NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Ragwort's Coming Doom.

Investigations recently made by Dr D. Miller, entomologist of the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, show that, the cmnibar moth, which is destined to_ exterminate the ragwort in the Dominion, has stood the winter well in the districts where it was liberated List year. The first brood of the moth has already emerged in goodly numbers, and .the indications are that it has become fully acclimatised. All that is now required is that the grubs hatching from the moth's eggs should develop a healthy appetite. If they do, ragwort, one of the curses of farming lands, will gradually die an unlamentcd death. Tainted Pork. With a view to eliminating undesirable taints in New Zealand pork and bacon, experiments involving the special feeding of some 200 pigs are at present under way in the Waikato, Manawatu, and Canterbury districts. This work has been commenced as a result of complaints received from the United Kingdom regarding undesirable taints last year. Already a number of the animals have been slaughtered, examined, and analysed. No results of the trials will be available for some time yet, as investigations will not be complete until the carcasses have undergone a period of storage. Sailors on Holiday. Half of the New Zealand ratings of the warships in Auckland have commenced a fortnight's leave (says, the "New Zealand Herald"). H.M.S. Dunedin, which has been carrying out gunnery practice in the Hauraki Gulf, returned to port yesterday morning with the sloop Veronica and the minesweeper Wakakura. The warships will remain in Auckland until the middle of January. Appeal for Optimism. An emphatic protest against lack of cheerfulness in religion was voiced by the Eer. Charles Chandler at the farewell luncheon tendered to him by the Auckland Optimists' Club. Enlarging on the need of optimism in everyday life, Mr. Chandler said that in his opinion the long face and the sallow complexion has done more harm to the cause of Christianity than all the bitter attacks of avowed atheists (reports "New Zealand Herald"). He knew of no happier band of men seeking to live in accordance with Christian ideals than the sunny-faced members of the Optimists' Club. In addition to bidding farewell to Mr. Chandler last year's president of the club, who is leaving for Sydney, where he is taking up mission work in an endeavour to further the ideals of the Labour Party the club also took the opportunity to bid farewell to Mr. A. L. Salmond, a foundation member of the club who is returning to Dunedin. Lyttelton Ferry Train. "Work will be completed on Monday on the duplication of a small section of the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway line between the Christcfcurch station to the trains from the ferry steamers (states tha Christchurch "Press")' ' Through this portion of the line bein^ fouled by a workmen's train up to 7.25 a.m., it has frequently been necessary to hold the ferry train at Lyttelton from 6.55 a.m. and 7 a.m. to 7.10 a m but commencing on Tuesday the train will' be able to leave the ferry wharf as soon as the passengers have taken their seats.