GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19806, 23 May 1934, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

Marketing questions were dealt with in evidence given before the Dairy Comission yesterday. The witnesses were C. H. Andrews, of J. B. Macewan and Company Ltd., and G. A. Mills, agent for A. J. Mills and Company, Ltd., London. Further evidence will be heard to-day. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Finance), who is at present in Timaru, was asked last night if he though there was any possibility of partial restoration of wage cuts by the Government this year. “I am unable to reply to that,” said the Minister. We will have to see how the year commences.” The Minister of Finance (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), who arrived in Timaru last night from the West Coast, told a. representative of “The Timaru Herald” that he had been delighted with his visit to the Coast, and had had a splendid . trip. “The Coast people are a tribe on their own,” said Mr Coates. “They are delightful, while the country is charming.” The very keen interest taken by the Governor-General, Lord Ifiedisloe, in the flora of New Zealand is known and appreciated in England. Mention of a recent action by His Excellency in this direction is made by a writer in one of the London daily newspapers, who says that Lord Bledisloe recently sent seeds of the manuka, to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London for distribution among New Zealanders now residing in England. An assertion that cels were responsible for greater destruction among the ducks in Southland than shooters was made by a member at the annual meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society on Monday. He said that groups of eight or ten ducklings had been observed to dwindle to two for this reason. Members expressed approval of the dynamiting of lagoons containing eels, but not ti out, to further their destruction. In the possession of Mr H. H. Hardinge, of 29. St. Mary’s Road, Ponsonby. is a letter which was written by the Duke of Wellington in 1838. The letter was in reply to one from Mr Hardinge’s father, who at that time was a major in the 14th Regiment of Lancers. The Duke stated that he was not at that time Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and that he did not hold any political position. A feature of the letter is the bold, wellformed writing, which was characteristic of the writer. Asked by a representative of “The Timaru Herald” last night if the Government intended to do anything regarding the reduction in the milling wheat standard of 611 b to the bushel, as it was estimated that 75 per cent, of the wheat on hand in South Canterbury at present would, although satisfactory for milling purposes, not reach the required standard, the Minister of Finance (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) said that the matter had not come before him. It was being considered by the Wheat Purchase Board.

On July 12 the annual conference of the members of the Ringatu religion will be held at the pa at Matahi, 10 miles inland from Waimana, in the Bay of Plenty. It is expected that large numbers of Maoris from the East Coast, Opotiki, Ruatoki and Waimana will attend. The twelfth of each month is observed by members of the Ringatu religion as a “Holy Twelfth” and those attending a hcly twelfth must be within the pa before sundown on the 11th, and may not leave it until after midnight of the 12th. The annual gathering is known as the “hurai.”

The members of the Papakura Women’s Institute had a night out last week. A party of them went oy

lorry to visit the Hunua Institute, on the occasion of the latter’s birthday. The evening was very stormy, and after starting for home at a reasonable hour the party was held up in the Hunua Gorge by a bifd slip. It was found impossible to shift the fallen earth, so the tourists had to return to Hunua and out through Happy Valley, Paparimu and Bombay to reach home —nearly 20 miles extra. Papakura was reached about 4 a.m.

The interesting meteorological phenomenon observed by a climbing party who visited Blue Mountain, in the Fou ■ Peaks region during the weekend, was discussed with a “Herald” reporter yesterday by a South Canterbury farmer, who mentioned that he had had the experience of seeing a per-fectly-elear rainbow at 10.30 at night. Although it did not resemble the small rainbow circle seen by the climbers, he thought it was most unusual that a rainbow should be observed so late at night. Conditions were showery in the south-west, a heavy cloud-bank being apparent. In the east, however, the sky was perfectly clear, and the brilliant light of a full moon, displayed the vivid colours of the rainbow to perfection. "This might sound a bit like a fairy tale,” added the farmer, “but. nevertheless it is perfectly true.”

A free-entry essay competition open to all whose age did not exceed 16 years at the date of last birthday is announced by the New Zealand Forestry League, the subject being “New Zealand Forests.” The essay must not exceed 2,000 words. It must be accompanied by a certificate from a clergyman, school teacher, or parent that, with the exception of indicated quotations, it is entirely the work of the entrant. The first prize will be the book “The Forest Fauna of New Zealand,” by T. Kirk, and the second prize will be a copy of “New Zealand Plants and Their Story,” by Dr. Cockayne, and a copy of “The Trees of New Zealand,” by Dr. Cockayne and E. Phillips-Turner. The competition will close on September 30. Entries are to be addressed to the league secretary, Dominion Farmers’ Institute, Wellington, Cl.

At this season, farmers are looking for the best plough shares at the cheapest price. You can get nothing better than Ransome’s genuine English Shares, and nothing cheaper than England Mcßae’s new special prices. A full shipment of all popular numbers has just arrived per S.S, Taranaki, and includes patterns for both Ransome’s and Reid and Gray heads. Ask England Mcßae for quotations. ...