LOCAL & GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1939, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL

A Splendid Movement. The Inter-Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union yesterday pledged itself to do everything possible during the coming year to further encourage the Young Farmers’ Club movement. Members referred to the splendid work done by the clubs. Snow on Tararuas. The first snow of the season fell on the Tararua Ranges last night. This morning a thin coating could be seen on the higher portions of the bush country while a much thicker mantle was apparent on the summit of the ranges. Record Poppy Day Collection. A record for Otago and New Zealand has been established by the result of the recent Poppy Day appeal throughout the province, the amount received having reached £2642, as compared with £2636 for Poppy Day last year. Several small country returns have yet to reach the secretary of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association. Praise for Botanic Gardens. “I have seen botanic gardens all over the world, and I think that the Christchurch gardens are as good as any,” said Dr Georg Gruber, conductor of the Vienna Mozart Boys’ Choir in Christchurch. Dr Gruber said he had the highest opinion of Christchurch as a beautiful city, and that he was very impressed with the Botanic Gardens.

Family’s Birthday Week. Few families 'of five call on the bread-winners to supply four birthday presents in one week, but this is the case with Mr H. M. Bodie, Avenue Road, Hastings. When Mr Bodie’s wife and daughter celebrated their birthdays in one week, he regarded it philosophically enough, but now twin sons have been born in the family, and the date of their birth is the same as that of the daughter. A Flock of Cockatoos.

Mrs Knox Gilmer has reported to the Forest and Bird Protection Society that she recently counted thirty sul-phur-crested cockatoos in the Turakina Valley, on the way to Wanganui. A question has arisen whether these Australian birds may interfere with native birds or be troublesome in any other way. The executive of the society has requested the president, (Captain E. V. Sanderson) to make an investigation. Destructive Saw-Fly.

A specimen of the destructive steel blue pine saw-fly was found in a piece of pine wood being used for concrete boxing on a job in Newmarket, Auckland. The specimen was full grown and measured l|in., having a blue body, brown legs, and two saw-edged feelers, with powerful sheathed horns in the tail. It was alive when discovered, and from the fact that the wood being used is a New Zealand pine, it is evident that this variety is to be found in the Dominion. Valuable Photograph.

A valuable addition to the Wanganui Museum’s collection is a photograph taken in 1867 of the Tarawera Lake and Mount Tarawera before the great eruption, which occurred in June, 1885. The photograph has been presented by Chaplain Fraser, of Wanganui. On the shores of the lake can be seen the old Te Ariki Maori pa, where Chaplain Fraser’s grandfather, Tamehana Te Rangitowhate (chief of the Ngatirangiwa wehi sub-tribe of the Arawas), perished in the eruption. Badminton Teams.

The following is the St Matthew’s Badminton Club A team to play the Methodist B team at St Matthews Parish Hall commencing at 7 o’clock on Monday night:—Messrs C. J. Carle, N. W. Ninnes, V. Greer, W. Harrington, Misses N. C. Richards, N. Yates, J. Hatch and L. Armstrong. The Methodist team will be as follow: Messrs H. Volheim, K. Brader, E. Handyside, C. Orr, Misses D. Jamieson, E. Brader, J. Hoar and P. Sanson.

Camping Ground Wanted. That an inspection of the camping site at the Fran Josef glacier be made with a view to placing a report before the Government on the establishment of a public camping ground, was a recommendation adopted, at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Automobile Association. The recommendation, which came from the association’s executive and finance committee, was that the inspection should be made by Mr G. S. Morris and the secretary (Mr J. S. Hawkes).

Ship Short of Coal. Diverted to Auckland to replenish almost exhausted bunkers, the British steamer, Fiscus, which arrived in the stream from Freeport, United States of America, late on Thursday night, berthed yesterday morning, and took in coal and water. The Fiscus left again early in the afternoon, resuming her voyage to Geelong, via Newcastle. With Captain Williams as master, the Fiscus left Freeport on April 12, and cleared Panama eight days later. She made a long voyage of 35 days across the Pacific to Auckland, and it was found last week that a diversion would be necessary to enable her to coal to carry her to Australia. When Auckland was reached sufficient coal for about three days’ steaming remained in the ship's bunkers, and only a few inches of water were left in her tanks.

Fatigue in Blind Flying. “After 50 minutes to an hour of flying by the aid of instruments, a fatigue sets in. and for no apparent reason the pilot will start to become erratic,” said Wing Commander G. S. Hodson. Officer Commanding the Wigram Air Training School, in an address to members of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association at their monthly luncheon. Wing Commander Hodson explained that part of the advanced stage of instruction of pilots included flying 100 miles across country with instruments only. This he described as a rather terrifying experience for the first time, as the instructor made it a rule not to speak to the pilot. The instructor was always on watch for the fatigue period, which usually occurred after 50 minutes to an hour. The only thing for a pilot to do when this period set in was to shut his eyes and relax completely for 15 seconds. At the end of the training, the onset of the fatigue period was delayed for about an hour and a half.

Learning to fly under the particularly favourable conditions of the Civil Reserve of Pilots training scheme should be given immediate consideration by all those young men who wish to take up aviation as a pastime or a profession. As advertised, a number of vacancies are available.-