TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 90, 11 January 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

“They have no more sense than sucking pigs,” said a Masterton farmer about picnickers who thoughtlessly kindle fires in the neighbourhood of dry grass.—“Wairarapa Standard.”

A farmer in the Fairlie district recently informed a Timaru “Herald” reporter that the thrashing of grass seed had commenced. The crop was turning out much better than was expected and in his case was thrashing about 25 bushels to the acre.

On New Year’s Day (says an exchange) the temperature in the sun in Napier was 140, six degrees hotter than the previous hottest day that can be remembered by old residents. At Hastings, on the first day of the year. 98 degrees in the shade were recorded. Private records show that in the sun on that day the thermometer registered 137 degrees.

In consequence of the exceptionally dry weather and the enormous amount of motor traffic, the roads in the Manawatu district have developed into a series of ridges at unpleasantly frequent intervals (says the “Manawatu Times”). More than one motorist has stopped his car thinking that he has got a puncture but found that the excessive vibration was caused bv these peculiar waves or ridges in the surface of the road.

A visitor to Ship Cove informed a “Marlborough Express” reporter that he had noticed that some foolish persons had climbed to the ton of the Captain Cook monument on tho beach of the Cove and had carved their names on the wooden stock of the anchor surmounting the substantial cairn. It seems a great ptv that this fine memorial, commemorating the vis ts of the great navigator to the Cove, should ba disfigured in anv way. The fact that the anchor itself is a genuine old relic of Cook’s time should deter anyone from damaging it thoughtlessly.

“It seems to be a farce —this man has. been twice declared an hab tual criminal and vet thev let him out!” remarked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court when dealing with William Scarbroa, aged 37, one of several men charged with vagraiicv in that thev habitually consorted with reputed thieves. “Of course ho is a good prisoner, works well in gaol, and gets round these benevolent gentleman,” explained Senior-Detective Hammopd.—Exchange.

Farmers are becoming anxious a« regards feed for stock ns a result of the continued drought (savs the Napier “Dailv Telegraph”'). By practically a miracle fires have been few. nevertheless, one occurred in the Guavas district last week, and besides sweeping a largo scope of grass country, destroyed two valuable stacks of grain, bes;des doing considerable damage to native bush near the Guavas homestead. The country is in an inflammable condition and a lighted match or cigarette would do untold damage.

Advice received in Invercargill states that an extensive hush fire jiwept over the foreshore of Kaka Point, near Balclutha, on Tuesday, and was accompanied by a heavy north-westerlv gale, which carried the blaze in to dangerous proximity of many of the houses at present occupied by seasiders. ortunatelv, however (says the Southland Times”) the wind changed, and though the fire was still burning, latest reports were more reassuring. Considerable difficulty was experienced in coping with the flames on account of the dense suffocating smoke.

A visitor to Dashing Rocks, Timani, a day or two ago found there an interesting result of the hot d O ’ weather (says the “Herald”). There are numerous shallow hollows in the surface of the bare rock at the point. These collect and hold: the splasl], of waves, and the dry weather has evaporated a succession of high-tido splashes, with the result that in the aggregate a few poiinds of , sea salt could have been obtained. Jested by the palate the wb ; te crystals were bitter as well as salt.

Haymaking in the Morrinsville district is now practically over (says the Auckland “Star” conespondent), operations having commenced earlier this season on account of the lengthy period of dry .weather experienced during December. Most of the crops appeared to be fairly heavy and free of weeds the early crops giving the best results. There was a large amount of haymaking on a large icale done, and some of the largo landholders had n considerable portion if their holdings in hay, anything up to 50 acres appearing to be quite a i.suaj thing. To oopo with these large areas the most modern appliances were used.

Passengers who arrived fn m the Hokitika district on Wednesday morning (says the “Grev Star ’) stated that heavy rain had been general, and the creeks and rivers were consequently in a swollen state. A large amount of water is reported to be lying around Kumara Junction. The Grey River was also running strongly, and the water had made further inroads on the Coal Creek Flat. The cessation of heavy rain allayed fears that the river vzould come over the wharf and flood portions of the town.

Strongly-wiorded complaints were made at a meeting of the Otago Motor Club with regard to the blocking of tho streets by pedestrians (says the “Otago Daily Times”). Mr. Purdie referred particularly to the existence of this state of affairs at the intersec ticn of llattray and Princes Streets, which, he said, was becoming an annoyance. People simply n/u-sed to get out of tho way, and he had almost had an accident one night, and had met a storm of abuse. His opinion was that they should bring the matter under the notice (f the Inspector of Police and find out what power tho police had: to keep that corner dealt Ho had no objection to reducing speed, but when a man “tooted his horn” it was a fair thing that the public should get out < f the way. It was decided that a deputation should wait on tho Genera] Committee of the City Council in connection with pedestrians blocking the road traffic.

A rather novel method of campin'? has been, discovered by two families in Taradale (says the Napier “Daily Telegraph”). They shifted the’short, distance of about a mile from tin O' urua.l domicile, but had anyone seen them moving they would have gained tho impression that they were shifting permanently. The orthodox camper is satisfied with a lent and 1 a few accessories, but this party made sure of losing no home comforts. A portable house was taken io the camping site and erected, but not content with this they also took their piano, the house cow, and all the necessary implements for butter-making. A huge meat safe, a cooking stove, and a .number of beds complete the effect and help to dispel the idea that they hxq awaj from home.

