General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 8

General News

Trans-Atlantic Airship Serv’.cp Particulars of the inauguration of • regular airship service between North America god Europe arc ruh’ained in a recent issue of the New York Times. ’ Headed “Europe bv Air iu Two amf a-half Days,” an advertisement stated that the Zeppelin Hindenburg would, ■ commencing May 11 last, mak. trips to Europe, averaging about two a month. 1 The far C j 3 fgf,. including berth, meal*, and tip.-.. Mail is carried at the rate of Ls 8d a half ounce or fraction. ( A pure White Hare. Writing from Gimmerburn to the Dtagj Daily Times, Mr. J. A. Miller . s ay.*:-~" Whilst out shooting on Sun day I had the unusual experience of seeing and shooting a pure white hare. I his anima] was of the usual size, was in good, healthy condition, and had not a hair of another colour on it. The ’yes, also, which, with the ordinary hare, are brown, were of a pink-white colour. The hare was not shot in snow country or at a high altitude but on a paddock very much below the usual snow level. It made a very pretty and outstanding sight when first seen running over the paddock.” Navy ? t Norfolk Island. HALS. Dunedin is due at Norfolk Island to-day and on May 23 stops were already being taken to prepare for the eii jertalament of the officers and men, according to a letter received in Christchurch from a resident on the island, Mr. F. J, Tattle. Mr. Tattle remarks that it is a pity that the ship lid not arrive a week earlier, as its visit would then have coincided with the anniversary of thp landing of the settlers from Pitcairn Island, so closely associated with the Royal Navy. \ parade was to bo held by the direct descendants of these settlers, the principal character being a direct descendant of Fletcher Cliristian. ! Navy League and Trafalgar Day. An anchor composed of native flowers and foliage has gone into the freezer at Wellington, pending shipment to England for Trafalgar .'Day. The New Zealand branch of the Navy League, which has an anchor for i*K badge, sends a similar tribute each year, materials being donated by members and friends of the league. This vear’s floral anchor is composed of rata flowers and passion berries, together with wild fuchsia berries, autumn-coloured Rangiora leaves, and other interesting bits of New Zealand’s beautiful native flora. This was all supplied from the gardens of Mr. B. O’Connor. Wilton's Bush, and Mr. O. Gid.ill. of Ngaio, the flowers being artistically assembled in the form of an anchor by Miss Black. Captain Cook’s Quadrant. The McNab collection in the Dunedin ■ Free Public Library has been enriched .by the gift of the quadrant used by | , ‘a|»tain James Cook on the Endeavour during hi* explorations in the South Pacific. The gift was made to th® library by Professor James Park, emeritus professor of mining iu the Eniversity of Otago, who purchased it from Captain James Patterson, of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The latter’s grandfather was a seaman on the Endeavour. The quadrant is provided with an ebony frame and the graduated circle is engraved in ivory. The instrument is appropriately housed in close company with many records relating to Cook, which Dr. McNab collected in various parts of the world. Hif.tory Must be Vital "Generally speaking, t.fir treatment <>f history still awaits a wider conception,” remarks the ann ia! report of the inspectors of the Wellington • hool.s. The timeworn p' - ucc*sion of kings and buttles is but taM.lv yield ing to the more vital and m 're interCsting pageant of man’s s r »c al and educalional progress down the centuries. In classes where the teaching >.* limited Id the text book— and the<t appear i<» bp all too numerous—it is not surpristo find that the subject has been robbed of its natural appeal to chil'l’cu. Where <n tl s other hand, \ itaf oral teaching, supplement'd bv such \isiml aids as time charts, pictures, etc., ha* awakened a piirpn«p*u interan'J a desire to read th? subject * r iu ' fS | place in the ‘orefront of Eberal human studies.” Trade Barriers. “Let the motion drop—people want to see direct results, ami the position -com* - io be that trade between New Zealand and the rest of the world will be regulated in an appropriate man- ’ said Mr. J. A. C. A Hum at a meeting of the council of the Auckland ( hamber of Commerce, when a resolution relating to the Government’s trade policy was considered. The motion uas;: I hat this council deplores the growth of trade barriers throughout 'he world, and urges the Government not to fall into line by following a police of placing futher impediments in the way of international trade. Supporting the motion, Mr. \y. A. Boucher said the Government’s import policy tended toward* a 100 per cent, monopoly by Dominion manufacturers, operating for *elf gain. There had been talk of sweated labour. Mr. A Hum: “Why so much about sweated labour! \\fr. Boucher seem< to know all about it. I certainly don’t. '1 he average employer here is ng good a man as the average worker. This is the time to face facts. What is the good of theorising and beating the air?” Th® resolution was carried.