Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21179, 28 October 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Pheasants and Gardens A big increase has been noted in the number of pheasants in the French Farm and Barry’s Bay districts on Banks Peninsula, and farmers have been concerned at damage done by the birds to vegetable gardens. Normally, the spread of pheasants in the district has been welcomed, and it is stated that only the late growth of spring grass this year has caused the pheasants to pay any attention to domestic gardens. Pheasants were liberated on the peninsula some years ago and have made steady gains in numbers. Professor Seeks Work Dr F. Ehrenhaft, of Vienna, wrote to the Otago University Council, applying for a position in the university. The applicant stated he had been professor in the physics department of the University of Vienna for 25 years, but political events had compelled him to leave. The Chancellor remarked it was regrettable that one who had given such service to science should have been compelled to leave the country of his birth. Other members of the council expressed sj’mpathy with the applicant’s position and after various suggestions had been put forward, it was resolved that the matter be referred to the Department of Scientific Research. Work for Boys and Girls “At present there would seem to be little excuse for a boy or girl to be idle if fit and not waiting for a special type of work," said an officer of the Dunedin Vocational Guidance Association. “A decided shortage of boys for industrial work and for errand boys’ Jobs is reported, although sometimes difficulty is experienced in finding apprenticeships for unemployed boys who possess considerable working experience. The position to-day is in striking contrast to that which existed in the depths of the depression, for at one time then the association had over 800 unemployed girls and boys on- its register seeking employment.’’ The Con-ect Time During the months of August and September there was no occasion on which the error in the time signals sent out from the Dominion Observatory at Kelburn exceeded one quarter of a second. That is near enough to the “right time” for most people, and amply satisfies the requirements of the most exacting of marine officers. It is, in fact, a remarkably good record. Taking the whole of last year, the number of occasions when the time signals were between one quarter of a second and one second wrong was only fourteen. Only on three of these fourteen occasions was the error in excess of half a second, and on no occasion was it more than one second. The 40-Hour Week and Breakfast American tourists have frequently complained that the operations of the 40-hour week in the Dominion caused some difficulty if they could not get to dinner at the hotels before the staff ceased work. But Mr W. F. McLean, a visitor from Toronto, said in an interview in Christchurch that this had caused him no inconvenience; what he did not like was having to get up in time for breakfast. If he stayed in bed too late he had to go without breakfast. But he added that he thought New Zealanders were very hospitable, and that the scenery was' very fine. He had seen no publicity for New Zealand in Canada, but a great many posters advertising Canada in New Zealand. Exhibition Cabaret Because no cabaret was included in the designs of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition a certain amount of criticism was raised on the grounds that Wellington lacked sufficient night life to provide entertainment for visitors from all parts of New Zealand and from all over the world visiting Wellington during the centennial on pleasure bent. Steps, however, have now been taken to remedy the deficiency. Plans for a large modern cabaret to be conducted in connection with the exhibition have been approved by the directors, subject to certain conditions. The cabaret will be run by a syndicate of Wellington business men and will bi? erected by the exhibition contractors, Messrs Fletcher and Love. The dance floor will measure approximately 100 ft by 120 ft and will be one of the largest, if not the largest, dance floors in New Zealand. New Zealand Loyalty The loyalty of New Zealand has never been called in question, writes a correspondent from London, and when the threat of war loomed large New Zealanders in Great Britain lived up to the best traditions of their country. In the short space of a few days the High Commissioner was inundated with offers of service from New Zealanders of all ages. More than 200 young men and ex-servicemen of all ranks—from colonels to privates—placed their names on a list of those wishing to join the Dominion forces. Doctors and nurses offered their services unreservedly to the Government, while elderly people who could take no active part in a war wished to place their cars at New Zealand’s disposal if war should be declared. Officials at New Zealand House believe that if an appeal had been made by the High Commissioner at least 700 offers of assistance would have been forthcoming. Lack of New Zealand Papers “We were, at the time of the crisis in Central Europe, travelling in the Duchess of Athol to Canada,” stated Dr B. J. Dudley, of Lower Hutt, in the course of a chat on his holiday experiences, “and we could not but be struck by the up-to-date broadcasting of events received all day long on the boat. We were naturally all on tiptoe with excitement. The same service was given as we travelled by train through Canada. It was, however, very different on the New Zealand-owned Aorangi where no broadcasting facilities were available, except by courtesy of the radio officer, who gave us the benefit of his privately-owned set when we were nearing New Zealand." Dr Dudley deplored the lack of New Zealand papers at Suva. "We expected,” he said, “to get the latest New Zealand papers left by the Niagara which had arrived from New Zealand a few days previously but were grievously disappointed. Australian papers there were in abundance, but not one New Zealand paper.” Dr Dudley considered that the matter called for an ImI—"ate 1 —"ate remedy.