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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 27, 31 December 1925, Page 6

John Murphy, a statutory secondoffending inebriate, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, by Mr A. Hannay, J.P., at the Police Court this morning.

An exchange says that camping out in the thermal regions is becoming increasingly popular with families owning motor-cars. The shores .of Lake Taupo are at present dotted with tents. Many families • are camped on the shores of Lake Rotorua.

According to the December abstract of statistics, the population of the Dominion as at September 30, 1925, totallod 1,335,719, made up of males 682,053, females 653,666. Including the Maoris, however, the total would be 1,390,487.

The launch Ruamano, which left Auckland on Christmas Day to circumnavigate New Zealand, arrived at New Plymouth yesterday afternoon, that being the first port of call since leaving Russell. The voyage was uneventful.

The typical summer weather which has been general over the Christmas season, added to the tourist resorts and attractions about Taupo, has resulted in record numbers of visitors to Wairakei. It is estimated that the increase is 20 per cent, on last year s figures. The Wellington Automobile Club has completed a survey of routes from Wellington round to Shannon and from there to Palmerston North, and back through Himatangi to Eoxton, for the purpose of erecting direction boards. The Wanganui organisation is also engaged in surveying routes for the same object.

Owing to the Waikato river level falling the geysers at the Spa thermal area are very active (says the Taupo correspondent of the Auckland Heraid). The Waipikirangi geyser, which became active last season, commenced again on Tuesday afternoon and continues ejecting shots for lUOft. every two hours.

Being unaware that a sash cord of a window was broken, an Otaki constable pushed the window up and then let go expecting that it would remain open. Instead, it fell with consideraole force on the constable’s hand, breaking the middle finger and considerably bruising the third linger. A youth named Charles Jamieson, 17 years of age, had a liar row escape from drowning in the Morrinsviile swimming baths this week. He got into Bft. of water and, being unable to swim, was practically unconscious when pulled-out by some membeis of the Morrinsviile Swimming Club. Artificial respiration was applied by the rescuers, and the youth was later very little the worse for his adventure.

The tomato crops in the Otahuhu district are disappointing this season compared with previous years (says the Auckland Herald). This is considered to be due to the cold winds experienced about five weeks ago, and to continued dry weather since. It is estimated that the district sends annually in to the Auckland markets 150 tons of tomatoes, and that there are about 89 acres of plants.

A curious happening is reported from Kiritaki, Dannevirke, where a fanner set a turkey on some hen’s eggs. The chicks duly hatched out, and the turkey was seen proudly escorting six of her young brood. Anxious to know the fate of the rest of the eggs, the farmer paid a visit to the nest and discovered to his surprise a quail sitting on the nest, and mothering four more of the chicks 1 He left one for the foster-mother.

A collection of gramophone records along with a portable gramophone form part of the ship’s stores of the Discovery, now on her way from England to Antarctic seas by way of the Capo. Her ship’s company consists of Captain J. R. Ktenhouse, eight officers, six scientists and 39 men, and, as their study of the habits of the whale will occupy close upon three years, the ship’s doctor considered it advisable, from the point of view of the health of those aboard to take a gramophone with them.

A telegram placed in the box provided at the AVoodville railway station on Monday morning at 8 o’clock, reached its destination, AVaipukurau, nt 1.44 p.ni., states an exchange. The AVoodville office does not open until 9 a.m. and the time handed in is shown as 9.40. Even so, four hours four minutes for a telegram to come a distance of about 55 miles is slow work. A person travelling on the morning train from AVoodville, and despatching a telegram to advise arrival, reached AVaipukurau 2£ hours before the telegram. A similar case occurred last week.

Enterprise in transportation methods .was shown by three young men who set out for a bathe on a morning of this week, states the Napier telegraph. Clad only in bathing suits, they rode through the street on a motor cj'cle, all three managing to go j astride the machine. The warmth of the sun made their unconventional riding costume quite suitable, if not altogether tasteful, but one shudders to contemplate what would have happened had they crashed on a metal road.

Evidence of the success of the application of scientific farming methods is afforded by the decision taken by the shareholders of the Patua Co-op-erative Dairy Company to increase their factory capacity from eight to twelve vats (says an Auckland paper). Tho increased output which was responsible for this decision bus not been brought about by an increase in suppliers, but by the greater productivity of tho suppliers’ land—the result "of manuring and scientific farming. Tho addition to ft,he plant, which is a dual one, will? cost about £2500. | Tho attention of our renders is drawn to tho advertisement ion our front page, announcing tho watchnight services to be held in Erpmanuel Congregational Church, Broadway, this evening. The proceedings will open with an organ recital. > Men’s dark tan Gpdord shoe, neatly and plainly stitched; a fipe, comfortable fit and one that will give really good wear. Mov-ing-out sale price 6d. Men’s black box hide Oxford shoe—a very . smart shoe with white stitched sole, 235; mioving-out sale price at The C. M. Ross Co., Ltdfs. Advt- ’

While'playing' in the backyard of his home at Pokeno, Edward Charles Brown, aged two, slipped and fell, fracturing his right thigh.

Some years ago the English wood pigeon was introduced into the Patea district, and it appeal's to be spreading along tho coast (says an exchange). , Quito a number of athletic Wanganui rosidents have included pig shooting as a seasonal diversion. Pigs are very plentiful in tho Waitotara back country and tho shooting rights are free.

The name s.s. Cyrena will not be forgotten for a long time yet, states a Wanganui exchange. Portions! of the ill-fated ship’s gear, bearing this name, have now found their way on to other vessels trading to New Zealand ports and in this the story of the wreck will be for many years. A number of silver teaspoons which once graced the snowy linen in tho officers’ mess on the Cyrena are now the treasured possession of the captain of a well-known coaster, who brings them forth when entertaining his friends, _ fair and otherwise, when his vessel is in port. Anent tho tragic death of tho little Maori girl named Hyland at Kaiwhaieki Pali, Wanganui, it appears that the mother had gone out to gather some wood and the child was left with another boy. While ho was attending to some duty the child fell head first into a bucket of water and the distracted mother found it dead on her return. There were only three or four inches of fluid, consisting of slops, in the bucket. In the first instance tho bucket was a heavy wooden one, and, unlike an ordinary iron bucket, would not readilv turn over with the weight of the child. The latter fell in head first and was evidently suffocated. A Church of Christ camp is being held in the Hutt Park. There aro campers from all parts of the Wellington Province, 140 young men and women being in attendance. Mr H. P. Leng, minister of South Wellington, is in charge, and lie has a fine committee of helpers, the sports JP 1 ' 0grammes being greatly enjoyed. Visitors to the camp yesterday included the superintendent of the conference, Mr E. Vickery, of Auckland; Rev. J. C. Loan and Mr H. Grinstead, of the New Zealand Alliance. Mrs E. Carter, of Palmerston North, is in charge of the commissariat. Three car-loads of people from Auckland called for a couple of days, on their way home via Gisborne, and were accorded a hearty welcome.

Since the amalgamation of the Lands and Survey Department over 30 years ago tho chief administrative position in the various- districts, that of commissioner of Crown lands and chief surveyor, has, with perhaps one exception, been held by the professional officers who have been trained principally in the survey branch of the department. It is understood (says an exchange) that a change in policy is being made in respect of these appointments, and that the professional position, that of chief surveyor, will be separated from that of commissioner of crown lands; and, further, that the new policy will be carried into effect on the appointment of a successor to the present commissioner and chief surveyor at Wellington, Mr T. Brook, who is to take over the duties of valuer-general at an early date.