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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16320, 2 January 1924, Page 2

The dry weather is seriously affecting the. farmers in and,around Nuhaka.and Wairoa, rind the majority of the- maize crops to be seen there are, very stunted 1 . A few crops of rape and turnips also looked to have, suffered from tlj;e t ,..pi - c>vailing weather conditions. lii Wniroa township itself the householders are getting very short of water, most houses having only two or three inches of water left, in their tank's. -

Passengers who were, fortunate) enough to make flights in the Avro aeroplane on Monday afternoon were greatly impressed with the suitability of the day for flying, while the exceptionally good visibility,enabled a splendid view to be obtained of the town and flats. The fairly heavy wind which' was blowing did not affect flying conditions to any extent, although it assisted the flights. considerably, enabling the machine to attain a greater altitude in a relatively shorter time. Advantage was taken of the favorable conditions to obtain a unmber of photographs of the town frqm the air. . •

Tho New Year was ushered in at.Gisborne with the usual salutation of hells, whistles and skyrockets. Large numbers of people paraded the streets during the evening, the* night being observed by tho shops as a late- night. A few persons lingered in the street until the witching Tiour of midnight and entertainment for thorn was. provided from the Coronation; hotel balcony. Generally very good order prevailed, and there was not nearly so much noise as is customary on such an occasion. The- attempts of a' few individuals to celebrate the event in the time-honored manner, with music and song, received little en-l couragement. Thei Salvation Army! hand, earlier in the evening, was abroad, and played appropriately cheerful selections.

! The many people who watched tho peregrinations of tho Avro aeroplane, piloted by Captain L. H. Brake, on Monday afternoon, were somewhat mystified as to what was being done by tho occupants of the small machine. As tho machine passed over the town it was seen to leave a trail of what appeared to be silvor leaves behind it. What was really a most spectacular sight was caused by hundreds of loaf lets which were released from the 'plane, this being the first occasion upon which this means of advertising has been adopted in Gisborne. Tho scheme was assisted by the strong wind' which was blowing, tho light paper being carried a considerable distance in the air. Some of tho leaflets travelled a distance of two miles bofore reaching tho ground. The distribution of the leaflets as an advertising medium was undertaken on behalf of Mr. W, S. Allen, of the Gisborne. Garage, by whom a, prize was offered tho winner of a competition advertised on tho leaflets.

A high temperature was registered,, in Gisborne yesterday, the thermometer showing 90, degress in thej shade. Captain Brake, left this morning on the Avro aeroplane for Waipiro Bay, where sports were being held to-day. Mr. F. B>. Dunsford, accountant of the Bank of New Zealand at Christchureh, has been appointed manager of the Suva (Fiji) branch. Th<j intense heat yesterday caused a great rush to the Waikanae beach for a plunge in the surf. Some parties who had gone motoring returned to town and hastened to the seaside.

The Rev. B. Hodgson, of Melanesia, arrived in Auckland by the Niagara on Thursday on his way to Gisborne. Mr. Hodgson is on a year's leave, most ot* which he has spent in England. The first of the big mobs of sheep for Wanganui, started away on Monday, there being over 3000 in the mob. \ A second mob is now on the road', and the) remainder will be on their long journey during the next few days.

Whilci the country on this side of the rang* continues to bakei up (states the Wairarapa Age), Levin and the surrounding district is having so much rain that farmers are unable to ,get their crops in.

The popularity of the Nuhaka Show was shown by the fact that yesterday nearly 100 cars were parked there. People from all over the district journeyed there and spent tbe day watching the events, and enjoying an impromptu picnic, in corners of tho shady grounds. The holiday picnic, is not restricted to any particular class, creed, or colorYesterday members of the local Chinese club, which, incidentally, is quite a thriving institution, held"• their annual picnic, about thirty of forty journeying to Patutahi. where a .thoroughly enjoyable time was spent ifi' various forms of amusemnt.

