LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 27 January 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■Ratana was! the Mecca of natives from, all parts of the island on Tuesday when the new temple was formally opened and dedicated, in the presence of a very large attendance. The occasion was made a gala day among the Maoris, and picturesque scenes were witnessed. —Wanganui Chronicle. On Monday afternoon, Harold Walter Reid aged 31, an Australian born, 6ft lin in height, with a pale complexion, dark hair and brown eyes, escaped from the Etako prison (near Trentham), states a Wellington message. _ His escape remained unnoticed until rounding up time. He was seen at Upper I-lutt in the evening, but bolted through, the scrub and gorse towaids the river and hills when the police were communicated with.

The presence of “feekies,” or octopodes in shallow water near where children paddle is always an unpleasant feature (says the Southland Times). On Saturday, Mr Paul McQuarrie observed a couple of these creatures in the vicinity of the passenger anproach at Bluff, and, procuring a three-pronged spear, was able to dispatch them both. An observer expressed the opinion tha-t they were the largest that he had seen in the neighbourhood. It is a fact which keen observers of athletics have noticed + + the 'Starters' have much more trouble with, the limit men than tW- '"' >l l hack. This was the ease yesterday. Lamb and Rose were always on the mark waiting, whereas men with good starts were frequentlv behind time and had to be appealed to. Thie cry ‘‘Are vou ready! Are vou ready!’’ is as annoying to spectators and starters as it is to the: scratch men.

Although he suffered from a fracture of the spine through being gored by a bull at the Metropolitan Show at Christchurch in November last, William Templeton, an elderly man, to-day can walk about and is on the high road to recovery. Dr Fox, superintendent of the Christchurch hospital, where Templeton was treated, states that although the recovery may seem remarkable to the general public, the facts of the case were that the fracture was not bad, and so the nerves were not greatly damaged. Had they-been so, the tale would have been different. Asked yesterday what was the biggest handicap he had given in a three mile run. Rose said he had once conceded a start of two quarter-mile laps, in this event. The conversation was the outcome of a remark passed by “Fatty” Lamb who said: “Look, Randolph, what a handicap a man’s got,” pointing to the limit marker, approximately three-quarters of a lap ahead of him. Rose smiled and said: “That’s nothing, Fatty,” and proceeded to mention the man who had started alongside him, but with two laps already up his sleeve.

America’s athletic authorities have accepted the time of 9 5-10 sec which Charles Paddock did for the sprint as a new record, though they discussed the matter for hve hours (says a writer in London All Sports Weekly). They also recognised the time of 20 5-10 sec for the 220 yards, which was done by Roland A. Locke, of the University of Nebraska. Paddock, whom America picturesquely dubs the “fastest human,” is one of the most remarkable sprinters there has ever been. For seven years he has been in the front rank of runners, an/i it is most exceptional for a man to retain his form for so long. “Man overboard!” The cry rang out, on the crowded ferry which was conveying the visiting swimmers and their" friends to Motutapu last Sunday. The vessel was then passing the beacon in the Rangitoto Channel. A small boy had slipped and fallen into the water. He. at once struck out in pursuit of the boat, but his brother immediately dived in to the rescue, minus his coat and shoes. He had to swim about .50 yards before reaching the youngster, whom he supported until a launch picked them up and restored them on board the ferry. There was a thrill of excitement over the affair (says the Auckland Star), but the incident lost its seriousness when it was seen that the little lad could swim. 1 The elder brother received a liearty reception as he was. hauled on board the boat.