the secretary of the board, said on Monday that the board understood that the rata blooms taken from the park were being sold to tea rooms at Christchurch. The board was collecting evidence of the depredations.

• ’elief Worker” as Occupation. “For a man to be officially designated ‘relief worker’ on electoral rolls, documents, etc., is all wrong,” said Mr. G. W. Kerr at the Papakura Town Board’s last meeting. “Instead of his being dubbed ‘relief workers,’ the man’s last trade or profession should be stated.” The board decided to ask the Unemployment Board that wherever possible the name “relief worker” be dropped and the man’s last occupation be given. Watersiders Pay Arrears.

An increase of 2d per hour in the pay of watersiders has been agreed upon, the increase to be retrospective to September 27 last year. Yesterday in addition to the usual ‘ weekly payment the Railway Department at New Plymouth had arrears amounting to £l3l for distribution. All the back pay adjustments were not made and about £l2 to £l4 has yet to be drawn. The total amount to be handed over, consisting of weekly payment and arrears, was £4OB.

Dog in a Paddling Pool. Most people nowadays are tolerant of the shortcomings of their fellows, but a woman with a black dog tried tolerance too far the other day. She and the animal were close to the paddling pool near the Napier public baths, when without warning or nice regard for the feelings of the youngsters in the pool, she threw the dog in, to the astonishment and annoyance of several parents standing by. One of them reported the matter to the custodian, who admonished the woman.

Begonias in Flower. The begonias in the hothouse at Brooklands, New Plymouth, are coming into bloom. Though only half of them are yet flowering they make an impressive show. Outside a bed of desert peas, clianthus dampierii, makes a vivid patch of colour and visitors from Australia, to which the peas are indigenous, have said that they have not seen better blooms even across the Tasman. A bed of lilium aratum. and one of cannas on the opposite side of the drive also draw enthusiastic comment, while the lake at the bottom of the gully is at its best with the water lilies fully out. Cost of Exchange.

Several overseas shippers of goods have advised that they cannot continue to allow a rebate to New Zealand importers as a set-off against the high exchange rate, according to a southern report. When the exchange rate advanced to 25 per cent., a number of firms, principally English, agreed to allow rebates to New Zealand clients in order to reduce the landed costs in the Dominion to a competitive basis. In many cases, those firms which regarded the rate as a temporary one only, have decided to discontinue the special allowance. However, inquiries reveal that there are still several overseas firms which are continuing the special allowance.

Lucky Sheep. The luck of the big grass fire on Mount Pleasant, near Christchurch, fell to a small group of sheep which were seen to be quietly grazing on a patch of green surrounded on all sides by many yards of blackened pasture, states the Christchurch Times. It was one of the freaks of the fire that such a small area should have been protected by a clump of boulders and barren earth, while all around everything was completely charred by the rapidly-advancing blaze. On other parts of the hill some sheep, with every opportunity to run from the flames, became so terrified that they persisted in their attempts to rush headlong into the fire. Fortunately there were a number of helpers nearby, and they carried the animals in their arms over a fence and put of danger,