NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 305, 26 December 1930, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Devonport Mayoralty. The resignation of Mr. E. Aldridge from the mayoralty of Devonport has created a vacancy which will be filled at a special meeting ot the local borough council next Wednesday. ; Mr._J. Hislop has acted as deputy-Mayor during Mr. Aldridge's absence.

Advice to Sportsmen. [ The North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has decided to have printed on its game licenses the following "Advice to Sportsmen : "Don't go shooting till you know the game laws. Don't shoot harmless wild life; practice on vermin. Always ask permission to shoot. Inspect property, and fasten gates; you will be welcome again. Don't shoot unless you clearly see and are sure of what you are shooting at: It may save you being before the Court. Always leave a clean camp and a clean record—you may want to go back."

Filleted Whitebait. A Stewart Islander has discovered a snug retreat for whitebait in a small bay at Paterson's Inlet, states the "Southland News" correspondent. The whitebait congregate in masses, apparently waiting for the next tide. 'He improvised a net and in a few minutes secured a benzine tin full, which he disposed of at 1/ per pint to local residents. Many of the island people had never seen ■ whitebait ■ nor eaten it. One lady pronounced them excellent, but said they were hardly worth the trouble of pinching off the heads! Evidently she did not know that whitebait are eaten whole.

Library Progress at Hamilton. The Hamilton Public Library has made steady progress during the year and continues to grow in popularity. The number of subscribers has increased to 1149, as compared with 1082 last year. The total number of books in the library is 14,822, comprising fiction, 8612; general literature, 2890; reference, 1901; children's department, 1437. Over new books were added during the year, while 601 were replaced in English bindings, Avith which it is hoped to replace all the volumes. About 113,088 books were issued to subscribers during the twelve months. Waterspout Near Hawera. A huge waterspout was seen from a farm in the vicinity of the Hawera golf links early this week by a party of workers busy haymaking. A dense black cloud was observed hanging low over the water at a distance estimated variously as from three to five miles out. Suddenly the dense mass was seen apparently to swoop down on the surface of the sea and, when it rose, - draw up a huge funnel-shaped column of water which attained a great and then burst suddenly. The spectacle, although common enough in tropical latitudes, is of uncommon occurrence on these coasts, and ,is the more remarkable in that it was seen so close to land.

Christmas on the Warships. „ With holly branches, or some other piece of green attached- to each mast and yardarm, the "ships of the Navy celebrated Christmas in time-honoured fashion yesterday. After Divine service on each vessel the crews were granted shore leave, and the men left on shipboard attended to duties and enjoyed the mid-day festival with that heartiness characteristic of the men of the British Fleet. The commanders and officers of each vessel entered the gaily-decorated mess rooms to extend greetings. Christmas dinner is a happy occasion for warships in port, and the menu of turkey, chicken, plum pudding and other special items served on this occasion left little to be desired. The fact that officers and ratings belonging to the Homeland received a mail from England on Christmas Eve added to the general spirit of goodwill.

New Zealand's Pish Supply. "In the plentiful season there is any amount of New Zealand quinnat salmon available in the shops," said Mr. A. E. Hefford, inspector of fisheries, in -Chris tchurch recently, "but those people who speaK ol canneries in this country are too optimistic. New Zealand can never become a large fish-exporting centre owing to its very limited fishing grounds. This country is really the top of a huge plateau, the land shelving away abruptly from both coasts. Twelve miles from land one would be lucky to catch any fish at all. England, Japan, the United States and plenty of other countries have many miles of shallow water off their coasts, and, in consequence, the fish are present in huge shoals. This Dominion has enough fish for its own consumption, and occasionally exports a few to Aus* tralia, but it is unable to go beyond that."

Thrills of Piper Fishing. Piper fishing—that meditative pastime in which the angler watches his float for hours, hoping for the moment when the silvery garfish will decide to attach himself to the tiny hook and be joined to the tiny pile in the flour bagneed not necessarily be a tedious business: This was demonstrated on Stanley* Bay ferry wharf on-a recent morning, when two enthusiasts arrived at six o'clock and proceeded to settle a bet as to who would catch most fish during a stay till lunch time. It is understood that there was "money on it," as well as the possession of the piper championship. The fish obliged by biting quite well, and both young men were in the 'teens when a friend arrived, about nine o'clock. He offered a special prize of a longcooling drink to the man who first caught a score, and the excitement became intense.. The drink was won by the score 20-19. It was a neck and neck race throughout, and eventually when the time arrived to pack up and motor home for lunch, the ta"lly was 39-38. A curious feature of the match waa that at times one. or another Would establish quite a lead, say, half a dozen, but invariably the back marker would pull up again.. Played Marbles with King Edward. A fine type of Deeside Highlander in his 93rd year, who was born within the Koyal Balmoral Domain, and is related to John Grant (one of Queen Victoria's overseers), interested the members of the Hospital Board when they visited the Infirmary on Wednesday with stones of how, when King Edward Was a boy, he played marbles with him. Strict rules.of Royal etiquette were relaxed when the Queen went to her Highland home in Scotland, and-boys whose fathers were on the Royal household staff were allowed to play with the yoUng Princes to help to entertain them. The old Highlander chuckled as he thought of the days, over 80 years ago, when the Scots boys proved too keen for the Royal laddies from London and won nearly the whole of their large supply of marbles. King Edward, he said, was one of the best-hearted companions one could meet, and he could take a beating like a man. The veteran left his home at Braemar as long ago as 1864 and came to New Zealand, where he has lived ever since. . . ■*. \ * Farthest North A splendid spot for a quiet holiday, and one which is not well known, is Pandora, nestling in a peaceful valley between Cape R/inga and Spirits Bay, on the northernmost coast of New Zealand. Within easy reach are the Cape Maria Van Diemen lighthouse, the North-Cape, NinetyMile Beach, and the Parengarenga Harbour. Pandora is an ideal camping ground, and tourists may use their own tents or avail themselves of the raupo huts which have been constructed almost on the sandy beach. The spot is easily approachable via th®.Ninety-Mile Beach, but the last seven miles of the journey overland is difficult. The track, winds over extremely broken and steep country, but: is . negotiable by _ car. On the hills just above Pandora there is a gorgeous view.-. The Ninety-Mile Beach stretches as far as the eye can see to the west, the East Coast can be seen in the distance, and out to sea the Three King Islands. rear majestically above the waves. *"•