LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21617, 9 October 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Special Train for Maoris About 800 Maoris were conveyed by special train from near the Waahi Pa, Huntly, to a point just north of Taupiri yesterday afternoon, to witness the burial of "King" To Rata Mahuta te Wherowhero. The train returned to Waahi after the burial.

University Examinations The annual terms examinations of the Auckland University College will commence to-day, and continue until Wednesday of next week. About 1000 internal' students are sitting this year, and 225 external students. The degree examinations of the University of New Zealand will commence at the beginning of November. First-aid at Waiheke Island

Junior classes for instruction in iirstaid are to be commenced by the St. John Ambulance Association at Ostend, Waiheke Island, this week. It is hoped at the end of the term to bring the children to Auckland to sit for an examination for a junior first-aid certificate. For some weeks physical culture classes for women have been conducted.

Early Immigrant Ships Tho first two vessels to bring British immigrants direct to Auckland arrived 91 years ago to-day. It was on October ( J, 18-12, that the ship Duchess of Argyll, U67 tons, Captain R. G. Tait, and tho barque Jane Clifford, 558 tons, Captain Paul, arrived in the Waiteniata Harbour from Greenock, Scotland. Tho 500 passengers, who comprised mainly Scots, landed tho following day.

Cyclist With Cross-cut Saw A cross-cut saw carried across the handle-bar of a bicycle caused an unexpected diversion in Devon Street, New Plymouth, recently. As the cyclist was riiling over an intersection his machine suddenly reared up like a spirited horse. One end of the supple steel implement had become caught in the front wheel and ripped out a dozen spokes, or more. The rider retained his scat until his cycle resumed its normal plane, but he dismounted and walked afterwards.

Auckland Taxis at Tangi Willi a keen eye for opportunity, a number of Auckland taxi-cab drivers profited from the assembly of several thousand Maoris at Waahi Pa, near Huntly, during the tangi following the death of "King" Te Rata Mahuta te Wherowhero. A service was operated between Huntly and Waahi, and the vehicles were extensively patronised. Instead of placing the ordinary sign "Waahi Pa" on his car, one driver employed the words "Waahi Ka," evidently with a complete knowledge that "car" could Ijc represented as "ka" in Maori.

Cows and Pigs A suggestion that too much attention to cows, and cows only, was being paid by Taranaki farmers, was made by Mr. A. Dunlop at a recent meeting. It might be better, he said, to turn attention to other branches such as pigs. He instanced the case of Mr. A. It. Gudopp, of Wostown, who, in addition to winning the North Taranaki ensilage competition, was a well-known breeder of Jersey c.ows and of Berkshire pigs. It might be a more paying proposition not to have all one's eggs in one basket, Mr. Dunlop added. Cause of Sleeplessness

There were speakers in plenty in a deputation which waited on Mr. W. P. Fndean on Saturday morning to protest against the proposals contained in the Reserve Bank Bill. After listening to several addresses, Mr. Fndean asked if there were many more speakers. He said he was somewhat tired as he had had no sleep during his train journey from Wellington the night before. The next speaker also confessed to having spent a sleepless night. "I lay awake all night," he said, "thinking of the financial position of the country. I could not sloe])."

Shipping In Harbour The port of Auckland was empty of shipping, except small local coasters, on Saturday afternoon, the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Ruahine having sailed for London at mid-day. The conditions, however, will be busier to-day. On Saturday evening the steamer City of Singapore arrived from New York, and yesterday tho Sydney Maru arrived from Wellington, the Kartigi from Westport and the Waimea from Napier. This morning's arrivals will be the Port Hunter from Napier and the Waipiata from Wellington. The tanker Pulpit Point is due from San Francisco this afternoon. Golf Viewed from Air Two Auckland golfers chose an unusual means of viewing the championship play at Titirangi links on Saturday, and obtained an unrestricted panorama of competitors ou every part of the course. They took off from Mangere aerodrome in two Moths belonging to the Auckland Aero Club and flew round tho links. Tho pilots were Messrs. I. MacFwan, who took Mrs. MaeFwan as a passenger on her first flight, and Mr. N. Louisson. The duration of the flight was only half an hour, but in that tinio the lliers were enabled to fly the whole way round the course and watch the play from different angles without disturbing the golfers. Where the Sun Shines

Blenheim was well in the running for tho New Zealand sunshine record for September, tho total recorded being 212 hours, .'3 minutes, an average of seven hours four minutes per day, although there was one day ou which the sun did not shine at all. Nelson's record —usually a high one —was 206 hours 40 minutes, a daily nverago of six hours 53 minutes. Napier, ono of New Zealand's sunniest spots, had rather less sunshine than usual during the month, although most places in the Dominion had more than usual. The amount of bright sunshine recorded at Lake Tekapo, in the South Island, was 227.5 hours, which beats Blenheim's record.

Ratana Impasse Ends A reconciliation between Ratana and the citizens of Patea, between whom an impasse recently occurred, has been e flee ted, and supplies for the model village are being purchased from Patea shopkeepers. Ratana, a few weeks ago, stated that all supplies for the pa would be bought outside Patea. Later, however, ho realised that a reconciliation was desirable, and after Mr. Hi mi AVakarna, of Nuknma.ru, had acted as intermediary, Ratana had a satisfactory interview with the Mayor, Mr. F. Eamsbottom, and all disagreements were settled. Since the interview large quantities of meat, bread and other supplies for the pa have been, bought in Patea.