NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1937, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Petrol Prices in Taranaki. Co-operation with the Automobile Association (South Taranaki) in its eftorts to have prices for petrol in Taranaki fixed on a lower scale was decided on by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last night. Larger Population. "A nett annual immigration of 10,000 would enable us to reach the population mark set by the Five Million Club in about 345 years," said Professor H. Belshaw in an address to members of the Auckland branch of the Economic. Society of Australia and Now Zealand. "This is even if present population remained stable, and the immigrants succeeded in reproducing themselves," he added. New Zealand Diet. Condemnation of the food eaten in New Zealand was made by Dr. G. Home, New Plymouth, in an address to the South Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers' Union at Hawera yesterday. The eating of too many sweets, starchy foods and white flour was, said Dr. Home. the cause of the poor teeth of so many New Zealanders. "Should a universal health insurance scheme be brought into being we would have to discipline ourselves in the matter of diet," he added. Chance of JLife. A generous effort on the part of his neighbours, organised by Toc H, resulted in Frank Murphy, aged 12, being sent to England by the Rangitiki, which sailed from Wellington on Wednesday. The boy, whose home is in Dunback, a small town in" Central Otago, - is suffering from a tumour on the brain and he is being rushed to London for the necessary operation as there are no surgeons in New Zealand or Australia who can do the vork. Ordinarily the lad's family could not have afforded the expense of such a trip and medical attention, but the Toc H padre in the town organised a meeting and started a fund to send the boy to England. Within 20 minutes those at tne meeting had donated a sum of £300. Complete co-operation was received; banks, shipping executives, the Rotary Ciub and Toc H were among those who proffered their assistance. The boy, who is accompanied by his mother, is expecteo to return to New Zealand about Christmas time, and the town is planning a reception for thexn.

B.v-products of Fruit. The manufacture of unfermented apple juice, apple powder and apple crisps as a means of utilising the by-products of the fruit industry in New Zealand was suggested at the annual conference o£ the Fruit Export Control Board at Wellington. Mr. H. E. Stevens, chairrtian, said that this would help to solve the problem of inferior fruit, which should be kept offi the fresh fruit rnar, ket. Rogus Test Match Tickets. Suspicions that there might be bogus tickets selling in Wellington for the test match between New Zealand and the Springboks were confirmed when an official of the Wellington Rugby Union was aoproached by a man whose ticket, compared with several in the offl.ce, was shown to be a forgery. Whether th,e official was approached with the motive of discovering if the ticket could be distinguished from the real ones is not kaiown, but tlie matter has been reporttd to the police. Other bogus tickets are reported to be circulating in Wellington. Peaches at 5s Each. The people of New York and London have to pay between 25 to 50 per cent. more for their fruit than do New Zealanders, according to Mr. Harvey Turner, who has returned to Auckland ffom a business visit to England. In the two cities mentioned, he said, some phenomenal prices were^ charged for fruit. He quoted hothouse peaches and nectarines at 5s each, and produced a receipt for 10s for one nectarine and one peach as proof of a purchase he made in Piccadilly as a curiosity. ScOtland's Horse Sicljness. Scottish farmers are distracted by grievous losses arnong horses due to the mysterious malady known as grass sickness, which last year killed 1500 horses and which has broken out again this year. It is now more than a year since the Government was appealed to by farmers in Scotland to take steps to find a cure for the malady, but so far horse owners are without any reliable advice on steps to eradicate or prevent the scourge. Despite every effort by scientists and veterinary surgeons the cause and cure of the illness remain unknown. Praise for Ski-ing Grounds. The American ski-ers regarded Mount Ruapehu, when the snow conditions were suitable, as providing ideal winter sports and ski-ing conditions, remarked Mr. Brian McMillan, Stratford, yesterday. Mr. McMillan returned to Stratford on Wednesday night after competing with the New Zealand team against the Americans at Ruapehu. It was probable that the visit of the American team to New Zealand this winter would lead to an annual infiux of overseas ski-ers to New Zealand for the winter sports season, Mr. McMillan added. Blind Cyclist. There is at least one cyclist at Christchurch who has not allowed physical disability to interfere with the ease and celerity of his travelling. Although blind this enthusiast still cycles in the town, and is a cbmmon sight to those who recognise him. Whenever he travels, however, he has to have an escort, a boy. The blind man places a hand on the boy's shoulder, and in this manner lueeps contact and is able to balance hiniself and proceed easily. The pair do not attempl to speed, but they go their way equably and cause very little or no inconvenienee to other users of the road. Motor-ship Inaha. The coastal motor-ship Inaha moved to the Patent Slip at Wellington on Wednesday to be re-engined and thoroughly overhauled. She will be laid up for about three months. Details of the new engines to be installed. were not avail«ble but it is understood they will be rnore powerful than her* present engines and are expected to increase her speed by about li knots. Built in 1923 by the Coaster Construction Co. Ltd., Montrose, the Inaha, a twin-screw motor-ship of 251 tons gross, is owned by the South Tarafcaki Shipping Co. Ltd., Patea. She is regularly engaged in the WellingtonPatea trade. The company's' other two ships, the Hawera and Kapuni, were converted from steamers to motor-ships several years ago. Link With Early New Plymouth. By the courtesy of his grand-daughter, Mrs. H. E. Jones, Wanganui, a photograph of the late Mr. J. T. Wicksteed has been obtained for the old colonists' room in the Taranaki Museum at New Plymouth. This completes the series of photographs of the Resident Agents who represented the authority of the Plymouth and New Zealand companies when New Plymouth was flrst established. Mr. Wicksteed succeeded Captain Liardet in1 1842 and was in turn succeeded by. Mr. F. D. Bell, , during whose term of office the "Bell Block" of land was acquired for settlement. In appreciation of Mrs. Jones' courtesy regarding the photograph and other family papers connected with Mr. Wicksteed's offlcial career a replica oi the photograph in the Old Colonists' room has been sent to her by Mr. W. H. Skinner, chairman, and other members of the museum committee.