NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3991, 31 August 1929, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

A Coromandel resident states that he dug neAV potatoes on June 25, and has been digging them ever since. Another resident mentions that she has been picking ripe tomatoes from a plant since last Deeemboir, and that it is still bearing now.

The annual report of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association for the year ended June 30, 1929, states that there are twenty associations affiliated with an estimated membership of 27,062, being an increase of 181 o-n last year’s figures. A member of the Acclimatisation Society writing to the Wanganui Herald says that he recently witnessed an attack by a magpie on an half-hired game hen. In its rush it knocked the hen over, and as the hen made for cover the magpie made a second attack. The owner found another hen dead, and now has come to the conclusion that the death of the bird ivas due.to the magpie.

A very simple form is toeing used by the earthquake central J-elief committee in obtaining details of the assistance required by settlers and town residents in the distress area. The applicant is asked to state the damage to be repaired*. the section, block and district number of the property, whether it is freehold or leasehold, and whether it is situated in the town or country. Aftersetting out an estimate of the cost of repairs, and whether a loan or a grant is being sought, the applicant is required to give brief 'particulars of his financial position , and to sign a declaration that the information given is true.

Ruling that a cash docket was a leceipt and must be stamped if the amount was over £2, the S.M., 'Mr. Wilson fined the manager of the Hamilton branch of the Farmers’ Trading Co., £1 for failing to stamp such a docket for cash sales totalling £4 odd on Tuesday. Counsel for the defence claimed that the docket was issued simply as a guide to the delivery man, indicating that the goods were paid for. The Magistrate said he must conclude the docket constituted a receipt as the amount of the sale and name of the vendor. appeared for the customer’s information.

The oil-boring plant recently erected at Omatn near New Plymouth in the area geophysically surveyed by the Elleof group of German scientists is claimed to be the largest of its kind in the Dominion. An interesting series of photographs in the current issue of the “New Zealand (Free Dance” deal with the installation of the plant which is capable of drilling to a depth of 7000 feet. The manufacture of New Zealand butter is covered by a double-page of pictures illustrating the various processes employed at a modern butter factory. Last week’s floods at Wellington and the slip and wash-outs on the road over the Rimutakas are among the other subjects dealt with in the pictorial section. As usual sporting enthusiasts are wellcatered for, the outstanding event this week being tlie final game for the (Chatham Cup between Tramways (Auckland) and SeacliJx (Otagoln addition there is a page of photographs of English cricketers who will tour the Dominion with the M.C.C. team at the end of the year.

Important botanical research is being carried out in New Zealand by I)r. W. A. 'Sledge, of the Leeds University, Avho intends to spend about five months in the Dominion. Dr. Sledge, accompanied by Dr. 11. H. Allan, of the plant research station at Palmerston North, left Auckland on Saturday for North Auckland district to spend a week iu the Waipoua Forest, where he is beginning work. Dr. Sledge was much impressed by the wonderful kauri trees he saw in the Waitakere Ranges. One of his most important tasks will be an ecological survey of the Rainbow Mountain, near Rotorua, to complete Avork done there for the Lands Department by Dr. L. Cockayne. Some interesting problems are to be found there owing to the presence of hot springs at the base of the mountain. Later Dr. Sledge, Avith Dr. Cockayne, will visit Arthur’s Pass, Otira Gorge and the Franz Joseph Glacier. He will return to England after Christmas.