NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1935, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

High School Prefects. The prefects at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School were appointed yesterday. M. P. Donnelly is head boy and head of School House. T. C. Larkin is head day boy and J. L. Batten is head of Carrington House.

Meters Defective. A suggestion that the water meters at the New Plymouth Central school were defective was made at a meeting of the committee last night. Thousands of gallons had been recorded as consumed during the holidays, and the probable explanation appeared to be faulty meters. Two members were deputed to discuss the matter with the borough engineer, Mr. C. Clarke. Scout Movement in India.’

The assistance given by the Scout movement in India in helping to break down the caste system was remarked upon by Colonel Walton, Chief Commissioner for Rover Scouts in Britain, who has been visiting New Plymouth. At Scout camps, he said, all the boys ate cheerfully together, and there were no distinctions between the various classes. The Scouts regarded each other as brothers and worked happily together. “Model Aircraft.”

From early next month New Plymouth will be the headquarters of a now monthly newspaper. It will be the official organ of the New Zealand Model Aeroplane Association entitled “Model Aircraft,” and will have a circulation of 300 copies among enthusiasts in all parts of the Dominion. Mr. F. Brown, secretary of the New Plymouth Model Aero Club, will have the responsibility of compiling, editing and publishing the little journal. It will be printed locally also. The first issue will appear in early March.

Few Octopuses at New Plymouth. The prevalence of octopuses in the harbour has recently been reported from Wellington. One monster that rose from the sea floor and almost caught a dog that had fallen into the water measured no less than 15 feet in span. Several measuring up to 12 feet in span have been taken from the harbour in recent years. New Plymouth was not troubled by the monsters, said a New Plymouth fisherman yesterday. There were a few among the rocks, but they did not interfere with either fishing or bathing.

Many Maori Patients. The incidence of Maori maternity cases at the New Plymouth hospital is causing the Taranaki Hospital Board considerable concern. Board members discussed the question at some length at a meeting yesterday and decided that the entire matter should be investigated. It was made clear that the board was willing to give legitimate cases all attention possible, hut that' in many instances cases were brought or came to the hospital which could be amply looked after by a local practitioner. The matter was referred to in the social welfare officer’s report. The position is apparently general throughout the North Island, as the Tauranga board will bring forward a remit at the forthcoming conference of boards suggesting that the Native Department should be asked to pay a proportion of Maori patients’ fees in cases where they were unable to meet their liability.

Christchurch Unemployed. Five hundred men, women and girls waited the other evening outside a Christchurch office to apply for 15 jobs that will be available at a new theatre. The majority of the applicants were well dressed and were obviously of good type. Nearly all rf them were unemployed. One observer who watched the throng remarked that it was an indication that unemployment did not exist among the labouring classes alone. Tame Abino in Rockery.

An unusual addition to a New Plymouth resident’s rockery is a white rat, which has made a home for itself under the stones. Its rather peculiar taste is satisfied by nuts and morsels of cucumber, which it will take from its owner’s hand. Although only a rat it has its redeeming features, for besides coming from its hole when called to be admired, or at least to entertain visitors, it is very clean in its habits, taking down its hole any surplus food around the rockery and storing it for the winter. Question of Age.

The practice of telling the ages of stock from weaners “up to full-mouth-ed’’ by their teeth, according to the displacement of milk teeth by bigger teeth in the front part of the lower jaw, was being discussed during the hearing of a criminal charge in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday. To challenge the evidence of a farmer witness defending counsel produced a volume on veterinary science. “It is published in 1914,” said counsel. “Rather old,” said His Honour. “Has it any canines?” Counsel for the “I think, Your Honour, it is fullmouthed.” Clubs and Business.

A taxpayer who included as expenses in his income tax return the subscription paid to a social club was quoted by the Commissioner of Taxes, Mr. C. E. Dowland, as an example of expedients resorted to in endeavours to reduce taxes payable. Mr. Dowland said the taxpayer claimed the deduction as expenses incurred in the earning of his income on the grounds that he used the club as a “hunting ground” for business. When inquiries were made it was found that the rules of the club expressly forbade the use of the club for business purposes. The claim was not allowed. Model Aero Club.

