NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Many Motor-Cars Change Hands. Brisk activity in the transfer of motorcars continues in the Dominion. The transport division of the post office, which recorded last May the record number of 11,000 changes of ownership of motorvehicles had to deal with 9405 similar notifications in July. Wheelbarrow Marathon. Messrs. L. G. Lukey and J. G. Schofield, who are taking part in a wheelbarrow marathon from Auckland to Wellington, were reported to be on Mount Messenger yesterday afternoon. They expect to reach Urenui to-day and New Plymouth on Monday. They had intended spending last night at Ahititi but as they arrived there at 3.30 p.m. it was decided to push on to Mr. O’Sullivan’s house near the summit of Mt. Messenger. They said it was preferable to start a day on a down grade rather than on a strenuous climb such as Mount Messenger. Although the men experienced yesterday the worst weather since they left Auckland, they appeared particularly fit on arrival at Mr. O’Sullivan’s place. Awakening from Hibernation. The three tuataras at the Auckland Zoo and the one kept under observation at the Auckland War Memorial Museum are now rousing themselves after their four months’ hibernation, says the Auckland Star. These queer survivals of a past age are of special interest to scientists, and they are attracting more than usual attention at present. The museum specimen is the most lively of Auckland’s exclusive colony of prehistoric reptiles. It has left its cold bed beneath a pile of stones, and is slowly returning to normal, but it will not eat anything for at least another week. When the tuataras begin their ordinary life again they will eat one snail per day. This frugal diet, coupled with their annual hibernation from the worries of the world, probably accounts for the longevity of tuataras, a normal span being three centuries and ten as compared with man’s mere three score and ten.

Malls by Motor-Vehicles. The first recorded use of the motorvehicle for mails in New Zealand was in 1907, when a tender was let for mad transport on the route between Fairlie and the Hermitage. The system has grown enormously since then, the value of the tenders current in 1933-34 being £128,173. This figure was the lowest for 12 years, part of the substantial decrease being due, no doubt, to intense competition for the privilege of carrying His Majesty’s mails. The cost of inland mail transit by motor has remained steady for a long period, because the department follows the policy of fully utilising the competitive field of motor transport which combines the carriage of passengers, goods and mails in one vehicle utilised by its owner in the most effective way in the district covered. Wide expansion of inland mail delivery by motor has taken place during the last ten . years, the number of miles travelled having increased from 5,064,494 to 8,366,208 annually. Timepiece 250 Years Old. The death occurred at Palmerston North on Saturday last of the Mr. John iYederick William de Ridder (a baron in his own right), at the age of 94 years. His eldest son, Mr. L. D. de Ridder, has resided at Te Aroha for some years, and among the heirlooms that he will receive is one of exceptional value, by reason of having been in the family. for over two centuries and a half. It is a gold watch made in the year 1668 to the order of an ancestor of Mr. de Ridder’s, and notwithstanding its age it is still in perfect order. It has been valued at £l5O on account of its being one of the oldest timepieces in the world, and as an heirloom it is very highly prized by the members of the family. The date of its manufacture and the name of the manufacturers, in England, are marked inside the'back cover. It is fully jewelled, and the face, which appears to be of porcelain, has the round figures, with the addition of 15, 30, 45 and 60 opposite the quarters of the hour.

Thoughtless Generosity. > “Missions nowadays use everything one could think of—typewriters and paper, rice, wine, wire fencing, staples and ail sorts of odds and ends,” said the Rev. G. T- Warren, a missionary to Melanesia, in an address to a meeting of the Associates of Melanesia at Christchurch a few days ago. “We want everything that could be found in a general store, except boots and clothing.” Later in the meeting Dean Julius, who presided, while emphasising the variety of the needs of a mission, issued a warning, against unreasoned and thoughtless giving, which he illustrated by an appropriate recollection, One supporter of the Melanesian mission Had promised the bishop a refrigerator, but when the gift arrived at the islands it was revealed as an icechest. As ice was obtainable from nowhere nearer than Sydney the chest had had to be reduced to the status of a cupboard, and was still being used as one.

Help for the Needy. A scheme to provide for the distribution of butter among the poor and needy at Auckland is being investigated by the Rodney Co-operative Dairy Company. At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the company recently the secretary was instructed to solicit the suport of all dairy companies in the Auckland province, whereby each company would make an annual donation of the equivalent of 11b of butter from each supplier. Although dairy farmers were experiencing difficult times, it was stated, their lot could not be compared with numerous cases in the city, such as invalid soldiers without pensions, elderly people not eligible for pensions, and oid-age pensioners themselves, who could not exist on 14s 8d a week, especially in cold weather. The co.tiribution suggested would also benefit numerous children who were accustomed to eating bread and jam. A circular letter has been forwarded to each company in the Auckland province and replies are being awaited by the Rodney company. Te Kuiti wants Post Office.

A deputation from the Te Kuiti ClLmber of Commerce of about 35 business men on Thursday waited on the Hon. A. Hamilton, Postmaster-General, urging that a new post office should be built for Te Kuiti. The chairman of the chamber, Mr. W. S. Cato, said the present structure had done duty for many years. Te Kuiti had hopefe some day of having an automatic telephone system installed, and provision would have to be made for this. It was pointed out there was a staff of 23 inside and nine outside men at the post office, and though the staff’s accommodation might be sufficient the present building would have to be replaced in a few years. Mr. Hamilton replied that the most urgent cases were where the staffs were cramped, but this was not the only consideration. His department, was handicapped by lack of money, but he would see how the building programme went and consider the inclusion of Te Kuiti in it. Mr. R. W. Neal and Mr. P. S. Cullen, representing the Piopio Settlers’ Association, waited on Mr. Hamilton seeking various adjustments in the mail services between Piopio and Waitara, which would enable settlers to receive mail and reply the same day. Mr. Hamilton promised to have the matter, investigated immediately. He pointed otlt.. that the present mail contracts would expire ct the end of December.