NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1938, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Warm Corner. Shut in by hills, the little township of Whangamomona has felt the recent intense heat severely, states "The Post's" Wanganui representative, for temperatures have soared to 119 in the sun, and 88 degrees in the shade. Seriious losses of stock travelling in lorries and trucks to farms and to sales i_, reported. On a recent evening three dead animals and several exhausted ones were noticed in one truck at the railway station. Old Gun for a film. "Let him take it away," remarked a councillor meaningly when the Auckland City Council received a request on Monday from Mr. Rudall Hayward for permission to make use of an obsolete gun, now in Albert Park, in the production of a film relating to the Battle of Orakau, states the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. Hayward stated that the gun closely resembled the one used in the actual battle. "Will he provide the ammunition?" asked another councillor. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, said he believed so, and added that the film would be shown overseas. The request was granted. Nuffield Gift. There is a likelihood of the first appointments under Viscount Nufneld's scheme to assist' Dominion graduates to study at the Medical School at Oxford University being made this year. A special statement has been issued by the Registrar of the University, Mr. Douglas Veale, in response to a request that an indication be given of when the scheme is likely to come into operation. "It is not at the moment possible to state when the scheme will be begun, but it will be as soon as possible," he said. "If all the necessary arrangements can be completed, it is even hoped that the first appointments may be made this year." Visitor from the Sea. Holidaymakers at Taieri Mouth were surprised on Monday morning when a large elephant seal was observed making from the sea towards the shore, states the "Otago Daily Times." The news of the strange visitor's arrival spread quickly,' and within a short time the animal was surrounded by a large and curious crowd of spectators. Unperturbed at the interest it was arousing, the seal ley quietly on the sand breathing noisily through its large nostrils. About 16 feet in length, it appeared to be an old animal by those who saw !t from close quarters, but there was no indication that it was in any kind- of distress. Tokaanu Roads. It was a great pity that the village "of Tokaanu, one of the prettiest spots in New Zealand, should be so neglected said Mr. H. D. Bennett, of Wellington today. Mr. Bennett recently spent' a few days in the district. Not sixty feet from the post office- there was a hole in the road large enough to bury a horse Everywhere there were Signs of neglect. The roads, apart from the main through highway, which was in good order except for the dust, were in a deplorable state, .down to a "ten-mile-an-hour" standard. It was difficult to find out who was responsible. The Public Works Department seemed to be tfie only body operating in that Cinderella district. Steel Furniture. The executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce decided yesterday to protest to the Government against the giving of a monopoly to the railway workshops in the supply of steel furniture, not only to Government Departments, but also to contractors to the Government, who apparently were not allowed to secure their supplies from any other source. The meeting considered there would be better guarantee of efficiency in the railway workshops, and economy in the expenditure of the taxpayer's money, if the workshops were allowed to tender ' for such supplies in competition with outsiders, as recommended by the Railways Commission of 1930. Apple Shipments. The loading of the first apple shipment will commence tomorrow, when the Blue Star Line's New Zealand Star, berthed at Glasgow Wharf, will take aboard some 9000 cases. These are expected to reach London on March 3, the New Zealand Star leaving Wellington on Friday, and Napier on Monday. The Port Line's Port Jackson will load a cargo of 14,500 cases in Wellington between February 10 and 15, and will leave Wellington on February 15 for London, arriving on March 22. A further shipment of 25 000 cases will be carried by the Remuera, of the New Zealand Shipping Company line, when she leaves Wellington on February 17- for the United Kingdom. This will bring the total number of cases placed on tb» London market early this season to approximately 50.000. Early Settlers' Graves. The Early Settlers' Association is much interested in the graves of early settlers in the Bolton Street Cemetery, and their maintenance in as orderly a state as possible. Mr. Charles Tandy, vice-president of the association, after consultation with the Town Clerk '(Mr. E. P. Norman), made an inspection of the grave enclosures tliere, and has reported to his association and Mr. Norman, that he found over 200 enclosures and headstones in bad repair some of which might be renovated, though the majority were beyond it. He makes the interesting recommendations that the most decayed of the enclosures be removed, and a piece of rough stone should be placed where the graves are, with the inscription "In Memory of the, Pioneers," and that an obelisk be erected on the rise below the Seddon Memorial, with suitable lettering on a terminal of rough greenstone in the form of an anchor, typifying rest after stormy voyages. The Wakefielcl enclosure. reports Mr. Tandy, is in a fair state of repair. He suggests Petone Beach as a suitable spot for a,. Wakefleld- memorial. j