LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVIV, Issue 2, 3 January 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The proposed Manuhgrikia. Falls dam to be erected by. the Government ia to be the biggest in the South Island and one of the most capacious in the Southern Hemisphere. It will enable all the country between St. Bathans arid Clyde to be irrigated from the' Mamiherikia River. The godwit, or enipe, which, is best known, for its long migratory .flight to Liberia, and its return to the Dominion some time in December, has not yet made its appearance in Southland this year to any great extent, but it is anticipated that by the time the season to shoot these birds comes,round, they will be as plentiful as in former years. The local season, Bays the "Southland Times," will in all probability commence on Ist February, the same as in former seasons, and will extend over a period of three months, after' which the shooting of such birds is prohibited. The Dunedin Customs returns for the month ended 31st December, amounted to £71,091 10s Bd, compared with £45,999 2s for the corresponding period last year, states a Press Association message. The net beer duty for the month amounted to £34,084 17s, as against £24,692 8s Id for December last year. For the past three months' Customs returns were £203,675 12s 4d, compared with £205,450 14s 8d for "the December quarter of 1923. Beer' duty for the quarter ended 31st December amounted to £65,674 11s 7d, as against £63,758 15s sd, collected in the last quarter of 1923. A deaf and dumb Maori girl, Ihinera Waikare, pleaded guilty at Tokomaru Bay and was committed for sentence for forging a cheque. She had received a cheque for £9 12s for work done during s£? aring ' and had altered the figures to £90- 12s and cashed the cheque. The girl tooic a lively interest in the case, and by reading the depositions was able to attest the accuracy of the evidence. ? rl-.°r vs'y enough, she had no knowledge of Maori (states the "New Zealand Herald ). When the document relating to the committal to the Supreme Oourt was handed to her to read she intimated that she had nothing to say 5™ d ,oSired to Plead Bu{lty- The sum of ±/70 12s was recovered.

The gift of a selection of typical Maori curios was made to the visiting Samoan Faipule by the members of the Auckland Institute and Museum. Sir Edwin Mitchelson, president of the Institute welcomed the chiefs at the Museum and Dr. P. H. Buck conducted the visitors over the building and described the most interesting features of the Maori court (reports the "New Zealand Herald.") The guests were greatly attracted by the Maori carvings and the mat and stone work. The gifts comprised stone beaters stone sinkers, wooden spears, a korowai mat, a waist mat, and a canoe paddle. The spokesman for the faipule extended thanks for the curios, and said that they would be greatly treasured by the Samoans as tokens of friendship from their Maori kinsmen.

Mother Mary Aubert and the Sisters of Compassion desire to thank the following donors of Christmas gifts to their homes, whose names were unfortunately omitted from the list previously published:—Dr. Mackin, Captain and Mrs. Grey, Messrs. L. Blundell, E W Kane, W. Watson, F. C. Clayton, D. Parker, Peare, Devine, Hackett, Higgins, B. Doherty, D. Burke, Walker, J J L. Burke, 0. Abbott, Eccles Buckley. Giles, Stevenson, Wells, M'Guira, Kitto, Gibbs, Mason, Bartosh, W. Quin Coleman,' Dunnehy, Kelly, Wong Poy, Mesdames Putnam, A. Levy, R. " Dwyer, Gleeson, M. O'Connor, Outtrim, Congreve, Moloney, Chamness Sheehan Gnmea, Black, Camnbell, Harrington, M'Carthy, Boudine, Jones, W. Reid, E. W. Gibbs, Holley, Andrews, Scanlon, Corry, Duncan, Burge, Beauchamp, Coleman, Coady, Hoban, Diamond, Corby, Tasker; Misses Whelen, L Abbott Clancy, Fitzgerald, M'Donald, Peters, Weight; and the Marist Brothers.

On the Ist and 2nd instant there assembled in Wesley Hall, Taranaki street delegates to the Fourth Annual Convention o! the New Zealand Methodist Young Men's Bible Cjlass Movement. .Reports presented showed the movement to be in a, virile condition, with a membership of 2228. Much organisation and re-organisation work has been done during the past year through the movement's travelling organiser. Plans for the forthcoming year show that effort is to be made to consolidate the existing forceSj and to organise those districts remote from the larger centres. Eesolutions were adopted pledging the support of the- movement in the prohibition cause, and also recommending members to support in every possible way the League of Nations Union. A scheme for the training of the leaders of the classes affiliated to the movement was adopted. In view of the importance of youth .work the convention set up a committee to inquire into and report on this question. Canterbury fruitgrowers are experiencing the worst season they have known, icr at least 12 yean and probably longer quickly. There has not been enough eun to give it body, and the consequence is that the fruit rots very quickly. Fruit Purchased on Thursday is likely, to bs bad next day, consequently there as been a- slump at the markets. Wednesday 3 buyers were very cautious. In the opinion of one man who has beeu connected with fruit for 20 years the iruit at present is suffering from a root disease that has been developed this year by the unfavourable weather conditions. He pointed to cases of fruit picked as lately as a day or two ago in which signs of decomposition were already beginning to show (states a correspondent). There is plenty of fruit offering. Large quantities have been forwarded to market in anticipation of the holiday season demands, but buyers state that the demand is going off. They are afraid to take the risk of not having a quick turnover, and consequently prices are very low. Against this, however tha proportion of loss is heavy.

