LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 November 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Trout fishers seem to be having a rather quiet time at present, no remarkable catches being reported, says the “Stratford Post.” Air J. Petrie junior reports that since the season opened his bag lias totalled twentyfive fsh. No entry has yet been received for the Acclimatisation Society’s senior competition for the heaviest fish for the season, but in the junior competition A. Collins lias made an entry weighing -slb 4£oz. They were impressed with the'efficiency of the New Zealand Air Force, said Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith' n.nd, Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm in an interview at Alelbourrie. There seemed to be as many machines as men. Lieutenant Ulm repudiated the idea. that, lie and the squadron-leader were fond of dangerous flying, and added: “If T were to make a private trip to New Zealand and back I would sooner travel by the Southern Cross than by steamer.”

We hear a number of amusing tales, says “Cosmos” in ‘the “Dominion” regarding the impressions overseas people harbour regarding New Zealand and its people, but few will credit that an American journalist should be Sr> illinformed on the customs of the Maori as. to tell her readers tlia'h “his desire for human flesh is as strong as his desire for ooium.” In “The Customs of Mankind,” a. work of reference published in 1925, Lillian Eliehler reveals a most indifferent knowledge of her subject when she writes:—“The Maoris are cannibals, but they cannot be accused of deliberate cruelty or conscious torture. To them flesh was food as it ■-•till is to-day. They ‘eat their man,’ hut they kill him before thev cook him. It was recently reported that a trade in human flesh actually existed among these people, now unable to indulge in j cannibalism openly. The desire for! human flash in the Maoris is in soinej instances as strong a** the desire for* opium.”

Mr. H. G. Dickie, Reform member and candidate for the Patea seat, is to address the electors at the Jlgmont Haceconr.se at seven o’clock this evening, and at 8.15 he is due to commence a further address at Te Roti. At eight o’clock to-morrow (Tuesday) evening he is to take the platform at Patea. The Salvation Army self-denial appeal just closed realised £33,350 throughout the Dominion. Taranaki’s quota amounted to £2124-, sums from the respective corps being Eltliam £440, Hawera. £432, Inglewood £125. New Plymouth £602, Patea £271, and .Stratford £254.

The annual mooting of the South Taranaki Primary Schools Sports Association will be held this (Monday) evening at the office of the hon. secretary (Mr A. K. Fyson). The .principal business wilL be 'the arrangements for the oig sports' meeting to decide possession of the Dixon Banner and the Bennett and Sutton Cup. It is. hoped to see a large attendance. While driving a sedan ear on the Austin Head near Xonnanby yesterday morning, Mr. B. .1. Wlvvtcross, of Ha wera, passed through some cattle, and then had to swerve in order to avoid a dog, with the result that the wheels skidded on the wet surface and the ear turned a complete somersault. The driver, with Miss P. E. Moss, who was one of his passengers, fortunately escaped injury, though another passenger. Miss M. Hughes, sustained severe shoulder bruises. Tlie hood of the ear was damaged extensively and a. door was broken, while the steering wheel was wrecked, and it was necessary to have the machine towed to Haw era for repairs. Miss Hughes, who was conveyed to the Hawera Hospital, was>, on inquiry this morning, making satisfactory progress towards recovery. One of the first things the new administrator of Samoa, Colonel S’. S. Allen, lias done is to ask for the apoointment of responsible officers of the New Zealand Government to be sent down to investigate thoroughly matters in the civil service of the mandated island territory. In response to his request the Government- has appointed three experienced men, who left Auckland by the Tofua. yesterday morning for Apia, where they will begin work without delay. They are Atr. P. S. Verschaffelt (Public Service Commissioner), Air. C. Branch (of the Prime Minister’s office), and 1 Air. A. D. Park (assistant-Secretary of the Treasury). The administrator asked that the administration lie advised on the reorganisation of the official staff and 1 as to the finances, of the territory. “The gradual extinctions, or ithc slow dying of our New Zealand coastal shipping is a thing to bo much regretted, for .many reasoncs,” stated a Wellington main, who is : keenly interested in shipping matters, to an “Evening Post ’ ’ representative. ‘ ‘ The AVarvexley, for instance, has recently ceased running; and if time permitted I could cite a number of instances in which o.ur old coastal vessels, as their working lives come to am end, have: not been replaced. But, as the Dominion grows in popuki.tiom and its trade progresses, coastal shipping, far from declining, should surely at least keep paee with the general development. ’ ’