' The driving of stock for long .distances :s a. most difficult operation at. thei present- time. A drover who is well acquainted with all the stock routes throughout the. district stated yesterday that- when driving stock for any distance the first, problem they had to consider was the arranging of. the route into stages that would allow of their watering the stock every day. \

The advantages of railway communication were brought home to those attenaing the Nuhaka Show yesterday. Shortly after 10 a.m. the "Waikokopu ' express" steamed majestically into Nuhaka station, having brought over 400 Wairoa people, to the show. The train was delayed for half an hour last night in order that the Wairoa- pooplo could! seo the final events at thei show before returning to their homes. •

A sad accident occurrd at Ngaruawahia on Christmas eve, when a boy ageciftibout 11,''George Dare, son of Mr. William Dare, railway employee, was drowned in tho Waikato river. The unfortunate lad was bathing with two other boys, both younger than himself, at the end of Kepler street, a spot generally considered rather dangerous. He went out too far, and not being able to swim, was carried off his feet by the fresh out to mid-stream.

The sun set upon the year. 1923 in a blaze of glory. Tbe heavy smoke from thei log and grass fims drifted across the bay, and obscured the cliffs at Muriwai. Wreaths of light clouds took wonderful colors from the rays of the setting sun, and in every part of the heavens glowed weird and gorgeous tone-combinations. The. liner lying in thei bay was faintly outlined against a bank of purple smokeclouds and. at times presented the appearance qj a phantom ship. It was rumored' on Monday evening that. Captain L. H. Brake met with an accident in the Avro aeroplane during the afternoon, but this story apparently gained currency on account of the fact that during one flight'the pilot had given an exhibition of "stunting" in, a minor degree. After a fairly long flight Captain Blake flew along tha beach at a comparatively low altitude, banking steeply several times, and'doubling on his course. The "banks," performed at a low altitude were very effective, the machine sweeping round "in graceful curves and exciting the admiration of the many onlookers.

Although it- would naturally be expected that there would be a considerable reduction in the amount of butter manufactured locally during the past month, this is not. I 'borne out by .the figures, which show' that 5067 boxes of butler were received into the grading stores during December, as against 4906 boxes for the corresponding period of last year. This increase is partly accounted for by the fact that during the: early part-of the month, and before the: weather conditions had affected the feed to any great extent a much larger quantity of butter was made. The later weeks show a distinct falling off in tho amount coming forward.

■. Ratana's secretary states that the Christmas gathering this year was ,-tho most, successful ever held at Ratana's village. The attendance was approximately 3000, coming from north of-'Auckland and from as far south as tlie Bluff. The organisation was all that could be ,desired, and all .spent a happy -and'instructive time. There were many inspiring addresses, including some by Rat-ana, and it is predicted that these will be productive of much good. In addition to. a local orchestra, which comprises about 90 musicians, there were other visiting bands at the pa, so the entertainment side was not neglected.. One patient, who came from Kotbrua, was carried in from the railway station, and left apparently fully cured. Ratana received a.letter from a, resident in Holland a few days ago appealing for hia prayers and spiritual intervention. *

On Saturday'night a lato special was i run from Dwiediri to Invercargill. When it was about duo to arrive at Gore (reports a correspondent) the ktation presented an unusually busy appearance for that time of the night (about 11 p.m.). All the taxis of the town were drawn up «t the kerb, and the platform had its usual patrolling body of Micawbers, Asquiths, and Jack Pleasants; the bookstall was opened up ready >for the rush, the railway porter trundled an empty barrow up the platform to where the van of a long express would stop—and shouted to his co-worker, "Bring another. One will be no good !" An engine came snorting in from Invercargill to run the extra down there "from to allow the incoming one-to return to Clinton. Then there was thei usual whistle, bell, and expectant hush; and the mighty carrier of the night thundered over the iron way into the station. And the sightseers beheld one; engine, behind the engine one carriage, in the carriage one passenger—and they faded away so quickly that not one of them could afterwards give any information whether there was any luggage to put on the two barrows or whether the solitary traveller averted a civil war among the taxiproprietors and walked. j.

