TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 96, 21 January 1928, Page 24

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

■ Four apples were selected and peeled in the usual way, the stem and the calyx being added to the peelings. Samples ol the peel and peeled apple were placed in flasks and digested with a mixture ol equal parts ol strong nitric and sulphuric acid.” This entry in the “New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology” indicates the steps taken to ascertain the percentage ol arsenic in New Zealand-grown apples. The result of numerous recent tests has been to show that the spraying programme of Dominion fruit-growers does :iot deposit arsenic in a poisonous dose. In 1925, on account of arsenic poisoning in Britain, there was h scare among merchants and consumers that led the New Zealand Control Board to guarantee all apples exported to England as safe. The apples to which arsenic poisoning were traced came from America.

An exasperating stroke of bad luck befell a party of professional fishermen who recently returned to Auckland from a trip to the north (says the “Star”). After a long spell of fruitless labour they, had the good fortune to discover a haupuka ground—about 50 fathams of water, and wonderful fishing. It happened that the anchor warp was not long enough, and an extra length of rope was bent on. Then ‘the fun began, and in the short space of five minutes half a dozen hapuka, averaging 501 b. apiece, were captured. Visions of a £5O or £GO catch loomed large, only to be dissipated a moment later. The additional piece of rope was not sound enough to stand the strain; it broke, and the boat drifted away from that angling Eldorado, leaving the anchor firmly fixed in the ocean bed, and the result was a lost anchor and an unprofitable trip.

A party of five Te Awamutu residents motored to Kawhia recently for a day’s fishing (savs the local “Post”). A catch of 200 schnapper shows that their trip was most successful. Another Te Awamutu party of five claim to have caught more than 200 schnapper recently, while the “Post” is creditably informed by a returned camper at kawhia that one . evening recently a party of Maoris secured over 2500 flounders in the harbour. The other schnapper were again plentiful, catches of 200, 130, and 55 being reported. The waters adjacent to the harbour of Kawhia are literally teeming with fish at the present time, and everybody (residents, trippers, and campers alike) are having “the timew>f their lives” catching edible varieties of salt water fish.

A remarkable ■ coincidence has been mentioned to the “Settler” by a Kawhia resident, whose experience in the northern portion of the North Island extends over a considerable period, to the effect that drought summers have occurred in exact cycles of ten years. The informant states that in 1898 an unprecedented dry season prevailed, more particularly at Pahiatua and the Fortv Mile Bush, where fierce fires spread destruction in every direction. In 1908 the King Country and Waikato wilted like mown hay before the summer’s sun. Kawhia residents can vividly recollect the devastation and loss of stock and property which followed the bush fires. Again in 1918 there was another visitation, the district of South King Country (from Taihape to Obakune) suffering most severely through- losses. Whether 1928 is" to be an equally disastrous year time has .yet to tell, but appearances are by. no reassuring.

“It is only under conditions . which prevail on some of the islets off the New Zealand coast that we find any extent of natural meadow, where the current season’s growth straggles rampant over an accumulation of spent herbage, the product of years of unrestrained growth,” writes “Oreti” in the Auckland “Star.” “In the autumn this debris becomes as dry as tinder, but in winter and early spring it is a dank, mouldering mass, intersected in all directions bv tunnels and passages through which the nestling petrels gain access to their burrows. In places the heavy growth of the littoral grass monopolises its particular area, but, where this grass is less rank, other grasses and sedges are in evidence. In the Aiderman Islands, which were recently visited by Messrs. B. Sladden and R. A. Falla, there was found a wide variety of vegetation among the natural meadow growth. Patches of manuka were seen in prostrate form on bleak spurs, and bracken fern was fairly plentiful, though not in its usual aggressive form.”

An infant musical prodigy has been discovered in Bluff (reports the correspondent of the “Southland News”). His forte is singing, and to hear the little boy (not quite live)) giving a rendition of one of Lauder’s famous ballads is a treat. Appropriately the child bears a Scotch name. If taken in hand early and trained, it is quite safe to say that the young singer has a bright future before him.

An unusual spectacle in Mackay Street about 1.30 the other morning was a motor-cycle without' a side-car carrying four persons. Three is not an uncommon freight, but four is exceptional. So was the course of the carrying four persons (says the “Gray River Argus”). Three is not an uncommon freight, but four is exceptional. So was the course of the machine.

When farmers and Departmental officers were discussing in Gisborne last week the outbreak of cattle tick on the coast, it was stated by one of the officers that the life of a tick was only one vear (says the “Times”). ’“ls that all?” commented one of- the farmers present. “Yes.” that is all,” retorted the officer, “but in that time it lays 5000 eggs.”

Bv arrangement with New Zealand Perpetual Forests, an area of 3-100 acres near Putaruru is to be set aside as a game sanctuary, although there will be no prohibition as affecting the fish in the streams that flow through that particular area (reports an exchange). The locality is regarded as a suitable one for the purpose, as it is regularlv patrolled, and game birds already liberated there have done well.

A record amount of butter-fat for the factory was handled by the Te Aroha Dairy Company, Ltd., for 2December, when 284,0001 b. of butter-fat was received (reports an exchange). This represented an increase of .22 per cent.‘over the figures for the corresponding month of 1920. Production for the season to date shows an increase of 25 per cent., compared with the neriod ended December 31, 1926.

