NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 44, 5 December 1929, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

MUTES FROM ALL PARTS* THE DOMINION DAY BY OAY» HL’BJE, THERE & EVERYWHERE* HUGE PETROL IMPORTS. - The enormous quantity df petrol imported into and used in New Zea, land was referred to in the annual report of th© Wellington Automobile Club presented at the annual meeting, it being stated that the amount used for the 12 months, ended Juno JO last totalled 56,699,946 gal” ions. A VALUABLE FIND. A fine bong mere about 15 indies in length was recently found by one of the keepers at the Waipapa lighthouse. The mere, which was in a fair state of preservation, was found near the seashore where the wind had been drifting the sand. There is considerable evidence of an old Maori -settlement in tli® vicinity of the lighthouse, and it would be interesting to know how the owner of snuch a valuable weapon lost it on the seashore. DOING MORE READING.

'Apparently Christchurch peep!© are acquiring more studious habits (says the Chrichchurch Sun). Though the number of books taken out of the Canterbury Public Library usually shows a considerable decrease during the summer months, this has has not been the case to any extent this year, and th© number of new subscribers joining i s , unusually large. GOLF AT TAUPO. The proposal for the establishment of a golf course at Taupo is propressing steadily towards fruition The proposed area has been inspected biy Mr. M’Cormack, professional of th© Rotorua, Club, and he informed a meeting of enthusiasts in Taupo that after a wide experience in laying out links from North Capa to Bluff, he had never inspected an, area which lent itself so admirably for the purpose. The area, is a natural golf course, and nine holes can h© put down at once with a minimum of expense, while adjoining land lends itself to the develop* merit of an 18-hole course. *1 WAIKAREMOANA FISHING.

The fishing Reason at I/aEe Wain karamoana opened on "November ], Hie results obtained during the first? few weeks of the season have been satisfactory. For the past five vo"rs thi<? water hag provided exguort. some of last season’s catches being -particularly good. One of two Ehsrlfsh wire cammed at the lake for six weeks, seem red .in all 434- trout, many of which were of good size and all were reported to hav© given excellent snort'. Fly fishing is probably productive of the best results on this water, but trolling with the silver and red or copper spoon is also a favourite form of fishing there, HEAVY PARISH DEBT. - During the past few months the heavy debt of the Frankton parish which prevents the local church people supporting the vicar, has been considerably reduced and it is hop* ed that the bank overdraft may bo reduced to £4OQ by, thq end of £he( financial year,: jJ (NOVEL FLOTSAM* . At almost every visit to the loner ly western beaches of Stewart Island something interesting in tha flotsam and jetsam is usually found* On the main beach at Helliire Bay some time ago two travellers observed a steamer’s huge steel derrick which had drifted ashore (remarks ,the News correspondent. The derrick arm measured 40 feet, and apparently is hollow, otherwise It would not have floated. Glancing at the massive iength of metal, end marvels how the small quantity of air that is contained within could provide sufficient buoyancy to hold up pick up such a massive weight. The barnacles attached to the JfierricK show that it had travelled fo?a long period since parting from a presumed wreck. i j

VIRGINIAN DEER. Tlie Virginian deer (which are .Spreading very rapidly at Stewart Island were originally libera,ted at Pegasus, and the herd, which subsequently accumulated, kept those regions for some years. Now, however, there are comparatively few about Pegasus, but they have spread tu every part of the Island (writes thei correspondent of the Southland News). They breed more rapidly even than the red deer ) as they often have twin fawns. Tht Virginian venison is excellent eating, and the fishermen make regular excursions in. bad weather to secure this prized aditiou to their larder..