NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3886, 20 December 1928, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

The membership of the Palmerston public library now totals 1022. According to one Napier fisherman the fishing off the foreshore has never been so poor as this season.

In a three aside game on the Peilding bowling green on Saturday afternoon that' very rare feat of scoring tin? possible nine was recorded (s c ays the “Star”). A start was made early last week with the erection of the first of the new buildings which are to occupy the vacant land known as the Civic Square, Auckland. The area has remained unoccupied for four years. . - The trawler Dun’aween arrived at Sydney on Sunday after a voyage of 92 days from Fleetwood, England. The crew experienced illness and hardship through shortage of food, and became stranded at Cocos Island but the vessel was refloated. The captain was also taken ill during the voyage. The -crew numbered .the unlucky 13. After the hearing of an assault and a theft case at the Palmerston N. Magistrate’s Court yesterday, counsel in both cases asked that the names of the accused be sup-

pressed. “There is no chance of that,” replied Magistrate 'Stout, with some emphasis. “These requests about the suppression of names are absurd. Every man that comes before the Court thinks that the name should be suppressed. That portion of the Offenders’ Psobation Act is meant for every young people who have made a slip, and haVc a chance to reform.”

The Wyndham Herald (Southland) reports that a strange bird was seen by Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Robinson, Mokoreta, on their property recently. It was sitting on an old post, and seemed to be picking insects. It was unafraid, so a close inspection was got. The bird was not quite so big as a thrush, had emerald green back and wings, grey and black zebra-striped breast and tail, short sharp bill, not 1 a long tail. A valuable speciment of kauri gum was found at Red Hill (Dargaville) and turns the scales at 1501bs. It is considered to be the largest individual piece found during the last 20 years, and is second in weight and size to the record piece found at Mangawhare about 25 years ago, which weighed 2cwt. The specimen round at Red Hill was taken from a log that was about six feet underground, the log acting as a shell only to about 2001 b. of gum. It is classed as “best quality” and will be preserved as a valuable addition to the unique specimens of the Dominion’s famous products.

Last year a large Waimarino County ratepayer, wheh lie received his rate demand, at once decided lie would pay the amount before the due date and receive the discount. He put the demand away and forgot to pay it until too late for the rebate, and in the finish he had to pay the 10 per cent, penalty. His intentions were good (states “The Call”) but he learned to his cost that it did not pay to be continually putting off. No doubt he will fake care the same thing does not happen this year.

Writing to the Wellington “Post,” n correspondent says:—“I was amazed to see on our streets and on the beaches the number of hatless children about in the hot sun. Gould not our Education Board and school .committees take steps to get the children instructed in the dangers of sunstroke? As sun helmets are an expense to get for poor families, the school committees might arrange to supply needy eases. I speak from a slight experience on this subject, as a friend of mine suffered from sunstroke last summer, which caused distressing effects. 1 also heard of five cases of sunstroke of boys and girls which occurred last summer.

Whether or not prize money should be reduced or not given at all at the Wellington Competitions Festival was discussed at the annual meeting of the society. The suggestion was made that trophies would be more appreciated by winners and several instances were given in support of the theory. It was also stated that professional musicians would not give their support while cash prizes were given. •Mr. Barnes said that the object of the competitions was the education of the young people, and money should not enter into it at all. Air. Y. Evans said that neither the competitive spirit, nor efficiency, had been eliminated in schools where prizes had been given up. The opinions voiced by the meeting will go before the incoming executive .council. “Smoke and noise are two things that we have not given attention to,” said Dr. Thacker at a meeting of the General Committee of Health Week in Christchurch. One had only to go up on the Cashmere Hills to see the smoke overhanging the city, especially in the vicinity of the railway station. • (Smoke, said the doctor, was one of the greatest destroyers of health. He had noticed that in cities all over the world a movement was afoot to minimise noise. The 'City Council was trying to put down the noise nuisance in the city, and he thought that the committee should write complimentary letters to the council and the Automobile Association. The suggestion was approved.