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Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 6

That the Government should, m view of the possible shortage of petrol supplies in New Zealand, take immediate steps to investigate the possibility of reopening the Orepuki shale works, was the text of a recommendation passed by the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union.

This evening members of the Dunedin company of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment will be entertained by the local Council of Scottish Societies. The unit will parade in Dowling street prior to the reception. A new kind of hoarder has arisen, this time the tobacco hoarder. The rumour has freely circulated of late to the effect that an increase in the price of tobacco is shortly to occur, and as a result smokers are raiding city shops and buying in large quantities. Sonic shops had their shelves practically depleted on Saturday, customers purchasing everything that was offering, whether the brand was to their liking or not. The increase appears as if it is to affect tobacco only, not a tailormade ” cigarettes, for little additional interest has been displayed m them, but official confirmation of a rise cannot be obtained, and it may just be another rumour. Those who believe the rumour maintain that the rise will amount to 3d an ounce.

Another instance of a £SO note being paid over in mistake for a 10s note occurred in Dunedin about the beginning of August, when a city business man, in counting his cash at the end of the day discovered the error. Not knowing who had (passed the • larger note over, the recipient reported the matter to the police, and it has since that time been awaiting a claimant. Any person who can substantiate that claim is askedl to call at the detective office, when the note will be restored to him.

Few people who stop to admire the long whaleboat in the Early Settlers’ Museum are aware that these craft were in use, and for their original purpose, no more than 15 years ago. Yet the Maoris in the North Island pulled after the leviathans in just such a boat up till that time. Positions held by the men were a little confusing. For instance, the “ boat-steerer ” stood in the bows and wielded the harpoon. After the whale had been struck the master of the little vessel came forward to execute the more difficult lance thrust, which had to pierce beneath the fin to a vital spot. Only then did the boat-steerer scramble to his place in the stern, and manoeuvre the towed boat in a direct line behind the -whale — sometimes an equally tricky operation. Once the motive power had been transferred from paddles to fins and tail, the former still had their work to do. Lockets opposite each rowlock held the hafts and the line attached to the tail was guided back to the bollard aft by the oars thus jammed in position. For those who can read each plank of this whaleboat tells its own tale.

Through the outbreak of war delay may occur in the delivery of a bronze statue of a Maori chief which will stand at the base of the obelisk being erected on the summit of One Tree Hill, Auckland, as a memorial to the Maori race. The sculptor, Mr 11. 0. Gross, has sent the plaster model of the statue to England to be cast, and cabled advice is awaited as to whether the war will affect delivery. The proposed date of the unveiling is January 28.

The mule is reputed to be obstinate, but two penguins who frequent Auckland waters have made a determined effort to usurp the reputation. During the winter these two birds made their homo beneath the house of a Takapuna resident. At first he put up with them, but as theweeks went by and the birds still stayed there, waking him at night with their peculiar crying, he made a determined effort to get rid of them—and at last succeeded. Entrances leading under the house were blocked, and he° thought the birds were gone for good—but not so. The other day he saw one of them in the garden, chased it away, and then had a glance round the house. Squeezing its way under the building by pushing past a loose board was the second bird. Its tail was just protruding as the man caught sight of it. He made a determined grab. The tail was too short and slippery to hold on to, but the penguin kicked out with its foot, by which it was caught and dragged out. The board is now nailed up.

•_ ie total electrical load for the Dunedin Exhibition in 1924-25 was 1,200 kilowa.tts. At estimate of the peak load for the Centennial Exhibition is more than 15,000 kilowatts, which gives some indication of the vast amount of electrical wiring and equipment that will be in use during the exhibition. The majority of the cable used in the exhibition for the electrical installation is of stranded wire, and is the equivalent of 2,233 miles of ordinary house wiring. The electrical equipment of the exhibition would be capable of servicing a city with a population of 25,000. At night, the groat flood of multi-coloured light which will drench the buildings of the exhibition will be visible for miles around. Light, colour, and water all play their part in creatino- the dazzling spectacle which will be° the exhibition at night.

The funeral obsequies in connection with the death of Mr Wiremu Ratana concluded yesterday, when the Maori leader was buried in front of the temple at Ratana pa. Eight thousand Maoris and Europeans attended. The Government was represented by the Acting Prime Minister (Hon. P. Eraser), the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb), and the Minister of Native Affairs (Hon. E. Langstone). Among other parliamentarians present was Sir Apirana Ngata. A colourful religious service lasted over two hours.

