NEWS OF THE DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19779, 5 November 1938, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Five Hundred Evening A most successful flag five-hundred evening was held in the Parish Hall on Thursday evening by the St. John Ladies' Guild, Mangapapa, there being 10 tables in play. The winners were: Table, Mesdames Hurne, Burch, McIlroy and Mr. Mcllroy; most flags, lady, Mrs. Henderson, gentleman, Mr. L. J. Steele; travelling envelope, Mr. SutcliiTe. 'Mrs. Trowell thanked all present, and Mr. Mclvor for the kind way in which he had always taken charge of the card games for the guild, and the ladies who acted as hostesses and served a delightful supper. The evening closed with a hearty vote of thanks to all helpers, carried by acclamation. SVaikaremoana Road Works In preparation for tihe transportation of ft number of heavy sections of machinery for the new installation at the Tuai power house, which will increase the potential output of the original Waikaremoana hydro-electric scheme as well as provide a standby unit for use when overhaul of the existing installation is undertaken, reconstruction of portions of the Waikaremoana road from Frasertown Is now proceeding. The hew machinery has been landed at Wellington, and will be conveyed by boat to Walkokopu, and thence to Wairoa by rail. Over the last section of the journey, however, road transport must be employed, and the surface of the highway, which was damaged by the winter floods, is being prepared for this test. Regrading and the widening of corners is also being attended to in places; and normal road traffic will benefit from the expenditure thus undertaken by the Public Works Department. When the new scheme for developing power from the outflow of the lake is proceeded with, heavy transport will use the road for metal conveyance. I

Large Hapuku Caught A hapuku weighing 1231 b. was caught in the Bay of Islands recently. The head of this fish weighed 251 b. Altogether nine hapuku were caught by the same party fishing off Old Man's Rock, a noted fishing ground for this class of fish. University Examinations The annual examinations conducted by the University of New Zealand were started this week in Gisborne, there being over 80 candidates interested in the various papers. The supervisor is Cancn A. F. Hall and he is assisted by Miss F. M. Whitty. The examinations, which are being sat in the Parish Hall, will be completed on Monday, November 21.

Cyclist's Mishap Severe head injuries were sustained by a cyclist, Mr. Albert Barnfather, of 2GB Childers road, as a result of a fall from his machine at the intersection of Gladstone road and Cobden street about 2.25 p.m. yesterday. The St. John Ambulance was summoned and the injured man was removed to Cook Hospital, where he received treatment ton concussion. His condition this morning was reported to be quite satisfactory.

Missionaries in Canton Uncertainty and some anxiety as to the whereabouts of a number of New Zealand Presbyterian missionaries stationed in and about Canton has been relieved by a cable message received by the missions office of the church. The message, which was sent from Shameen, the foreign concession in Canton, conveyed the information that all the missronaries are well, ana all with one exception are at their usual posts. The exception is Nurse A. I. .lames, who has moved from the maternity hospital she conducts at Kaai Hail to the village of Tsung Fa.

Teaching Maori in Schools The teaching of the Maori language in secondary schools, and the inclusion of it as a subject to be taken by teachers, and as a subject for study between matriculation and graduation as 8.A., was advocated by Sir Apirana Ngata at the annual meeting of the Polynesian Society in Wellington. It was also suggested that a text book of the Maori language should be compiled for use in schools and training colleges. The matter was left to the council of the society. which will frame a recommendation to the Education Department.

Concealing a Fence

Fronting what will be the facade of the Centennial Exhibition buildings in Wellington is the long black fence of Rongotai aerodrome, stretching the full length of the eastern side of Kingsford Smith street. Such a prospect from the main entrance of the exhibition was not desired, and to conceal the fence 2000 shrubs and trees have. been planted along that side of the street under the direction of the director of reserves, Mr. J. G. MacKenzie. By this time next year it is hoped that almost the whole of the fence will be veiled in greenery.

New Launch For Tokomaru Bay The old launch Waima is to be replaced by a vessel of a similar type that has been placed on order by the Tokomaru Bay Harbour Board. The new vessel, which is being built by an Auckland firm, will have an overall length of 30ft., a triple skin, diagonal construction, a 9ft. beam, and a draught of 3ft. The engine of the new purchase will develop 22 h.p. After long consideration it has been decided to moor the launch at the same position occupied by the Waima, which was fiwepi from her moorings and wrecked in a storm last July. It is expected that the board will be able to take delivery early in January, but it has not been decided whether the vessel will be brought down the Coast under her own power, or as freight on a coastal vessel. Driest October in 10 Years Last month proved the driest October that has been experienced at Pakihiroa station, on the slopes of Mount Hikurangi, for 10 years. The total for the month was I.4b'in. for nine rain-days, as compared with 4.58 in. in October, 1937, when there were seven days with rain. The heaviest day's fall was on October 27, a reading of .37in being taken. The recorder added that there had been little spring growth and pastures were badly in need of rain. As a result of the exceptionally wet period earlier in the year Pakihiroa has recorded a total of 132.33 in. for the 10 months, as against 83.13 in. for the corresponding period in 1937. Rain has fallen at that station on 131 days so far this year, making an average reading of'lin. for each rainday. In comparison Gisborne's average daily reading for the 125 wet days up till August 31 was fourtenths of an inch.

Inter-House Sports Plan At least 10 business houses in Gisborne, employing large staffs, will give whole-hearted support to the proposed inter-house sports meeting which the Gisborne Thirty Thousand Club will sponsor on December 3. A report to this efl'ect was received last evening by the executive of the club from a sub-committee appointed a fortnight ago to make preliminary inquiries. Staff members of the various firms had received the suggestion with enthusiasm, it was further stated, and ample encouragement to proceed with the fixture had been forthcoming, The sub-committee was thanked for its preliminary work. and was authorised to proceed with its organisation. The sports will be the culminating event in a week of special concentrated campaigning for development funds, to be expended upon the new Waikanae Park. All organisations interested in the park development are to be invited to assist in the week's effort, by sharing the responsibility for canvassing the town and district.

Growth of Communication Services The growth of the communication services in Gisborne since Mr. P Malcon first came to the district in 1897 was interesting to those at the gathering arranged last evening by the Post and Telegraph Department's Pastimes Club to mark the retirement of Mr. Malcon. The figures read out by the telegraph engineer, Mr. J. C. Greig, who presided, were interesting. When Mr. Malcon came to Gisborne there was one single wire toll-line from Napier to Gisborne and from" Gisborne to Tolaga Bay, and there were no subscribers. The position was now as follows: —Toll and telegraph, 389 miles of pole line, 2UG miles of wire; telephones, 2500 subscribers in Gisborne, 13 exchanges and the automatic installation in hand, 15 to 20 toll offices, 450 miles of pole line, 5200 miles of aerial wire, and 11,000 miles of wire in cables: .telegraph, on e multiplex channel and one Creed channel; carrier systems, two single in use, one three-channel in hand for Napier, and one three-channel on order for Gisborne-Tolaga Bay; radio, aeradio station, and an emergency radio station.