General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24910, 25 June 1946, Page 4

General News

Sand to be Dumped at Sea Sand which health officers refused to allow to be unloaded at Napier because it was infested with vermin such as rats, centipedes and cockroaches, will now be dumped by the visiting vessel Samrich in Hawke’s Bay this morning. On Saturday, after complaints by watersiders, a decision was made to fumigate the sand ballast with disinfectant and superheated steam. After a further investigation health officers refused permission for its discharge, one commenting: “The sand is potentially dangerous, and we are not taking any chahces.” —(P,A.) Fee for Broadcast The Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee recently considered a publicity scheme for the food-saving campaign, and suggested that a radiotelephone conversation between a London housewife and a New Zealander should be broadcast. Inquiries were made in Great Britain, and at a meeting of the committee yesterday a reply was received from the High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom (the Rt. Hon. W. J. Jordan) that the British Broadcasting Corporation would be willing to co-operate in the scheme and find a housewife, but “no doubt she would want a fee.” The committee decided to leave details of the scheme to the Dominion organisation. Kiwis Due on Sunday The New Zealand Army Rugby team is due to arrive at Wellington in the Moreton Bay on Sunday. The Moreton Bay, which left London on May 21, was expected to reach Wellington on July 4, but latest advice is that she will arrive on Sunday.—(P.A.) Building for West High School A suggestion by the Education Department that a building from the Harewood aerodrome should be used as an assembly hall, workshop, or for other purposes at the Christchurch VZest High School has been referred to the chairman of the high schools and hostels committee of the Canterbury University College Council (Mr W. C. Colee) and the headmaster (Mr C. A. Noble), with power to act. Gift of Dried Apples A letter just received by the Chief of the Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal A. de T. Nevilll) from Air Marshal Sir George Pirie, Air Commander-in-Chief, South-east Asia, expresses appreciation and wholehearted thanks for 100 tons of dried New Zealand apples recently received by Air Command, South-east Asia. Air Marshal Sir George Pirie says that the apples were distributed immediately to all units throughout the command, and as they arrived at a time when there was a shortage of fresh vegetables, they were a most welcome addition. He expressed his wholehearted thanks for this generous gift. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), when asked to comment on the gift, said that these distributed apples were part of the gift made by New Zealand to Great Britain of surplus food held at the cessation of the war. Great Britain asked that portion of it, including these apples, should be distributed to the Far East, and this was accordingly done. —(P.A.) Balloon Rises 18 Miles

The remarkable height of 95,885 feet, or 18.1 miles, was reached by a radiosonde balloon released from the Auckland weather office at. Mechanics’ Bay on Sunday morning. This is the greatest height to which such a balloon has ascended in the experience of meteorological officers in Auckland, the average level being about 60,000 to 70,000 feet. Regular releases of radiosonde balloons are made for meteorological purposes. The balloons, at sea level, nave a diameter of 6ft 6in. As they gain height and pass through the gradually decreasing air pressure, they expand until they finally burst.—(P.A.)

Ballots for Crown Lands Acting on a suggestion by . the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association, the Minister of Lands (the Hon. C. F. Skinner) has agreed that the names of successful candidates in ballots for Crown lands should be published in local newspapers. The Minister has now asked the Under-Secretary -for Lands to arrange for this action to be taken in the future. Advice to this effect was received at a meeting of the Christchurch Association last evening. Saving of Food in U.S.A. An appeal to save food is attached to menus in all restaurants in Des Moines, lowa. A copy of the appeal was shown to the Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee when it met yesterday. Printed in large red type the notice says: “500,000,000 war victims face starvation,” and goes on to explain seven ways in which Americans can save food necessary to succour Europeans and others. Gratuity Payments The Dominion headquarters of the Returned Services’ Association are to be approached by the Christchurch Association to ask the Government the date on which payment of gratuities will be completed. The decision was made at last evening’s meeting of the Christchurch association, when members said that some men returned from overseas had not yet had their gratuity, while others who had served solely in New Zealand with the Temporary Staff had had theirs months ago. Effort to Increase Coal Output The superintendent of ;.*e State Mines (Mr C. J. Strongman) yesterday expressed pleasure at the result of the effort of the Grey Valley Miners’ Union to increase the output at the Dobson colliery, which on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week produced just over 300 tons each day, an increase of approximately 40 tons a day on the former normal tonnage. Mr Strongman added that on Saturday when seven hours were worked instead of the usual eight, production at Dobson was 227 tons. The Blackball State mine also had good figures for “back” Saturday—23o tons. The Wallsend State mine worked on Saturday, though its production was not comparable with the other two mines.— (P.A.) Road Freight Services Road freight services augmenting railway goods services, which have been curtailed as a result of the serious coal shortage, will begin operation in the Auckland district to-day. About 30 Army trucks, whjch were brought from Ngaruawahia camp during the week-end, will carry goods for the Railway Department from Auckland to as far south as Te Awamutu, and north to Maungaturoto. With a full fleet of trucks in operation it is expected that the emergency road services will carry about 150 tons of freight daily. The trucks will operate from three 'depots in Auckland, travelling to their destinations during the morning and returning with inward goods in the afternoon. — (P.A.)

Areas Cleared of Rabbits The measures taken by the rabbiters operating on the Selwyn Plantation Board’s reserves had met with considerable success, reported the superintendent (Mr E. A. Cooney) at yesterday’s meeting of the board. With the co-operation of landowners, large areas had been cleared of rabbits, but it would-be necessary to trap and poison again at the end of the winter. Over the last two seasons, 10 miles of netting fences had been erected round the planting areas.