Samoan Delegation.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 52, 29 January 1938, Page 8

Samoan Delegation.

The discussions between members of the Samoan delegation and the Minister of Lands (Hon. F. Laijgstone) concluded yesterday in-Wellington. The delegation came to New Zealand to discuss a number of island problems with the Dominion Government. Glow-worm Colony.

A colony of glow-worms, sufficient in number to provide a scenic attraction, has been discovered on the property of Mr S. Pitt, Stratford. The worms are located in a narrow gully roofed with bush fern and scrub, and their beauty is enhanced by the fact that their light is reflected in water. Explanation Accepted.

Appearing on a charge of driving without due care and attention, a motorist explained in the Magistrate’s Court at' Levin this week that his sleeve had caught in a door handle of the car, causing him to swerve off the road, on which the charge was based. Defendant said the handles had now been changed to point in _tlie opposite direction. The case was dismissed. No Level Crossings

“Another, new departure will be the elimination of death-traps on this journey,” said the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) at the ceremony of turning the first sod of the Paeroa-Pokeno railway. “There will be no road crossings on this line. We are faced with tremendous expenditure to do away with these death-traps throughout the country. Since. 1918, and probably longer, there have -been speeches about the need for removing them, and I thought it time to stop talking and do something.”

Liberation of Pheasants. With the shooting season in sight, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society is laying its plans fo the liberation throughout its district of 1000 pheasants. A further 400 will be released at a later stage, and with particularly favourable conditions for breeding in the wild, prospects for the season are likely to be good. New Post Office.

There was great celebration at Thames yesterday when the Postmast-ex--General (Hon. F. Jones) officially opened the new chief post office, one of the most up to date in the Dominion, situated in the centre of the business area. The old building xvas erected at Grahamstown in 1868, when that was the centre of business activity. Hawke’s Bay Wool Cheque.

Yesterday was “prompt day” for the second wool sale held at Napier recently. It is estimated that the Hawke’s Bay wool cheque for distribution on this occasion was about £435,000. Prices averaged out at about £ls a bale or 10Jd a pound. The two wool sales held at Napier this season have been responsible for the distribution to growers of about £680,000.

Farmers’ Hours. The Carterton branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its meeting yesterday concurred with the view expressed by other farmers that it takes not less than 70 hours a week for one man milking 30 cows to accomplish the necessary work of production. It was explained that farmers were not complaining of the hours they worked, and it was stated that the v opinion would be sent on to the proper quarter.

Fisherman’s Experience. While fishing at the Pock off Cape Saunders (says the Otago Daily Times) Mr B. H. Lewis, owner of the launch Julia, hooked a large blue shark. Mr Lewis played the shark for some time, arid then decided to pull it towards the boat, ready to kill. However the shark suddenly and with remarkable speed made straight for the boat, hitting the propeller with such force that it snapped off and the tail shaft was cracked. Mr G. Vick, who was fishing nearby in the launch Elsie, towed the Julia to Port Chalmers.

Dairy Research Committee. The usual bi-monthly meeting of the Dairy Research Institute committee, to inspect the work of the institute and receive reports on progress, was held this week. Those present included Messrs A. Morton (representing the Massey College Council, chairman of the committee), A. Linton and T. C. Brash (Dairy Board), J. Murray (Factory Managers’ Association), G. M. Valentine (Dairy Division), Professor Denham (chairman of the Research Council) and Dr E. Marsden (secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research). City’s Water. Flushing of the city water mains by allowing the escape of water at certain points in order to take off that which was producing a bad odour iri the hot weather has now been discontinued, the city engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) told a “Standard” reporter this morning. It was found, he said, that the strong flow of water was stirring up the incrustation on the pipes and discoloured water ivas then being drawn off by householders. No complaints were being received from householders. So far no statement had been received from the Health Department coverin™ the analysis of water taken from the mains when the trouble was most pronounced. School Leaving Age.

The possibility that the school leaving age would be raised to 15 years this year was mentioned by the Minister' of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) in his address at the opening of a new District High School at Nightcaps, Southland. “If it is at all possible, and we have to look into the question of accommodation, the school age is going to be raised this year to 15 years, Mr Fraser said. “It is ho use doing it without accommodation and teachers of course, but as soon as it is humanly possible, it will he done, and that means that every child will have to go to a district high school, even if parents are so blind as to wish to deny their children the right to go to such schools.” Overdue Electricity Accounts.

A reserved decision of interest to many power boards was given at Waipukurau by Mr J. S. Millar, S.M.. in a case in which the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board sued a consumer for a penalty due to the late payment of an electricity account. The board based its right to add a penalty on a section in the Power Board Act which' authorises power boards to fix their charges in such a way and manner as they deem fit. Counsel for plaintiff had pointed out that power boards had much greater power under their Act than was the case of lighting authorities, who worked under the Municipal Corporation Act. The Magistrate found against the power board, ruling that penalties were not enforceable. Leave was given to appeal. Sketches of Early Days. Three interesting sketches of New Zealand in the early days, by wellknown men of three-quarters of a century ago, have been received by the Dominion Museum through New Zealand House, London. They are executed in water-colour, and their artistic merit is outweighed by their historical importance. The most interesting of tlie three depicts the historic Otaki Church, and the former school and parsonage, in 1885, drawn by Colonel MacCleverty. The old building erected by the warrior chief Te Rauparaha is easily recognisable, but its surroundings have greatly changed. The colonel shows buildings beside it that have since vanished, while in the foreground are Maori whares and a grassed marae. The background shows the forest rolling away to the ranges inland. Both the other sketches are of the Kaikouras.

Magnificent Feat Commemorated. An inscribed tablet of black granite, commemorating Mr David Gunn’s remarkable feat in securing aid for the victims of the Big Bay aeroplane accident on December 30, 1936, is now in position in a boulder in a prominent spot at the junction of the main road leading to the Homer Saddle with the proposed roau along the Hollyford Valley to Martin’s Bay. It was from the public works camp at the junction of these roads that Mr Gunn telephoned for assistance. The inscription on the tablet reads:—“This tablet was erected by the peoplo of Southland to commemorate the magnificent journey made by David Gunn, of Martin’s Bay, to bring aid to the sufferers in the aeroplane accident at Big Bay on December 30, 1936. Mr Gunn made the journey from Big Bay to this point, a distance of 56 miles over bush tracks, in 20 hours.”