Personal

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 6

Personal

Rear-Admiral W. E. Reynolds, of the United States Navy, is a visitor tc | Wellington in the course of a world tour. He recently visited, South [Africa, and Australia, and is returning to America via China, Japan and Hono I lulu. Dr. J. A. Stallworthy, of Auckland who is studying in England under an obstetrical scholarship, has passed his examination for M.C.O.G. Dr. Stallworthy gained his preliminary diploma of F.R.C.S in New Zealand last year. Mr. ID. L. McKay, Inspector of the Guardian Trust and Executors’ Com pany of New Zealand Ltd., is shortly expected in Wanagnui on a business visit. His headquarters during his stay will be at the offices of the South British Insurance Co., Ltd. HOTEL LISTS Guests registered at the New’ Rutland Hotel are as follows: —Miss B. Johnstone, Miss G. Gilbert (Auckland); Mr Scott Ramsay, Mr Keith Ramsay, Miss Wilkinson, Aliss E. L. Atkinson, Air A. R. East, Mr E. S. Bardell, Mr E. Ackroyd (Wellington); Mr F. L. Lee, Air G. J. Anderson (Raetihi): Mr C. Winfield (Inglewood). Guests staying at Grand Hotel include: Dr. and Airs Traill-Thomson, Aliss Traill-Thomson (England); Air A. S. Jenkins, Air AT. C. ATaris, Mrs Hugo, Aliss Hugo (Wellington); Mr W. A. AVoods, Air G. H. Anderson (/Auckland); Mrs A. Kellick (Afangawtka). The following guests registered at Foster’s Hotel during the week-end: Air S. Hilton. Air A, E. Shaw, Air and Airs N. McAlillan and son (Wellington); Air and Airs J. K. Angas (Angaston, South Australia); Airs Robert Crompton and son (Suva, Fiji); ATr J. W. Fendall, Air and Mrs Dudlev Newbiggen and child (Hastings).

Dagger Sharp as Needle. Alost Polynesian peoples, including the Afaoris, and also the coast-dwelling Australian tribes, used the stingaree’s dagger as spear tips, and also as poinards, the Auckland War Memorial ATuseum having several examples of weapons so made from all over the Pacific. The stingaree’s dagger is actually one of the most beautifully efficient things in Nature. Sharp as a needle, finely’ barbed down both sides, strengthened at the back by longitudinal ridges, it is such a weapon as neither Maori nor blackfellow could make with the crude tools at their disposal. It is a magnification of the bee’s sting, having, instead of a poison sac at the base, a covering of tissue full of dark-red blood. Like the boo’s sting, it often breaks off in the wound it makes, as the barbs make it difficult to withdraw, while at the base it flattens out to a thin blade easily broken. So sharks are sometimes caught which have stingaree daggers through their lips and jaws. The stingaree has been eaten, but he leaves a wound that never heals. Cricket Asides. There were occasional incidents of a rather amusing nature at the cricket match on Cook’s Gardens on Saturday. Both umpires (Alessrs. K. H. Cave and R. A. Kilpatrick) had narrow 7 escapes from being hit by a ball off a bat. One such stroke, which sent the ball past Air. Kilpatrick’s ear, reached the square leg boundary in fine style. “I have umpired three women’s cricket matches and have nearly been killed in the whole lot,” Air. Cave remarked at the tea adjournment in his quiet, reminiscent vein. The two scorers had a tedious task in the heat, and taken over all, the two books kept reasonable harmony. They badly disagreed at one stage over the innings of Aliss M. Snowball. When she was caught out the score was announced at 98. "AVhat a pity,” wailed the’crowd in the pavilion. "Why weren’t they sports enough to let her get the century?” A couple of minutes later the Wanganui team's scorer found a discrepancy and Miss Snowball’s innings was 103. much to the delight of the crowd.

Silver Foxes for New Zealand. A project which might not only relievo the (Dominion of its deer menace but also result in the establishment of a new’ and profitable primary industry was outlined last week. The suggested scheme is the establishment in the uplands of Canterbury of salver fox farms or ranches. The silver fox is the most sought after of all Canada’s fur-bearing animals, for, being comparatively rare and of great beauty, its pelt is esteemed even above that of the beaver or the mink, and individual skins have realised as much as £3OO. As the fur is of better quality when the animal is reared in a fairly cool climate, it has been suggested that the ranches would prosper if located in the foothills of the Alps. In New Zealand the problem of feeding the stock would be simplicity itself, as there are ample supplies of deer and rabbits to be had for the shooting. In this way the new industry would help greatly in keeping down these pests ami at the same, time making them economically useful. Foxes in Canada are mostly fed on offal, it is said, as the price of fresh meat, even of rabbits is prohibitive, it is contended thalt with the better feed available in New Zealand the pelt -growth of the animals would be superior to that in Canada. Mis-described. Cargoes. Cases of mis description of cargo from Japan to European countries were mentioned in correspondence received by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at its last meeting. The letters were from the Japan Homeward Freight Conference and the Kobe ami Osaka Foreign Chamber of Commerce. “We much regret having to advise lhe receipt of serious complaint, of mis-descripbion of cargoes,” stated one letter. “Definite evidence has been received of stationery filed, cigarette holders, oiled paper sunshades and electric massage appliances being labelled as ‘cheap toys.’ The authorities have requested us to warn shippers that, full penalties will be enforced in all cases of mis-descrip-tion.'' In the letter from the Homeward Freight Conference a request is made lor a report on any cases in which New Zealand firms are concerned. “You will readilv see.” states (he correspondent, "that misdescription of cargo, whereby the shipper obtains a lower rate of cargo, and the consignee a lower scale of Customs duty, penalises the honest exporter. This Chamber of Commerce is determined to do all in its power to prei vent practices which put a premium nn dishonesty.”