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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 27 January 1936, Page 6

M. Louis Bouvier, Lyons, France, world traveller and hitch-hiker, left Gisborne yesterday to walk to Opotiki by way of the East Cape route. The audited balance-sheet and other statistics of the Tokomaru Bay Harbor Board were submitted to a special meeting of the -board last week, and were adopted.—Special. Swerving to avoid a dog in upper Gladstone road on Friday afternoon, Mr. D. O'Rourkc, N'gatapa, crashed across the footpath and on to a lawn. He received minor injuries, and his car was considerably damaged.

Only two cases of infectious disease were reported from the East Cape health district to headquarters in Gisborne for the past week. These comprise a case each of tuberculosis and eclampsia. No deaths were reported from notifiable diseases during the week. Three weeks out on the trail from the East Coast, a mob of 3000 sheep passed through Wliakatane on Friday on the last stage to the railhead. The drovers said that it had been a hard trip, and their lean and limping dogs bore witness to past toil. However, though flooded streams in plenty were crossed there were no losses from drowning, and the sheep stood up to the long trip well. Prior to the commencement of official business at the monthly meeting of the Tokomaru Bay Harbor Board, held last week, members stood in silence in tribute to the memory of the late Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P., and as an expression of sympathy for the relatives of the deceased. It was mentioned by the chairman, Mr. J. Busby, that the late Mr. Williams had served for many years on the board, and had been its chairman from 1910 to 1919.—Special.

The sounding of the fire siren will signalise the commencement of the two minutes' silence in Gisborne to-morrow on the occasion of the funeral of His Majesty the King. An announcement to this effect was made by the town clerk, Mr W. M. Jenkins, who said that the Mayor, Mr D. W. Coleman, M. 1., had arranged with the Fire Board for the siren to lie sounded for 30 seconds, at 11 o'clock. Immediately following that, the two minutes' silence would be observed.

Tristan da Cunha, the lonely island in the South Atlantic, midway between Capetown and South America, will receive a visit this month from the British cargo steamer Auditor. The ship, the first to call at the island for nearly a year, will leave Durban for South America, and has been ordered to call at the island by arrangement between her owners and the British Government. She will carry mails and gifts, including parcels of food and clothing.

In the first ladies' representative cricket match played between Poverty Bay and Hawkc's Bay, in Napier on Saturday, the Poverty Bay team made 209 runs for three wickets in their first innings, and then declared, Miss G. Mortimer having 112 to her credit. The Hawke's Bay team made only 14 in their first innings, and, following on, registered 54 in tneir second, leaving Poverty Bjay with a handsome win.

Reference appeared in Saturday's issue to the serious position arising in the Rotorua district through the spread of ragwort. Mr H. 11. DeCosta points out that 14 years ago he called the attention of the Rotorua press to the menace which was then threatening, 'but apparently nothing was done. The Wairoa and Gisborne districts, in the same way, were being threatened by the invasion of ragwort, which was now spreading extensively at. Mohaka. He also directed public attention to this matter several years ago.

The Wliakatane County Council has been considering the advisability of tarsealing the mam highways through its territory—the Whakatane-Rotorua and Whakatane-Opotiki roads. The council was at first under the impression that there would be a substantial saving in maintenance costs, but figures presented by the Highways Board have upset this theory. It is stated the maintenance cost of a sealed road across the plains would be £255 per mile, whereas the council can maintain a good metalled road for £IOO. It is unlikely, therefore, unless the Highways Board takes over the road, that any sealing will be undertaken.

The present heavy supplies of overripe bananas are welcomed by Maoris, who prefer the fruit in this state. "Some Maoris buy 151 b or 20ib of very ripe bananas," said an Auckland fruiterer, "but I do not know how they manage, to get them home, as some of them leave on long trips with fruit which should be consumed immediately."

The bad quality and the high cost of cigarettes in Germany and France were commented upon by Mr John Oakley, who has returned from a visit of nearly a year to England and the Continent. Mr Oakley, formerly of the Canterbury College School of Art, said that English cigarettes were the only ones worth smoking in these' European countries, but in France their price was equivalent to 2s Gd for 10, while even French cigarettes, bad as they were, cost about a shilling for 10.

The preservation of trees in California in 'both town and country has almost reached a degree of mania, according to Mr C. S. Thomas, who has returned to Christchurch from a visit to the United States. Not only arc existing trees being preserved, but hundreds more are being planted. It would be looked up as little short of a criminal offence to destroy a tree unnecessarily. "In several instances I saw the verandas of houses actually built round trees to save them from destruction," said Mr Thomas.

An indication of the fall in value of real estate in Duncdin which occurred during the depression was given by a well-known land agent. Taking a general average over Duncdin freehold property, fie said, the fall would be about 15 per cent, but it varied according to circumstances. Thus it was estimated that on old. buildings or in the case of very large houses the decrease in value ranged up to 40 per cent. He said the drop in prices had been arrested, and that properly values were now steady, while the outlook for the coming year was brighter than it had been for some years past.

That it was a waste of time" examining medically persons who were under the influence of liquor, was the. statement made by Dr. G. E. Water worth when giving evidence in the Napier Police Court. "I am frequently asked to examine men requiring medical assistance, but who are under the influence of liquor, and [ never bother with them," the doetov said. "One ce/mot get. their attention, and it is a waste of time attempting to examine them. The results of tests are all vitiated by alcohol, and I won't be bothered doing it.''