TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 87, 11 January 1928, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

A prolonged spell of dry weather is causing Auckland orchardists a good deal of concern. The indications (says the “Star”) are that the stone fruit crop will be light and not well developed, although there will be nothing to complain about in regard to the high colouring, which is appreciated by consumers.

The hazardous task of opening the mouth of the Milford Lagoon was successfully attempted the other morning by six well-known Temuka residents (says the Timaru “Post”). Armed with long-handled shovels, a furrow was made at low tide, and with a mighty rush the great body of water quickly effected an opening. It was a dangerous task safely accomplished.

There should be no expectations that there will be a change-over from the manual to the automatic telephone system in Christchurch for some time (says the "Sun”). It is expected that the balance of the equipment necessary for the change will come to hand very soon, but it will take months to install, the Department’s statement on the question being to the effect that there is every possibility of the installation being completed during the year. ;

Some remarkably fast motor trips have been made' recently between Whangarei and Auckland (says the “Herald”). One party, on its way to the Auckland trotting meeting, was actually only five hours on the road, and the driver of a more common type of car avers that he accomplished the journey in but a quarter of an hour longer. The roads are reported to be in a better condition than at any previous time.

The hay harvest in Waikato this year is up to expectations, and the favourable weather experienced lately has created the best maturing conditions (says the Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland “Star”). The dry spell has been most opportune for farmers, whose fodder crops are good. The hay is in excellent condition. While the season is reported generally to be light, the bay has been well saved. Harvesting is still in progress in many districts, but the major part of the work is over. At Ruakura State Experimental Farm there were seventy acres of hay to be cropped. The yield has been heavy, and all the hav is in fine condition.

The late blooming of the scores of pohutakawas has added to the popularity of the Thames coast as a motoring route and tourist resort (says the “New Zealand Herald”). It is estimated that over 100 camping parties have pitched tents on the 14 miles of coast line between Thames and Kerti during the holidays. The demand for seaside cottages has again exceeded the available supply. It is estimated that over 350 motor-cars passed Tarau on one holiday on the way to Thornton Bay, Puru, Tapu, Coromandel and Mercury Bay. The new road to Mercury Bay brandling off at Tapu is being freely used. Motorists are advised to carry chains to avoid trouble after showers.

A small Auckland boy lent material assistance to Auckland when the home team > was. batting against Canterbury at Eden Park (says the J‘Star”). He fielded , a ball 5 ...yards inside the line as it came gently along, but instead of politely handing it to the Canterbury fieldsman jyho was in pursuit, he hurled it enthusiastically over the boundary mark. That particular stroke coupted four. The problem that the umpire had to decide hurriedly was whether the ball would have travelled over the line of its own volition.

On October 4, last year, a Whangarei business man forwarded a letter to a customer in Kiripaki Road (says the “Advocate”). Since then the letter has travelled a long distance for a penny. It was first re-addressed to Albury, New South Wales, then to Albion, Queensland, and finally to I’oxwood, Brisbane. It was re-dis-patched from each of these offices with the unclaimed stamp upon it and finally returned to the sender.

To divert the stream and protect the Parnassus railway and traffic bridge, grovnes have been made _in the Waiau River (states the Christchurch “Sun”). However, they did not prove altogether a success, for, although they caused banks of shingle to be formed which partially diverted the river, in- flood-time the stream worked behind them. Protective works have now been made between the groynes, and these are proving successful these in turn throwing up barriers of shingle. Whether they will serve their purpose at a time of a big flood remains yet to be seen.

One night last week a Waihi lady living not far from the business part of the town had occasion to go to the back door, and on looking out was surprised to see a kiwi .walking about m the garden, evidently in search for food (savs the Waihi “Telegraph”). The bird, which was about the size of a Black Orpington fowl, moved away when an electric torch was turned on it, but on crumbs being thrown out it returned.

When the East Coast-Auckland railway connection is made w.ithin the next twelve months, the fat lamb and frozen meat enterprise generally in the Bay of Plenty district should receive a powerful stimulus, as'it has been necessary in the past for owners to arrange for the driving of their stock long distances to the nearest railheads at Rotorua or Waihi (says an exchange). Apart from the expense involved, the loss of condition on long drives has caused a considerable net loss upon the killing.

