LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 25, 22 October 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Arbor Day Fixed. An early decision in fixing Arbor Day for next year has been made by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. Parry. In response to an inquiry, the Minister Las intimated that the day will be observed on the first Wednesday in August. This year the second VYednesday was chosen. Breakdown Waggon's Unusual Task. Unusual methods were used to extricate a cow that fell down a well in the yicinity 0f New Plymouth. The cow fell a distance of 10 to 13 feet and after ett'orts to rescue her had failed a breakdown waggon crane proved successful. The cow sbowed little ill-effect of its adventure and ihimediately walked about with only a slight limp. Shearing Begins Early. Favoured by ideal weather during the •past few days, shearing on dry sheep has begun on most of the larger holdings of the King Country. This is several weeks ahead of the usual time. The warm sunshine has brought up the yolk in the wool, and improved the weight and value of the fleeces considerably. The yield proinises to be exceptionally heavy. Aid For China. The Red Cross Society reports that the sum of £10 10/- was received yesterday at the Sliow in response to the urgent appeal for funds to assist in sending doctors and medieal supplies to (Jhina. The special half-a-crown coupons or stickera, which were on sale at the Show, will skortly be available for sale in Hastings by meinbers of the society. Trout Fishing. Stating that the prospects were highJy favourable from reports he had received, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the. Hon. W. E. Parry, said large fishing parties would probabiy be visiting Rotorua and Taupo when tho trout fishing season opens in thos areas on November 1. Tho Minister said the fish had come on splendidly and that tho streams and chaunels appeared to be well stocked with good-sized and- wellconditioned trout. Retail Tax Catherers. vA protest agivinst retailers being used aa tax collectors is made in the current issue of the New Zealand Draper. The £17,200,000 from Customs and saies tax, it states, is aimost entirely indirect taxation paid by the original importers or buyers and passed on until it is finally paid by the ultimate consumer. This sort of tax is added to the initial cost of the goods, and at any ckange of ownership is subject to the profit on the total. Thus by the time the goods reacb the consumer the original tax levied by the Government has becoine considerably increased. Omen of Dry Summer. Evideuce in support of the theory that the present summer 'is likely to be a particularly dry one is provided iu the fact that the wharangi, a shrub belouging to the fuchsia family, is in full bloom on the Taupiri mountain, Waikato. The wharangi blooms at intervals of about seven years, and when ' in fiower is regarded by the Maoris as a sure sign of dry. weather. So conviue«d are some settlers that there will be a shortage of feed in consequence of th dry spell that they are reducing their holdings of cattle to minimum requirements. Pedestrian Crossings. The need for uniiormity of pedestrian crossings throughout New Zealand was stressed by the president of tho Automobile Association (Auckland), Mr. F. G. Farrell, at a meeting of the councll, when a report on crossings in Auckland was considered. Mr. Farrell said he had noticed there was little uniformity in the pedestrian crossings in use throughout New Zealand. Visitors trar velling from south to north found different types of crossings in use in practically every town they visited. Strong representations should be made to the Transport Department through the North Island Motor Union to have them made uniform.