News of the Day

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1939, Page 4

News of the Day

Lecture on Soviet Russia. First-hand information regarding conditions in Soviet Russia will, be given in the Madeira Hall on Sunday evening, when Mr T. McGillick, leader of the Australian Trades Union delegation to Russia last year, will deliver a lecture and screen a moving pictune film.

Extension of Berthage Space at Opua. Sinking of three special fender piles, 81 feet in length, at the seaward end of Opua wharf, was completed yesterday. A special railway steam mobile crane from Whangarei was required for the job, which was completed without a hitch. The work on the extra hundred feet of berthing space is also nearing completion, and this work will allow the largest of cargo refrigeration boats to berth at the wharf. More important still, the extra space will allow the working of all hatches without any risk of losing cargo overboard.

Ice In Russell Harbour. In spite of the fact that Russell experienced on Tuesday night, one of the coldest nights and heaviest frosts felt for many years, residents who visited the wharf to see friends away on the early launches connecting with the train at Opua. were astonished to see what .appeared to be small pieces of ice floating on the sea water. Upon investigation, they were found to be polar segments in all truth and many were mystified until it was explained that a fisherman had been at the wharf packing his haul at seven o’clock, and had thrown a large quantity of ice overboard. This had just eddied round the wharf for over an hour, before disappearing.

Rugby League and Baseball. Possibilities of sponsoring soft-ball baseball in Whangarei for the summer months are being considered by the Northland Rugby League, it being considered that this would be a means of holding the football players together during the off-season as well as providing thrilling sport. Details of this popular American game are being sought from Wellington, where it is already established on a firm footing.

Frosty Atmosphere This Morning. As indicated by the frost which covered the ground, and the nip in the air this morning, the temperature in Whangarei last night again reached freezing point. The thermometer at 5.45 this morning registered half a degree below zero, but had risen by 6 o’clock. In contrast to the biting wind and heavy showers which followed yesterday morning’s heavy frost, today has been fine and clear, with bright sunshine.

Puhoi P.O. Burnt. The general store and post office conducted by A. and L. Scholium at Puhoi, near Warkworth, was completely destroyed by fire early this morning. When observed by a neighbour the fire had a good hold. A , quantity of gelignite and detonators were stored in the building, the detonators exploding during the fire. Only the safe and scales were saved from the store. Insurances so far are known to be £IOOO on the building and contents. # * * Frosts in KaikOhe. For the last week exceptionally low temperatures have been experienced in the middle north, with the result that a number of people have been arriving late at work each day. Both on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, heavy frosts were experienced in Kaikohe, and numerous puddles and bird baths were transformed into pieces of arctic scenery. At a late hour last night it appeared that the frost would again visit the town, and fires were stoked and hot-water bottles filled. One motorist, who attended a social evening on Wednesday, found that his windscreen had been transformed into a piece of ice, and had the unenviable experience of picking the ice off the glass before be could proceed to his home.

Black Marlin For U.S.

A huge case, measuring 14 feet by 2i feet by 5 feet, aroused the interest of a number of onlookers on Thursday during the lifting process from the Russell wharf on to the coastal vessel Paroto, bound from the derrick to Auckland. The case contained the record fish of the season caught in the Bay of Islands —a black Marlin, weighing 816 lbs, caught by Mrs. Edward F. Swift, of Illinois, U. S. A., into whose home it will go as a reminder to her family of the “big one that didn’t get away.” The Lerner Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History | took a number of such cases of “Bay” j specimens of black and striped marlin \ away with them, but to Mrs. Swift] falls the honour of taking away one] of the largest specimens ever to go from this country to the United States,

Small incomes enjoin the necessity i of practising economy, but whether? your income be large or small, Henry | Wilson’s sale prices will make it go| further. Don’t miss the big sale bar-? gains at Wilson’s busy store, specially! marked down for week-end shoppers.*,.