With those holiday-makers who enjov sea fishing the various beaches to the north' of New Plymouth are particularly popular, and stories of big catches are being circulated (says the “Herald”). One of the best concerns a party of three, who caught 50 schnapper in an hour from a launch near the White Cliffs. A member of this party related that on throwing his line out for the first time he commenced to fill his pipe. The bites came so thick and fast that at the end of the hour he had not come -to the stage of lighting it. Good catches have been obtained from the rocks as well as from boats.

Two Stanley Bay boys, back from their uncle’s farm in the King Country, have enthusiastically decided to go on the land when they get a chance (says the Auckland "Star”). While up there they earned a respectable sum of money at grass-seeding, and they have returned home with' enough to buy a suit each, and a present for father and mother. Likewise they brought home a sack packed with gooseberries, carrots, cabbage, rhubarb, potatoes, and beans, with a large lump of cheese and a piece of bacon’as additional ballast. It was enough to keep the family on something pretty close to vegetarian diet for nearly a month, and quite a windfall for "Dad,” who had been surreptitiously hosing the garden in the hope that his brown-tinted vegetables Would revive.

Some humorous effects in advertising were quoted by Mr. R. J. Strong in an address to Rotarians m Auckland when speaking of the inner workings ol a newspaper' (says the "Star”). One advertiser notified that he wanted a "modern house on a vacant allotment,” while another forwarded as an advertisement for insertion: “Wanted, room by gentleman with a private family.” The speaker said that in one instance 443 replies were received to an adve r tisement for “a man to attend to telephone, etc.” This last-mentioned >n stance must surely approach a record. An instance of what would probably be regarded by any Court as criminal negligence on the part of the driver of a milk delivery van was witnessed in Invercargill tlie other morning (says the "Southland News”). A cyclist well on his right side of the road was proceeding south when the van came up behind, and, without warning, turned immediately in front of him into another street. The rider promptly applied his brakes, but as there was no clearance, the cycle, was struck by the rear of the motor and he was thrown in the roadway, fortunately clear of the car, escaping with dusty clothes and a hand abrasion. Why the motorist did not turn in the rear of the cyclist can only be explained on the assumption that he was- day dreaming.

Mr. H. F. Warner met with an unusual experience recently while boring for water on the Waihou Road, on the propertv of Mr. L. C. Claude (says the “New Zealand Herald”). After sinking about 20ft. a rumbling sound was heard, followed by a strong smell of gas. A lighted match was applied to the pipe, from which there immediately issued a white flame of intense heat and nearly a foot high. After burning steadily for an hour the flame was extinguished. The required water was found at a depth of 25ft. The local theory is that the borers released a type of carbon gas produced by decaying vegetable matter.

A . rather unfortunate position developed at the Patangata swimming sports, which were held recently; when the parcel containing the tropines for the wintiers disappeared early in the day and could not be found anywhere (says the Napier “Telegraph”). The committee got over the difficulty by presenting the successful competitors with prizes intended for another class of event. The other day, however, the missing trophies were handed in to a Waipukurau shopkeeper,, the bearer stating that they had been found along the river bank. _ It is understood that these trophies are to be sent on to the winners of the swimming events, in addition to the others alreadv received.

In the lily pond at the Auckland Domain the City Council finds ready to hand a water supply, that will serve to keep the cricket pitches in order on the ground nearby, and steps are being taken to install a centrifugal pump (states the “Star”). The idea is to pump into a water cart that was formerly used on the macadam roads around the city in the summer-time. Although the flow from the Domain springs is much diminished as a result of the drought, the authorities hope to get sufficient water from the pond to water all the wickets. In the early days of Auckland the pond, which was the centre of a miniature catchment area, was the public water supply, though numerous families found it unnecessary to draw from that source when crystal-clear springs could be tapped in the vicinity of Queen Street.

Steadily, but surely, the plans of the New Plymouth Harbour Board are reaching maturity (reports the “News”). One item completed is followed by concentration on the work of next importance. Following the completion of the first cut, 100 feet wide on the eastern side of the Newton King Wharf nearer the shore, the dredge Paritutu commenced the other day with the work of adding alongside it to the east, a further 100 feet. The harbourmaster, Captain W. Waller, says that the completion of this cut will increase the available space to a strip the length of the wharf and 200 feet wide and 25 feet deep at low water. The end and immediate proximity of the wharf had been dredged to a depth of 33 feet before the piles were driven. Only one overseas vessel to date has berthed on that side of the wharf—-the Persian Prince, 410 feet in length. The Paritutu will concentrate on the new work to complete it as early as possible.