NORFOLK ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930, Page 9

NORFOLK ISLAND NEWS.

MAMMOTH PINE TREE. [from our own correspondent.] NORFOLK ISLAND, July 4. A pine tree felled on Norfolk Island measured 66ft. to the first branch. It was hollow at tho butt and a man 6ft. in height was able to stand upright inside and work one end of a crosscut saw, with ' which it was cut into blocks. The trca ! produced 50,000 shingled. Dr. S. M. Lambert, tho medical officer of the Rockefeller Foundation, who for that institution is in charge of the Western Pacific for the study and treatment of tropical diseases, called at Norfolk Island recently while on a tour of inspection to )iis "units" at the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides. He proposes I to make a health survey of Norfolk Island next year. Dr Lambert's headquarters , are at Suva, Fiji. The Norfolk Island dove, a bronzo- ' green bird about tho size of a small ' pigeon, has a distinct preference for lemon 3 seeds as against orange pips. It is int (cresting to put out a mixture of both and j note with what accuracy the bird selects the lemon pips and rejects the others. J On June 27 the publi: school broke up for its mid-winter vacation of one week, r The pupils entertained a crowded gather- ? *ig of relations and friends, two short plays, written and staged by the pupils, were presented. • , J A concert and dance in nid of the funds ? of the Bov Scouts and Girl Guides, pro--1 |,v "District Scout Commissioner Le I Clere of Fast Pvdney. realised o\ei ioU. Bridge parties are v, ? ry popular jnst r lin« to e i iv hack cats as tnnsnow and consequently 1>..« « = 5 The first gift came as a snipiise to the iruients and staff and was deep.y appreciated. The other classes have now joined in the movement. ' The present season :s an exceptionally one for lemons and in some districts the landscape appears yellow with tho ripening fruit. Maize does well on the island and "cobs" with over <OO grains are common.