It is reported that an Oamaru resident who followed a somewhat humble occupation, and who has been sought for several years by a firm of solicitors, has been advised that he has become heir to a fortune of several thousands of pounds through the death of a relative (says the “Mail”). He has been the recipient of many congratulations.

Have hares acquired a “motor sense?” Judging by the remarks of a service car driver they must have (says the “Taranaki News”). A year or two ago a hare “put up” on the road would run for miles in front of a car, dazzled, it seemed, by the lights.' To-day, however, hares disturbed during their dust bath simply look, at the approaching and hop off to one side.

Three uniformed patrolmen to render service to motorists will be appointed immediately by the Auckland Automobile Association (reports an exchange). One man will be chiefly engaged in erecting sign-posts in the country, another will be employed on motor-cycle duty in the suburbs and country, and the third official will direct the patrol service and cover the popular routes near the cityKvitfi 'a motor-cycle outfit.

Philately—-the collection of stamps—claims many enthusiasts throughout the world, and collectors pay large sums of money for rare specimens. Al slight irregularity and a resultant short issue frequently creates a demand for a certain stamp, with the result' that the value of a specimen comes to be considerably greater than its intrinsic worth. Mr. W. G. Walklev, .of Hawera, is an enthusiastic collector of New Zealand and Australian stamps, and included in his collection are examples of short issues of unperforated stamps (states the “Star”). •In 1926 a fivepenny issue was not perforated on the side and bottom, and again in June of last year a sixpenny issue had no perforations, only a few blocks of each being printed, which naturally enhances their value. He also has a let-ter-card used in Noumea before 1885. It is marked “Societe Te Nickel, Noumea.” Priof to that date the Island of Noumea, a possession of France, had no stamp issue, and used French stamps superinscribed with the name of the island.

The large numbers of sheep on the roads leading from Poverty Bay at present will be augmented shortly by 3000 now being assembled from the Tokoniaru and Ruatoria districts (says the “Poverty Bay Herald”). This is a line of breeding ewes lor the Waikato, where thev are to be used for the fat lamb trade. In addition to those on the road northwards, numbers are being driven to Hawke’s Bay, to. which district 250 bullocks also at present are bound.

The maize crops in the Whakatane district are doing exceptionally well this year, the favourable weather experienced during the planting season enabling the crops to get well advanced before the dry weather set in (states an exchange). There is a large area under crop and growers are looking forward to record yields.

A atepayer of the Taranaki Electric Power Board, who apueared at a recent meeting, requesting that the availability rate be not levied on a section jointly leased bv a neighbour and the speaker, concluded the interview with a display of diplomacy worthy of a righteous cause (says the Eltliam “Argus”). “I wish to congratulate the board’s workmen on the way they’ put in the electric range at my place,” he - t said. “I do not know them personally, but 1 want to say here that there was no loafing on that job!” The smiles that lighted up the countenances of the board members found expression in Mr. R. J. Knuckey’s remark: "It is a pleasure to hear that statement, as the staff seldomreceive compliments from the ratepayers."

The rather shallow state of the Grey bar just at present recalls an unusual feat which was performed 4-1 years go by Captain Kitchingham, the master of the tug Dispatch (says the “Argus”). This was the towing of three vessels over the Grey bar at one time. The sight of four boats in one string was remarkable, arid one never seen before or since. The Dispatch went to sea to pick up the barque Examiner (Captain Clarkson), but Captain Kitchingham, finding 18 feet of water on a smooth bar, decided to make one job of it, and picked up not only the Examiner, but the brigantine Clarinda and the schooner Reward. A large crowd of townspeople witnessed the remarkable feat, and three hearty cheers were given for Captain Kitchingham.

A Te Awamutu motorist had a lively experience just before midday a few days ago (says the Waipa “Post”). He was motoring between Kihikihi and Te Awamutu when he noticed an unusual buzzing noise, and he stopped the car to investigate. The trouble turned out to be a big swarm of bees which were settling round the queen bee located just under the hood of the car. The motorist promptly set to work with his hat to dislodge them, and he must have .disturbed the queen, for gradually the number of insects under the hood diminished. He then jumped into his car and raced out of the danger zone, much pleased at his lucky escape, for he did not experience even one sting.

A large number of girls, usually employed as shop assistants (reports the Dunedin “Star”) are at present out of work, and a Trades Hall official stated that fewer casual hands had been placed this year than had even been in his experience previously, despite the fact that outwardly, at least, business had been quite as good as in previous years. • Another alarming phase is that male shop assistants from such outlying districts as Odmaru and Milton are going to the city in search of W’ork, an almost unheard of state of affairs for this time of the year.

A literal demonstration of the meanling of the figurative expression “a bolt from the blue” gave a young man in a Dunedin street an unpleasant shock early the other afternoon (says the “Otago Daily Times”). By the look on the unfortunate man’s face after he had regained his bearings it is to be feared that his curiosity concerning the peculiarities of English idiomatic usage was not such as to make a practical explanation altogether welcome. The young man was passing a warehouse, and was walkiftg on his right side of the footpath, when a sharp blow on the top of his head all but felled him to the ground. Bewildered, and it must be admitted, not a little annoyed, he fumbled with his soft felt hat for a few seconds, smoothing but the dents, and returning it to the correct angle, and then he turned to face his aggressor. However, he found reprisals unnecessary, for behind him lav the corpse of a common pigeon, which a few minutes before had been circling round the top of the ware house. The cause of the bird’s sudden fall to death is unknown, as the young man wasted no time on further investigation.