NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1082, 22 March 1911, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telceraph.-Prcss Association.) 4 THE SAND BAR AT NAPIER. DREDGE TO BE CHARTERED. ■Napier, March 21. The following motion was carried unanimously at a meeting of the Napier Harbour Board to-day:—"That in order that donbts as to the origin of the sand bar. (referred to by Messrs. Maxwell Williams and Mason's report, and in Mr. Gco. Nelson's harbour proposals) should bo cleared up, and in order Hint the likelihood or otherwise of any channel dredged throurih such sand bar being wholly obliterated in heavy weather bo testetf, the board.considers it desirable, to charter a. suitable dredge for three or six months for the purpose of dredging out a sufficient channel to show what effect heavy weather or floods would have upon it; and that the secretary be instructed to obtain all information by next meeting as to the. terms on which a dredge can be obtained in the Dominion, and how soon. OPENING UP NEW TRACTS. Dargavillo, March 21. SeiVions at Otirau Valley,' recentlj thrown open for selection by the Government, are attracting a large mimboi of applicants. The land is of good quality, but the sections arc leaded with kuhikatea standing thereon, and many considor the royalty charged to be far too high in view of the market price of this timber and cost of delivery. A GRUB AND ITS WORK. , Dunedin, March 21. A "Star" reporter to-day was shown some Oauiaru potatoes fairly riddled by the grub now ravaging the North Olago district. These potatoes came in a ; fiyeInick consignment by rail to Dunedin, and'arc now lying at one of the railway sheds. They were originally packed to be. shipped in centals to Rio de Janeiro, but wore, condemned for shipment, and ultimately found their way to Dunedin. The. grub is very active, and is white with a black head. Specimens, with cocoons, have been forwarded to Mr. T. W. Kirk, of the Agricultural Department. OBITUARY. Greymouth, March 21. Mr. Edward lvea;:'i Uinl, late town clevk, died t o-uiglii:',' aged 67.. . Deceased was,over twenty years in office, and was responsible for many important municipal works. He was closely identified with the. progress of the borough. CUSTOMS DUES: A RECORD. Auckland, Mnrch 21. The amount collected in Customs dura at Auckland yesterday was ,£IG,4S2, and the. total revenue for the day was .C17.!!):i, conslitutiiiß a record for Iho Dominion for any one day's collections. The largest portion of Ihe amount represents duca paid on goods discharged from the steamer Kaikoura. The previous New Zealand record was held by Wellington with nearly JMOOO iess. DROUGHT. Rcefton, March 21. The light shower* which have fallen have only relieved the drought, which is the most" serious for many years. There je little growth now coming on.