NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1935, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Flying Instruction at Hawera. Mr. R. Halcombe piloted the Western Federated Flying Club’s plane ZK-ACH to Hawera yesterday. He is to return by road, leaving the plane to be used by Flying-Officer lan Keith for instruction purposes. Strengthening Skinner Road Bridge. Mr. J. W. Spence, engineer to the Stratford County Council told a News reporter last night that he hoped to have the Skinner Road bridge temporarily strengthened to allow the passage of light traffic some time to-day.

Budding Racketeer. An ice-cream vendor of Matamata relates that a little boy entered his shop and asked him for a penny, says the Auckland Star. On being asked what he wanted the penny for the lad said: “I want to buy an ice-cream from the man up the road.”

Do Dogs Eat Apples? Do dogs eat apples? This question was settled at a recent sale of produce at Okaiawa, when a fox terrier dog showed a decided liking for the fruit. Moved no doubt by a spirit of emulation, the animal speedily demolished half a discarded apple. When supper had been served the dog was observed making its way out the dooi* with a confection commonly known as an “Elsie’s finger’ in his mouth.

Flaiuiagan Cup Swim. Owing to damage to correspondence in flood waters at New Plymouth and the closeness of the tentatively fixed date, March 16, the Flannagan Cup committee decided last night to postpone the open water race for the cup till March 23, when it will be swum subject to arrangements being possible for adequate supervision of the race by launches. Liability for Rates.

Replying to the New Plymouth Borough Council’s protest against the clause in the Mortgage Corporation Bill relating to the corporation’s liability for rates, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G- W. Forbes, in a letter received by the council yesterday, pointed out that the clause had already been passed by the House of Representatives. However, an undertaking had been given to review the problem of local body rating. When the next Budget was under review it was proposed to investigate the possibility of providing some relief to local bodies in serious difficulties.

Too Many Conferences. “There are too many conferences in New Zealand,” observed the Mayor of Waitara, Mr. J. Hine, at the council meeting last night, when the council was notified of the annual conference of town clerks to be held at Christchurch. The clerk, Mr. A. J. Arms, said he did not want to go. Cr. W. Middleton, after pointing out that many resolutions passed were heard of no more, reminded the clerk that there were good bowling greens at Christchurch. That did not alter his inclination.

Rugby Ground dt Waitara, The Taranaki Rugby Union’s application for the use of the Camp Reserve on the same terms as last year was considered by the Waitara Domain Board last night. After the possibility of the Rugby League requiring the ground at times had been discussed it was decided to ask the union for a list of fixtures before allotting the ground. “I think Rugby and League could work in together,” said a member, but it was said that little revenue was received from League football. The Rugby League’s application for the use of the ground every third Saturday was deferred for consideration at the next meeting.

Hydro Works Damage. The special meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council called yesterday to discuss the entire question of damage caused by the recent floods was unable to deal with the Mangaotuku diversion proposal because the borough engineer, Mr. C. Clarke, had been unable to complete his detailed report. Consequently routine business was gone on with to give the council additional time to discuss the matter on Monday flight when the regular meeting will be held. At the conclusion of the meeting councillors decided that the repairs and protective work at the hydro works was an urgent matter and that delay was unwarranted. The council resolved not to call for tenders in view of this circumstance. On the motion of the Mayor the electricity committee, which meets to-day, was given power to act.

Recorded Bird Song. Mr. A. Nash, a visiting American scientist, is a keen student of bird life, and takes especial pleasure in the songs of the feathered tribe. Listening to bird melodies coming from a clump of native bush on Bluff Hill (Southland), he was eager to know if the songs of any New Zealand birds had been recorded by means of the phonograph. He had a collection of records on which were the songs of the Australian kookaburra and lyre-bird, Mr. Nash sajd, and similar records of English and American bird songs, but so far had been unable to obtain one of the Dominion’s songsters. The visitor was advised to get in touch with Mr. Johannes Andersen, chief librarian of the Turnbull Library, during his stay at Wellington, as it was felt that New Zealand’s noted student of natural history would hgve knowledge of such records if any had been made.