NEAR AND FAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 September 1931, Page 2

NEAR AND FAR

Unable to Estimate Speed. The readiness of most pepole to estimate the 'exact speed of a motor ear was commented on by Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Gouxt at Auckland during the hearing of a motor collision ease. "I do not know how people estimate the speed of ears," he said. "I have often tried it and watehed the speedometer and cannot do it. I know if a car is going fast or slow." Mr. Hall Skelt'on, who was appearing for the plaintiff, hastened to state that he had done 350,000 miles motoring and he was quite unable to estimate speeds. His Honour added that a small car sometimes made a big car look as if it were standing still. Novel Ballot Paper. A novel method of ensuring a perfectly fair result has been adopted by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in its ballot = paper for the election of members to the council of the chamber, The paper has the names of the candidates arranged in a circle. Most ballot papers have the* names arranged in alphabetieal order, and the vote may be attracted to the man ' at the head of the list. The cidcular paper should eliminate this failing. International Victories. It is a difficult problem to deqide which is the greater international victory; the Ameripan speed boat that raced itself or Saturday's international aeroplane race in . which the only competitor came in last. Misuse of Dole. Much misuse of dole coupons is reported in Sydney, stgtes the Sun. It is found that they have Jbeen used for making bets and the purchasing of drinks. The coupons are as readily transferable into cash as postal notes. Mormon Tabernacle. The London Daily Telegraph states that an £80,000 Mormon taberngcle is shortly to be built in the West End as headquarters of the new Mormon campaign in Britain, for which Bishop Wallis, of Salt Lake City, is remaining in England for two years. Crop Drying. In America some use has been made of the possibilities of drying erops by artificial means. Largescale drying plants have been erected and a considerable acreage of lucerne and other fodder crops is grown specifieally to supply them. The material goes into the plant green, loaded direct from the field, and comes out still green but thoroughly dry, and ready for use thoroughly dry, and cattle food. By growing a succession of crops it is possible to keep these plants supplied with raw material from the spring through to the autumn. A high feeding value is claimed for the dried product, equivalent to that of the growing crop, without, of course, its moisture coptent. Return for Sheepskins. A Turua farmer showed a Thames Star reporter his account for sheepskins which he had sold on consignment in Auckland. When the cartage and commission were deducted he realised precisely 6d, and had to pay 6d exchange on the cheque! He is not -sending any more away for a while. Swim Across Niagara. Dared by the crew of the river boat Maid of the Mist, little 14-year-old Mary Bell, of Port Dalhousie, Ontario, swam the Niagara River just below Niagara Falls in 10 min'utes, and set up a record for the crossing. The old record of 11 minutes was held by William "Red" Hill, a veteran river man. Miss Bell entered the water from the United States side and swam across to the boat landing on the Canadian shore. She was aecompanied by a ticket agent on the Maid of the Mist, and a cabin boy, in a spiall rowboat. Never before has a woman attempted the treacherous swim. Miss Bell's father is engineer of the Maid of the Mist. Eaten by Cannbilas. Yigorous measures are being taken to avenge the hideous murder of the District Commissioner, M. Ballot, who is thought to have been cooked and eaten by the Kwango devil-worship-pers, states the Belgian Colonial Ministry. Concerted action will be taken at all points to stamp out the cannihals. Indel, their headquarters, still holds out, but troops are massing at Musoto, whence an attack will he launched. Successful Club. The efforts of the Stratford SelfHelp Club are meeting with much success and a great degree of keenness is being* taken in the gardening scheme. There has been a good demand for plants and manures, and some of the most expert gardeners are working to assist the others. Other members, again, have volunteered to mix manures. One of the ehief troubles being contended with by many comes from neighbours' hens and dogs, which are constituting a nuisance. In this regard it may be' pointed out that under the borough by-laws owners of poultry and dogs are responsible for keeping them in confinement, so people suffering damage from this source have redress under the by-laws.

Conditions in America The United States Immigration authorities are imposing the most stringent regulations upon all who for any purpose seek to enter America. Cabled advice received in Rotorua yesterday states that a student entering the United States, who has met every other requirement, must possess £100 on landing and also be able to furnish a bondL that for three years he will not become a public charge, or in other words that he will have independent means of support for that period. It is believed that these severe conditions have been made necessary through increasing unemployment which in the United States will reach an alarming total in the approaching winter. The above refers to Mr. Tony Shalfoon who reached Vqncouver yesterday and is held up pending a satisf actory . guaraptee to the immigration authorities.