LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

«, Open Discussion Forum At a recent meeting of the Levin Open Discussion Forum a,resolution was passed that the Government sponsor an open forum of the air for the discussion of political nd other subiects. It was stated that the idea had been a success in Australia and other. pla'ces, and had proved a popular feature., Health Stamps The 1947 health stamps will be withdrawn from sale at the end of the month. The postmaster, Mr. L. A. Whitham, stated today that a small quantity was still available at the Levin Post Off'oe, and advised intending purchasers to obtain their requirements at an early date. Ruapehu Active Again Ruapehu became active again yesterday morning, the most intense phase being at 6.30, when a huge plume of- steam and smoke rose 500 feet above the crater. Since then the volcano has shown steady activity with delicate plumes of steam rising in the clear air. The last activity there was on November 21. Calling Hinemoa "The last refuge from telephone calls has gone," remarked the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, after he inaugurated the radio telephone service with the new express steamer Hinemoa. Mr. Fraser was connected with the Hinemoa at once at the time fixed. for thq call, 9.15 p.m., and had about two minutes' talk with the master of the •hip, Captain F. W. Collins. Reception was good at both ends. Y.W.C.A. Appeal The committee set up in Levin to cssist the Y.W.C.A. appeal by arranging for saleable goods to be forwarded to the Opportunify Shop in Wellington makes its first effort on Thursday. The R.S.A. rooms will be open from 9.30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. to receiv3 these goods from members of the various women's organisations who have promised to help and from the public generally, The Housing Shortage A further example of the acute nousing shortage which exists in Palmerston North as well as other cities throughout the Dominion was exemplified when an advertiser in the Manawatu Standard on Monday evening inserted an advertisement to the effect that hc iad a small cottage to let in the city. By 11.30 a.m. yesterday no fewer than 80 replies had been received from persons anxjous to obtain the cottage. Tuis In The Gardens During the past few.days a numoer of tuis have been heard in the Esplanade gardens, Palmerston North. They have been mainly attracted by the scarlet gums which are just starting to comt into full bloom. Another tree ir: full flower to which the tui sefems partial is the Illawarra Flame Tree from Queensland. This also has brilliant scarlet flowers which on the Esplanade specimen are ah ppening on the south side of the tree and should look most attractive over the weekend period. Radio Receivers For Schools The Education Department has S o far been unable tG make arrangements for the production of the radio sets specially designed by the Post and Telegraph Department for use in schools. In the meantime the Customs Department has agreed to the remission of saies tax on radio sets purchased from licensed wholesalers, providcd a declaration is made that 'the sets are for educational purposes onlv, and that thev will not be remoyed from schools. This concdssion does , npt appiy to radio eqiapment already purchased npr to sets not purchased from a licensed whole^saler.

Young Woman Drowned Miss Isobel Frame, aged -20, of Oamaru, was drowned off Picton foreshore on Monday. She went bathing in the afternoon soon after arrival from the south and soon afterwards people on the foreshore noticed her floating in a peculiar way. Mr. Charles Wise v/ent out from the wharf in a boat, dived ove'rboard and brought Miss Frame to shore. Artificial respiration was applied and she was given attention by a doctor who was urgently ummoned but unsUccessfully. Taking His Name In Vain "We have been watching the position at the emergency pctrol station over - the holida^ period," said Mr. Goodwill Pratt at a meeting of A.A. (Manawatu) last night. "There was only one type of complaint heard and that was regarding the book- the customers have to sign.' They don't like it." Mr. T. M. N. Rodgers: When I was up north I had occasion to make use of the mergency petrol scheme. I did not fpllow the lead of the three motorists who had preceded and ^agned themselves — Peter Fraser.

Jellyfish Not Dangerous Swarms of jellyfish are infesting ihe New Zealand coast and harbours at present, as many bathers know only too welj. Dr. R. L. tichardson, Professor of ZooIopit Victoria University College, states that they are of a harmless variety known as the Aurelia type, and not the variety responsible for fatalities reported from Australia. Mthough they possessed adhesive tentacles, they would sting pa'infully but not dangerously. The rresent infestation, he said, was due to a "b'loom," a normal occurrence in jellyfish. This bloom had ;aken place a month or more ago, resulting in the enormous numbers xbout now. There was no way in vhich they could be eradicated. Fertfliser Prospects , Prospects for the supply of ferAiser to Ngw Zealand this' year are particularly bright, and" farmers and merchants are entertaining -opes that the end of rationing might be in sight. Phosphates fill >y far the greaoer portion^of New Zealand's needs, and the Britisn Phosphate Commission expects to mport about 400,000 tons in th-3 present calendar year, acco.rding to W estimate by the New ' Zealand representative on the commission', 8ir Albert Ellis. That figure was ; lever reached before the v/ar, he "•aid, when jmports were jn the 7icinity pf 350,000 tons a year. In addition to supplies from Nauru, Ocean and other Paciflc Islands, i0,000 toni pf basic slag has alread^ 3een reef ived from Belgium, and another 20,000 tons is expected by -July. About 17,000 tons of North American phosphate should also be landed during the next-five months or so.