Kiwis Plentiful.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 132, 4 May 1940, Page 6

Kiwis Plentiful.

Kiwis are reported to be plentiful at the back of Waverley and Waitotara, and are usually found in gorse and scrub country, where they are often attacked by dogs. The Uppermost Question. At the inter-provincial conference of the if armors' Union, to be held at Wanganui' late this month, one of the most important subjects to be discussed will be the best moans the farmer can adopt to help the war effort Anglers Disappointed. The trout fishing season in the Rotorua and Taupo districts closes on May 15, and on\the whole anglers have been very disappointed with their sport.Those fish that have been caught in the main are in better condition than for years past. Importation of Snails. The annual meeting of the Levin branch of the Farmers’ Union decided to support the Stratford branch in its protest to the Government against the proposal by acclimatisation- societies to import fresh water snails as a food for wild ducks. It was stated that the species of snail was the host of the liver fluke, and if it were introduced into this country it would possibly cause grave losses to sheep and dairy farmers. Pioneer Hut.

Lady Roberts, chairman of the loans committee of the women’s section of the Centennial Exhibition, lias bought the North Island pioneer hut for presentation to the Wellington Early Settlers’ Association. Lady Roberts said that the hut had been, made from wood and stone from the old Barton homestead, Heretaunga, and thinking it a pity that it should have to be dismantled, she had bought it from the owner.

The Fifth Column. The term “fifth column,” now generally used to describe German methods of infiltration before attack, was first employed early in the Spanish civil war during the siege of Madrid. The Nationalists boasted that there were four columns of troops attacking the city and a fifth column of spies and sympathisers within it. When Madrid fell members of this “fifth column” greeted the victors as they marched into tile city. Enemies In the Midst. When moving, at the R.S.A. conference yesterday, a resolution requesting the Government to apply the regulations for preventing the dissemination of subversive propaganda and other activities detrimental to the Empire’s war effort, Mr T). W. Russell (Canterbury) said a reference a few nights previously by “Lord Haw Haw,” the German radio commentator, to military activities in New Zealand proved that there were enemies in the midst of the people of New Zealand. Traitors should not he allowed - in the camp in the time of the Empire’s agony. ;•)

Premier’s Will. The Supreme Court has. granted probate of the will of the late Primie Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage)': No details have .been made public. u ’ : Thefts of Petrol. ' Petrol thieves are busy in the Napier and Hastings districts. A country resident who left his car parked one evening recently had six gallons of benzine syphoned from the tank. New Housing Block. involving a purchase cost believed to be in the yicinity of £50,Q00 the Government has acquired for State housing purposes about 400 acres in the outer portions of West Tamaki (Auckland). —Press Association. Duck Shooting Season. Weather conditions throughout the district generally were not of the best this morning for the opening of the duck-shooting season, the absence of wind being expected to lead the game flying high and therefore largely out of reach of the guns. Camp At Tauherenikau. A decision to offer the Defence Department the use of the Tauherenikau. racecourse, free of rent, till October. 1 was made by the stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club in response to a request received from the department. The course will be used as a camp for the training of commissioned and noncommissioned officers, and about 360 men will be billeted there. Chinese Injured.

Chan Jong, a Chinese resident, suffered fairly serious injuries, principally to his legs, through an accident in Cuba Street shortly after eight o’clock last night. He was knocked down in a collision with a car driven by Mr It. J. Kinnimont, of Palmerston North, which was going down Cuba Street. An operation w r as performed on him when lie was taken to the Hospital. Farm Labour Shortage. “The farm labour position is infinitely more serious to-day than it was last season because of the large number of enlistments of country boys in the Army,” said Mr W- E. Hale (chairman of the Dairy Board), addressing the Christchurch ward conference. Conscription or a national register of man-power was the only fair way to stop this drift from the land, he said. Missing Articles Recovered. A large collection of articles that have been missed in Christchurch during the last few months and recovered by the police include valuable possessions of the Mayor (Mr K. M. Macfarlane), Mr J. S. Neville (formerly town clerk), and other well-known citizens as well as a number of tobacconists. The articles range from Mr Neville’s medal of the 0.8. E. and a ring valued at £IOO to jams and pickles. Heavy Rail Traffic. Owing to the heavy passenger traffic for the concluding week of the Centennial Exhibition it has been found necessary to run several extra passenger trains. Special trains will be running to New Plymouth and Napier from Wellington this evening and there will be extra trains leaving Wellington for Napier, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Auckland to-morrow night. The Palmerston North stationmaster (Mr W. S. Thomson) said to-day that although the passenger traffic during the past two weeks had been exceptionally heavy, the usual trains had been running practically to schedule. Trout at Esplanade. The value of one of the ponds at the Esplanade as a pool for. growing trout in, to the stage when they are caught and liberated in streams, being then able to care for themselves, was demonstrated to the Mayor (Mr A. E Mansford) and members of the City Council, this morning. when they were present at the invitation of the Acclimatisation Society when the young fish were fed. The fish,. nicely developed and healthy, came in thousands when the food was placed in the pond. Arrangements were made with the City Council some time ago for the pond to be used to this end, and the indications are that it is serving its purpose excellently. Lord Bledisloe’s Generosity. As reported in the “Manawatu Standard” a few days ago, Lord Bledisloo has made available to New Zealand women resident in England, as a centre for the preparation of comforts for the Expeditionary Force, his London residence at 52 Sloane Street, in addition to the magnificent offer of his Gloucestershire mansion, Lydney Park, to the New Zealand Government as a military hospital or convalescent home for soldiers. Further information of Lord Bledisloe’s generosity has been received by Mrs Marler, of. Auckland, from Lady Day, wife of Sir Cecil Day, formerly official secretary to the Gov-ernor-General and now attached to the High Commissioner’s Office in London. Lady Day stated that she visited the London house and found the large drawing-room, morning-room, and din-ing-room prepared for working bees, which would be held there to sew and knit for the troops.