GENERAL NEWS.

Otaki Mail, 22 June 1927, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

The neat apearance of the schools in the Nelson Education Board’s district has been commented on by travellers, stated members of the board at a meeting the other day. It was added that motorists also aprcciated the fact that the names of the schools which were painted on the buildings were a convenient guide to travellers who were strangers to the district.

A fruit tree not often seen in any garden here is the persimmon (says the Hawcra Star). At Mr H. Bett’s farm at Okaiawa, is one in full bearing. Tit* tree is just a mass of yellow fruit, while it is quite bare of leaves. Last year 40 pounds were picked to be sent away and there was ample left for the ust of the house. The fruit is regained as a great delicacy, being left to bcec-me dead ripe before being used. A coincidence probably without parallel was related by Professor F. J. Worley when addressing the Auckland Chemical Society. Professor Worley said that the professors of chemistry at Auckland, Canterbury, and Victoria University Colleges each graduated in the same year and each, after sitting for their filial examinations abroad, returned as professors of chemistry to their, own colleges.

When the log of the steamer Ngapuhi was taken on board as the vessel reachTauranga from Auckland on Tuesday, a bright piece of ivory was found in the cylinder. Closer examination revealed that a shark had evidently attempted to swallow the log, and in the process had lost a tooth. The cylinder was full of water, which accounted for the log running slow from Old Man Rock to Tauranga. Mr Allen Abbott found his launch, the Scout, stranded on a sandy beach at the Rurima Islands (says an Auckland telegram). The launch was swept away from -its moorings at Whale Island in a storm last Tuesday night, with the result that a fishing party was marooned. The launch went ashore on the only sandy beach in the vicinity. Had it gone ashore elsewhere it must have been dashed to pieces. The engine was not damaged, but one plank was sprung and two anchors, a coil of rope and an oar were missing. The launch is valued at £9OO.