NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dearer Eggs “There has been a substantial rise in the prices of all grades of eggs, and the market is very firm,” said a Wellington retailer yesterday. "This is the season when the old fowls go off laying, and eggs are likely to be very scarce and dear for the next two months. There is a possibility of further increases next week,” he added. The present retail prices in Wellington are 2/6 a dozen for specials, 2/4 for A grade, and 2/- for B grade eggs.

Welsh Guards Band. The general manager of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, Mr. C. P. Hainsworth, has received advice that the Band of the Welsh Guards, which has been engaged to play at the exhibition, will leave for New Zealand by the Rangitiki on September 14 and arrive at Wellington on October 18. The band comprises one officer and 40 men.

Nature Study Field Clubs. The Wellington Education Board has approved of the formation of nature study field clubs to be run by the boys and girls at schools in its district. A nature study field club certificate of merit is being printed, but these will be issued sparingly and only for work of outstanding value. Lifectious Diseases.

For the week ended yesterday, 13 cases of infectious disease and two deaths—from pneumonic influenza—were reported to the Wellington office of the Health Department from the central Wellington district. Theie were five cases of tuberculosis, three of diphtheria, three of erysipelas, and two of pneumonic influenza.

New Mill' Tokens Tomorrow. An increase in the price of milk and cream sold by tip? Wellington Municipal Milk Department will take effect on Thursday. The Milk Department has issued a circular to householders setting out the new prices for both milk and cream, and advising them to obtain a supply of the new issue of tokens before tomorrow night.

Change To Swivels. A decision to make an immediate change-over from poppets to swivels in the rigging of its plant was made by the Petone Rowing Club last night at a special meeting called for the purpose. Mr. C. H. Burridge presided and after a long discussion, a motion to change to swivels was carried by 27 votes to 10. Most of the work is to be done during the winter.

Water Level Falls In Reservoirs.

The dry weather is once more affecting the streams which contribute to the Wainui and Orongorongo flows, and the water in the dams dropped noticeably during the warm weekend. The pumps at Gear Island were worked spasmodically during last week, but were given a spell at the weekend. They will probably resume pumpingartesian water this morning, and will continue till rain falls again.

Stone Fruit Less Plentiful. Though apples and pears are fairly plentiful in Wellington, shorter supplies of stone fruit, such as nectarines, apricots and peaches, are coining forward. Nectarines and apricots, after a comparatively good season, are now less plentiful because the season has just about come to an end. Peaches are more plentiful than other varieties of stone fruit, but are becoming scarcer and retail prices are rising accordingly.

Central Library Grounds. With a foreground of green lawn, and turfed banks sloping down below ground level (in order to give light to the partially underground apartments) flie immediate surroundings of the new ’Wellington central library promises to be a pleasant eye-rest where something of the sort is most needed. As most of the work remaining to be done on the building consists of interior fitting and exterior cement painting, a start will soon be made to clear up the grounds. The petrol station, in the south-west corner, will be removed shortly, which will leave a large area available for lawns and garden beds. Tram Track Renewal.

Traffic on a section of Lambton Quay has been held up for a month past by the closing of one side of the Quay to allow working space for renewal of the tram track on the western side. This job was practically completed up to the Bank of New Zealand corner On Friday evening last. The only remaining job to be done was to pack the new rails with Trinidad asphalt, and level off the concrete filling with bitumen. The greater part of this work was attended to last night. As soon as the bitumen filling has been finished that part of the quay will be made available for two-wav traffic once more.

Growing Sugar Beet. The major experimental crop cultivated in the school gardens in the Wellington Education Board's district during the 1937-38 season was three varieties of sugar-beet, selected as being strains suitable for New Zealand conditions. The seed'was obtained from England, and on arrival in New Zealand it germinated with, uniform excellence. In June, 1938, the crop was harvested. In his annual report to the board, Mr. H. W. Hesse, supervisor of agriculture and science instruction, said that though the crop had been grown mainly with the object of providing an interesting school experiment dealing with crop production and the various factors affecting it, the experiment had demonstrated that sugar-beet could be grown very successfully throughout the Wellington education district. Reports had been received from 86 schools. Diphtheria Immunization. Since February 20, when the campaign for the immunization of Wellington school children by means of three Injections of anatoxin was begun, more than 900 children have been dealt with. Some have received only the preliminary skin test, but others have received their first and second injections. Dr. B. Wyn Irwin, Medical Officer of Health, Wellington, who is in charge of the work, said yesterday that it was hoped to have as large a number as possible immunized before the winter, as July and August were recognized as the months of maximum prevalence of the disease. A start would be made shortly after Easter on the children in the Newtown School, but as the injections covered a period of seven weeks there would be so much work in hand that no other schools could be visited till after Easter. Consent forms to be filled in by parents might, however, be left at the Te Aro and Clyde Quay Schools,