At a meeting of the New Plymouth Model Aero Club last night it was decided that members should meet officially for points trials at the racecourse on two days each week and at the aerodrome every month. Construction classes on the lines of those provided by the Wellington Model Aero Club will also be instituted at an early date, arid a supply of ace and pilots’ badges will be secured. Mr. D. McAllum was appointed club captain vice Mr. J. Gifford, whose resignation was accepted with . regret. Messrs. C. F. Cooper and D. Davies were elected new members. Mr. F. Brown presided. .

Hoardings on Roads. The attitude of the Hutt County Council toward the erection of hoardings on the roads was made clear at a meeting last week, when the chairman, Mr. D. R. Hoggard, said that permission had been refused in some cases for aesthetic reasons. “We want people to say ‘what a beautiful place the Hutt County is,’” he said. The discussion arose out of an application from a farmer to erect a sign outside his orchard on the main road. The application was declined. “Even if there is payment we should try to stop this sign business,” the chairman remarked.

“Fur-Trading” in ’Eighties. Mr. F. C. Brown, who is retiring from the . position of chief poultry instructor for New Zealand, and who was tendered a complimentary social by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club at Christchurch, recounted some of his experiences. One story which he tol concerned the hard times of the 'eighties. “Those were really hard times,” Mr. Brown said. “I was in the fur trade then. I was not importing furs from Russia or Siberia or doing anything on a big scale like that —I was forced to chase the rabbit for his hide to make a living.”

Southland’s Claims to Fortune. Southland’s geographical situation gives it claim to many a unique feature not possessed by other areas, says the Dunedin Star. Has not Gene Sarazen, the celebrated American golfer, gained not a little notoriety through driving a ball into the sea at Oreti Beach, thus being the first man to play the royal and ancient game so near the South Pole? And does not Stewart Island have the most southerly post office in the world? One could, perhaps, cite further cases of a like nature. The latest addition to the list was announced at the recent farewell ceremony to Major and Mrs. Nelson, of the Salvation Army. It was stated that the most southerly Army corps in the world is situated at Invercargill. Farm Hand’s Adventure.

A tale of somewhat alarming results is told concerning the liberation of white butterfly parasites on a Gisborne district farm last week, states the Poverty Bay Herald. The parasites are of the wasp family, but have been proved to be harmless. A farm hand who let loose this particular package did not think so, however. He left the homestead with the parasites in the direction of the swede paddock, and released them, standing a little while to watch the insects distributing themselves. Later he became aware of the same sort of insects flying about him, and when he received a few painful stings he decided to make a bolt for it. He arrived back at the homestead to report that “the parasites were driving him off the farm,” but it was found on investigation that the attackers were flying ants, which had been about in large swarms that week, and which bear a strong resemblance to the parasite of the white butterfly. Firemen at Work and Play.

The New Plymouth fire brigade held its periodical tests of the simps in Brougham and Devon Streets last night, when all apparatus and the sumps themselves were found to be in excellent working order. All three engines were engaged in the tests, and the opportunity was taken to muster the entire strength of the brigade and take photographs of each engine and its crew. The occasion was something of a minor festival for the firemen, and when the serious business of the evening was over the brigade retired diplomatically to the corner of Gill and Eliot Streets for a novel “cooler.” Leads were run out from hydrants, and the crews of the two large engines, reinforced by a contingent from the old auxiliary engine, and the men engaged in one of those hilarious “water fights” that have become almost traditional with fire brigades. After a considerable time spent in preliminary skirmishes the contestants got down to business and thoroughly drenched one another. While amusing to the spectator, the fireman’s sport has a certain Spartan aspect. It is not exactly a timid man’s amusement to stand up to the concentrated play of a high pressure fire hose. By the time the fun was over the brigadesmen were more than merely wet,

Our Double Dry Cleaning process is now in operation. Suits and Costumes renovated for 4/6. J. K. Hawkins and Co., Dry Cleaners and Dyers, corner Devon and Liardet Streets, New Plymouth. Stratford depot: Rudkin’s Confectionery.