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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16534, 29 December 1927, Page 6

Some large mobs of sheep have been going south from Poverty Bay, and two, totalling 2300 sheep for Hastings, passed through Movere this week.—Special.

11, is announced that both tho siren and the bell at tho firo station will be sounded at midnight oil Saturday to mark the advent o£ the new year. A further improvement has heen effected to the Morere baths. The largest bath has been set, apart for mixed bathing, and a dressing room provided for the ladies.—Special. An interesting reunion has just taken place at Nuhaka. In Scotland some years ago two brothers married two sisters. Both families migrated to New Zealand, one going to Tahaenui and the other to the South Island. There was a happy reunion at tho northern home this Christmas.—Special. Up to the early part of this week, the Christmas tourist traffic had been disappointing at Morere, the number of people visiting or camping there being loss than for the corresponding period last. year. During the last few days, however, the number has increased considerably.—Special. ’ 0 The twenty-third annual conference of the New Zealand Presbyterian Bible Class Union opened in Ashburton yesterday. It is expected that 500 persons will be in attendance, some 400 being campers, who are accommodated in the various schools.

Tho largest consignment of butter from Gisborne on one ship left here yesterday on the s.s. Port Fremantle, which took 7935 boxes. Borne of this consignment was loaded before Christmas, but the operations had to be suspended on account of the weather conditions and the vessel left, the roadstead. The remainder was lifted yesterday. The total value of the butter, at the present market rates is over ±ISO,(XX).

A small gully at Wainui beach has been made the site of an unauthorised rubbish dump by carriers. Rubbish, including old tins and broken bottles, has been tipped along the roadside and even on the adjacent beach. As the spot is a favorite picnic site the practice is a dangerous one, occasioning a menace to children playing on the sand. The .matter is one which deserves the attention of the Cbok County authorities.

Apparently tho small cost involved hi travelling by motor car is making an important change in the methods of tourists. Up to this year, campers at Morere have stayed for weeks at a time, but almost without exception now the longest stay is not more than three days, while most prefer to pitch their camp at night, and move on early next morning. Perfect weather lias prevailed for tho holidays so far, and no accidents have been recorded to date. —Special.

Passengers on the Limited express were treated to a mild thrill at Taupiri on Tuesday morning. Where tho Maungawaro ltiver joins the Waikato tho bank along tho railway line, has fallen away and left a gap of 25yds. long and about 15ft. deep. Tho lip of the gap is within 2ft. of the railway line, and trains have to reduce speed to a walking pace. There is no danger, however, and gangs arc out repairing the damage. It. is thought that the slip was caused by dry wont her and the fact, that tho river is low because of tho filling of tho Arapuni darn. “This is a dangerous man, a professional pickpocket, who carries a gun at night,’’ said Chief Detective Cummings, when William Stone, 27, appeared at the Auckland Police Court yesterday. Stone, who had two black eves and a battered face, was charged with being idle and disorderly in that he associated with thieves. In asking for a remand, Chief Detective Cummings said the accused was an Australian criminal and associated with two pickpockets already arrested, He was a dangerous man who carried a gun at night* “1 haven’t done no harm, Your Worship,” said Stone, “and I want to go back to Australia.” “You look as if you had struck harm,” remarked the magistrate. “Yes, they had a row over the proceeds of a theft, said Chief Detective Cummings. Stone was remanded for a week.

For the first time for a number of years,, an aeroplane passed over ,Waipukurau on Sunday afternoon, travelling north, at a high altitude. The Gisborne fire brigade responded to a call from the corner of Carnarvon street and Gladstone road at 4 o’clock this morning, but it proved to be a false alarm.

Yesterday afternoon Robert Ryan, of Queen street, appeared in tho Auckland l.’olico Court to answer a charge of using bis premises in Queen street as a common gaming house. A remand was granted, bail being fixed at £IOO.

Thrills are a frequent experience for fire-fighters. While proceeding to an outbreak at, Gonvillc a tyre came off an engine of the Wanganui Fire Brigade, but fortunately the mishap did not have serious consequences.

A young Maori, ■ Claude Williams, alias Wiknvana Jvarauria, came before Mr. H. E. Hill, J.P., in the Police

Court this morning on a charge of stealing ±ls in money, the property of Lao at Gisborne on December 22, and on the application of Detective McLeod was remanded to January 4, no request being made for bail.

A thunderstorm of unusual severity broke over the western portion of Waipawa County on Saturday afternoon. After a sultry morning clouds gathered fast and soon the rain was pelting down. The Ongaonga creek, which had been dry for some time, was running bank to bank late' in the afternoon. The creek at Sherwood rose with startling rapidity, and dislodged Anderson’s bridge, making the road between Sherwood and Makaretu North impassable for vehicular traffic. The storm seemed to travel north round the hills, Jin. of rain falling in an hour at Pukehou. The storm missed Euataniwha, Waipawa and Otane. Considerable excitement was caused at Lyttelton recently as the ferry steamer Maori was steaming out from the wharf to the moles, when a man was seen to jump overboard. The vessel at once put astern. The man, however, was seen to be swimming strongly for the shore, and the ferry then proceeded on her way. As he neared the ferry wharf, the swimmer found that he had left his hat floating at the spot where he entered the water, and nothing daunted, he turned back and recovered his hat before swimming to the wharf, where he landed none the worse for his immersion. To the bystanders he explained that he was a seafaring man, and went aboard the Maori to have an argument with a member of the crew. When he found he was beigg carried away in the ship he jumped overboard and took the shortest wav back.

Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, was a guest at the Olympia Exhibition of Commercial Motor Vehicles, at a luncheon given by the Society of Manufacturers and Traders. In replying to the toast of the visitors, the High Commissioner said that no one could doubt that Great Britain led the world in this branch of the trade, especially in the new sixwheeled motor lorry and motor bus suitable both for rough country and metalled roads, lessening the burden on the road surface by 33 per cent, as they did. Another new feature of interest was the propulsion of motor vehicles by gas as a substitute for benzine. It was claimed that gas could be produced from charcoal and the droppings of cows for one-fifth of- the cost of benzine. The High Commissioner, insisted that the British manufacturer was largely responsible for tho small percentage of New Zealand’s imports of motor vehicles that came from Great Britain .

A smart piece of work reflecting great credit on the police of Napier and Auckland culminated in flic arrest of a man in Auckland on .Saturday night following the alleged passing of two cheques, each for £l6, at two Napier soft goods stores. The forms were taken from a book lost by a wellknown Napier resident, and it is alleged that the man forged the signature, presented them in payment of goods and received his change in cash. Later in the day the cheques were presented but dishonored at the bank, and the matter was placed in the hands of the police. On inquiry it was gathered that the man had left for Taupo and, thence to Auckland, where he was traced and arrested the same night. He will eventually be brought to Napier to answer the charge.—Napier Telegraph.

.The islanders at Niue believe'in keeping the Sabbath as a day of rest,- and they assert that a sign has heen givefi on two occasions that that is as it should be. On onA occasion last year it was announced that a steamer oft Niue had to bo loaded on a Sunday, and tho islanders demurred. The Saturday was a flat calm, and it continued to midnight. Next morning a high sea was running, and the steamer, after leaving the shelter of one portion of tho island, roiled about in a heavy sea when trying to get into position off the main landing at Alofi Bay, the conditions being so bad that loading had to bo abandoned, although it was continued on the following day, when the sea was again calm. On a later occasion the same thing, happened when Sunday loading was suggested, except that on that occasion an even heavier sea ran during the Sunday. Now the islanders are quite convinced that Sunday loading is a sheer impossibility down that way. Ori the Auckland oyster beds the Marine Department has a staff waging war on a. small shellfish that preys on the oyster. It has a Latin name of respectable dimensions, blit is generally described as “the borer,” and tho damage it does is out of all proportion to its size. The borer fastens itself to a live oyster, and then bores a small hole through the shell to reach the shoulder muscle, at which stage the oyster incontinently gives up the fight. The shell then opens, and a banquet is ready for the pirate. At present the beds at Bay of Islands, Waiheko, Rangitoto ana Waiheke are being cleaned, and it is estimated that, an experienced picker can gather 16,000 borers in a day where they are plentiful, tho number , being estimated by the known capacity of a tin, which is used for the gathering. far the borer is not plentiful on the Kaipara and Manukau beds. It has been found that where the borer has been practically eradicated the oyster crop is more prolific, and of better quality.

To Auckland Detective Naldcr arrested David Wappin Bon, 38, and Ina Johanna Thomas, 28, a well-dressed young woman, a typist, on provisional warrants issued in Australia, on conspiracy charges. Later they appeared together in tho dock at the Auckland Police Court, Bon being charged with const-firing and combining with Thomas to cheat and defraud Joseph Frewster of £75, being the proceeds of the sale of a motor-car. Thomas was also charged with conspiring with Bon to cheat and defraud Frewster of a similar sum. in Victoria, on Novemter 12. ChiefDetective Cummings obtained a remand in both cases until early, in the New Year. Bail in each case in 'one surety of £-150 was allowed. Counsel for. accused stated that he had received a cable message from a Melbourne solicitor who had acted for the pair, stating that he was endeavoring to have the warrant withdrawn, so that Ben and Thomas might proceed voluntarily to Australia to defend the charges. They bath had good, defences.

On Boxing Day over 3300 people from Palmerston North visited tho Awapuni racecourse by taking advantage of the Railway Department’s special excursion arrangements. Several gangs of workmen are still employed on the Ivaimai Hills between Matamata and Tauranga. Tho road is being widened and straightened and in numerous places the level has been lowered. Many corners have been, eased and the surface has been greatly improved.

