Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21185, 4 November 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Bradman Oval The cricket oval at Bowral, on which Don Bradman commenced his cricket career, will in future be known as Bradman Oval. . This has been decided by the Bowral Council. The ground is opposite the residence of Bradman’s father. Fem Leaf Print Among things found in coal mines in South Yorkshire by the men working in the bowels of the earth were coins, and, on one occasion, in a huge piece of coal, the perfect imprint of a fern leaf was found, said Captain Suscliffe, of the Church Army, when relating some of his experiences to Hastings Rotarians. Hawke’s Bay Apples Apples from cool store in Hawke’s Bay are now being sent to the Wellington and Auckland markets, and all goods trains from Hastings are carrying fruit cars. It Is hoped to clear the stores in readiness for the fresh supplies of early apples which come in at the beginning of the season. Work on Homer Tunnel After a series of warm winds, most of the snow at the Homer Tunnel has disappeared, and work on the tunnel will be resumed for the season shortly. The contractors have progressed a third of the way through the bottom heading tunnel, a distance of about 1000 ft. About 60 men will be employed on the tunnel. American Destroyer’s Name There should be no difficulty in pronouncing correctly the name of the United States destroyer Maury, which has arrived In Auckland from American Samoa on an informal visit. According to members of the ship’s company, the name is pronounced exactly the same as ’’Maori.” The destroyer is named after a famous figure in United States naval history. Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury. Interest in Starlings A Taranaki farmer in the Urenui district is taking a very keen interest In starlings, and particularly their nesting habits this spring. His reason for so suddenly becoming a zealous naturalist is not due to a scientific bent, but because last nesting season among some papers and other debris scattered at the foot of a tree from a starling’s nest, he picked up a 10/- note. It was somewhat the worst for wear but still negotiable. Animals Follow Aeroplane Travellers by aeroplanes on the West Coast have been amused to see a pet lamb, a dog, and a tame deer run across the landing field at the Haast to meet incoming machines. The machines land within about 50 yards of the homestead of Mr J. Cron, who owns the animals. The deer was caught by Mr Cron in the Landsborough Valley when on a deerstalking expedition, and it was taken from the valley to the Haast by aeroplane. Talented Young Essayist Third prize in the junior section of the recent Palmer Prize Navy League essay competition went to Betty N. H. Maxwell, Lagoon Valley, Hawea Flat, Central Otago. At a meeting of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, it was reported that the girl, who was aged 10 years, had submitted a really creditable essay, the merit of her performance being enhanced by the fact that she did not attend school, but was a pupil of the Government Correspondence School. The League decided to send a letter of congratulation. Gannett Shatters Windscreen A gannet in full flight crashed against the windscreen of a St. John ambulance that was waiting at the Devonport vehicular ferry wharf, shattered the glass, and fell stunned on to the footboard of the cab, A piece of glass about an inch square went into the compartment where the patient lay, and fell on his bed, and several pieces were deposited in the lap of the driver, Mr H. Thornton. The gannet Was placed on a Harbour Board launch, but on the way across the harbour it recovered sufficiently to scramble over the side and make its escape. L. Stands For Learner The proposal by the Road Safety Council that local bodies be given power to make motor-car drivers display a large letter L if it is necessary for them to be retested was considered by the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington) and was referred to the North Island Motor Union. Most of those present favoured the proposal, commenting on the success of the system in England. It was stated that some persons who opposed it were under a misapprehension that its only purpose was to reduce the number of accidents, whereas it would have the additional result of easing a learner’s relations with other road-users. Drowning Accidents Speaking at the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Society, the president said that statistics during the last 22 years showed a yearly average of 144 deaths by drowning, as compared with 196 deaths from motor accidents. There was much propaganda about safety first on the roads, but very little was said In regard to doing something about safety first on beaches. It was rather striking to find that during the first three months of this year there were more deaths from drowning than from motor accidents, and this showed the necessity for support from the public, local bodies, and the Government to assist the society in the work of life-saving on beaches. Another speaker said that the percentage of drowning accidents over road accidents was far too high, and the only method of combating that was the extension of activities on beaches and the extension of a knowledge of life-saving and swimming among school children.