NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 6, 9 January 1928, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Foot-and-Mouth Disease. Information Has been received by the Department of Agriculture that further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in live stock have occurred in Britain, and accordingly the Department is not sparing any efforts to prevent its introduction into New Zealand. The officers of tho Department have kept a close watch ou tho position for some time past, and the regulations framed last year have been, and will continue to be, strictly enforced. The outbreaks in Britain are regarded as very teerious. The position there is. being watched closely by tho . High Commissioner's Office, which is constantly informing the Department of Agriculture on the matter. The Dircctor-Oeneral of Agriculture (Dr. C. J. Beakes), who is now in England, has cabled to the Department as follows: —"Several further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. Position serious. See that straw packing regulations are strictly enforced." A Pleasant Intermediary. The sight of a sleek cat wandering j over the Invcrcargill Post Office counters on Christmas L'vo with a label attached to its neck created the ininrcs-1 sion that the cat was intended for transmission through the post and probably as a Christmas-box (says the "Otago Daily Times"). A perusal of tho words on the la.bel, however, show- i ed that it was merely a novel method of conveying the season's greetings from the post office oftioinls to (lie public. Found Unsuitable. Lovers of deep-sea lishiug who had hopes of enjoying their sport within a short distance of Napier, without having to make the long journey to the Bay of Islands, will no doubt feel disappointed that the party which recently tried out the now grounds do not recommend tho Hawkes Bay waters as suitable, says the "Hawkes Bay Herald." Messrs. F. G. Smith, jun., P. G. Woon, and A. E. O'Mcara struck bad weather on the' trip, and saw no sign of big lis'h, although they had been given to understand by settlers along the const that big sharks frequented the locality, and a mako had only two or three weeks ago been washed up on the Opoutama beach. What they did see was thousands of crayfish, snapper, and blue cod, also porpoises, and a large school of kinglish and kahawai. Tho chief reason for the unfavourable report of the parly on the Mahia grounds was that there was no shelter. To get shelter a launch would have to run fifteen miles to Wajfcokopu, and always if a southerly gale sprang up the fishers would be taking their lives in their hands. Tho peninsula was too exposed —not like tho Bay of Islands, where a launch could find shelter within twenty minutes. Because of the rough weather, said Mr. Smith, the party did not extend its explorations to the area round about Bull Rock, on the other side of Mahia. A Near Tiling. At a meeting of the North Egmont Committee on Thursday afternoon . a discussion ensued with reference to the danger in dry periods of: lighting fires near forests, says tho "Taranaki Herald." It was stated that recently a farmer near Kaitake set fire to some fern, with tho result that tho forest reserve and a plantation of Taranaki Forests, Ltd., was in grave danger for some time. But for the strenuous efforts of employees of the forestry company- in beating out the fire, hundreds of acres of valuable bush might have been destroyed as well as young plantations. Members of tho Park Committee carried a resolution expressing appreciation of the splendid services rendered by the forestry company's employees in checking the fire and so saving the bush in the National Park. Firsthand Evidence. In the middle of a lecture at ihc Workers' Education Summer School at Mothven a wild-looking man sudden- j ly dashed on tho stage behind the speak- ] or, closely followed by a woman whom lie, hurriedly embraced, just as a masked figure, close behind, shot at tho man, who fell heavily, and was dragged out by the heels. The whole thing only took ten seconds, says an exchange. The audience was very much relieved when Professor Shelley announced that it was really only a psychological test as to the reliability of the evidence. Each tsiudent was then asked to write an exact account of what happened, and Lo answer a number of questions in the same connection. A great variety of happenings were recorded. Finally, the actors went through the scene in slow motion, proving how unreliable first- ! hand evidence may be. Dr. A. W. Hill's Visit. Another alteration has to be announced regarding tho visit of Dr. A. AY. Hill, curator of Kew Gardens. It wns announced on Friday that owing to altered steamer arrangements Dr. Hill would come to Auckland instead of Wellington, as originally intended, and would arrive there by the Ulimaroa ou 24th January. Tho Department of .Scienti/ic and Industrial Research has to-day received a cable message J'rom Dr. Hill, slating that he is leaving Melbourne for Wellington by the Manuka on 18th January.. ' I

Stingrays in Auckland Harbour. yuilo a number of large stingrays liavi: been hooked by fishermen in Devouport during tho past week, states the ''Auckland Star." One of enormous size was hauled up on the beach on the western side of Calliope Dock, and attracted a good deal of attention. When tiie tide receded, and tho fish found itsi'li' high and dry, it emitted a sound like tlie burking of a dog, and swished its long tail in a furious way from side ! to idc. A well-known coastal captain said that of all the harmless fish in the sea he thought tho stingray for its size showed the least inclination to attack. It always tried to scuttle ttway out of danger, and only used its powerful barbed .sting in self-defence. He would never allow any of his family to kill them when they caught them, because they were such harmless fish. The Maoris, who had a good knowledge of fish, never dreaded them, but if they did happen to get stung by one of them, poured boiling water on the wound, which, while it was a painful cure, seemed to bo a sure one. Bathers ' splashing in the water would soon frighten stingrays, which would try and get away as quickly as they could. They wore a genus of fish including the skate, the thornback, and the torpedo. Hailing Passing Ships. Cries were heard by soma of the passengers of tho Tamahinc when she was rounding Point Halswcll on her return to Wellington from Picton last night. Whether llieso cries were for help, or whether they were merely from someone hailing the ship, it was impossible to ascertain, as tho vessel was nearly alongside the wharf when the captain was informed. Tho Harbourmaster (Captain J. E. Dawson) wts notified of the occurrence, and Captain Peterson, of the pilot staff, took out the launch Arahiua. For over an hour and a half a thorough search of t.io harbour around Point Ualswell was made, but without result. Several other ships inwardbound kept a look-out, but they could see no sign of anyone. There have been several rowing boats out on the harbour until late at night recently, and there is a possibility that the cries heard may have been from tho occupants hailing the ship. The tarbourmastcr said this morning that it is nothing unusual to have .people hailing passing ships from small boats in the harbour, and even from the shore, and he pointed out how unnecessary this is. To those on board the ships people calling out in mere fun may sound as though they are calling, for assistance, and tho result is that considerable time is lost and anxiety caused by making a search. German Prices versus British. The threat of competition in trade from Germany was referred to by tho Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coatcs) in a speech at Buawai. He said he had been shown a card quoting prices of tools made in Germany, all of which were used by farmers, at Is 9d each and British at 5s each. While tho Government advised preference to British goods tho British manufacturer would have to get his prices down to meet competition, said tho Prime Minister.