NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 133, 2 December 1935, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Missionary Contracts Leprosy.

After more than thirty years' service as a missionary in Fiji, the Rev. Father Leo Lejeune, S.M., of Cawaci, Fiji, has entered the Makogai leper hospital as a patient, states the "Press." Father Lejeune, who is 59 years old, visited Auckland twice recently on his way to and from Sydney. Father Lejeune is the second member of the Marist Mission in Fiji to contract leprosy during his missionary work. Father F. Nicholeau, S.M., became a leper patient and died at Makogai a few years ago. One of the nursing sisters, who founded the leper hospital, has also contracted the disease and has entered the compound for leprous women. The number of patients on the island has now increased to 550. Through the generosity of New Zealand seventy cases of gifts for the lepers at Christmas time has just been forwarded to Makogai. The Rose Still Popular. "Although it has been grown now for more than 2000 years the rose is still increasing in the popular fancy," remarked Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C., when he opened the rose show of the Canterbury Horticultural Society at the Caledonian Hall on Friday (states the "Press"). The Romans and the Greeks had loved the rose, he said, and for many people it was still placed above all other flowers. More attention in the future would be given to raising roses for their fragrance, he thought. People had for long enough considered only form and colour, but they were beginning to realise the delights of its fragrance. At the show, incidentally, there was a class which was judged for fragrance, although the bloom had to be up to show standard.

Big-game Fishing.

The well-known novelist and biggame fisherman Mr. Zane Grey, who on several previous occasions chose New Zealand for his fishing activities, this year intends to try the Australian coast and Tahiti, states a Eussell correspondent. Instructions have been received by Mr. Peter Williams, of Russell, who has been Mr. Grey's principal boatman on his several fishing trps to New Zealand, and has accompanied him to Tahiti and other places, to leave Auckland this week for Montague Island, Australia. Mr. Grey will pass through Auckland in the Mariposa towards the end of December on his way to Australia. Dr. Williams will ship his own deep-sea fishing launch Avalon to Sydney by steamer. The Avalon was built by Messrs. Collings and Bell, of Auckland, and is a sister launch to the Alma G., which was used successfully by Mr. Grey on visits to Russell. After fishing on the New South Wales coast, it is expected, Mr. Grey will go to the Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland, and from there to Tahiti.

Death of Baby Hippopotamus.

After surviving for two weeks, the fifth hippopotamus born at the Auckland Zoological Park has died. The cause of death is not known, but it is suspected that an accident may have befallen the young animal, although the recent changeable weather is advanced as an alternative reason. A post mortem is being held. The "New Zealand Herald" states that Bella, the large female hippopotamus at the zoo, gave birth to her first offspring seven years ago. However, the first infant was killed by Chucka, his father. The second offspring was Pondo, a handsome animal now at the Perth Zoo. Pondo's successor died of neglect, but yet another baby hippopotamus, named Maori, was born on New Year's Day, 1932, and later went to the Adelaide Zoo. Auckland Drainage. A thorough investigation of the drainage position in Auckland is being made by Messrs. E. F. Borvie, of Melbourne, and G. A. Hart, of Wellington, the two engineers engaged by the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board to report on the proposals for a complete metropolitan drainage scheme, states the "New Zealand Herald." These two experts commenced their task on November 18, and have been in close consultation with the board's engineer, Mr. H. H. Watkins. The visiting engineers have practically completed their investigation of the southern area of the proposed metropolitan drainage district, and are now considering all possibla schemes for that area. They have met a number of Government and local body officials concerned in the drainage problem. They have taken evidence and have obtained a great deal of valuable information from these officials. When this part of the investigation has been completed the engineers will take up the preparation of their report. No indication can at present be given as to when the report will be available, but in view of the magnitude of the inquiry it is not expected that it will be ready much before the end of the year.

Gannet Sanctuary.

A Napier resident who recently visited the Gannet Sanctuary at Cape. Kidnappers states that the steps constructed down the steep slope leading to the nesting ground at the end of the track are a very great improvement. Altogether fifty-six steps have been constructed, and it is unfortunate that funds do not now permit of the work being completed, as another 20 steps are required.

