LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 18 November 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A cake made and donated by Mrs. T. O. Collins for competition at the Haw-era, Main School gala- is now on exhibition in the H'igh Street premises of hr. Syme and Co., Ltd.

The new year will see changes made in the inspector ate of the Taranaki Education district. Mr. A Bain, inspector at Dunedin, will .succeed Mr. IN. R. McKenzie asy senior inspector, which position Mr. J. Henry lias been temporarily filling since the retirement on superannuation of Mr. McKenzie. Mr. J. P. Hawke, inspector in Taranaki for the past -two dears, will leave on transfer to Christchurch. At the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday the actingchairman (Mr. J. A. Valentine) expressed regret at the. approaching departure of Mr. Hawke, who had done fine work. Mr. Hawke had proved zealous and sympathetic as well rs being tactful and courteous in his dealings with teachers. The assumption that pianos are no longer sold extensively seems to be refuted by the statements contained in an advertisement in a recent- issue of a London,paper at the end of the holidays when people are supposed to have no money. The claim is. made that 12,000 pianos were purchased from one, firm in the last three years. In January, 19.30, £OOOO worth of pianos were sold by this firm in one day; in May, 1931, 99 pianos were sold in 25 minutes ; in December, 1931, 133 pianos were sold in three hours; in August, 1929, 230 pianos were sold in one "clay. New pianos, are, it is, said, being bought for new homes. Many people are exchanging their upright models for miniature grand pianos.

There was excitement at the port of New Plymouth yesterday when a big .sunfish was seen swimming about between the wharves. The fish was later harpooned and finally beached between the wharves. The monster, which weighs about two tons, was first seen between the wharves and fairly near to the Moturoa Wharf at about 8.30 a.m reports tlie. “Herald.” Mr. D. Keenan immediately secured a harpoon, and after waitiiio-. for a time for a good opportunity made, a successful lunge. immediately there was a great commotion, the fish lashing the water with its huge fan-like tail. Then the shaft of the harpoon parted from the spear, and it seemed that the fish would swim away with the barbs still m it. It- did not go far a wav, however, and before long was again within striking distance of the wharf. A second harpoon was despatched, again finding the mark. Mr. Keenan and Mr. J. Mathews put out in a dinghy, and rowing alongside the fish hooked in the anchor. For the nexthour the men in the ooat had a lively time, being pulled about the harboir at the will of the fish. Slowly tne lashings decreased and the monster was towed to the small beach between the wharves, where a large gather.ng ■awaited its arrival. Fifteen men on a strong rope were not sufficient to drag the fish out of the water.