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Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 51, 28 January 1938, Page 6

City Council Picnic. Fourteen railway carriages were used to accommodate those who left Palmerston North this morning to attend the Palmerston North City Council’s annual picnic at Paekakariki. The weather was beautifully fine, with every augury for a most enjoyable day.

Analysis of Water. Results of the analysis made by the Health Department on Monday of samples from the Palmerston North water supply are not yet available. There has been a very noticeable lmprovement in the water - since the weather changed last week-end.

White Butterflies. That the depredations of the white butterfly are not confined to swedes and turnip crops'is the experience of Mr L. V. Talbot, a prominent Temuka farmer. When green peas were being shelled recently the caterpillar of the butterfly was found in a pod, he reported. The pod was a good specimen, but the pest bad eaten nearly all the peas. Poisoning of Dogs.

An epidemic of dog poisoning has broken out in Masterton. Recently six valuable sheep dog pups, which were being sold at £3 3s each, were found dead on their chains. At Cornwell Street a fancier who was to exhibit his cocker spaniel next month found the dog dead in its kennel. The dog had been securely locked up the previous evening. Several, other cases nave also been mentioned. The actions are attributed to some person with an obsession against dogs. Houses for Woodville.

During a visit to > AVoodville, which was paid bv the Under-Secretary in charge of the Housing Department (Mr J. A. Lee) and the Director of Housing Construction (Mr H. Tyndall) this week, an assurance was given that six State houses would be erected in AVoodville and the calling of tenders and other negotiations would proceed immediately. Mr Lee said the borough’s position had been vestigated thoroughly and he could see that there was a definite shortage of houses. School Buses.

The suggestion that a transport department be established was made at the monthly meeting of the AVanganui Education Board by Mr M. 'H. Oram.; It was stated that under the present scheme a large number of buses were being utilised to convey children . toschools under the consolidated plan. Mr Oram felt that the time was; ripe when the board should give consideration to the matter of transport whereby vehicles ivould be brought under the province of the board. The chairman (Mr E. F. Hemingway) said . it was a step in the right direction. The matter was held over till the next meeting.

Protection of Trees. A decision to urge the Government to set up a Tree Protection Society, under the control of the Government, and make it an offence to fell trees on public property without special reasons, and then only after an investigation by experts, was made by the Christchurch Beautifying Association at a meeting. Dry Weather Fires. The Palmerston North Fire Brigade was summoned to attend to two fires yesterday afternoon. The first call was to a fire in a hedge bordering the railway line in Main Street West. At 3.53 p.m. the brigade turned out to attend a grass fire which had broken out in a vacant section in North Street. Larger Hospital Staff.

“In the last two years the staff at the Auckland Hospital has increased by 230, and now numbers 850 members,” said Rev. W. C. Wood, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, at a meeting of the board. “Wages have increased from £71,000 to £121,000,” he added. The figures were quoted from a report to be considered by the board in committee. Cabin Monoplane on Order. The New Plymouth Aero Club has decided to purchase from the United States a new modern cabin-type monoplane, to be delivered within six months. The machine will be a' Rearwin Sportstar, with a maximum speed of 123 miles an hour and a cruising speed of 110 miles. The cruising range will be 350 miles with a maximum load of G 3011). The craft will have a 90 li.p. Le Blond engine. Successful Tobacco Growing. The successful growing of tobacco has caused a considerable increase in the value of land in the Motueka River Valley, and, whereas it was formerly sold at from £5 to £7 an acre, it is worth £IOO an acre to-day, stated the Mayor of Dunedin (Rev. E. T. Cox) on his return from a visit to the Nelson tobacco-growing areas. He said he had inspected hundreds of acres under cultivation in the fertile valley, where he had seen plants growing sft. and Git. high.. with some possessing leaves nearly 12in. broad. Maoris and School.

Astonishment at finding that two Maoris, aged 24 and 16 respectively, who came before him in the Pulrekohe Court, had received little or no schooling, was expressed by Mr F. H. Levien, S.M. He said .lie found they had been, living for years quite close to Pukekohe within two miles of a large school. The ordinary law of truancy did not seem to meet the position. Parents who failed in this way to give their children the benefits of education should be dealt with in a sterner' manner. .

Khartoum Anniversary. The 53rd anniversary of the fall of Khartoum and the death of General Gordon fell on Wednesday. Following a serious revolt in the Sudan in 1884 the British Government ordered Egypt to abandon the territory and Gordon was assigned the difficult task of evacuating the Egyptian population. He was surrounded and besieged in Khartoum on March 18, hut it was not until August that a relief expedition set out. This reached Khartoum on January 28, 1885, and found that the citv had fallen and Gordon had been killed two days previously. Fight Between Swordfish. A deadly combat between two large swordfish was seen from the Hokitika beach the other afternoon. It-lasted for a considerable time. When it had finished one of the fish came close in to the waterline and was secured by the spectators. A sledge was built and two horses were used-do pull the giant fish out of the water. From the tip of its spear to the end of its tail it measured 13ft. Gin. Its girth was sft. 6in. The perpendicular fin was 4ft. 6in. long. The fish, which was badly scarred as a result of the fight and weighed nearly 8001 b., died shortly after being hauled ashore. It is thought that this is the first time; the species has been captured in the South Island. j,