News in Brief

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 8

News in Brief

Register of Dahlias. An effort to compile a register of New Zealand-grown dahlias is being made by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, in co-operation with the Dominion council. It has been found, that there is a tendency toward duplication of the names of the flowers. To avoid this, the register, the first concerning dahlias, is to be commenced. Goats and Blackberries. Herds of goats are attacking blackberry with good effect in Hawke’s Bay, and although progress is slow a definite improvement has been noticed on a number of properties. Goats have been increasing in the Wairoa County during the past five or six years, and it is estimated that there are now about 5000 in that district. Cases Not Suitable for Jury. 44 1 think the jury was misled by the phrase ‘ equally to blame,’ said counsel in supporting an appeal at Auckland for a retrial in a street accident case. “ I think the law of the country misled them,” said Mr Justice Herdman. “ They realised that an insurance company was behind the defendant. As a matter of fact these cases should not come before a jury at all.” Experimental Hatchings. Experiments with the view of keeping pedigree eggs for hatching after long periods have been conducted by Mr H. K. May, of Whangarei. As a result of one test, nine strong chickens were produced from eggs which were four and a half months old. Similar methods are to be applied to an experimental setting of prize Indian game-fowl eggs which Mr May imported through Auckland by the Rangitiki, the eggs coming from the stock of Mr E. J. Prescott, of Hampshire. The Farmers Smiled. 44 It is the first time they have smiled for months,” said a Wanganui resident, referring to the farmers who attended the Raetilii sale recently. Some 22,000 sheep were entered, and with the exception of sixty odd all were sold under the hammer at an average of 2s 6d a head more than the whole yarding entered at the sale last year. Such a result showed itself plainly on the faces of the farmers present, and they went home in a happier frame of mind than for some time past. Diggers’ Art Union. The Diggers’ Art Union resulted in a net profit of £13,000, two-thirds of which goes to the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association and one-third to the Soldiers and Sailors’ Hostel, The Terrace, Wellington. The result of the art union is regarded as particularly gratifying (states the 44 Wellington Post), especially when it is considered that £3400 had to be paid to the Government by way of tax on ticket sales. The R.S.A. will invest its share of approximately £8660 for the purpose of a building fund. Consideration has not yet been given to the question of a site, and it is possible that the association will decide to sell its Interest in the present premises at the corner of Featherston and Brandon Streets and purchase an existing building. The lease has another four years to run, so that there is ample time to make a decision which will result in bringing in sufficient revenue to carry on the activities of the association.