Porpoises Plentiful.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 251, 20 September 1940, Page 6

Porpoises Plentiful.

Porpoises have been appearing off the Napier foreshore in fairly large numbers quite frequently lately, no doubt attracted by the warmer weather. Full-time Guard.

Military guard duties in Palmerston North formerly conducted by the members of the Class 11 Reserve have now been taken over by a permanent guard. There were about a dozen applications for the positions.

Carvings for Church. Maori carvings which will "be placed on the porch leading into the restored Onuku Church at the ICaik, Akaroa, are at present in Christchurch. These carvings are a Centennial gift from the Government to the Maori people of Banks Peninsula and will be a handsome addition to the old church, which was restored for the Akaroa Centennial celebrations. The church is now in constant use. Farm Labour Problem.

“It appears that farmers needing labour arc relying on single men and have not realised that practically none are available,” stated a letter read at this week’s meeting of the AVanganui District Council of Primary Production from the National Council. The letter adds: “It must be made clear that the great majority of farmers have no hope at all of securing single men though there is a reasonable chance of obtaining married men.” Railway Earnings. Net railway revenue for the fourweekly period ended August 17 amounted to £74,564, as compared with an operating loss of £41,562 for the corresponding four weeks last year. For the 20 weeks from the beginning of the current financial year to August--17 revenue amounted to £4,111,854 and expenditure to £3,587,359, leaving a net revenue of £524,495. Revenue for the corresponding period iast year totalled £3,605,548 and expenditure £3,428,166, making a net revenue of £177,382. Call For Young Workers. “Since the beginning of this term the school has received a great number of inquiries for boys and girls to fill positions in various occupations,” said the principal of Danncvirke High School (Mr E. M. Hogben) in his report to the board this week. “The majority of these vacancies arise from war conditions. In the circumstances in which the nation is at present placed, such increased employment of youthful labour is inevitable, but I must express the hope that as far as possible everything will be done to see that the present - generation of youth is not deprived of its educational opportunity.” New Zealand's Flowers.

“I, was much impressed when I first came to New Zealand by the variety and quality of the flowers you have here growing in the open without protection,” said Dr. AV. A. Riddell, High Commissioner for Canada, at the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society’s Spring Show. “New Zealand is a land of flowers. There is more variety here than anywhere else I have travelled, which includes South America, and many places in the north temperate zone. At a time when we find so many nations organised to destroy and deface, it is helpful to know that there are people striving to assist Nature in the creation of something beautiful.”

Profiits From Vegetables. Profits from the growing of seeds and vegetables by municipalities under the increased-production scheme arc to he paid to the Government and not to provincial patriotic funds.

Record Tasman Crossing. •Beating her previous east-bound record of 7 hours 49 minutes, the flying boat Awarua arrived at Auckland from Sydney early yesterday afternoon after a flight of 7 hours 31 minutes. Captain Oscar Garden was in command. Patriotic Fund Grants.

The National Patriotic Fund Board, yesterday, made a grant of £2OOO to the Y.AV.C.A. for its work in Great Britain among the women’s war organisations. A grant was made to the Navy Office for the purchase of naval comforts for Christmas. ,

Delay to Express. The Limited Express for Auckland was 35 minutes late in leaving Wellington last night because of mechanical trouble which developed in an electric locomotive pulling a freight train near Kaiwarra. The slower train left AYellingto i for Palmerston North at 6.48 p.m. and normally would have been overtaken by the Limited at Paekakariki. The freight train was towed back to Wellington, and the express was held at the station till the line was clear.

Magnificent Response. Probably never in the history of AA 7ellington has so large a sum been subscribed in tho time for an overseas fund as has been done this week in response to tho appeal on behalf of the Lord Mayor of London’s fund for the relief of air raid sufferers. At 3 p.m. yesterday the city treasurer announced that the actual cash received amounted to £7950. A donation of £IOOO toward the first phase of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council’s campaign has been made'by the Auckland City Council. Service to Education.

An unusual family record of 138 years in the teaching profession is revealed ill the announcement of the retirement at the end of the year of Mr E. E. Bissell, headmaster of the Mahora School, Hastings. Mr Bissell lias not only spent the whole of his 48 years’ teaching service in Hawke’s Bay, but his father, the late Mr Edward Bissell, gave 50 years’ similar service in Hawke’s Bay, and his brother, the late Mr John Bissell, also spent the whole of his 40 years as a teacher in the province. Whirokino Cut.

Arrangements for the commencement of operations in, the construction of the VVhirokino cut, to provide a quicker flood outlet for the lo wetreaches of the Manawatu River, are being pushed ahead by the Public Works Department. The proclamation giving authority for the undertaking has been put through and certain essential procedure, such as securing the consent of landowners, has been occupying the attention of the department. The position has now reached the stage where a commencement of the work is expected in the relatively near future.