A wireless plant has been installed iu one of the carriages of the special train used by a large circus, and when tho train was in the .railway yard at Ashburton many peoplo remarked upon the aerial running along the roof of the carriage (says the Guardian). This is prob- . ably tlie first time wireless has been used on railway carriages in New Zealand. At a time when complaints of a decrease in New Zealand fauna are being voiced, it is pleasant to record that tuis have apparently become domiciled in Invercargill (says the Southland Times). A visitor to the Queen’s Park golf links was charmed to hear one of these beautiful songsters in the trees alongside the bicycle path at Kelvin Avenue. Inquiries elicited the fact that a tui is very frequently heard at this spot, whilst others have at times been heard in the neighborhood of the rose gardens. In connection with an accident (loss of propeller) which caused the crew of the trawler to spend an uncomforta*ble night in the open bay, a resident has suggested lhat it would be a good idea if the owners of trawlers revert to the old idea of carrying a couple of pigeons on each boat e\ cry time it went out (says the Telegraph). The installation of wire- , less would prove too expensive, but a “ carrier pigeon Would prove of in- j estimable value in the case of mishapjj/’such as that suffered bv the Waiwiri,

That for every male who applied for a probafionship prior to qualification as a fully fledged, teacher, there were seven applications from females, was a remark passed to a reporter the other day (says the Southland Times). The informant went on to say that in his opinion the salaries of male teachers should be increased to make this side of the profession more tempting. Over 75 per cent, of the female teachers in Southland schools were drawing about £5 per week. A Taranaki motorist just returned from a 1000 miles’ tour of the North Island, reports meeting an unusual number of swaggers on tho road (states the News), Some were of tho “down and out” order, but a number were young, able-bodied men who appeared to be genuine “triers.” Some of the latter say there is not the harvesting work being done this summer as in previous years, and farmers arc managing with less labor in other y directions.

At Opepe, 10 miles frem Napier, ori the Taupo-Napier road, there is an old giaveyard enclosing the graves of six members of the Armed Constabulary, who were massacred by followers of To Kooti on June 7, 1869. The remains of other soldiers who died while the Armed Constabulary were encamped in tho vicinity are also interred in the graveyard. Tlie wooden paling fence and the surroundings are in a very neglected condition (says an exchange), and the opinion has been expressed that attention should be given to placing the graveyard in repair,

A well-known Taranaki coastal farmer is quite enthusiastic, from his personal experience, as to the value of judicious top-dressing, not only on the open lands near the coast, but also on the higheri/ levels nearer the mountain (states the\ Taranaki News). In fact, he holds thak on the latter class of country, which -ft is impossible to plough, top-dressing is invaluable. During the last three years ho has just doubled the output of ibutterfat on his own bush section, and does not consider that he has by any means reached the limit of it's producing capacity. He has expended an average of £7O per annum on fertilisers, and has received in increased butter-fat returns at least £2OO per annum. An incident which might easily have ended much differently, occurred at the new Invercargill swimming baths one evening, when a girl who was standing near the eight-foot mark of the pool was pushed into the water by a bather standing beside her. Unable to swim, she splashed and struggled in the water, until, seeing her plight (says the Southland News), a girl friend jumped in and rescued her. The girl was not pulled out, however, before she was nearly exhausted and thoroughly frightened. It is to be hoped that from this occurrence the perpetrator of such ;i dangerous trick will learn a lesson. A warning to Sounds picnic and camping parties to beware of sharks was conveyed by Mr. A. H. Derbyshire, of Onapua, Tor}' Channel, reports the Marlborough Express. Mr. Derbyshire stated that there were more sharks in the Sounds this year than had ever been known and it was common to see them 14 or 16 feet in length, while he had seen an 18footor. Mr. Derbyshire said visitors to the vicinity of Tory Channel would be well advised not to bathe anywhere in the vicinity of whale flesh, as there was almost sure to be a shark in at- - tendance. A Picton resident states that a sft. shark was seen off Wedge Point. Jf

A correspondent sends us tho ing extract from a letter received from America (says the Christchurch Press), in which the writer, an American citizen, says:—“We are frequently told # tlmt the English business man is slow, *but if this is so I am sure it does not apply to the electrical business. I never found a keener lot of men in my life. They are out to get the business, and in my opinion know how to go about it. I obtained more valuable information in London than I expected to get on my whole trip. It is unfortunate that New Zealand engineers think they have to go to U.S.A. only for , information. Tho London engineers' are well posted on the electrical work of U.S.A. and also the Continent.”

Shortly after noon on Tuesday information was received by tho Petone police that a small yacht had capsized a few hundred yards to the north of Somes Island. This information was immediately given to the harbor board, with tho result that the launch Uta was despatched to the vicinity in charge of Captain W. Todd. News of the mishap was also conveyed to Air. A. P. Bennett, senior Inspector of Health at the quarantine station on the island, and he lost no time in despatching his yacht and putting men on the look-out at the highest point of the island. Although the boats cruised around the island and its neighborhood for some time, no trace of the yacht or its occupants was seci\ About 3 p,m., however, the Hcretaunga) Boating Club yacht., Spray, picked somo men clinging to the hull of a boat between Somes Island and the eastern side of the harbor and took them to Lowry Bay.

Presbyterian Services.—'Whatatutu: Sunday next, at 11 a.m. Air. W. W. Bridge,*