LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 January 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Contrary to rumour current in Auckland on Wednesday, says the Star, H.M.S Diomede has not been ordered off to the China station, nor has all leave been stopped. The usual peace-time noutine runs the even tenor of its way. Stray schnapper of remarkable size have been caught from time to time in the waters of Sunshine Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound. Last year a 29-pound-er was landed, and the other day another fine fish was captured. This fish weighed 201 b., was 3ft 2in in length and 24in in girth. During the recent period of fine weather excellent progress was made with the work of extending the New Plymouth breakwater, and, provided favourable conditions prevail, it is hoped to complete the remaining 30C feet within a comparatively short time. —Taranaki Herald. The hybrid blueberry, a fruit similar to the guava, which has widespread popularity as a pie fruit in the United States, has been successfully introduced into New Zealand. Four special root plants were given to Dr. Tillvard, of the Cawthron Institute, by the United States Government in 1923, and they were entrusted for experimental purposes to the Nurserymen \s Association. A Wellington message announces that the New Zealand Times will cease publication after January 22. It is understood the goodwill has been disposed of to the Dominion, shareholders of the Times receiving consideration in .shares in the Dominion, so that, in some respects it is. an amalgamation of the- two papers. The Times retains its promises and plant, which are not included in the' transaction. A, fire at McGmer’s drapery establishment mi Mawhera. Quay, Greymouth, last night gutted the building, destroying stock worth about £'12.000 while the building, owned by Mr. McKay, of Christchurch, is worth about £OOOO. Several surrounding buildings, ouch as fhe National Bank, Ashby Bergb and Co., and Harker’ss bakery, had a narrow escape, the location of the fire being the centre of a block. The insurance is not yet available. Brown rot has appeared in the AYairoa orchards, and with disastrous results to the owners. Early peaches and plums have been badly infected, and in some orchards the whole of the crops have been destroyed. Last year the weather was dry. and consequently there was very little brown rot, but this year, with such a large amount of moisture, it appears to' have spread over the whole district.—Napier Daily Telegraph. About a thousand Maoris are assembled at Ngarunwahia to take part hi the tangi being held in connection with the death of the Maori Chief. Poltaia Tmviao, aged 4S years, who died at Aotea Kawhia. The body was brought to Ngarunwahia. An exchange reports that amongst the assembled visitors are prominent ehiefs from Tauranga, Taumarumii, and Matamat.a. The casket is lying in a specially made hut, surrounded with native mats. The deceased was a brother of the late -Maori “King” Mahuta. and is therefore, an uncle of. the present head chief Rata. Trouble has arisen at "WoodviHe reports a Hawke’s Bay paper, between the borough, council and the town clerk and engineer (Air. Howard Bickford) and the borough foreman (Mr. A. IT. (Viler )in regard Jo the reservoir and water supply, .and the filling of the municipal baths during the recent holidays. As a. result of a special meeting of the council on Fridav last, both officials 1 were dismissed. Air. Bickford has been in the employ of the con mV in various capacities for the past- 2” vears. and Air. Fuller also has beer for many years in the employ of the council. It is stated that there is likelihood of an appeal to another tribunal from the council's decision. Bure cane sugar produces the best vinegar. Try Sbarland’s Table Vinegar and prove it. In bottle or bulk. Best for all purposes. 1

The Hawera Borough Council publishes a notice in this issue with reference to the requirements of .regulations controlling the sale of foodstuffs. The council intends to take action in all cases where the regulations have not been complied with by April 1 next. -Recording the visit of the linen- Carintiiia to that “wonder .spot/’ Milford s>ound. one of the tourists writes to an Australian paper as follows: ‘‘Many Americans declared that Mir,lord Sound was me most beautiful of its kind in the word, excelling the fiords of Norway and Alaska. Others agreed that, wh'i]e lacking the variety or the Alaskan fiords. Milford Sound was much bolder in outline, and had a more dramatic entrance. The Carinthia is the biggest ship to make the sound, and carried the first tourists to visit there in sixteen years.”

