LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Fatal Fall. Head injuries from which he died in hospital were suffered by a carpenter, Gerald Devereaux, aged 42, married, of Avondale, Auckland, when he fell down the hold of a ship on which he was working at Auckland. Cats and Birds. Several correspondents have recently written to the Forest and Bird Protection Society protesting against the liberation of unwanted cats in holiday resorts near large towns. Left to fend for themselves, these animals are said to wreak havoc among the bird population wherever they are liberated. The problem of the ever-increasing cat population in New Zealand certainly requires urgent attention, states the president of the society. National Government. Brief reference to the question of a national government was made by the Prime Minister in reply to a question by Mr Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga), in the House of Representatives on Saturday. “I will not deviate one hair’s breadth from the opinion I have already expressed in regard to a National Government,” said Mr Fraser. I believe it to be in' the interests of the country. If I can’t get all that I want in that direction I will try to obtain the maximum.” Derailment in Tunnel. Because of a derailment in a tunnel on the Raurimu Spiral, railway traffic on the Main Trunk line was dislocated early on Saturday morning. The mishap, which was not serious, occurred to a special passenger train bound from Wellington to Auckland. The leading bogie of one of the rear carriages left the track. The passengers were taken on to Raurimu, and after a delay of four hours the derailed wheels were placed back on the track. No damage was done to the car or to the permanent way. Wheat and Potatoes. A very high yield is expected from the 1941-42 wheat crop. It is estimated that 258,000 acres were sown in New Zealand, and that the yield will be 8,600,000 bushels, averaging 33 1-3 bushels an acre. The area sown in 1940-41 was 243,197 acres, for a yield of 8,305,865 bushels.. The biggest wheat crop yet harvested in New Zealand was 13,000,000 bushels from 399,000 acres in 1898-99, and the best yield per acre has been 36.56 bushels in 1927-28. The estimated potato sowings for 1941-42 are 15,800 acres but at least 21,000 acres are required to be sown, it is stated, to meet a normal year’s requirements. Tinned Food. Housewives who have stocks of tinned foods in their cupboards have expressed concern as to the keeping qualities of those commodities and similar anxiety in Britain has prompted the Ministry of Food to issue a guide. It states that fish, specially sardines and salmon, will keep when tinned for over five years, and so also do sausages, meat rolls, tongues and soups. Condensed milk keeps for varying periods, according to the sugar content. Unsweetened milk keeps in good condition for about three years. Soft or stoned fruits will keep for a year in a cool 'place. After that the fruit is not impaired, but it may appear less attractive. Honey and jam, concludes the guide, should keep at least three years in lacquered cans, and vegetables for at least two years.