NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22617, 21 April 1948, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne National Savings The 11 main post offices in the Gisborne postal district each attained their weekly quota of national savings last week, the total for the district being £3887. Of this amount, £2485 was invested in Gisborne, while -investments in Ruatoria were £908; Waimana, £132; Tolaga Bay, £110; and Opotiki, £66. Conservation Subsidies A notable feature of a report received by the P.B. Catchment Board yesterday upon the administration of conservation subsidy schemes was the interest indicated on the part of Maori land-owners. Under the tree-planting £1 for £1 scheme, four applicants included three Maori land-owners, and the fourth was the East Coast Commissioner. Under the gully and stream control £3 for £1 scheme, all four of the applicants were Maoris; and under the minor riverbanks protection £2 for £1 scheme the * one applicant was also a Maori. Most of the work authorised under all three schemes was located in the Waiapu Valley. The total value of work approved was £494 Is. Pigeon Racing Season. The P.B. Central Homing Pigeon Society brought its second series of young-bird races to a close recently with a flight from Wellington, an airline distance of 250 miles. Adverse weather conditions were encountered over most of the journey, with the result that only three birds were timed in on the day, the winner covering the distance in 9hr. smin. Placed birds were; T. Crosby’s entry, velocity 817yds per min., 1; J. McLean’s bird, 693yds.’ per min., 2; E. Harvey’s bird, 692yds. per min., 3. The pool prize was won by T. Crosby. Points scored during the young-bird season are; T. Crosby, 19; R. Vaughan, 14; J. McLean, 13; C. Beer, 8; E. Harvey, 3; J. Wiren, 3. Mobile Film Unit Tour With a programme of films of general interest to the conservation-minded public, including one with special reference to Gisborne and the East Coast the Soil Conservation and Rivers’ Con- \ trol Board's film projection unit will visit Gisborne late in October, it was stated in a letter received by the P.B, Catchment Board at yesterday’s meeting. It was pointed out by Mr. H. J. F. Tombleson that the Gisborne dates were just prior to the annual Spring Show, and Mr. R. Graham asked that a request be made that the unit’s services be made available for both days of the Show. It was agreed that this would be highly desirable and Mr. Graham’s request was given effect to. Opossum Destruction In search of additional information regarding the habits of the opossum and methods of control of the pest, a wild-life control unit of the Department of Internal Affairs will continue the opossum destruction campaign started in this district last. year. Advice to this effect was received at yesterday’s meeting of the P.B. Catchment Board, which included provisions which the chairman of the board, Mr. J. K. Hair described as “escape clauses m relation to departmental responsibility for the investigation. Mr. R. Graham described the programme as mere apoeasement” by the department, and Hated that it would be interesting to know how much public and. private money had been spent in planting what was now only “oppossum-fodder.” He thought the board would soon have to consider setting up ah organisation to finance a wide-scale campaign for opossum destruction, and placing an obligation on all land-owners to clear their land. Other speakers supported Mr. Graham, and it was decided to thank"* ; the Department of Internal Affairs for its offer, and also to reiterate the board’s views on the necessity of destructive measures.