Four .New Zealand librarians have' been awarded honorary fellowships by the Library Association (London), a body incorporated by Royal Charter and the principal professional body among librarians in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The New Zealand recipients of this signal honour are Dr G. H. Scholefield, U.8.E., chief librarian of the General Assembly Library; Mr J. Nome, who has been in charge of the Wellington Public Libraries since 1928; Mr J. Barr, who for 25 years has been librarian and director of the Museum and Art Gallery in Auckland; and Mr E. J. Bell, who for 25 years has been in charge of the Canterbury Public Library. Four Australian librarians have been similarly honoured, all eight recipients having had long service and occupied important positions with distinction. These honorary fellowships are the ’highest award open to the Library Association to make. In the past they have been awarded in England only on the.rarest occasions, but a precedent has now been created by awards outside Great Britain.

The man with his eyes on the ground and his thoughts on mundane things misses much these spring days (says the Auckland ‘ Star ’). Not so a group of young city dwellers who visited the country at the week-end. Attracted by a shrill whistle, which appeared to some out of the blue, one of their number at last discovered its origin. Clearly visible against the blue of the sky, despite his altitude, a large hawk was performing the most startling series of aerobatics. Soon it was discovered that there were three hawks, two of them males, performing feats that would put to shame our most skilful airmen, and the third soaring majestically above the performers, with obvious feminine pride in every movement of her flight. For an hour or more the display continued, and , the group of young people watched until their necks ached with continued looking up. The men of the party were all for the larger bird, who specialised in fancy loops and rolls, but the ladies were in favour of the smaller one, whose graceful gyrations seemed to take their fancy. Unfortunately, as they had no way of forwarding their opinions to the contestants, the onlookers were forced to leave it to the future Mrs Hawk to decide for herself.

Thirty-five pigs and eight .turkeys dropped dead recently on Mr W. G. M'Anulty’s farm at Pokeno after being fed with a mixture of skim milk and meat soup. The meat soup was made on 'Wednesday, and some was fed out on Wednesday night without any untoward effect. An employee went round the feeding pens in a horsedrawn vehicle about 7.30 a.m. on Thursday, carrying the containers with the skim milk and soup. These were mixed as they were poured into the feed receptacles. About 10 minutes later the pigs and turkeys which had been feeding at the receptacles were noticed to be rearing _up and falling over, quivering, and dying within a few seconds. The nature of the feed given to the pigs was that usually put out to them in the morning. The symptoms suggest strychnine poisoning. Detectives are investigating. Pigs which did not come up to the receptacles, including the litters of three brood sows which were among those _ poisoned, escaped. Mr M'Anulty estimates his loss at about £IOO.

The Polish composer, Chopin, figured largely on Dr Galway’s organ programme in the Town Hall last night. The city organist played three of the preludes, the ‘ A Major Polonaise,’ and the lovely ‘ Nocturne in G Major,’ a splendid climax. Apart from these timely items, the piece de resistance was Bach’s ‘Fugue in E Flat.’ Dr Galway registers Bach most felicitously, and scored an immediate hit with this request item. Other popular items were Handel’s ‘ Largo in G,’ the brilliant little Chanty by Whitlock, and the march from ‘Le Prophete.’ Assisting artists were Miss Anita Proctor, who gave an outstanding presentation of Mendelssohn’s ‘ Hear Ye, Israel,’ and Mrs G. M. Barnett and Miss Kathleen Begg, who sang very attractively ‘ Morning Hymn ’ (Henschel). Mrs A. Walmsley was the accompanist.

Two chimney fires and a malicious false alarm occupied the attention of the City Fire Brigade during the weekend. At 8.38 on Saturday evening there was a chimney fire in Grosvenor street, and the second occurred on Sunday evening at 8.23 in Prince Albert road. The malicious false alarm was responded to at 5.40 on Sunday afternoon, and came from Burnett street, Caversbam.

The weather is a great barometer of human spirits and emotions. In damp, cold weather, few face the elements with a cheery smile. Witness the change, though, on a bright, sunny morning. Everyone faces the world—and his troubles, both big and little—with a smile. This morning was no exception, and even those who arc habitually dour unbent under the influences of a perfect spring morning. At lunch time, the young folk from the various warehouses gravitated to Queen’s Gardens to eat their lunches in the sunshine, and to feed the pigeons on the scraps. The birds, too, seemed to respond to the kindliness of the day, for they were tame enough almost to eat from the hand.

Interest was created this morning by the discovery of a weird-looking bone which was unearthed in the excavation on the Anderson’s Bay road. Rumour had it that the relic was prehistoric, but examination by a man who is versed in the whaling trade indicated that it was probably the upper jawbone of a very small whale or a large dolphin. However, it will be examined by experts at the Museum, and until then its classification will be in doubt. The texture of the tone is very like that of a whale, and in the top of it is a formation which appears to be the divided blowhole of certain species of whales.

The Council of the New Zealand Bowling Association has passed a resolution assuring the Government of the lovalty of bowlers and supporting the action taken jn the crisis.—Press Association. v '