LOCAL & GENERAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11828, 9 January 1933, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

A Dauucvirke party spending the holidays in New Plymouth arc finely of the opinion that there is urgent need for a revision of railway charges. They are camping at New Plymouth and sent on by rail a small canoe made by themselves at a cost of 4s Gd. Imagine their surprise when, on calling to collect the canoe, they had to pay £1 freight.

A satisfactory feature of last week’s wool sale at Wellington (says Messrs. Dalgcty and Co.'s report), was the wonderfully good clearances made from all catalogues. For the past two years stocks of raw material have been building up in the Dornim ion, but now it seems evident that growers have made up their minds to meet the market and sell at current values. It would he a good thing for both growers and buyers of the 193*234 season in the Dominion could be started without any heavy carry-over and if the other centres in New Zealand have as good clearances throughout the selling season as was the case in Wellington, then the carry-over of old wools should he of small compass with the result that confidence would be more quickly restored.

Returns of the Gisborne Magistrate's Court were made available on Saturday. One of the features is the large increase in eases heard iu the Child Welfare Court. The figures for last year, with those for 1931 in parentheses, are as follows: —Police Court cases heard. —Males 790 (7*21), females 48 (38). Child Welfare Court cases 87 (49). Civil cases—plaints entered 1196 (1426); total amount sued for £19,620 19s fid (£23,430 13s 8d) Judgment summonses issued 247 (308); war rants of committal issued 36 (30); distress warrants issued 59; warrants for possession issued 7. Fines and fees paid in stamps £lßll 15s 6d (£2,” 623 13s 6d). There were 200 criminal and 74 civil sittings of the court during the year.

Caught in tho under-tow while bathing at Tolaga Bay beach last week, Ray and Bertie Smith, sons of Mr. and Mrs. K. F. Smith, had a very narrow escape from drowning. The lads were being rapidly swept out to sea, when their plight wsa noticed by Alisa Eunice Boroham who immediately swam out to their assistance and supported them until Mr. •G. Goodlcy also swam out, the two rescuers then bringing the children safely to the shore. Another drowning mishap was narrowly averted in tin? river, Dawn Holder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Holder, walked out of her depth and the tiny child was in very serious danger when her brother, Master G. Holder,' dived in, brought her to the surfaeo and tliou to tho shore, where she received first aid and speedily recovered.

Fifteen adult mudfish and a number of larvae specimens were liberated last week in a stream in the Otari Plant Museum. The fish were caught in springs at Masterton and their liberation in the Otari Plant Museum is part of.the effort which is being made to preserve -all fresh water fish that were indigenous to New Zealand ut the time of white colonisation.

A curious and rather valuable^ penny has-recently come into the possession of a Wanganui jeweller. It was so bright that lie tested it, and found a large proportion of gold. Then he remembered that in 1920 a large bar of gold accidentally fell into a vat of copper, from which pennies were being made. Most of them were recalled when the mistake was discovered, tut this one found its way to New Zealand.

.Man v farmers attended the Wellington wool sale, there being a large gallery of spectators throughout the day. ‘'Liven at the increased prices, wool values are still below the cost of production/’ said one farmer. “AU the same, it is gratifying to see the better tone of the market. It is a welcome change from the very low prices of the past. Jt i s these old bids that just about break one’s heart. You can’t sell rubbish to-day, indeed you can't give it away.'

An Auckland business man is searching in vain for a client who. he is convinced, tendered him a &10 note for a lOs note. A balance of the register revealed that the cash was e'J 10s -‘over/’ and the presence in the till of the note of larger denomination —change for that amount had not been given during the day—offered further proof of the error. ihe business man lias advert’sed and made personal inquiries, but so far be Ims been unable to trace the client to whom he is satisfied be owes £9 IC-s.

Thus Messrs. Levin and Co. in their report on the Wellington "00l sale. “The expectation uf a good clip fiom tho North Bland this year has not been realised except so - far as weight per head is concerned. The season has again been against the grower. It is a matter for regret that for several years now crossbreds generally, with certain exceptions, have not been U P to the old-time standard. Super crossbreds and super clips arc getting scarcer every year, and there is 15 eed for inquiry as to the causes and the remedy/’

A pleasing feature at Friday s "Wellington wool sale was the fact that buying was general and more widely spread than in December, (writes Messrs. Dalgety and Co. Ltd.) On crossbreds. English buyers were keen competitors, with Continental also bidding freely on such wools. The offering of what is generally known at the early sales in Wellington as super Romneys was considerably less than in years gone by, and for the Japanese and special English orders the shortage was responsible for especially keen competition on extra super lots.

For the past eight months a wellknown resident of Foxton has been exploring the markets of the East with the object of opening up a trade in canned eels. Recently a tiial shipment, packed in 2lb. tins, was dispatched, and the results hare exceeded all expectations. This is the first occasion that “tuna” have been shipped in cans, and the success to date suggests that the industry, if developed, will give work to many pakchas and Maoris. Like the Maori, the Oriental likes fish in any foim—fresh, dried, smoked or tinned. Although the rivers in the East cam eels, the fish are not plentiful. The Foxton man who was responsible for the first shipment of canned eels is at present making preparations for a shipment of New Zealand shellfish, and high hopes are held that this particular line will also find favour in the East.

»I was fortunate enough to be ni Japan during the chrysanthemum season; their methods, of growing and training these flowers borders almost on the miraculous/’ said Mr. O. M • S. Kolm, on liis return to Wellington after a visit to the East. “For instance,'” ho said, ‘‘they have life-size figures °f women dressed entirely in growing chrysanthemums. The blooms are very small —about the size of a sixpence—and it i s truly wondeiful the way they train the flowers to represent kimonos and various dress oinanients, of numerous colours, and by aome magical arrange input the blooms all come out'at the ono time. The roots of the plants fire concealed inside the figure. "The Japanese have a proverb," ‘Never say beautiful till you have seen Nikko/ and the ti.uth of that proverb is nut unearned. 1 was there when the maple loaves were showing autumn tints, and one day drove for five miles through a maple forest through which the light shone in a brilliant golden colour.”

Our prices defy competition. A. W. J. Mann,. Chemist;.