Large Eel Caught.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 February 1939, Page 6

Large Eel Caught.

Five feet in length and weighing 231 b, a long-finned eel caught by three schoolboys in the Maukau Stream, near Pukekohe, has been forwarded to the Auckland War Memor.al Museum. Although it is the largest ever received at the museum, it does not compare with one officially noted that was caught in the Wanganui River and which weighed 421 b. New Zealand has the distinction of providing the largest fresh water eels of any part of the world.

Shortage of Typists. A shortage of typists is causing some public works undertakings to be held up. This information was contained in a letter received by the ooard of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, from the Public Works Department in answer to an inquiry about the delay in starting urgentlyrequired buildings at the college. The letter also stated that there was a shortage of draughtsmen, ' but this shortage had to some extent been overcome. Savings Bank Withdrawals.

For the fourth month in succession withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank during December exceeded deposits, the difference in that month amounting to • £1,194,927. For the nine months ended December 31, deposits amounted to £23,780,532 and withdraw-als-to £26,706,035, leaving an excess o.' withdrawals of £2,925,503. Comparativ. figures for the corresponding period oi 1937 were: Deposits, £25,268,364; withdrawals, £22,568,569; excess of deposits £2,699,795. Czecho-Slovakia’s Exports.

A request for assistance in its efforts to make it known that Czechoslovakia had preserved its character as an exporting country was received by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce from the Czecho-Slovakian Chamber of Commerce. The letter stated that recent boundary changes nad not disturbed the identity of the country as a manufacturing centre and that manufactures were being continued at their former high level at competitive prices. Cocksfoot Harvest.

The dry weather has enabled those engaged in cocksfoot harvesting on Banks Peninsula to make good progress. Another week's fine weather Should see most of the paddocks threshed out. Reports to hand indicate a better yield than was at first expected in most areas, and that the sample of seed is bright in colour and of good weight. Samples weighed range from 111 b to 151 b to the bushel. So far, no Banks Peninsula seed has been sold, and the lateness of the season accounts for this.

Animals Destroyed. Destructions of cats and dogs in Auckland and its suburbs totalled 1806 aetween November 19 and January 26. according to a statement issued by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In addition, 115 cats and dogs were destroyed as a result of the cruelty’ inspector’s examinations. The number of animals brought to the society’s clinic in this period for destruction or new homes was 411. The society’s destructions are usually greater in December and January than at any other time of the year as a result of people going away for holidays and because dog registrations then become due. Legal Definition for “Entree.” Is an ‘'entree” a small modicum of fish or can a steak and kidney pie be described as an entree? The Court was called on to a define “entree" when a labour case involving the Tearoom and Restaurant Workers’ award came before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., at Christchurch. "What is the difference.” asked the Magistrate, "between a spoonful of stew with a piece of pastry put on top and some steak and kidney entirely surrounded by pastry?” Mr R. A. Young suggested that an entree was a small modicum of fish. Another suggestion that the Oxford English Dictionary be called in to arbitrate was not pressed further.