LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21399, 25 January 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Early Mushrooms Early mushrooms have been available at the city markets this week, and they are now being offered in the retail fruit shops. Supplies are coming from Marton, .where they are earlier than in the Auckland district, and good prices arc being realised. Brown Rot In Nectarines

A large percentage of the nectarines gathered ill tho Auckland district show signs of brown rot, which has been spread by tho humid conditions. They are meeting with a slow sale at tho city markets, owing to tho uncertainty of obtaining sound fruit.

KingfLsh at New Plymouth New Plymouth fishermen report that kingfjsh are very plentiful just now off tho Sugar Loaves. One party last week lost four spinners, their lines not being strong enough to hold the fish. It is expected that if the warm weather continues catches of mako sharks may be reported. Tomatoes Plentiful Owing to tho hot weather, outdoor tomatoes have developed quickly during the past week. Heavy supplies are reaching the city markets and in spite of a satisfactory demand glut conditions obtain. Prices at the markets yesterday ranged from 6d to Is 3d a case of 181b.

Collection of Dog Tax The Piako County Council has experienced considerable difficulty in the past in obtaining an applicant for the position of dog-tax collector. This* year, however, tho council had replies to its advertisement from a number of men who were prepared to allow their commission to remain with the council in payment of their rates. Tree-planting in Suburbs A suggestion made by the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association that an official tree-planting day or "Arbor Day" should be established throughout tho Auckland suburban area with a view to beautifying vacant spaces and public reserves was considered by the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening. It was decided to advise the association that the project met with tho approval of the council.

Fishing Launch for Auckland The 40ft. launch Ngaru arrived at Onehunga from Ivawhia yesterday morning, en route to Auckland. The launch will be loaded on to a motor-lorry at Onehunga this morning and will be taken to the Tamaki River, where she will be launched and then brought to Auckland under her own power. The launch's benzine engine will bo replaced at Auckland with a crude oil engine and she will then bo used for seine fishing in the Hauraki Gulf. "Visitor from the Sea Apparently exhausted by the swirl of the breakers, a small penguin struggled on to the rocks near Island Bay, Wellington, the other afternoon. Like the majority of its kind, it was quite tame, and provided amusement for the picnickers. Later a man carried it to more placid water, where it dived in and made for the open sea. An onlooker remarked that he had lived in the vicinity for sixteen years, but had not previously seen a penguin on the shore.

Gifts for Charity From time to time anonymous gifts of money or goods are received by the Auckland Hospital Board. Two instances came under the notice of the board at its meeting yesterday, when "J.H." and "For Charity" forwarded £1 each. The secretary x Mr. H. A. Sommerville, com'mented that, as the gifts were anonymous, the board had no way of forwarding its appreciation direct to those responsible. It was interesting to note, he said, that "For Charity" had already presented sums amounting to £lO or £l2.

Cadetship Attracts 200 Applicants " When about 200 applications are received for a position such as this, there could be no better illustration of the state of affairs in this country," commented Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, when it was reported at a meeting of the board yesterday that the applications for the position of cadet in the pathological department of the hospital numbered about 200. The chairman said the number was extraordinarily large, and when it came to a question of deciding upon an applicant, a great deal of difficulty would probably-toe experienced in comparing the qualifications of those seeking t.he position. Stoat Attacked by Sparrows What the stoat had done nobody knows, but it was evident to passers-by in Dunedin last Friday that one of these animals which was running across the Octagon pursued by a flock of sparrows had committed some deed that warranted severe punishment by the birds. Gliding swiftly here and there to escape the sharp bills of his attackers, the stoat pursued a tortuous course over the lawns, but was run to earth in one of the flower beds, where ho received a determined mauling before he was able to mako his escape on account of the birds being frightened away by the crowd who had collected. He made off across the Octagon, and the last time he was seen he was scampering away with the sparrows still in hcjt pursuit. Men's Dress Reform

Dress reform has already been adopted by many business firms at New Plymouth. In one largo drapery establishment the men attend to their work attired in grey flannel trousers and collared shirts with ties. Other businesses have been even more radical in adopting the canoe shirt as their badge of comfort. Whatever the mode, however, says tho Taranaki Herald, it may bo said that the wearers look ever so much moro comfortable than they did before. Many men have discarded their coats for street wear, but tho most valorous of all tho roformers has made his appearance. Some distance from tho sea, but walking in that direction, ho braved the eyes of a busy street in ono of the latest fretwork bathing costumes.

Busy Sheep Drovers Although - tho total number of sheep travelling to tho Waikato from Poverty Bay this year is not. so large as in past years, substantial mobs are at present on the road from the Gisborne and coastal districts. As a contrast with the experience of the past two years, says the Poverty Bay Herald, most of those have been already purchased by farmers, and very few of the sheep, which are practically all breeding ewes, will go to the saleyards. In addition, large numbers of sheep are on the way to HAwke's Bay, mainly two-tootli ewes and wethers. Most of these also have been purchased by farmers. As a result of the number of mobs travelling both north and south, practically all district drovers are at present on the road.