NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 56, 8 March 1939, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Schools of Bonita. Three schools of bonita were observed last week between the Hen and Chickens Islands and the Coppermine Reef outside the Whangarei Heads by a fishing party from Whangarei. Each school was about half an acre in extent, the bonita being closely packed together. Although several fish were hooked with a spinner, only two were brought aboard the launch. One was about 2ft. long and is being kept in cool storage at Whangarei. This is stated to be the first time that bonita have been seen in such numbers along the New Zealand coast. Referendum Suggested. “The guaranteed price is a salvation to the farming industry but at the next sitting of Parliament I intend io recommen 1 that a referendum be taken at ' earliest moment to see if the fa;/..ers want the guaranteed price." This remark was made by Mr. A. G. Osborne, M.P. for Onehunga. at a victory banquet of the New Zealand Labour Party. He also thought they were entitled to know if it was the guaranteed price or the socialisation of land that the farmers opposed at th° last general election. A Timely Hint. Some members of trades unions are the impression that union fees and special levies made by unions are deductible from income as returned to the Commissioner of Taxes. Doubt on this point exists, although such deductions are allowed to some professional men on contributions made to their particular associations. However, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce reminds its members that "in making out income tax returns members should show as a deductible allowance the amount of their subscription to the chamber or to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, as it is the practice of the commissioner to allow such subscriptions as legitimate business expenditure.” Science in New Zealand. "Mankind to-day is confronted with the question whether the new powers made available by science shail be used for good or for destruction.” said the Minister of Education,'’ (Mr. P. Fraser) when officially opening the new biology block at the Auckland University College last week. He added that advances in knowledge did not necessarily mean an increase in happiness, and in some respects the discoveries of science had been greatly abused. Most of the leaders of pure science realised that man must be restrained from the misuse of the new powers placed at his disposal. In New Zealand it was the desire of the Government to use science constructively, and in that respect the university had an important function to fulfil. Homer Tunnel Progress. The bottom heading tunnel which is being driven through the Homer Saddle to facilitate the work on the full-sized tunnel which will link Te Anau and Milford Sound by road has now been carried two and a-half chains past the half-way mark. Thirty ♦unnellers are employed continuously on the work by the contractors. A. J. Downer and Co., of Wellington, and during the past eight weeks they have been progressing at the average rate of 43 feet a week. It is still being found necessary to deal with an inflow of about 10,000 gallons an hour, which has now been going on for some months, but the pumps are proving effective in this direction, and practically no water is reaching the working face. The season is not yet sufficiently advanced to enable any announcement to be made as to the probable date of the closing down for the summer. Owing to the danger of'avalanches, the work cannot be carried on during the winter months, and as soon as the weather conditions indicate that there is any possibility of avalanches a stop will be made unUl next season.

j Valuation Rolls. ■ A Gazette notice directs that the ■ district valuation rolls for the Taumarunui, Egmont, Patea and Wanga- ' nui counties shall be revised by the ' Valuer-General as at March 31, 1939. Greek Characters. ■ A capital Kon the funnel of the Greek steamer Adelfotis, which is in port at New Plymouth, puzzled weekend visitors who knew the ship belonged to the Carras shipping company. The explanation was simple, however. The name Carras, spelt in Greek characters, is Kappas. ! is It a Golf Record? ' Eight members of the family of Sir Syril Ward are members of the Christchurch Golf Club, or in other words the whole family are members, states the Star-Sun. They are Sir Cyril, who is club captain. Lady Ward, Mr. J. G. L. Ward, Mr. C. J.' Ward, Miss Teresa Ward, and as junior members, Bruce. John and David Ward, of whom th? last two are twins. The family have left their mark on | the golf records nf the province. Yachtsman’s Feat. i To recover an outboard motor ' weighing about 401 b. after it had sunk ■ in water from 18 to 20 feet (jeep was • the feat performed by an Auckland • yachtsman. Mr. H. Upton, on Sunday.! I The motor was lost from the dinghy ,of the yacht Little Jim. and Mr. Upton, who was a member of the ’crew of another boat, dived in an atJ tempt to locate it. To the surprise of those watching from the boats, Mr. Upton fame to the surface after a I second dive with (he lost motor under I his arm. Heavy Brown Trout. The heaviest brown trout caught ! in the Auckland Acclimatisation So- ' ciety's area for some years was landj ed at Arapuni Lake la*t Wednesday. ; The fish, which was caught by Mr. W. ■E. Sewell, of Arapuni, weighed 111 b and was taken up the lake, beyond | the area restricted to fly fishing only. J Details of the lure used have not ! been reported yet, but the fish was in , excellent condition and of good shape ’ and it has been sent to Auckland for mounting. i Choosing a Foreman. • A jury is chosen. Twelve men. >ably, have never seen ; one another in their lives before, and | may never do so again, find them- ; selves sitting close together with a • common object. They are given the I instruction to choose their foreman. While ordinarily it might take a considerable time to persuade one of 12 men to lead the others, when it comes to the choice of a foreman, it seems ■to take only a few seconds. There is •a good deal of neck-turning on the .part of the 12; a little whispering takes place— and the thing is done. In some instances, however, a juryman has greatness thrust upon him. In a case the other day the man selected as foreman whispered, "But I have never done this before.” He was still made foreman. Conspiracy Against Freedom. "What is being nurtured in the youth of Germany. Italy and Japan to-day?” asked Mr. Frank Milner, at a defence rally in Christchurch. "Among these blinkered and regimented peoples they have these pagan cults. They teach that the State is dominant over the individual in all things. The State exists apart from »the people as a mystic entity. There lis a denial of Christianity and a re- > rival of primitive German paganism. [They believe in militarism as the chief ■.virtue. They believe in the stark and ruthless force of brute power. Our idals of individual development and [ freedom are to them things to be 'swept aside as myths. Youth in the totalitarian $13165 is taught that there is only one means of regulation in the world—regulation by force. That is the terrible conspiracy against freedom that is being worked out by every form of education you can 1 imagine.”

Next Rotary Conference. Owing to the fact that the problem of accommodation during the National Centennial celebrations next year will make it possible for the annual Rotary conference of New Zealand to be held in Wellington, it is probable that the nearest suitable point, Palmerston North, will be chosen as the venue. The matter was discussed in the closing stages of the conference in Napier, and it was decided to recommend Palmerston North as the venue to the district assembly, which will decide the matter in Wellington next August. Centennial Scout Jamboree.

Dominion plans are already well advanced in the preparatory organisation of the Boy Scout contribution to the New Zealand Centenary. This is to take the form of a vast gathering of scouts from New Zealand and overseas, encamped at Heretaunga, 14 miles from Wellington on the Wairarapa line. At least 5000 scouts are expected from the Dominion, Australia will send 1000, and many overseas nations will be represented. The camp will be from December 27, 1939, to January 8, 1940. A flat rate is to be struck to cover the cost of attendance, irrespective of the domicile of the scout, and though not finalised it is anticipated that this will not exceed £3 15s per head. The Dominion headquarters urges scout committees to start now to plan a campaign which will result in every boy under their jurisdiction being able < to attend the jamboree.