LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22247, 23 October 1935, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Prolific Lemon Trees From four lemon trees Mr. A. Thomas, Oakura, Taranaki, has this season gathered 200 dozen lemons, which are now stored to ripen. Mr. Thomas cut twigs which bore clusters of 10 and 12 lemons. The trees are apparently of no unusual variety. They are eight years old. Passenger Steamers Due on Monday Two passenger steamers, the Monowai from Vancouver, and Marama from Sydney, will arrive at Auckland next Monday, which is a holiday (Labour Day). Both vessels are due in the morning. On Tuesday night the Monowai is to sail for Sydney, and the Marama for Wellington. Bathing Sheds at Stanley Bay Improved facilities for bathers will be provided at Stanley Bay this summer, and will be welcomed by residents and visitors to the popular beach. The first of two bathing sheds has now been completed near the wharf, and good progress is being made with the second. The sheds will make available extra dressing accommodation that has long been required at Stanley Bay. Value of Battleships A contention that tho capital ship was still the decisive attacking factor and the surest defensive unit, was advanced by Commander J. B. E. Hall, of H.M.S. Wellington, at the official welcome to the ship at New Plymouth. Commander Hall stated that, just as other modern inventions, the torpedoboat and the submarine, had failed to displace the battleship, so would bombing aeroplanes. Watch Recovered From Sea-bed A spectacle most unusual in Wellington was witnessed recently by people walking along the waterfront. A man lost a valuable watch in the harbour alongside a wharf, and called into service a well-known professional swimmer to recover it. Despite the fact that the water must have been 20ft. deep or more, and that the bottom was muddy, the swimmer recovered the watch inside seven seconds.

Intermediate Schools "After having recently visited the Kowhai Intermediate School, I cannot imagine a parent sending a child to a primary school if there is an intermediate school within miles," stated the chairman, Mr. E. F. Hemingway, at the last meeting of tho Wanganui Education Board. Mr. Hemingway said he was impressed by the efficiency of the school, and the amount of attention paid to each individual pupil from the time of enrolment. Human " Seagulls " An official of the Waterside Workers' Union, who was giving evidence during a trial in the Supreme Court yesterday, explained that men who did not belong to the union, and yet obtained occasional work on the waterfront, were known as " seagulls." " Seagulls? " queried Mr. Justice Callan. " Seagulls you call them? " The official explained that it was the vulgar term applied to non-unionists. " I see," commented His Honor. " Sort of swooping."

Science in Farming Comprehensive surveys of the Ashburton County as a preliminary to irrigation on a large scale have now reached such an advanced stage that it is becoming possible to collate data of great value to farmers all over the area. A complete soil survey has been finished and reported on, and other investigations are being made into farm management and practice, the application of fertilisers, and other phases of farm work associated with irrigation.

Shining Cuckoo Answers Oall Many people have indulged in the pastime of calling a morepork at dusk, the bird answering with its easily imitated cry, but a young woman at Hokowhitu recently had the good fortune to call a shining cuckoo so successfully that it perched overhead in an apple tree and answered the calls for several minutes, states the Manawatu Evening Standard. The plaintive and long drawn out note of that bird has become a familiar sound to several residents of the locality as the cuckoo evidently does not stray far from one spot. The Stock Exchange

" The Stock Exchange is probably the most envied, criticised and misunderstood profession in existence," said Mr. W. M. Barton, secretary of the Auckland Stock Exchange, in an address to members of the Auckland chapter of the New Zealand Institute of Secretaries, at Milne and Choyce's Reception Hall yesterday. Mr. Barton added that, in his opinion, most of the envy and criticism, and all of the misunderstanding that existed, were due to ignorance. " Where is Freeman's Bay? " "Where is this Freeman's Bay?" asked Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court yesterday, after several police witnesses said they were stationed at Freeman's Bay. " It is down on the waterfront, Your Honor, and well known to Aucklanders," stated Mr. R. Meredith, appearing for the Crown. Mr. Sullivan, for the defence, said the area was a very industrious part of the city and he objected to his friend trying to imply that Freeman's Bay was well known in other directions. " Oh, no, not at all," said Mr. Meredith. West Coast Mining Operations One avenue of employment on the West Coast, South Island, has recently been partially closed, a number of skilled and unskilled, labourers on boring plants throughout the district having had their services dispensed with. It is reported that one of the largest mining companies at present operating on the West Coast has now practically completed all the boring it has in view, and accordingly has put off several gangs of men. In another case the overseas capital behind the venture has been withdrawn on account of the tension felt over the Abyssinian situation. Birfls Unite to Give Alarm An unusual noise in a large rose tree near her kitchen window attracted the attention of a New Plymouth suburban housewife the other morning. The tree appeared to be full of birds, including blackbirds, thrushes and sparrows, which were excitedly flying about, making occasional dashes toward the ground and keeping up a continual screeching. On investigating the housewife discovered that a fledgling thrush which had evidently been making its first flight, had been captured by the black cat 'of the household, which was playing with it under the tree, and the birds had united in an endeavour to scare the cat away. As soon as the cat was removed from the scene the mother bird came down and escorted the youngster to safety and the birds resumed their normal activities.