Whether as an expression of general good feeling at the weather for the holidays or for the beginning of another year, or perhaps merely for the fun of the thing, several big flocks of starlings put on a series of "stunts" over Kilbirnie and Lyall Bay for the best part o, an hour last evening, just before sundown. There were several hunirad birds all told, and they stunted according to a tet programme. Scouts l«ft. lor the ivest. and the main flocks falowed a few minutes later; after ten minutes or ao the scouts returned, moting a big fus about things, but nothing like the fuss which followed <vhen U:p flocks came back, with full power on, flyirig all out When, they reached :i point over* a fairly extensive clump of pines, "Horn.'." apparently, each flock tanked sharply with rigid wings, cufc .i lew figures, and settled down for a rest before s^ung out towards rundown again. The astonishing feature of the manoeuvres was the noise which the 'birds made when they banked with wings spread wide, a swishing roar, which could be heard a, couple of hundred yards away. In the hour the bird power they used up must have been tremendous, but evidently they enjoyed themselves.

An eminent engineer, acting Tinder« the instructions of the Minister of Transport, has for some time past been studying the problem of contracting a road under the Thames between Kent and Essex at Tilbury, states "The Boadmaker" in a recent issue. As soon as his investigations are completed the Ministry will consider the carrying out of the scheme. When Batana and his party were in Japan a young Japanese of good rank seemed to take quite an interest in the Maori visitors, and as a result his parents agreed that he should accept an invitation of Ratana to come to New Zealand. The Japanese is about 20 years of age, and since he linked .up with the Maori travellers he has devoted himself to learning the language (states a Wanganui correspondent). He has made wonderful progress, and at Eatana is now almost like a Native, so quickly has he adapted himself to Maori customs and conditions. He is quite happy and well, and it seems doubtful if. he -will go back to Japan after Easter as intended. Batana's daughter, and a member of his party, were married in Japan by a Japanese bishop. It is Eatana's intention to publish a- book on his travels. There will be both Maori and pakeha editions. A shortage of wheat was predicted for the coming harvest, and it is probal« that as a result of the floods during the week-end in mid-Canterbury and the heavy rains in North Canterbury, the shortage will be greater than waß anticipated (states a- correspondent). In some districts a fair amount of wheat was in stock, and the heavy fall of moisture has caused a lot of this to commence to decay. Large areas of standing wheat have been flattened down, and in districts where rust has' made an appearance very little of the flattened wheat will rise again. In the Oxford district there were signs of rust before the heavy rainfall, and in the few days that have elapsed since the rain the rust has got a. grip of the wheat. A spell of dry weather will help matters, but at the same time the yield will' be much less than at first, estimated. Bust has gained a strong hold in the wheat belt of mid-Canterbury. A farmer from that district stated today tfiat the loss would be well over 10 bushels to the acre over that area.

A sad sequel to a motoring totir occurred early.this week, when an Auckiander, Mr. F. E. Abbott, died as the result of -injuries received while attempting to remove his car from niud in the road near Mount Messenger in Taranaki The party (states "The Post's" Auckland correspondent, which included Mr. John Dawson, Mr. Abbott and his mother, Mrs. A. Abbott, of Auckland, left to tour the North Island in two motor-cars. All went well until they approached Mount Messenger, where a very bad stretch of road was encountered. The foremost car, driven fy jr- Dawson, successfully negotiated the dangerous quagmire, but the second, driven by Mr. Abbott, got stuck. Mr! Abbott mads strenuous efforts to get his car out, and with the aid of Mr IJawson, this *'as accomplished On the party's arrival at New Plymouth, it was found that Mr. Abbott had badly overstrained himself in his efforts to remove the car. At mid-night he collapsed, suffering from the bnrstin- of a blood vessel in the brain. Medical aid vlr^^V 31"1 the young m an dle d at an early hour the following mormng. Mr. F. R. Abbott, who was 20 years of age, was highly popular and showed coLiderableT pi£ mise He was a surveyor's,cadet, 4n-' ployed m Mr. Dawson's office Keen sympathy is felt for.Mrs. Abbott, whose husband late Colonel p. w A bbott, DS.O died suddenly at sea. 12 years ago, when returning from England to d&ct! 1^9 °{ th» AucWand Winter?

