HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 305, 9 December 1936, Page 3

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Tomato Crops in -Nelson. The wet early-sn miner weal ho- in Nelson this year is having a serious effect on (he tomato industry because of mildew which • has become prevalent in many glasshouses. Tim mildew has caused severe burning < f the plants in many glasshouses, where the upper flower clusters arc falling off. This has resulted in an estimated reduction by one half of the crop in the houses most seriously In some localities the long spell of wet weather has affected outside crops, the' lower flower clusters falling off and thus preventing any fruit seMing. Tho crop this year is generally considered by growers to be two weeks lai er than usual. Several growers have made their first, pickings about the same date as in former years, but, the amount of fruit ready to he sent, to the markets is comparatively small. Growers who have sent early parcels of good conditioned ami coloured fruit Io the Wellington market have secured a good return, but others who forwarded green fruit paid I lie penalty in very poor returns. Most. Nelson growers have begun to pick, but fine, sunny weather is now necessary for the rapid ripening of the fruit to supply the keen demand on I'no market between now and Christmas. Advice To Motorists. z “Those who are charged with offences under the Motor Vehicles Act should take advice, and see to what penalty they are liable,” said Mr J. 11. Luxford. S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington. “In the past the court has indicated that it considers it. no discourtesy if defendants .do not. appear in traffic cases, but there appears to be a lack of appreciation of the difference between minor offences ami those in which there is really some degree of culpability. The court may not always be able to grant a rehearing on the slender ground that defendant did not appreciate the seriousness of the charge.

GLEANINGS' (C DOMINION NEWS.

Text-book Reform. “Nothing would do so much to transform (duration in New Zealand into a dynamic process as the provision of a set of revitalised text books." says lhe Journal of the New Zealand Educational Institute. “Children cannot ho expected to have a thirst tor knowledge after they i leave school if day after day through-! out Hie period of their formal edit-J cation they have found by expert-j ence that the sources of knowledge! are no more than a collection of ■ mummified relics. The only way to l change this attitude is to insure that | the new text-books, al the same tiim' { as they contain the basic elements, of knowledge, are written ami pro- ' duced in such a manner as will rivet the. attention of the children. This may be a. tall order, but in such a matter as this no expenditure, of time, thought, and money should be spared. The teachers will watch the j work of the, text-book committee, on ' which the New Zealand Educational i Institute is represented, with the closest of attention." Gay Sydney. “Sydney is again full of gay life; that was one of the. things that struck me,” said Mr C. .1. B. Norwood, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in an interview on lhe Awatea on his return irom a live-week visit to Australia. Sydney, hi' said, was more Continental in its social life than any other city south of ,the Line. Predatory Kingfisher. A suburban bird-lover in Auckland has definitely black-listed a kingfisher which, although seldom seen •in the garden. exhibits . uncanny acumen about small birds’ nests. I Arriving on the scene, when the unlucky bird has a full'clutch of eggs, the kingfisher, laughing derisively, helps himself, utterly disregarding the agitation of the despoiled potential parents.

Distemper In Dogs. A donation of £tn towards a fund of £ I6u which (Im New Zealand Kennel Club is seeking Io raise for qxpi rimenls being conducted at Massey College into methods of (Oinbating distemper in dogs was made by the Wellington City Council. The Mayor. Mr T. C. A. Hislop, suggested that the grant be made ;u view of the fact that the council collected revenue through lhe dog tax. The tax was levied for the new year at HI/- for every dog except working dogs, which will cost their owners 2/6 for a licence. Outsize In Coms. The ardent com collector is confronted with something of a problem when he meets with “coins" from the Island of Yap, in the Caroline Group. These, according to a speaker at. the last meeting of the Numismatic Society. were of stone, and sometimes measured 12 feet across and weighed hundreds of pounds. Wealthy natives often deposited ‘ large stone coins of this type at their front doors as a permanent indication of their financial standing. The coin collector, should he acquire one of these pieces, would find its storage somewhat of a problem.