Local and General

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 January 1935, Page 4

Local and General

A monster eel was taken out of the Winton creek in Southland recently by relief workers. Several large eels have been taken from this crook of late, but 'this specimen, weighing 2041 b, 4ft -tin long, and IGlin round the girth, was the largest.

The number of visitors at the Hawera motor camp in King Edward Park during the holiday season was only equal in numbers to those of last year. The maximum number in camp for one night was 11, compared with 18 last year. The camp has been used for a longer period than previously and all who have used it have expressed general satisfaction with the arrangements.

A wash-out, which lias compelled cars to pass only by having the inside wheels on the water-table, lias been reported on the northern side of Moki Saddle. The road over the saddle has boon graded, but heavy rain lias been experienced for the past three days and the road is very slippery. Even with chains tlie road is difficult to negotiate. The thefts of wool that have taken place in various parts of the Central Hawke’s Bay district have left the farming community on the; alert, and very watchful of motors that stop in their vicinity, especially at night. One settler heard the sound of a passing motor on the still night air suddenly stop. Thinking of his unlocked woolshed he hopped out of bed, called his son, and, armed with a hammer (foi smashing spark plugs) and a shotgun, they set out to investigate. Much to their relief they found that a motorlorry was delivering firewood to a neighbouring farm. The hour, however, was late enough to make anyone suspicious. “Is it a fact that the British are the most hated nation in France at the present time?’’ asked a questioner at the Gore Returned Soldiers’ Association’s reception to General Sir Alexander Godley. “1 think that is perhaps an exaggeration,” lie replied with a smile, “but I don’t think that the French are the most generous people in the world.”

The services in the Hawera Baptist Church to-morrow will be conducted by the Rev. John Ings. The morning service is at 11 a.m. and the evening service at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. •

The Rev. Basil Mctson will conduct both services at the Hawera Methodist Cliurcli to-morrow. His subjects will lie: “Forward! tlie Call,” and “ivow, or When”? Communion will he observed at the close of the morning worship. Visitors and friends are welcome to attend.

HUNTINGTON’S; ’Phono 2118. Cambrics and Prints continue to present tlie most dainty cool shades in ever-changing designs, and for the present holiday wear, house wear, beach wear and, in fact, for everywhere, they are unequalled for kiddies, ladies or matrons’ frocks. Ready-made aprons, smocks and cross-over overalls also showing in reliable washing fabrics.— Advt.

Passengers by the "VS anganella saw the old year out and the New Year in while at sea. The dining room uas gaily decorated with coloured streamers,'paper hats wore distributed to all passengers and singing and dancing were indulged in till the early hours of the morning. At midnight it is customary to strike eight bells, but on December 111 at midnight 16 bells are struck, the usual eight bells to mark the end of a day. and an extra eight, to mark the beginning of a new year. The railway sratvon at Ha worn bore a particularly animated appearance this morning on the arrival of the express for Wellington. The train, which carried many holiday-makers returning to their homes at southern centres, consisted of 10 carriages, and it is estimated that at least .‘IOO passengers were on the train. An extra carriage was coupled to the express at Ha worn.

Arthur’s Pass is yearly becoming more popular as a- holiday resort for Canterbury residents. At present there is not a vacant house, hut, or shack in the township, and during the Christmas and New Year holidays the visitors to the district have had a particularly enjoyable time. Amongst its many attractions, that of deerstalking is growing in importance. Mr Hoy Twyneham and his son, Mr D. Twyneham, who are spending a few weeks at Arthur’s Pass have sighted large heads of deer and have had excellent sport in the Avalanche Peak basins.

Some of the surf bathers at the Waihi Beach last week had a painful experience when, as a result of a heavy easterly blow, thousands of Portuguese men-of-war (Physalia) infested the surf. Many surfers who had the misfortune to come into contact with the long tentacles received stings on the legs and body. One bather advertised the fact by jumping in the air and crying in a loud voice that be had been stung by a hornet, embellishing his announcement with lurid adjectives. Members of the Waihi division of St. John Ambulance Brigade, stationed at the beach, treated some forty bathers, but the stinging effect, though very acute at the time of contact, in most cases soon passed away. The unwelcome army of these blue-coloured invaders disappeared as suddenly as it had arrived.

Because of extraordinary demands made on the railway line through the Manawatu Gorge owing to the visit of the Duke of Gloucester, the timetable of the Taranaki express, which left Wellington yesterday morning, was altered to provide for the train leaving Palmerston North ■at 2.35 p.m., an hour and 35 minutes after the scheduled time, the time of arrival at New Plymouth being timed for 9.10 p.m., about an hour and 25 minutes after the usual time. The altered time of arrival at Hawera was 7.20 p.m. instead of 5.55 p.m., but the express did not reach the station until 7.43 p.m. The Napier express was held up at IVoodville fox' some time, but as it was particularly long, the train was further delayed at Palmerston North. The Wellington express arrived at New Plymouth an hour and 47 minutes after the xisual time of arrival. To provide a change for families which would otherwise have been unable to take any sort of holiday, the St. Albans sub-committee of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association has organised a family camp scheme at the New Brighton racecourse. Seven families at a time are being accommodated and it is expected to put a total of over 30 families through the camp before it is closed, each group of families staying about a fortnight. The first of the campers are now at the racecourse. Two large rooms are in use to accommodate the campers, and a cook is on duty to prepare the meals. To finance the scheme, the St. Albans branch conducted a small art union. In addition, substantial gifts of flour, butter, sugar, meat, coal and so on, have been received.

The beauty of the rata flowers is frequently extolled, but to some persons of a practical turn of mind, the usefulness of the flowers outweighs their beauty. At least one bee-keeper on the Canterbury plains takes a keen interest in the rata trees at Otira. Each year, when the trees are in flower, she entrains her bees and hives to Kelly's Creek, on the western side of Otira. The bees are there set free and gather honey greedily from the lovely red flowers’! After a few weeks’ sojourn in the bush country, the bees, with a rich harvest, are brought back by train to their owner’s home in the Malvern district.

A pressman accompanying the Duke of Gloucester’s party had an experience in Itotorua which provides a good story. Awalceped m the early hours of the morning by a mysterious squeaking and rumbling he made investigations and on looking out of a window of his hotel was horrified to observe a building moving past in the street. While he strove to recollect what item on the dinner menu or what over enthusiasm for the after dinner aperitifs could have prompted this lapse, lie realised that this was not a visitation upon him for his sins, but actually a moving building being transported on rollers, and moved by night in order to avoid interference with the traffic.

The former Trade Commissioner to China (Mr E, S. Little), who arrived at Brisbane last, week from the East, where lie has resided for nearly fifty years, declared that the Japanese had supreme control of Manchukuo and were totally unconcerned about any attempt that might be made by China to reoccupy it. He added that the Japanese had done more in one year in Manchukuo than the Chinese had in 200 years. Referring to China, Mr Little said one factor of modern Chinese life was the will with which they were entering the field of industrial development. They were manufacturing all kinds of Western products and putting them on the market at rates which would leave Western peoples absolutely amazed.

The Hawera Borough Council draws attention by advertisement in this issue to the amounts fixed as dog tax for 1935. Mr L. Hunt, borough inspector, lias been appointed registrar.

THE BEST IS CHEAPEST. GREGG’S FRUIT DRINKS ARE BEST. You may pay a little more for Gregg's Fruit Drinks, but the cost per glass is actually less. This is because Gregg's are highly concentrated and make more glasses of full-strength, fullflavoured drinks. You actually save money and get nicer and better drinks by buying Gregg’s. All grocers.—Advt.