Only three boats took part in the Wh aan/ a aC" 'tTI RuSSe" *<> OneraSi.in tie TSr (-TH?rbOUIJ were-'Wai-teiß.ll. Mane, and Ngaru. The start was. made at 8.46 a.m. on Tuesday, Mane having 45 minutes and Ngaru ole AuTkW drV rO7V h6 Winnei? °f "he Auckland to Russell race. The boats set out m a ram squall and in a fairly stiff breeze off the land, but before reaching Cape Brett, they experienced l™»2 % ler% IL J hßd was somewhat reduced. Cape Brett was rounded by the Waitere at 11 a .nL, and the wind having backed from northwest to south-west and freshening, the °?u T^ 8 Off Wide Berths at 1-30 P.m , with the Jigaru and Marie well back. A stiff squall of short duration was met necessitating lowering; away (states the New Zealand Herald"). The conditions were unusual because a short, while later the Waitere again became becalmed. By then she had more than regained the handicap. When a breeze arrived it rapidly increased to half a gale. Off Tutukalca an exceptionally heavy squall was encountered, and all canvas except two headsails was again taken in. The Waitere, which was over an hour's sail ahead, pushed on and reached Whangarei Heads by 10 o clock at night. The Marie and Naaru ran for shelter in Tutakaka, At dusk ™l had- $ ed, away. and ' beating up Whangarei Harbour against the ebb tide with very light breezes, the Waitere did not cross the line off the Onerahi Wharf until 4.50 a.m.' on Wednesday the trip having been accomplished m just over 20 hours. Nearu secured second ;prize..

It has been common knowledge for a I week or two that tha cattle tick had bean discovered iv the Taranaki district, but pending the fullest investigations the Stock Department has not conjsidered it necessary up to the present ! stage to declare the locality where the tick was found infested. -The facts are that three ticks were found on a cow on a five-acre .holding at Waitara, on the right bank of the river below the bridge and adjoining the sandhills, where the cow had free range. These ticks were sent to Wellington, states the "Taranaki Herald," where they were recognised as specimens of the Indian tick, which is found over a large area of country north of Auckland, and also in a few localities south of Auckland. Dr. Eeakes at once came to Waitara to make investigations, and the local staff of the Department . concentrated its whole efforts on preventing the spread of the pest and stamping it out. Another cow belonging to the same man was. found to be carrying a few ticks, and when the cattle on adjoining properties were rounded up a few more were discovered. The owners of cattle on, this small area were forbidden "to mifve them, and steps were at once taken to eradicate the tick •by treatment of the cattle and by cutting and burning the rough growth on the sandhills. At the same time careful search was made outside this small area. A very close inspection was' made of travelling cattle and of cattle grazing on farms in the vicinity, but without any further discovery being made. Whatever the origin, Dr. Reakes states that his Department is ; taking every possible precaution against the spread of the tick and adopting every measure that experience can suggest to, eradicate it where it has' been found.

Wellington competitors carried off the majority of the dancing and piping prizes at the Wairarapa Caledonian sports on New Tear's Day, securing ho less than 28 firsts, 13 seconds, and two thirds. There was a daring burglary at Plowman and Co'.'g, aerated water manufacturers, at Hastings, on Thursday nieht,says a Press Association message. " A. safe was carted a mile away, and broken open in a poddock, and cash amounting to about £30 and a number of cheques taken. ■ The working plans for the new municipal concert hall in Christchurch are now being proceeded with by the architects, Messrs. Dawe and "Willis, and it is anticipated that they will be completed before the end of February (states ths "Lyttelton Times").. Tenders for the ■ erection of the hall will then be called, and the contract will probably be let before the completion of the piesent council's term of office in April next. Authority for the erection of tht concert hall was granted by a poll pf the ratepayers in April, 1923, but" it was not until Ist December last that the seating accommodation was definitely fixed for 1500 people. "I know nothing whatever abont it" said Mr. James Whitley, when asked by a "Timaru Post" reporter, as to whether he had any definite word concerning the fortune of £1,500,000 said to have been left him and his sister tht late Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, of Christchurch, by their aunt, Rachel Higgins, o! Chicago. "Papers were brought to me, he said, and I did what was asked oi me; I supplied whatever particulars 1 had. I may say that I have never seen my aunt, but I have corresponded with her several times. My sister wrote and Elizabeth Whitley (that is the late j £ rTvn)', and their children Beyond that I know nothing. Thsre has not been sufficient time for word to come

