GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 January 1927, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

A rumour that the remains of two infants had been found in Waimate, following as it did upon the discovery of the body of a newly-born child last Monday, gained much credence in the town; but the police state they have no knowledge of such discoveries.

A Press telegram from Wellington says that in accordance with a recent decision, probation officers of the four centres give their whole time to the probation work of the Pensions Department. Mr T. O. Mills, who has been acting for the Wellington district, has received notice of his permanent appointment to the Department, for that purpose.

The freehold of a section with a frontage of 158 feet to Victoria Street East, 98 feet to High Street, and 100 feet to Kitchener Street, lias been acquired from the Outhwaate Estate, by Uniquo Properties Ltd., which previously held a hundred years’ lease of the land. The price paid for the conversion of the lease into freehold was £42,500, this being additional to what was previously paid for the lease. It is proposed to erect a four-storey hotel.-—Press Association message from Auckland.

A Wanganui business man a few months nsio bought a consignment ol Canadian “wheat, on the strength of a sample. When the wheat arrived it was far below sample quality, and he sold the lot for what he pa:d for it. “No more Canadian for me,” he remarked to a reporter.

A member of the Waitotara County Council on Monday remarked upon the unusually large number of motor vehicles which were destroyed by fire last venr on the Rangitniau highway. No fewer than four motor-lorries mot their fate cn that particular road, while one motor-car was also consumed by flames.

“The ‘Year Book’ states that Wellington lias a mean climate—hut most people we have met give us a much more forcible description,” says the “Public Service Journal.” “We hear a Jot of moral degeneration these days, hut it certainly seems as though the climate has gone ‘to the dogs.’ In fact, summer must have become addicated to drugs and slept in.”

A Bunedin liinn who is closely in touch with the fruit growing business, rocmitly visited Australia to have a: look round the orchards, and ho says that thi'ips and other pests have this season played havoc with the stone and pip crops. it is anticipated that the whole of the crop in Tasmania (the State that alone is not troubled with the scourge) will be absorbed by the States on the mainland.

At the monthly meeting of. the United Friendly Societies’ Council lastnight it was unanimously decided to nominate B rother R. S. Griffiths as acandidate for a seat on the South Canterbury Tlospital Board. A strong organising emnmittec was set up to ensure his ('lection, it was also decided that members of the different Bodges ami their wives attending tho Friendly Societies’ picnic he notified at the picnic of this decision, and asked for their support.

A Dunedin Press Association message says that the Post and Telegraph Department yesterday used the Kirby cable laying machine for putting down telephone wires near. Mosgiel. The inventor is Mr Joseph G. Kirby, of Wyndham. Tt is a rudder-shaped sock with a steel shoe attached to a chassis. It nits the ground to a depth of 2G inches, leaving a scar only a few inches wide, and laying the cable at the same time.

The present spell of line, warm weather has hastened the ripening of the raspberries in Waimate district, and, while previously there were sufficient pickers to cope with the daily offering, growers now are somewhat embarassed by the larger quantities which are ready from day to day. Pickers, accordingly, find a keen demand for their services, and in some cases the rate originally offered has been increased. Raspberry, strawberry and pea picking now provide a wide avenue of employment in the district, and in quite a number of cases, whole families avail themselves of this pleasant and highly remunerative seasonal occupation.

An emphatic denial was given at the meeting of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association recently to the statement that braces and studs could not be produced in the Dominion to give to the Duke of York with the New Zealand-made clothing that is to be presented to him. Finns from Auckland and Dunedin wrote to the Association pointing out that they could jvesent braces and studs respectively. One letter read: “There are plenty of braces made in New Zealand, and they arc fii__for a king, and so should bo good enough for the Duke.” It was stated at the meeting that the information that braces could not be obtained had been sent to a Melbourne newspaper, and subsequently a correcting letter had been despatched.

Interviewed in Wellington on the subject of imports of flour, the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart), said: “Careful inquiries have been made in Australia as to the accuracy of the information submitted to the Customs Department on export prices as consumption prices. The large difference between export prices to New Zealand and Australian home prices, sometimes amounting to £3 a ton, as shown in the newspaper market quotations, is not confirmed by our inquiries in Australia. Moreover, it must be remembered that export prices from Australia are for cash, and local sales are on credit, involving the risk of loss for bad debts, also delivery of local sales are at a fixed price over a certain radius, whereas the exporter has merely to deliver at the dock. The importations of flour so far have been normal, and not more than are necessary for the requirements of the Dominion. The position is being closely watched and the flumping duties will be imposed by the Government whenever it is shown that the circumstances warrant it, allowing for the factors above indicated. Importers are aware that the duties i can be imposed at anj' time.”

