NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12508, 8 April 1909, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

. On Sunday week a large shoal of whales — to the number of fully fifty — entered the West Wanganui in- J let, and disported themselves in its ] waters for about' six hours, eventu- } ally going out with the receding tide. ■ This interesting and unusual visita- < tion was witnessed by several residents of the" locality. It is estimated \ that the average length of the whales \ was not less than 30 feet. ; The Auckland "Herald" of April \ , 3rd states :— ln consequence of the flooding of the low-lying country between Waihi and Katikati, the Tau- ; ranga coach- from Waihi during the ; early part of the week failed to get through. The driver (M. Crimmins) , on arrival in the Hikurangi Gorge found the- approaches to the bridge washed away,- and decided to return to Waihi, only to find that some distance further back -a landslip had occurred, completely blocking. the way. The horses were let loose, and with the assistance of the Rev. Salter, his sons, and the four male passengers on the coach, the mails were conveyed to Mr Salter' s homestead at Athenree. After being entertained by Mr Salter the passengers were taken to Katikati in one of that gentleman's waggons, and there another coach was secured, and the journey to Tauranga completed. The April number of "Life" contains a number -of good things, prominent among them being an article by Mr Wilbur Wright, the successful aviator, on the art of flying. Miss Grimshaw contributes an article oil the beauties of New Guinea, and Charles Nuttall writes about American ideas of sport. The issue contains the first of a series of papers on bushranging in from the pen of Dr Fitchett. He begins with an escaped convict named Wnitehead, who in 1810 organised a gang, and for some three' 1 years made all tho roads which led into Hobart perilous ; and carries the story forward to the time 1832, when a,' white "thug, named Lynch, enacted a ' string -of barbarities that, have rarely been, equalled in ; the calendar of crime. Of other articles, perhaps the most striking is: the story pf James Lamb, one of the few survivors of the famous Six Hundred, who gives a modest yet stirring of the ride that lives in history. Frank Spearman relates one .of his inimitable railway stories ; there is a humourous love story entitled. "On Cupid's Behalf" ; arid, by way of contrast, a timely and pathetic tale of service 'in India, called "Rifles for the Swazis." Professor Van Dusen continues to figure in the succession of stirring detective stories that boar his name. Messrs Bisley and Co. announce the following sales :— To-day,- at City Yards, hides, skins, and tallow ; Tuesday next, stock sale, at Motueka; Thursday next, stock sale at Thorpe; Friday next, stock sale at Tapawera. On Wednesday next at 1.30 p.m., • at the residence near the Boys'.College, Mr W. Lock will sell the furniture and effects of Mr N. McLeod, and on Tlrarsday, 23rd, at Hardy street, the furniture and effects of Mr George Stewart. _