The twentieth century ha« not merely STTW tra?°to a *■* «rt£sTß has called into existence, an entirely new "Tif £ ' affwn, remarks a writer in Ihe Roadmaker." In speed, weight, size and volume, the traffic of to-day is past all comparison with the traffic ol i»fty, or even twenty, years ago. It was inevitable that the roads-should fail to keep pace with this extraordinary revolution in the work they have to do. Wa taKe things so much for granted that we are very apt to forget how gieath and how quickly conditions have chaii^ ea; future generations may speak of tne transport revolution as we speak of the industrial revolution. But it. i t essential that steps should be taken tc bring loads up to modem requirements. And modern requirements should include not only to-day's necessities but a;st> future possibilities. It is very unlikel ; that we have yet seen the zenith of road transport; all the indications point to great extensions.

One of the most interesting stories of modern fruitgrowing. attaches to a liiiy black fly known as the aphelinus ma.!, and through its use New Zealand leads the world in the combat against that deadly pest, .woolly aphis. The first supplies to come to Poverty Buy were sent to ths then local orchard inspectc-, Mr. M. Davey, a little over a year it'-o and liberated in a number of orchards. One of these was at Manutuki, where the aphelinus was-liberated'' toward tha close of last season. Going over this orchard on Thursday even a laymau could see the wonderful result (states a correspondent). Last year the woolly aphis was very bad in the orchard and the- owner spent £9 on spray. The spraying occupied a month, and at the end of- that time the trees "that had been sprayed first were again bad with the a.phis. To-day, however, there is practically no aphis in the orchard, and what remains is rapidly being killed on. bince the introduction of the parasite there has naturally been a great demand for it from all classes of fruitgrowers, and at the pre^t time there ISffl a 9?K W Alting list at the Gisborne office of the Agricultural Department. cJ^^t is.<?aimed to be the largest . catch of rainbow trout obtained on .like liotorua tins season was registered by two visiting enthusiasts— Messrs. John Devine, of Sydney and H. C. Thomas, of Sourabaya, m the I'af East-last Sunday During the day they caught 36 rainbow trout ranging in weight from 81b to olb. Ihe average weight of the fish was estimated at from four to five pounds. The two fishermen set out early in the morning on a launch and pushed backwards and forwards along the lake all day. A nickel and copper spoon baib was used and they attribute their sue cess to this, coupled with the fact that they kept moving. "The conditions were very favourable," commented Mr. Dcvirie._ "There was an off-shore wind ' blowing all day, and consequently hundreds of ladybirds—an insect that trout relish—were blown on to the lake. In fact, most of the trout we opened contained ladybirds." , Mr. Devine said that the condition of the fish was splendid all of them being fat and healthy, the' fishing was altogether wonderful and Mr. Deviue and Mr. Thomas axs full of praise for the sporting proclivities of Lake Eotorua (states the "New Zealand Herald.") There were many boats on the lake during the day, but most of the parties obtained only mediocre catches This is probably owing to the fact that the majority of the boats remained anchored.

Not * few West Coast miners may be aeen m the week-ends around Greymouth at-the wheels of their own motors, handsome touring cars that a pro-d fessional man might envy. ■ Most' of"~ the owners, if not all, are members of co-operative mining parties whose six days arduous toil each week is requited, not with the ordinary wage but with a full share of the profits derived by the respective parties to which they oelong. Apart from the fact thai it reflects a degree of thrift for which tbo miner is not usually given credit,, su--k evidence of opulence naturally attracts the curiosity of the visitor. There ;i no reticence on the part of the u-.iot'f that the co-operative parties, once El-.cir initial difficulties are surmounted, p^.-.s. per, because the mine in which i;*ey work'is theirs and because each man is efficient. It ib for that reason the n.-sa are chosen (states a Christchurch -■■.-. respondent). Only on the Wett Ci\U> are co-operative mines to be found. 1 ■■•■•{ the principle of industrial co-ope/at'on has been applied elsewhere in tunneling contracts. A comprehensive outline of the progress of the system in the past three years was given by P C. Webb, who stated that what was being vdone at the mines, and what had been done in tunnelling contracts, was bnt the embyronio state of a much wider application of the sytem. Negotiations for the piercing of the duplicated Lyttelton tunnel had been s u e gested, he stated and .he understood that a party would be ready to under by Mr. Webb, who was manager of the Orongorongo contract, that if the pie-c----ing of the Lyttelton tunnel were* conducted on the same basis the work could be completed tw«. years sooner than' would otherwise be possible. ■• If the co-operative plan ha§ been applied to Otira tunnel,* he added, " trafns would have been running through to GrcvT^'V 914- Webb •**»«!y advocated the carrying out of the lyUdton tunnel duplication by co-onerVive •Mem, itatbg tiat the time and inonev