When in France, he desired a flight in an aeroplane, and was given the chance in a machine just vacated by General Seely; but the body strap, which sufficed for the general, was two inches too small for the dominion statesman (so Mr Massey told a Y.C.C.A. meeting in Wellington). It was patched up with string, and the aeroplane ascended after taking a rather longer run than usual on the ground. After the flight, the pilot asked: "Would you mind telling me what you weigh, Mr Massey?"
"About seventeen stone," replied the Prime Minister.
"I don’t wonder the bally old ‘bus wouldn’t go up," remarked the aviator.
Anglican Boys Society
Something new in the way of societies is the Church of England Boys’ Society, which was formed in All Saints Sunday Schoolroom on Saturday, under the leadership of Mr E. A. Brown. The aims and objects of the society are:- (1) To foster a true spirit of comradeship amongst the men and boys; (2) to encourage clean, useful, and upright living; (3) to encourage all members to stand by the church at all times; (4) through its committees and older members the society will encourage all recreations and sports.
Change to cheese
The drift of New Zealand dairy factories from butter-making to cheese-making continues (says the Dominion). This season quite a number, attracted by what they reckoned to be the better prospects in the cheese business, have changed over. In several instances companies which have refused to make the change have lost suppliers — farmers have broken away and started another factory. The result of the continuation of the drift to the cheese business is that the cheese production this year will (so far as can be gauged) be greater than in the previous season by several thousand tons, and a pleasing feature is that while the cheese production has thus increased the butter production has not decreased.
Farmers and science
Although farmers (especially of the old school), were at first inclined to look upon the teaching of scientific agriculture and the establishment of experimental farms as so many frills and waste of money, that attitude would appear to be disappearing, for the Manawatu Times says that over 10,000 farmers visited the Ruakura experimental farm last year to gather information respecting the various branches of farm work being carried on there.
Salmon run
The Oamaru Mail states that the first appreciable run of salmon this year is reported in the Waitaki River, but the river is too high to fish for them at present.
As it is subsiding, however, it may be presumed that anglers will shortly be enabled to hook some of these elusive fish.
Earthquake
In the vicinity of 5 a.m. on Wednesday a heavy and prolonged shock of earthquake estimated at 15 seconds, was felt (states the Hawke’s Bay Herald). It was accompanied by a rumbling noise, and was noticed in Napier, and also at Waipukurau and Hastings. No damage was reported. — ODT, 10.3.1918.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