Some people of poor public spirit, and a frame of mind which would be the better off for punishment, committed an act of vandalism last evening on the Waihi road. The- South Taranaki Automobile Association erected a camp site sign directing visiting motorists to the accommodation provided for tourists at the A. and I\ grounds. The persons* whose actions are complained of tore down the notice and threw it into the hedge on the opposite side of the road.

After the severe hailstorm which occurred in Hastings a few weeks ago, it was estimated (according to a Hawke’s Bay journal) that the damage to the orchards in the district wound amount to at least £30,000. In the opinion of the Hastings orchard instructor, Mr N. Adamson, however, this estimate was rather on the high side, and he stated last week that the damage would probably run into something between £16,000 and £20,000. However, one of the growers who was among those; affected by the storm, reaffirmed the opinion that the damage would run to at least £30,000.

According to the New York special correspondent of the Daily Mail, the municipality of that city has decided to spend £.3.000,000 on the construction of an overhead highway, five miles in length and 65ft in breadth, to relieve existing traffic congestion. The road will be 20ft above Eleventh Avenue, which runs along the shore of the Hudson River, and by means of it access to every part of .the city should be easy. Accommodating six lines of traf-' fie, the road will have at regular intervals ramps to enable vehicles to enter or leave it. The elevated way will be constructed of steel and concrete, and the two outer tracks will be reserved for slow vehicles, allowing free passage for fast cars.

Criticism of the attitude of the Government in connection with the whealindustry was voiced at a meeting of growers held at Ashburton yesteuL. under the auspices of the mid-Canter-bury Executive of the Farmers I n ton. It was resolved unanimously: “That this meeting of wheat growers views with alarm the present position of the wheat industry in view of the fact that the price mentioned for the incoming crop of wheat is» nob a payable one, would inflict very great hardships on the smaller wheat farmers, and would result in a large deeiease in the area, being placed under cultivation next season. We, therefore, urge upon Cabinet the necessity of upholding an industry which is absolutely essential to the welfare of the whole of New Zealand. Immediate action on the part of the Government is necessary in order to safeguard the position.”

A splendid panorma of the Bay of Plenty is now obtainable by visitors to White Island, owing to a well-grad-ed pathway, which has been cut across the top of'the island, writes a Wbakatane correspondent of the Wellington Post. Tourists may now travel over this track, and behold sights which hitherto could not be witnessed. On Monday a party of visitors from Whale at,arm visited' the island, and. made use of this track. They found that the blowholes were very active, although no steam could be observed from the mainland. The main blowhole bad altered in appearance, and steam and gas were issuing from three apertures. As the gaseous fumes were belched forth the stones forming the top became red hot. The health of the Maoris of New Zealand during the past year has been very good (says the Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times), the native people having experienced no serious epidemics in that time, according to Dr. P. H. Buck, director of Maori hygiene. Most of Dr. Buck’s work is in the North Island, as in the South Island the Maoris, who number only about 2000, live under conditions practically' identical with those of the Europeans.” “There has been a steady' improvement of the living conditions of the Maoris in the various villages,” said Dr. Buck, “and the health problems have been solving themselves to some degree by the individualisation of the lands, the breaking up of the communal system, aud the aggregation of the people all together in villages. The Maori health councils throughout the country have been doing a good deal of work, and in many districts, notabl.y Tauranga, Arawa, and the King Country, these bodies have been instituting water supplies. The improvement in the natives’ health in many villages have been due largely to the practical work of the district nurses. Over 20 nurses have been emplo.yed in the more populated districts. Working under the Department of Health they go round the villages and lecture to the mothers and others, instructing them in infant feeding, invalid cooking, care of the sick, etc. By- exercising a careful watch over the villages as regards sickness, these nurses have also been able to nip in the bud epidemics in the nature of typhoid. ’ ’

The Rev. \V. J. Ox-brow will conduct the services in the Jlawera Methodist Church to-morrow. During the evening service a duet will he. rendered bv Miss Norah "Mills and Miss Grace McDonald.