“Sheep and cattle farmers in this country (says an article in the South African ‘Friesland Journal’) will be interested to learn that a farmer in the Ermelo district of the Eastern Transvaal has succeeded in establishing an imported variety of grass which bids fair to alter completely the present conditions of sheep and cattle farming on the High Veld. The grass is known as New Zealand cocksfoot. It is not affected at all by frost. Last season 1200 sheep were grazed on 35 morgen, and there was enough to spare. At the present time there are 3000 sheep on the farm, and within a month the number will have been increased to 5000. As, for four months in the winter, there is not a mouthful of grass in the High Veld, the importance of this new experiment can be readily appreciated. The Hon. A. G. Robertson, formerly Administrator of the Transvaal, and a recognised sheep breeder, is stated to bo greatly impressed. The farmer claims that he alone possesses the secret of establishing the grass permanently, and he has declined a request from’ the Government to divulge it. Ho has been experimenting with the grass now for years, and been very successful.”

The construction of the railway to Roxburgh, Otago Central, for which the people of the district have been patiently waiting for more than twenty years, is now' within measurable distance of completion. The final section—from Miller’s Flat to Roxburgh—is abc.ut nine miles and a half, and the laying of the rails is practically completed for about seven miles. This brings the lino to Dumbarton Rock, which means that the heaviest piece of work on the section has been done. The removal of a huge block of stene lias to be undertaken, and the completion of this work may take from six weeks to .two months. Otherwise the construction work is almost complete. and the line readv for putting down the rails. It is fairly safe to assume that trains will be running to the terminus within six months. The Rozburgh people will then have a railway within a mile and a half from the township. Extensive iropi’oveinents are now being made on the road an the eastern side of the river between Roxburgh and the site of the railway station. About 140 men are now employed on the construction work, but the number is being gradually decreased as the work approaches, completion.

The extremely hot weather this week gave a decided fillip to the ripening of the grain crops in South Canterbury, and at least one wheat crop.is now to he seen in a took.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart announced yesterday that as a result of consideration by the Imperial Conference, the British Government has decided to send a commission to the New Hebrides to investigate the position of the British settlers under the Condominion regime. The Secretary of State for the Dominions has nominated Sir Eyre Hutson, Commissioner for the Western Pacific, to represent the British Government. The Australian Government has nominated General Griffiths, administrator of Nauru, as the Commonwealth representative. Sir G. Richardson, Administrator of Samoa, has been appointed to represent New Zealand. The Commission will go to the New Hebrides probably early in April.

Moscow seeks information concerning the New Zealand system of openair schools, as indicated in the following letter from the People’s Commissariat of Education, Moscow, which lias been received by the Open-Air Schools League, whoso headquarters arc in Christchurch : “The first experiment station of public education takes the liberty to address to you the following inquiry. The station is interested’with tiie question of open-air schools, their methods of work, and the results obtained. In our country there arc nearly twenty open-air and forest schools, organised by the Moscow Board of Education. The results obtained are very good. Children return to ordinary schools and can follow their work after a stay of sux to twelve months in the above-mentioned schools. Being interested in the work of openair schools abroad, the station permits itself to ask you to send it some information, and perhaps you would he so kind to send a sample copy of your quarterly magazine. AVith many thanks for your amiability and ldnd assistance. —President cjf the station (H. Shatzay).”

The introduction of more game-birds came before the Council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday. The secretary reported that he had received a cable message stating that a consignment of ten brace of sharp-tailed grouse had been sent from Canada on the Niagara, and would be landed at Auckland. The chairman said that the birds would reach Auckland >on January 31. It was decided that Air D. Hope, curator, should go to Auckland to take charge of tho birds. In reply to a question, the chairman (Air E. F. Stead) said that the species were hill country birds and inhabited an area from the miaule of Canada fairly well north. There was no climate in New Zealand within 25 degrees of tho climate they were used to in tho winter. He had considered the advisableness of liberating them on Air Leslie Rutherford’s pla'ee, Alncdonald Downs, Waipara. The chairman and Alessrs L. A. Sliand and AfcTlwraith were asked to arrange for liberating the birds. The Director of the Bureau of Education and Research, California, wrote stating that the Californian valley' quail could be obtained in small numbers from breeders. In a year, a supply might be obtained from the new State game farm. There were no other upland srame-birds in California that would be likely to thrive in New Zealand. The Council decided to ask for the names of. .breeders in order that inquiries may he made from them.

The busy fruit-preserving and jammaking season is at hand. England, Mcßae, Ltd., are prepared with a complete stock of preserving and jam jars. Preserving jars at 6/-. 7/6 and 12/- per dozen (wide mouth). Tieover jam pars at 3/9 and 5/3; aluminium and brass preserving pans, jar rings and spare tops, and all requisites are obtainable at the Progressive Hardware Store at bedrock prices. Buy your preserving and jam making requisites from England, AlcRae, Ltd. ’Phone 215.