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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18256, 27 November 1933, Page 4

The freshly-minted New Zealand haltcrowns were put into circulation in Wellington on Friday. Several firms which called on the banks for silver in that denomination were paid out in the new half-crowns. They are similar in size to the British half-crowns, but are slightly lighter in weight. Following on reports concerning the receipt of tick infested bobby calves from Opotiki at the Haiti freezing works recently, inquiries were made at the office of the stock inspector, Mr. ,). 1). Anderson, who confirmed the, report. No more Iwlrby calves were being received from Opotiki, but some of the drafts that arrived from that source were badly infested with cattle ticks in all their stages. They were brought to Gisborne by motor lorry.

One of the most interesting of the many novelties amongst plants exhibited nt tiie recent rose show in the Wellington Town Hall was a dwarf Japanese cypress tree. The Japanese have made a special hobby of cultivating dwarf trees, and this specimen, a tree said to be 500 years old, was only a couple of feet high, yet with ail tho characteristics, except size, of a fully-grown tree. It was lent for exhibition by Mrs. Forbes, and bad been, presented to the Prime Minister by Admiral Tuianiaru when the Japanese training squadron last visited these shores.

'it was a matter of great regret to members of the public ami to the harbor skiff that H.M.S. Laburnum did not berth at the wharf, during her visit to Gisborne,” stated Mr. .1. Tomblosou, chairman of the Harbor Board, at today’s meeting of that body. “The sloop was drawing only 13ft., and just the day before we had berthed the Kanna, drawing 16ft. Probably the commander had in mind the experience of the Veronica at Napier, when she was almost trapped by the earthquake.” Mr. T. Corson re marked that the harbormaster, Captain Carson, and bis staff should be complimented upon the manner in which the sloop had been tendered, and on the arrangements made for the transfer of the public to the vessel, Tn connection with the transportation of the public, the chairman stated that the harbormaster had not been satisfied with the conditions under which this was carried out, and that in consequence the hoard was recommended to limit the use of the Takitiiim, on the occasion of the visit of iI.M.S. Diomede, to the transport of school children in charge of teachers. Tho Lightering Company would have vessels available for the (Tenoral public at n small charge, be added. The recommendation in regard to the Takitimu was adopted. •••••'•

Gradually the havoc wrecked hv the 1931 earthquake upon county bridges and roads in Hawke s Bay has been repaired. The Dartmoor bridge, constructed in concrete at a cost- of lias now been finished.

The cutter Magnet, which went ashore on the rocks near Tangoio, has been refloated and returned to Napier on Saturday. Iho owner, Mr. H. larkei, of Hastings, states that he has not given up tlie idea of making a cruise to Auckland, and will resume the voyage after a complete inspection of his craft has been made.

Ninety-one years ago, on November If), 1542, flic ship Blenheim arrived at New Plymouth with pioneer settlers from Plymouth, Kngland, the voyage having occupied 140 days. Of the Blenheim’s passengers the only survivor to-day is Mrs Mary Hamerton (widow of Mr. It. Chrisnell), who is at present residing at Central lerraco, Kolburn, Wellington.

At a meeting of the executive commit tee of the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association it was decided to improve the appearance of the soldiers’ plot in the Hamilton East ecmeterv. It was pointed out that in any relatives of the deceased soldiers diil not make use of the uniform type of headstone. A motion was passed that in future the standard type should he supplied.

'file laying of a bitumen hot mix slab roadway in Stafford street was completed on .Saturday, together with the surface coat of bitumen and Napier peagravel. and this morning work was commenced in Cladstone road, which is to bo similarly treated on tbo south side between Cobden street, and Roebuck road, 'l'lie work was commenced this morning from the Cobden street end, and that, portion of the road lias again been barricaded.

Aa unemployed returned soldier who left his bicycle at the Christchurch Association's headquarters on a recent afternoon received ,'ls tor throe hours’ work. From that sum lie paid .'ld wage tax, L’s (id oil his subscription to the association, and walked out of the building with .‘ld, only to find that his . bicycle was -missing. Another bicycle owner, a Iso unemployed, laid the same misfortune. When these matters were reported to the meeting of the association’s executive, it was decided to advise members to lock their machines on leaving tlmm. Is it not time that smoking was prohibited at such functions as the poster ball? writes a correspondent to the Wellington Post. At the dance in question an accident occurred which might easily have had a serious ending. Two young girls had their dresses burned, and one luid her arm burned rather badly through the careloss throwing down of a lighted match. ,Surely there are plenty of places outside the Town Hall if one wishes to smoke. If not. people who cannot forgo smoking for one evening should remain away.

Reporting to the monthly meeting of the Harbor Board to-day, Captain A. Carson stated that unsettled weather with frequent cold snaps from the southward had prevailed in the roadstead, northerly winds prevailing, however. The sea in the roadstead was smooth to moderate with the exception of October 29, when rough seas were recorded. Rainfall from October 27 to November 23 totalled 1.21 in., on live days, the maximum fall being 95 points on October 27. Soundings showed that the depth of water in the navigation channel was being maintained. Navigation lights were maintained in good order and condition, the year’s supply of gas being installed at Tua'hine light on November 16.

More than the ordinary amount of (sickness is prevalent in Gisborne and Coastal districts at present, though much of it is not of a serious nature. I Sore throats, whooping cough and I measles have affected a large number of I children, and school attendances have suffered accordingly. Also, a number (of cases of bronchitis and influenza, some ' turning to pneumonia, have been re- ! ported. At the same time, however, I few cases of infectious diseases have been reported from the East Cape health 1 district to headquarters at Gisborne ot ■ recent weeks. For the week ended at noon to-day, there was only one case, which was of typhoid fever, and no deaths were notified during the week as occurring from infectious disease. Since the earthquake there have been a number of illustrations in Napier of the ability of trees to withstand tho tremendous heat of the lire which iollowed the upheaval. Tims the palm , tree which stands in the grounds of the I former Bank of New Zealand building 'at the corner of Hastings and Browning streets sent new shoots through the charred stem of the tree the following spring, after having had the appearance of lilVlessncss all winter. Another remarkable illustration is that of a tig tree situated on the southern side of Tennyson street near the Clive Square corner. The tree itself, badly burned, has all the appearance of complete destruction, but from the roots there have | now sprung numerous new brain dies which form a kind of Elizabethan ruff It round the charred and barren stem.—Telegraph. Returned soldiers filing past the graveside, and dropping poppies, the symbol of remembrance, will add greater dignity and impressiveness to the funerals of returned soldiers. Approval of a proposal for this ceremonial after the religious service lias been ven bv the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ | Association. The matter was brought up by the president, the Rev. F. T. Read, w'ho said that in addition to forming a guard of honor returned soldiers should tile past the grave and drop those symbols of remembrance. The poppies could be provided by the association and distributed to soldiers in attendance at the funeral. That would apply in cases where the association was advised of the death of a returned soldier. The. suggestion was in addition to the recommendation of the association headquarters that the “Last Post” and ‘‘Re- , veilin’’ should be sounded.