NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1938, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES

- — VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST. Blind Wicker-workers. The Jubilee Institute for the Blind has been excluded from the parties to the New Zealand wicker-workers’ award by an order made by the Second Arbitration Court. The institute’s application for exemption in conciliation council was refused, and as it was not referred to the Court the institute was unable to present its case. Subsequently representatives from the institute were heard by the Court, which, in a memorandum to its order, stated that it was just and equitable to amend the award, excluding the institute from it. Fort Jervois.

The refusal of the Minister of Defence to allow Count von Luckner to revisit Fort Jervois, on Ripa Island, will recall to a number of-young men an unofficial visit they paid to the island some years ago, when they were schoolboys. They had been attending a picnic at Diamond Harbour, and walked round through Purau to the point opposite the fort. The official in charge was away in Lyttelton, so one of the party swam across the narrow channel to the island, and lowered the miniature drawbridge in the gangway connecting it to the shore. The remainder of the party then crossed the bridge to the island and spent an interesting time examining the old guns and galleries in the fort. Their escapade subsequently cost them a levy of 2s 6d each, to pay for some slight damage that was done.

Wild Cape-Gooseberries. Wild cape-gooseberries grow in profusion for miles along the new road formed by the Public Works Department construction workers between Oaro, on the South Island Main Trunk, and the head of the long tunnel being driven through the Amuri Bluff. The workers in camps in that area pick the berries and have made most of their winter jam from them. It is possible even to stop a motorcar along the road at many places and pick the ripe berries without a passenger leaving the car. These capegooseberries, and the lemons, grapes, and oranges which ripen out of doors in the same locality, indicate the unusual mildness of the climate there. Frosts arc rarely experienced there, and the outdoor workers are burned by the sun almost to the colour of Maoris. Caterpillars Destroy Grass. Great damage to grass has been done by caterpillars on land in the Wellsford and Wayby districts. Auckland, that was submerged during the February flood. In most cases there is no grass left for cattle or sheep. As farmers rely on the flats for then summer gruss the position is sciious. Unless rain falls soon the cows will have to be dried off. The caterpillars are mainly short and black, and so far it is not known where they breed, or how they infest only the land that was covered by flood waters. Tn places where they have eaten the grass on the once flooded areas, they are now spreading on to the surrounding land.

“What About Kilts?" “What about kilts?" asked a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s executive at a meeting when members were inspecting a tartan scarf of the type

used instead of silk ribbons for champion prize-winning animals at the Mackenzie Highland Show. The Mackenzie association, following the decision of the Canterbury association to use woollen instead of silk ribbons, forwarded a specimen scarf. The reference to kilts, at the meeting led to another member asking about the clans of prospective exhibitors, and whether a champion animal should wear the clan colours of its owner. There was no decision to follow the example of the Mackenzie Highland Show and use tartans; but members were advised that the Hawke’s Bay association and the North Canterbury Sheep Owners' Union were in complete agreement with the proposal to replace silk with wool for ribbons in future. Mr A. E. Clouston's Ambition. Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston. the New Zealand airman whose recent sensational record-breaking flights between England and New Zealand have made aviation history, is building an aeroplane which he estimates will be capable of flying at 500 miles an hour over long distances. If the machine is successful. Flying-Officer Clouston may use it in an attack on his own record for the round flight which he completed only a few days ago. This information was disclosed by Mr R. E. Clouston. father of Fly-ing-Officer Clouston. at a reception held in his honour at the Majestic Theatre. Nelson. On behalf of I 1 ullerHayward Theatres, the Mayor of Nelson (Mr G. L. Page) presented Mr and Mrs Clouston with a film recording the arrival of their son at Blenheim at the end of his record-break-ing dash from England. In reply. Mr Clouston said that in a short time the recent fast flight made by his own son would be over-shadowed by even faster flying over long distances. Iheie were good reasons for believing that the machine his son was now building would be capable of sustained flight at 500 miles an hour, and it was possible that Flying-Officer Clouston would again visit New Zealand, taking much less time on the trip than he did on his recent flight.