Native Birds in Wanganui.

The benefits of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society's scheme for the planting of eucalypti and other nec-tar-producing trees for native birds in portions of the city and in the country districts is being strikingly demonstrated at the present time, when the sweet notes of the tui and the bellbird may be heard even within range of the noise of city traffic. Virginia Lake, where many of these fodder trees have been planted, is a paradise for native birds, and their sweet notes add charm to the beauty of the lake reserve.

Colouring of Roses.

Though the wet season has adversely affected the growing of roses in Canterbury, there is one aspect in which it has proved beneficial, according to Mr. J. Poulsen, one of the judges of the rose section at the Canterbury Horticultural Society's show on Friday, states the "Press." He told a reporter that he had never seen such remarkable colourings as those in the roses this year, and this he ascribed to the cool weather. Hot sunshine bleached the roses, he said, and this was the reason why roses grown in New Zealand were found to have inferior colouring to that of roses grown in England. The conditions in Canterbury were even more unfavourable for colour than those in Auckland.

Car Caught in Sand.

Through the engine stopping on account of the failure of the benzine supply a large service car belonging to Hutley's Motorsfi Awanui, was caught on the Ninety Mile Beach, North Auckland, on Thursday night (states a Kaitaia correspondent). Although endeavours were made to get the car out they were not successful, and the rising tide caused an abandonment of the attempt. When the car stopped it was impossible for the occupants to push it above high water, so Mr. A. Hutley, who was driving, ran down the beach to Mr. A. Hawthorne's bach. Mr. Hawthorne was there witl. his car and proceeded to the scene. Attempts were made to haul the heavy vehicle out, but by this time it was firmlycaught in the wet sand and could not be moved. Two break-down trucks and equipment went out to the beach on Friday afternoon, and salvaged the damaged vehicle, which, had by then been buffeted by two tides. Fiji Goldfield. Recent developments in gold mining in Fiji were described on Friday by Mr. E. G. Banks, consulting mining engineer, of Melbourne, who was a passenger by the Monterey on his return to Australia, states the -"New Zealand Herald." "The Loloma mine continues to open up very satisfactorily, the most recent development being a cross-cut at 144 ft in the adit level,' said Mr. Banks. "This cross-cut was being driven towards the footwall of the lode, and at the tjme of my inspection a width of more than 30ft of 9oz ore was exposed and the footwall had not been reached. The adit level had reached a distance south of about 174 ft, and was still in payable ore. At least 1200 ft of highly-payable ore along the strike of the lode has been proved," said Mr. Banks. "At the time of my inspection the main shaft was down 120 ft, at which point No.'l level will be driven to intersect the lode." Mr. Banks said the Emperor mine was also opening up satisfactorily at depth. A discovery of rich ore on a lease situated about two miles east north-east of the Emperor mine had been made recently, and was now being developed by a Melbourne company. This indicated a possible extension of the goldfield. A power-house to supply power to the three leading mines, the Emperor, Loloma, and Koroere, was in the course of erection, and Diesel-elec-tric plant with a capacity of about 1500 kilowatts was being installed.

Sumner Estuary Channel.

The formation of a new channel in the Sumner Estuary near Shag Rock is proving to be of much interest to the residents of the borough as it promotes the thought that the old channel may yet come back to the pier at Cave Rock, states .the "Christchurch Star-Sun." The new channel has cut across the tongue of sand that formed an extensive beach at the end of the sand spit on the New Brighton side, and has opened up water on the spot where the Scout ship floated as it was brought up the river about ten years ago. It is thought that . the water directed by this channel will scour out the accumulations under the Clifton Heights and erode a deep channel towards the pier which at present is almost buried in sand drifts. Meantime, the estuary beach, which for some years has been much patronised by motorists, has entirely disappeared at this point, and fishermen can cast out their lines over the spot where many cars used to park.