HAWKE’S BAY ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 29 December 1925, Page 4

HAWKE’S BAY ITEMS

The Mayor of Danuevirke issued the following pre-Christmas circular to the business men of Dannevirkc: “In order that our town may look clean and tidy during the Christmas and New Year holidays, I will esteem it a personal favour’ if vou will be good enough to arrange for the frout of your premises to be swept after you close down on Christmas Eve, and again on New Year’s Eve. The assistance given by the business people last year in this direction greatly improved the appearance of the town, and was sincerely appreciated.”—“Dannevirke News.”

During the past few days one or two fires have broken out in the Waipawa River bed on the town side, auy of which might have led to serious consequences, especially one that threatened the railway bridge for a time (states the “Napier Daily Telegraph”). Owing to the prolonged dry spell the grass and shrubs are like tinder, and the authorities are issuing a warning against the careless dropping of matches, which may lead to a serious outbreak of fire.

Au Order-in-Council provides that no person shall trawl for use a trawl net or a Danish seine net or a purse seine net for the purpose of taking fish within all that area of tidal water on the coast of the countv of Hawke’s Bay bounded as follows:—On its landward side bv high water mark, ordinary spring tides,' on its northern side from Hauponri, and on its southern side from Te Karamea, each by a straight line drawn least (0.90 degrees), and on its seaward side by a straight line joining the northern and the southern side at a distance of three nautical miles from its landward side. The penalty for a breach of this regulation is a fine up to £5O.

Reminiscent of Billingsgate and Covent Garden markets, a bluejacket obviously on Christmas furlough wended a careful wav along a Napier street the other morning, balancing quite easily on his head a huge basket containing fish, fruit and vegetables (states the “Daily Telegraph”). Slightly unsteady, but otherwise quite well-behaved, the shellback steered a course amongst the hurrving throng and passed “all’s well” before the eyes of the tolerant police.

Motoring in from Manutuke at a late hour on a recent evening, and nearing the Waipaoa bridge, a wellknown motorist was startled to see two blood-smeared figures stagger into the view of his headlights and make signals to him to stop (states the Gisborne “Times”). Immediately applying the brakes, be found two men, one supporting the other, badly cut about the head and face and appearing as if thev had been the victims of a motor smash. The men were placed aboard the car and taken into town, where they received medical attention. Both were found to be suffering from shock and severs bruises about the body, and were badly cut about the face and arms, one man having a broken nose. It appears that the injured men were pillion riding on a high-powered motor cycle, and when travelling at a fair speed along the road between Manutuke and the bridge the back tire blew, out, causing the cycle to swerve and the riders, losing their balance, were precipitated on the roadway. Neither being in a condition to proceed to the nearest house for assistance, they had to wait on the side of the road until some passing motorist picked them up. Thev were, indeed, most fortunate at that hour that they were not left on the roadside all night.

Dairyfarmers throughout the Poverty Bay dfstrict arc facing a serious shortage of feed at present, and unless rain is experienced in the near future the position on the flats will be acute (states the “Poverty Bay Herald”). Already many farmers have had to encroach upon their hay paddocks for feed, and the production of the herds has been steadily dropping. Mr. G. R. Moore, chairman of directors of the Kia Ora Dairy Co., speaking with regard to the position, said that the present drought would be felt for many months, and would probably affect the feed which would be available for cows during the coming winter. One of the few parts of the district where dairymen are having a good season is around Matawai.

A most peculiar accident occurred near Newstead, on the road to Puketitiri, in which two motor lorries were wrecked and burnt (states the “Hawke’s Bay Herald”). It appears that the two vehicles, a lorry owned by Langley and Co., Hastings, and a larger one owned by Wilkie and Austin', of Hastings, were travelling towards Rissington with the former in the lead. When mounting the steep hill on the Napier side of Mr. Pattullo’s__homestead the larger lorry caught fire. The driver of the other truck immediately went back to render aid, but the brake on his lorry failed to hold and it ran back and collided with the burning lorry. The force of the impact started the bigger lorry running and at the same time it set fire to the smaller one. Both lorries plunged over the side, breaking the fences and falling into the deep gorge below. They were completely wrecked and their loads practically ruined. Fortunatelv no one was injured.

A blight has made its appearance in the Wairoa district, and is attacking both the blackberries and Californian thistles (states the ‘‘Star”). Recently Mr. V. E. Winter discovered a blackberry vine on his farm, and gave instructions to bis son to dig it out. Two days later when he went to do so, it had completely withered up. A few days later the blackberry had disappeared altogether, and on looking round his crop of rape Mr. Winter was astonished to find that patches of Californian thistles had been similarly attacked. This blight should be a welcome visitor to the district, which is badly infected with blackberry in many parts.

Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., has forwarded to the Hastings Borough Council a letter from the Prime Minister, saying that he would confer with his colleagues regarding the Mayor’s requests, with reference to the Hastings Post Office accommodation )and the new Court House building (states the “Tribune”). Regarding the Post Office, it bad long been recognised that extended accommodation was necessary, and it had been hoped that something would have been done before this but, owing to the large amount of urgent work demanding attention, the matter had been delayed. If however, funds were available next ve’ar, the requirements at the Hastings Post Office would be put in hand; '

At the Magistrate’s Court, Napier, the other day. the torch of history lit up a phase of what has conic to be known as the "double-crossing the bar” case (states the “Telegraph”). Mr. Dolan said that his friend, the inspector of police, in instituting the prosecution, reminded him of no one more than the notorious Fouche, head of police during the French Revolution, whose special function it was to take up Hie Statute Books and spell new . crimes out of them. “Fouche sent his victims to the guillotine, did lie not?” said Mr. Dyer, S.M., amidst laughter. “Yes, Youi Worship,” said Mr. Dolan, “and nothing would please the inspector this morning more than to see the tumbrils filled with ba* ri 6 terrs and lay students ” (Laughter.)