A record tide of Bft. 31in. was registered for the port of Otago on ivcanesdav (says the Dunedin “Evening Star”). The last occasion this was shown was on August 4. 1921, when there was a tide of Bft. 3m. The tide is marked by a black line on a pde outside of the Harbour Board office at Dunedin. ’These high tides are difficult to account for, but they can be associated with unusual disturbing factors elsewhere. Possibly heavy gales, combined with lunar attraction —the main cause of tides —synchronise and the pull is affected to the extent of giving unusual heights in the rise and fall. Lunar influences arc, of course, understood, but when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth ,or both on one side, the result is high or spring tides. Normal spring tides at the'port of Otago are generally 7ft. to 7ft. 6in. On this occasion the effect must have coincided with a local disturbance that influenced the tidlsil flow. A very low barometer was in evidence in the morning, indicating a disturbed atmosphere and possibly high winds elsewhere. This rather bears out the foregoing premises. It registered only 28.74, with light variable winds locally.

I.ocal residents who have been on visits to South, Otago and some parts of Southland give a depressing account of the apearanep of the country down there as a result of the want of moisture (says the Oa-ma.ru “Mail”). Grass has gone off very seriously, even localities that are fnmed for abundance of feed generally wearing a bare aspect. Vary little wheat is to be seen anywhere, and what little there is presents a woebegone appearance. Taken in the aggregate oats are stunted and do not promiso much return for labour and outlay. In the Clutha district root crops—potatoes, Turnips, and rape—are generally looking strong and healthy, and under favourable conditions henceforward should turn out well.

The follv of leaving sums of money in one’s clothes when away bathing was amply demonstrated a few days ago (says the “Wairoa Star”), when a well-known local public servant went in for a swim, leaving his clothes in the boating shed. Unfortunately lie had a large sum of money Onostlv in five-pound notes) in one of the pockets and when ho returned to the shed for drossing, ho received a big shock on finding that some despicable person had rifled his pockets and got away with the whole lot. The ' ( >olice arrested a man just before 'noon next day. It is understood that a great part of the money was recovered.

Salvage operations on the sunken Wairarapa at the Great Barrier Island are reported to be proceeding successfully (savs the Auckland “Star”). Mr. W. E. Venr, who has the work in hand, has recovered about fifty tons of metal and other materials that have resisted the corrosive action of the sea water during the 29 wears since the vessel was wrecked. Two divers have been engaged in the work, and have so far snent e inh tv hours in actual under-water operations. Besides this work Mr. Year has been engaged in recovering anchors and: cables from the sunken hull of the four-masted Amerian schooner Cecelia Sudden, at Tryphena Bay. There still remains one anchor and some 240 fathoms of cable to salvage. Weather conditions have been verv. favourable to salvage work, and the men have not Been endangered by the presence of sharks. Only two small ones have been seen.

It is not safe to mention handkerchiefs to a well-known resident of Oamaru just at present, and this (remarks the “Mail”) is the reason:—.‘some little time ago it may be remembered that a number of “cribs” st Kakanui were burglariously entered. and at that time it was thought that nothing had been taken. Amongst those entered was the “crib” of the Oamaru irantleman in question. Recently some seaside “baches” at Waikouaiti were also entered, and on the floor of one of them, belonging to a prominent Dunedin lawyer, was found a handkerchief hearing the name, of the Oameru resident. Not knowing the local man. the Dunedin gentleman set the law in motion, and the law, of course, at once wanted an explanation from Hie Oamaru man of his whereabouts at the time of tho second burglary, especially so as he had thought the entry of his own place too trivial to report. Anywav several of bis friends enjoying the joke informed the authorities that he was missing (he actually was awav on holiday at the time), and it is understood that he was dulv interviewed bv the law and asked for an explanation of tho find. , which he was able to give quite satisfactorily, the thief having taken it from his “crib.” , And that’s whv it isn’t safe to ask Mr. if he’s lost anv handkerchiefs lately, or if he knows that he’s wanted by the police.

“Tlie present generation has little conception of the foundations upon which New Plymouth was built hv the early settlers.” declared Mr. W. 6. Bassett, an old Taranaki resident, to n “Daily News” representative. Mr. Bassett said that in the ’sixties there was not a chain of metalled road in the whole of the settlement. When it was remembered that in those days there were from seven to ten thousand soldiers, in addition to the settlers themselves, quartered in the town, the state into which these roads fell could better he imagined than described. Besides this, the heavy bullock wagons, especially in Queen and Brougham ■’.freets. cut up the roads so badly that it was necessary to lay down planks to enable pedestrians to cross from one side to the other of these nnid-covered and slush-bespattered thoroughfares. The splendid state of the tar-sealed streets of New Plymouth to-day formed a sharp contrast, in Mr. Bassett’s mind, to the condition of the same streets, or, rather tracks, in his boyhood days.

The Taupo cojtrcsponHent of the “Rotorua Chronicle’” savs: ‘Another instance of the criminal carelessness with fires which seems to be inseparable from the holiday season was seen here last Monday, when the beautiful and unique bush on the western bank of the Waikato River at the Aratiatia Rapids was destroyed bv fire. Soon after midday a fire started on the river’s edge , a little upstream from the Wairakei Hotel and working down the wind evidently got into the manuka bush which has for many years been one of the beauty spots of the district. Many of these manukas, which were of , the tree variety, were up to ROft. in height, and there are none like, them in the district, except in some isolated snots, such as up the valley of the Tau-ranga-Tanpo River. Several parties of picnickers, who were down at the rapids in their cars, only escaped in the nick of time. The day before another fire started on the 1-ike shore near the point on tho south side of loriisalcm Bav and next night was still burning firccely. Tho culprits in this case must have been some careless fishermen apparently.”