GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 1 April 1926, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

During March, six petitions in bankruptcy were filed in South Canterbury. A message from Rotorua last niglit stated- that rain was falling heavily, and that storm conditions prevailed. The express trains which passed through Tiinaru yesterday, both north and south, were largely patronised by Easter holiday makers. On main highways in Levels County, about £6OOO was spent during the past year. In the present year it is proposed to pay more attention to riding reads. The road ranger for Levels County reported to a meeting of the Levels County Council yesterday that he had impounded 54 head of stock during the past month. “Loyalty does not mean only singing ‘God Save tho King.’ It meansworking to mpko your country better and serving it,” said the GovernorGeneral (Sir Charles Fermisson) in addressing the pupils of the West End school at Palmerston. to date have sent over a quarter of a million cases of fruit to Wellington for export. Huge Stunner crops are not yet picked, and it is expected that the total for the season will be in the vicinity of half a million cases. —(Press Assn.) , The recent heavy frost in the Temuka district played liavoo with the late potato crop, one large grower estimating the reduced yield at from three to four tons per acre. The earl.er crop, however, being in a more forward state, will not be affected to the same extent.

As a result of persistent investigation sinco the accident near Pleasant Point about ten clays ago, the police have decided to take action, against thedriver of a car, who, it is alleged, rail m to the three young men who were injured on the occasion referred to.

A Fielding man sent a parcel of New Zealand butter to a relative in the important town of Wincanton, m Somersetshire. Ho has received an enthusiastic reply ol appreciation, and the writer acids that sue is urging her grocer to stock New Zealand buttfei in future. “It is the sweetest butter ,L have ever tasted.

Referring to the tar-sealed road at Kingsclown, at yesterday’s meeting of the .Levels County Council, tlio county engineer (Mr T. Black) said that this road would stand all ordinary traffic quite well, but it would not stand traction-engine traffic. It is proposed to tar-seal a further length of this road next spring.

“If some of the signs are anything to go by there is an outcry coming similar to that in 1921,” said Mr H. E Combs, -ex-secretary ot the Post and Telegraph Officers,.. Association, at tho complimentary social tendered to him bv the New Plymouth branch ot the association recently. “One can only hazard a guess, ami if it does come, it is your duty to see that the organisation is keyed up,” Mr Combs added.

At the meeting of the Levels County Council yesterday, reference was made to the bad and. dangerous practice, adopted by some motorists, of tlnownig empty petrol tins on the roadside, and it was unanimously decided to endorse a suggestion of the New Zealand Counties Association, that this be made an offence punishable at law.

A Turakina Maori, when speaking of the migration of tho tuna lieke, said that it had already set in in the Turakina river, and thousands of eels had been captured during tho past week. These cels were known as the silver belly variety. Once the run commehced they could not bo caught on a line, 'as they apparently consumed no food until such times as they readied the sea. The .Maori -added that ten or more distinct types or tunas migrated in turn in tho local rivers at this seifson of the year.

A curious freak of nature, in the form of a black cat, with tho stumpy ’tail, short forelegs, and long hind legs, of a rabbit, may be seen at fatevenson’s Hotel, Keefton. The animal was born two and a-half months ago, ancl is quite healthy. It presents a peculiar sight, as it sits up on its hind legs, like a rabbit. Endeavours to make friends with the curiosity have iailed ami it immediately declares war on human beings who approach-too near. Two other kittens, born at the samo time, are perfectly normal.

In the opinion of many experts and others who have studied the question, ilax glowing in the Auckland province, may be expected in time to rival eve dairying a.s a source of wealth (sajfe tho Herald). Almost unknown to the general public, hemp-production m Novi Zealand has undergone a reyohitio within the past few years. The old haphazard methods arc hist disappearing from use, and under the lle )y, Cl f. scientific development, lax driltivation promises to give profitable emplojmcnt to thousands of New Zealanders.

Referring to the cable message, published on Monday last Dr A. B- J‘alson, bacteriologist at the Gliiistchuich Hospital, endorsed the statement b> Sir Kenneth Goadle.v, to the effect that people who talk right into one s taco are dangerous, because they may be suffering from some disease and in tins wav transmit it to the listener. Dr Pennon added that experiments liad been cartiod out to find the distance that bacteria was expelled in the act of talking, and it luul been tumid that fhe distance, roughly speaking, was an arin’.-i length. The germs of diphtheria or consumption might, bo inhaled in the course of conversation, but tho risk was no greater than was run tin ough inhaling the dust from the street, or frein .C room where the sunlight has not the same effect as in tho open.

“The throat ancl mouth of every individual contain germs, many of which are harmless, but some are indistinguishable, such u:s wo might cultivate from a ease, of peumonia. if we are particularly caretul we might avoid diphtheria and consumption,” said Dr Rearson, in referring to his own department which handles largo numbers ot germs daily “but we run many more risks than the average person. Ilerp where we are constantly in touch with germs we do not suffer irom colds as much as the average person, ancl in the 14 years ilint I have been working here there have been only three eases of notifiable diseases amongst the members of the, staff.” As one grew older, he added, the resistance to a great Manx germs was increased. ' J

The sporting instinct is strong among the Maoris, who identify occasions of importance more , easily by reference to sporting fixtures, than by dates in the calendar. The other day in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, one Native fixed a particular event as taking place in “the year Canteen won the Cup,” and another witness in the case settled tho day of another meeting as being on the day the Springboks played in New Plymouth. -

A Wafroa orchardist came across a wonderful instance of bird instinct, or perhaps it should bo called reason,states an exchange, A goldfinch built, her nest in the fork of an apple tree, and apparently Considering it was not safe from heavy wind, procured a piece of stout twine, and after attaching it to oue branch, passed it around each of the other, limbs, and brought it round to the starting point, where the, loose end was fastened with adhesive clay. The nest was therefore securely laced round as ono would wrap. a parcel. ,