Untitled

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17145, 30 December 1929, Page 6

A niako shark, weighing 47711), was (aught last week by Mr. Otto Sommer, a visitor to the deep sea anglers' camp at Russell. The shark was the largest caught this season. Mr. Sommer was fishing from the launch Otelie.i, it being his first day out. The shark ibroached several times, and 2J, hours were occupied in landing it. Miss Kathleen .Miller, champion furlong and quarter-mile lady swimmer id' the Dominion, and 1928 New Zealand Olympic representative, who will compete at the swimming carnival in the High School baths to-night, has accepted an invitation to appear at the llautanoa Swimming (Mali's carnival to be held at Tokomaru Bay on New War's Day. "He caused a great deal of trouble, and is lucky he isn't charged with using obscene language," remarked Senior-Sergeant Wade in the Police Court this morning when John O'Brion, 52, was charged with his second offence of drunkenness within six months, having been arrested at 1.30 a.m. yesterday. The accused, who did not appear, was lined the amount of his bail, £l. The following candidates were successful in the theory examinations of the Associated Board, B.A.M. and K.C.M., London, held on November 9: Schools examinations. —Division 1 : Owen Henderson, Nore-en Lee, ami Audrey Woodley (Teacher, Miss N. Leslie). Division II: Hugh K. Anderson. Kda K. Burgess, and Winifred Murray (Miss X. L. Arnold, L.A.8.). Local Centre Examination (rudiments of music): lx»is G. Davys (Mi-, irvin Moore), and May Munro (Miss Arnold). May Munro has now gained a pass in the practical examination intermediate grade. Traffic on the Coast road yesterday was exceptionally heavy, many Gisborne motorists journeying to Te Puin, Waipiro Bay, and other pleasure resorts along the route. The beaches at Turehau and Makarori were crowded with picnickers, some of whom had thoughtfully packed tents along with other equipment, and the improvised shelter was greatly appreciated. The Waikanac, Kaiti, Wainui, and Muriwai beaches were well patronised yesterday, while picnic grounds situated on the upper reaches of the Waimata River received their share of visitors. An indication of the improvement that has taken place in the economic conditions ia flic Dominion is afforded by the number of bankruptcies in the North Canterbury district during 1929, which shows a decrease of 10, as compared with 1928. 'the past year contributed a total of 70, compared with 86 in 1928, 82 in 1927, and 65 in 1926. Farmers again beaded the list of bankrupts, but they constituted a total of l seven only, as against 13 in 1928, 15 in 1927, and 1.1 in 1926. Laborers and builders, of whom there were live of each, were next, being an increase of two and one respectively. Four clerks filed during the year, compared with three last year, and' three carpenters, three butchers, and three salesmen were amongst those who faced Hie official assignee. A larger number of occupations than usual is represented this year. "It is impossible to write with any optimism about the prospects for a rise in values during the remainder of the season," reports Messrs. Dalgety and Co.'s Dunedin office in commenting oa the Dunedin wool sale on December 20. "Buyers' orders are obviously small and are quickly filled, and it is apparent that the market will have to be fed carefully. Any attempt to offer unweildy catalogues would precipitate a sharp decline in prices. Manufacturers in all countries have suffered heavy losses and the resultant tightening of' finance must limit their buying power for some time to come. Artificial fibres are being used in everincreasing quantities, ami must continue to exercise a sobering effect on wool prices." A new motor passenger .service between Gisbornc and Auckland has been inaugurated by the Duco Motor Service Co., and will come into operation to-morrow. The time-table has been arranged to enable people to make a two-day trip from Gisbome to Auckland or vico versa, and should be appreciated by holiday-makers who do not wish to make the long journey in one day. Travellers by the new service will leave Gisbornc at 1.30 p.m. on week days, arriving at Opotiki at 6.45 p.m. They connect with the (rain at Taneatu'a at 0.30 a.m. the following day, and reach Auckland at 4.30 p.m. ' Travelling south, passengers will take the morning train from Auckland to Taueatua, connecting with service car there for Opotiki, where they will stay the night. The Gis-bornc-bound car will leave Opotiki at 0 a.m. each week-day, arriving here at 11.1.") a.m. The usual service will be maintained on Sundays, while Saturday afternoon's car from Gisbornc will connect with a car which leaves Opotiki at 7 a.m. next day for Auckland. The experience of the Poverty Bay cricket team on Christmas Eve was not a good preparation for the representative match which commenced in Palmerston North on Boxing Day. Leaving Gisbornc at a fairly early hour in the evening, the team encountered a delay on Wharerata Hill, where tltey found a car stuck in the watertable, and after giving assistance to the driver, saw the machine plunge over the bank on the outside of the road. Further delay was occasioned by the team's efforts, in company with other passers-by, to rescue the driver of the car, and it was not until well on towards daylight the following morning that the Poverty Bay cricketers reached Napier. Early to bed on Christmas night, they were somewhat recuperated by Boxing Day, but Manawatu won the toss and batted first, the visiting team consequently spending practically all day in the field. In view of these circumstances, the fielding may be said to have been really good, though chances were missed and some of the fieldsmen responded slowly \to calls upon thoir vigilance.

Sydney's time-honored and most reliable guide to the approach of its Royal Faster Show is Archbishop Wright's letter of protest in the press against the opening of the pageant on Good Friday. This year the society has "beaten him to it" with alluring details of the £14,000 prize money which it is offering next Easter. On one of the most, spectacular features of tho show, and one of Australia's finest advertisements —the Commonwealth district competition—the society is laying out about £SOOO. Of this, £ISOO goes in prize money, and the. balance in the erection of the huge stands, cost of freight and cartage of exhibits, and so on. It is hoped to bring into the open wheat classes Canadian and American growers.

Considerable damage is being done to fruit crops and flowers in the Waikato by an insect which is described by an officer of the Agricultural Department as the bronze beetle. The beetle is not to be confused with the adult grass grub, which, although of somewhat similar appearance and color, is about live times as large and confines its activities chiefly to the destruction of certain grasses. The bronze beetle Jives on many kinds of vegetables and is especially destructive in orchards, where it eats the leaves of fruit trees and actually bores into apples. Spraying has no effect on it. It was stated that work was proceeding at the Cawthron Institute with the object of combating the pests.

Although, for the most part, the passengers on the ill-fated Manuka bore their misfortunes philosophically and cheerfully, there were one or two cases which were pathetic in the extreme, remarks the Otago Times. One such case was that of a young married couple who were coming to New Zealand to settle. On board they had all their worldly goods, including their household furniture. All this, of course, was lost, and to make matters worse, a considerable sum of money (practically all he possessed) was in the husband's cabin trunk. Singularly enough, prior to leaving Melbourne he went to insure his furniture and other household goods, but on being told that he could not-get a cover against breakage, he remarked that as far as the ship was concerned his goods would be safe, and went no further with the matter.

"It might have been worse," said a la Ay passenger from tfce Manuka, philosophically, when spoken to at Owaka. "But not much," she added, a« aa afterthought. She and her husband had left. Adelaide with the intention of making an extended tour through New Zealand, but under the circumstances, she explained, they had now no alternative but to return to Australia. In addition to losing everything but what they stood lip in, her husband's letter of credit, his loose cash, find his cheque book had all gone. She personally estimated her own loss at £2OO, but she had the slight consolation of finding her bag floating near the boat, with her letter of credit and other important papers intact. To the officials of the bank in Owaka she wa s particularly grateful, as they had allowed her to draw sufficient cash to supply her immediate necessities on her draft.