Visits to the Far o East are becoming increasingly popular, and many leading / business men combine business with pleasure by making a few months' tour in China, states the Sydney Daily Telegraph. "The growth of popularity'of wbolleiiß in the East," said a recently returned merchant, "is intimately allied with what is often called the' 'Young China movement.' In their original fervoriqr Western' ideas members of the China party out-westerned the Westerners. They adopted foreign clothes,'and . at one time had discarded the' raiment of their fathers. 'Naturally," ho added, "the" pendulum swung finally in the opposite direction, and the Chauvinism of young China made it equally enthusiastic in Chinese garb." Meantime the lesson had been learned that woollen linings were just as warm as cotton padding, and did not restrict the liberties of limbs; consequently woollens have come to stay. "Whereas in the past a good deal of the woollen cloth imported was used sololy for caps and shoes} to-day ft is finding favor for much larger The one foreign staple garment that has been unaffected by the reversal of fashion is the overcoat. It appears in many shapes and patterns, and, so far as anyone can judge, it, too| has come to stay'." All nominations for the Wairoa raees close to-morrow (Thursday),

The old gaol site at Lyttelton is to be used for school purposes.

For some time past the counties of Hawke's Bav have been negotiating for joint, by-law's. Theso have now been completed, and steps arei being taken to bring 'them into force on April 1, "1924, that, date being the commencement of the financial year.

Among the arrivals by the Ulimaroa was Dr. B. Walker, of London, a keen tiy-fisherman, who lias come to try the trout in the North Island. Later, lie will so south to investigate the possibilities of salmon-fishing. Dr. Walker intends to stop in New Zealand for at least six months.

A boy named Frank Barbarlich, aged 12, was admitted to the Thames hospital on Thursday night, having been gored by a bull. He and his sister were bringing the cows in when a bull chased the "children. The/girl scrambled to safety, but the- boy Was knocked clown and then tossed. His injuries are serious.

The ocean race of 120 miles from Auckland to RusseU, promoted by the committee of the Russell regatta, was won by Mr. W. P. Endean's new keel yacht Prize, bv*. the narrow margin of one minute AS seconds from the 25ft centreboard yacht Waitere 11.. Mr. W. Willetts, of. Stanley Bay, Starlight (Mr. Gilbert Parker) being third. A resident was surprised to find his bees had deserted their hives. He could not account for their action, but quietly, accepted the, position and induced them to inhabit another hive. Upon examining the' deserted hive he found that one of"those smelling insects, a Maori bug, had madei a. home there. This was more than the bees could stand.—Eltham Argus.

Canterbury farmers state that the ._ recent rain was very uneven in distribution, but most districts got a nice fall. The rain will check the wheat and give it a chance to fill. . Thus the. prospect from the wheat growers' point of view is a little brighter. Harvesting is general, and curiously enough some of the best oat crops are on the light land. The straw is very short) but where the crop has made any growth at ( all the return, considering the season, will be very, fair. Farmers generally are by no means so pessimistic as they were a few weeks ago.

In historical objects the Wanganui Museum is richly endowed. There is Te Kooti's- standard and other battle flags that have flown at the head of rebellious hordes or our loyal troops during the stirring times of the 'sixties. There is the first musical instrument to be imported to New Zealand—an organ that was used in the early days of the mis! sionaries at Hokianga. A page from) Captain Cook's log is a well-guarded treasure, as is also a brass panel from the car; of Juggernaut, in connection with which terrible tales are told.of the merciless sacrifice of human lives in the religious festivals of India.

.It is quite a .common belief .that people in New Zealand are rather backward in -surgery and medicine, but that this state'of affairs; i 3 not the case is shown by an extract from the prospectus of a London nursing home, sent to a Gisborne" lady. The establishment, known as the Stonefield Nursinc Home, is one of tho most up-to-date in England, and is elaborately equipped and furnished with all the latest improvements. This is what tho prospectus says: 'A great point is made of educating the mothers in sound and scientific methods ot baby management. The system is t£at of Dr Truby King, which is taught with such-notable success at the mothercraft training centre."