LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21926, 9 October 1934, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Activity at White lalaad Considerable activity was observed at White Island yesterday, states the Herald's Whakatane correspondent. At noon a huge column of steam was blown into the air and rose to a great height. It was followed at intervals by further dense masses, which spread out along the horizon like big white clouds. Fall .From Tramcar Concussion was suffered- by Mr. Henry Murdoch, aged 48, married, when he stepped off m moving tramcar in Great South Eoad, One Tree Hill, last evening, anil fell to the ground. The injured man, who lives at 1 Sunnyvale Road, Green Lane, was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance. His condition is not serious. Broom at Rotorua and Taupo The broom which transforms the countryside in parts of the Rotorua and Taupo districts is now beginning to show colour Around the lake at Taupo and in the vicinity of the Tongariro River motorists at times pass through lanes of gold. With the peaks of National Park and the blue waters of the lake for a background the sight is worth going far to see. Early Immigrant Ships The ship Duchess of Argyle and the barque Jane Gifford, the first two vessels to bring British immigrants direct to Auckland, arrived i.'ri the Wiiitemata Harbour from Greenock, Scotland, G2 years ago to-day with 500 passengers, mostly Scots. The Duchess of Argyle, 667 tons, was commanded by Captain R. G. Tait, while the Jane Gifford, 558 tons, was commanded by Captain Paul. Wild Flowers The slopes of Parnell Park overlooking Judge's Bay are a great attraction to children at the present time, for wild flowers are out in profusion. Wild freesias grow thickly among the grass, while periwinkles are flowering profusely on the edges of the cliff. With the historic old church near at hand and the new foliage on the sturdy oak trees, the bay is even more charming than usual, and has many visitors.. New Keel Yacht The B class keel yacht which is being built by Mr. W. Couldrey at his yards at Nofthcote is now nearing completion, and will be launched early next month. With white topsides and green below the waterline, the grace of her lines is fully revealed. She will have the latest Bermuda rig, carrying a mast ,56ft. in height, and will be a welcome addition to both the racing and cruising fleets of the Waitemata. Straying Cow Found The straying cow which charged several people in various parts of Auckland last Thursday was found yesterday morning in a padciock on the property of Mr. G. E. Woods, in Wheturangi Road, One Tree Hill. The animal was with other stock, and seemed quite peaceable, although on Sunday night it charged two young men in Parnell, causing them to leap hurriedly over a fence into the grounds of the New 2lealand Institute for the Blind. Waterfowl at Western Springs Black swans are nesting on the island at the Western Springs reserve. On the lake there is a large colony of wild fowl, and about 40 swans have been counted. This year they are a little later than usual in nesting and so far no cygnets have appeared. The grey duck, however, are earlier and already one clutch of 16 hasi been sent to the zoo. Another was hatched last week, and yesterday the ducklings were enjoying themselves on the sunlit waters. The swans and ducks are very tame. Visiting Footballers at Waabi Fa During their journey between Auckland and Rotorua members of the Western Suburbs League football team, of Sydney, paid a surprise visit to Waahi Pa, near Huntlv, where the anniversary celebrations of the coronation of the Maori "king'' Koroki te Wherowhero have been in progress during the past three days. Although the visitors had not been expected the natives hastened to provide several dances and hakas for their entertainment, while the footballers were welcomed by Mr. J. Rukutai. who is prominent in official League circles in Auckland. The members of the team were gratified at having an opportunity of seeing a large Maori assembly of importance. Prolonged Tow by Launch A prolonged passage of two weeks from Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, to Auckland, was made by the large motorlaunch Lady Eva, which arrived yesterday morning with two barges for the Public Works Department in tow. The launch 1 left Wairoa with the barges on September 24, but she was delayed considerably by rough weather. She sheltered for two days at Gisborne and afterward fine weather prevailed to the East Cape. After rounding the cape she experienced a hard north-west gale and rough seas, and it was with difficulty that the vessel was able to return to Hick's Bay, where she had to shelter for eight days. When the gale subsided the trip was resumed and fine weather prevailed during the remainder of the passage. Native Plants for Rockeries A striking example of the suitability of many New Zealand plants for a rockery is to be see>n at the display of native flora at present being held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. A small, but artistic rockery, complete with miniature pool, hais been constructed and in the pockets of soil many gems of the alpine slopes and remote seaside cliffs have been set out. Most of them appear to be thriving in their unusual environment and a number are in flower, giving visitors to the exhibition the opportunity of judging their claim to inclusion in Auckland gardens. The display as a whole continues to be extremely popular and the botanical staff of the museum is making a point of replacing faded specimens with fresh material each day. Hardships of Back Blocks Some of the tribulations that beset the women of the back blocks owing to lack of roading facilities were graphically described by Mrs. F. M. Whittaker, Okoke, who waited on the Clifton County Council recently with a request that two and a-half miles of the Piko Road should be metalled. She, herself, she said, had been tipped off a sledge and landed with a can full of cream on top of her in the mud, which had to* be scraped off her with a stick. It was in cases of sickness, however, that the greatest trial was experienced. Only quite recently Mrs. Wereta, who accompanied her on the deputation, had slipped into a hole while taking home a sick boy jnst discharged from hospital and the mud and water had poured over her shoulder. She felt that if she h«d had any of the councillors there at the time she could ha\-e put them in the hole and drowned them.