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Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 6

Owin'* to the poor crops of local growers? carrots have been 1 airly scarce m Auckland recently. Local crops have been attacked by pests and blight and in addition the continuous wet weather also has affected them adversely. ' st While en route from Auckland to Suva the liner Mariposa struck a whale estimated to be between 40ft and 50ft long. The sharp prow of the ship drove into the mammal’s side and carried it along with the vessel. The Mariposa hau to stop and go astern to get clear. arithmetical proposition of more than purely arithmetical interest to orcliardists was demonstrated by a speaker who at the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation at Wellington, urged that the consumption of fruit by school children should be encouraged: “400,000 children, 200 school days; an apple a day, 80,000.000 apples; 444,400 cases, 4s 6d a case, £99,990.” “The next time you are summoned for the jury you had better see that you arrange matters better,” said His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, with a smile, in the Supremo Court to-day, when a juror applying for exemption explained that he was a poultry-fanner and now' had incubators in use, while there was no other person to care for them. Exemption was granted the applicant, and also to another, who explained that he conducted a cycle repairing business and it would have to close down if lie was absent.

About 40 trampers from several clubs attended the annual inter-club snow sports held at Kime Hut ill the Tararua range yesterday. Owing to the icy state of most of the snow, the downhill ski race had to be abandoned and the slalom events only were decided.

For qualified juniors in business and professional offices there exists in Auckland at the present time an unsatisfied demand. It is so keen that well qualified girls and youths are able to secure wages much above those of a year or two ago for more congenial conditions of work.

A meeting of Mackays in Wellington recently decided to form a Clan Mackay Society in New Zealand, as a branch of the principal society of that name in Scotland. The clan is of very ancient origin and has as its present head Lord Reay. Branches of the Clan Mackay Society already exist in many parts of the world. Coated with rust, but both, it is believed, capable of doing damage, two shells were found by Mr H. W. Paxton, of Birkenhead, Auckland, under a hedge on his property. The police were notified and are investigating the matter. It is not known how oid the shells are, although it is considered probable that they are wartime relics.

“The bells and lights are put there for the protection of motorists, and if they do not take notice of them they will have to pay,” commented Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, to-day. when he fined G. W. McKenzie (Bulls) and C. 0. Brill each £2, with 10s costs, for crossing the line when a train was approaching.

“It is very proper for you to mention it,” said His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court to-day, when a juror, empanelled for the hearing of a criminal indictment, explained that he had been a member of the Grand Jury which had dealt with the matter at the commencement of the session. The Crown Prosecutor thereupon called on the juror to stand aside, and another took his place.

No fewer than 116 new consumers were given a supply of electric power during the month of July, stated the chief engineer (Mr W. A. Waters) in his report to to-day’s meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board. The details are as follow:—Lighting and healing, 14; motors for milking, 9; ranges, 6; water heaters, 22; industrial motors, 3; other motors, 21; temporary motors, 2; t additions to existing installations, 34; lighting signs (Feilding), 5. Through the axle of a motor-car breaking when the vehicle was in the middle of the long one-way wooden traffic bridge over the Manawatu River between Ashhurst and the the Manawatu Gorge on Saturday afternoon, an extensive delay was caused to all transport using the structure. For over half an hour a long line oi motor vehicles accumulated at each end of the bridge, until finally the disabled vehicle was dragged off, the bridge being damaged in the operation. A feature of new educational ideas which are being applied in overseas countries is the prominence given to geography, according tq. Professor Frank Debenham, professor of geography at Cambridge University, who passed through Auckland. “Geography is a dynamic rather than a static subject,” Professor Debenham said. “Today it means a study of moderfi conditions, both physical and human, and it must enable the student to be in closer touch with current affairs.” An extensive schedule of excursion trains for the first Rugby Test match at Wellington has been arranged by the Railway Department. About eight special trains will pass through Palmerston North, two coming from Auckland, one from Taumarunui, one from New Plymouth, one from Stratford, one from Wanganui and one or two from Napier. These trains will stop at Palmerston North, not to take on passengers, but to enable the passengers to secure refreshments. A special train for Palmerston North enthusiasts will leave early on Saturday morning. In addition, one train from Woodville and one from Otaki will travel to the Capital City. The sales of electric current for three months in the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board’s area show an increase of £2451 5s 4d over the corresponding period of last year, according to the report of the managing-secretary (Mr K. W. Eglinton) at to-day’s meeting of the board. Bulk sales increased from £5135 15s 4d to £8062 8s 5d while, due fo the reduction in the tariff, retail sales decreased from £17,015 15s lid to £16,540 8s 2d. The total sales were therefore £24,602 16s 7d for the 1937 period as against £22,151 11s 3d for 1936. For the purchase of current (he board paid £12.532 10s for the three months of 1937, compared with £10,695. “We were playing cards last night and I was just about to put my ace on the table when I found myself skidding backward right across the saloon with the card still in my hand.” said a passenger on the Monowai when she arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Saturday morning. “All the chairs in the saloon were piled up to starboard for a few seconds, and then they went skidding to port.” Friday night - on the Monowai wry one of pitching and tossing, as the snip received a severe dusting in the southerly when approaching Wellington. Palms were strewn oyer the staircases and one man complained that his wife had been thrown out of her bunk on to the floor of the cabin.

“I do not like bringing 3G or 40 jurors here and then telling them that they are not wanted,” said Sir Michael 'Myers, the Chief Justice, in the Supreme Court to-day, in expressing his unwillingness to have a jury panel attend the Court to-morrow if it was unnecessary. ‘‘lt is ; nnoying to them and, not only that, it involves them in financial loss. Bringing the jury back involves the country in ex]ienditure, a good deal of which is c.ver and above what the litigant pays. I do not see any reason why the money of the country should be fruitlessly spent.” While counsel retired to consult other counsel on the telephone, the jurymen remained in attendance, His Honour saying they had better waste half an hour to-day than' half an hour or half a day to-morrow. “I am trying to save inconvenience to a large body oi working men and to save the country considerable expense,” His Honour added.