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Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 8

“We would esteem it a favour if the board can see its way clear to assist us in this matter, as the club is financially embarrassed at the present time,” was a statement contained in a letter read at a meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board. “There is nothing singular in being financially embarrassed,” remarked Mr. W. R. Carey. What is claimed to be a world’s record and admitted to be the fastest time ever made in New Zealand was accomplished by a hen pigeon in a recent race from Helensville to Hikurangi, when the bird established a velocity of 2165 yards a minute over the air distance -of 77.2 miles. The owner of the bird, Mr. E. Gilby, of Hikurangi, has forwarded details to the Pigeon Society, London. Many residents of Te Aroha were the victims of an optical delusion on Wednesday. All eyes were focussed on what appeared to be a spring of water gushing out from a rock on a peak of Te Aroha Mountain, at a point 1500 ft above sea level. Water appeared to rise to a height of 50ft, or 10ft above the tops of the trees in tho vicinity. An investigation showed that the phenomenon was caused by the foliage of a tall tree which scintillated in the sunlight. While the fishing launch Wairuna was down the coast on her last trip the crew came across a dead whale, states the Southland Times. If all reports are true the voyage will be a very profitable one, for they discovered a considerable amount of ambergris. Mr. Norman Beer brought a sample back with him, and those who are considered experts pronounced it the genuine article. “What we want' is paid commissioners instead of city councils, drainage boards, hospital boards, and such like,” said Mr. A. T. Smith, at a meeting of the Spreydon Burgesses’ Association, when the matter of tram fares was brought up, reports the Christchurch Times. “We should sack the lot and pick some good men to run the show and give them £lO,OOO. If they don’t do it, then get someone else.”

A resident of Alberton, South Australia, recently found a dead seagull on the beach at Semaphore, which bore a tag on one leg with the words, “Return to the Zoological Gardens, Heligoland.” To have reached Adelaide from Heligoland the bird would have to have flown halfway round the world. Captain S. .A. White, a naturalist, expressed the opinion that the bird was a skua gull.

Starlings can be seen in very large numbers in Wairarapa and Bush district paddocks at the present time searching for grass grubs, which are causing a great deal of destruction ou some of the lighter grassland this year. A Ballance settler walking along a gully on his property recently heard a noise similar to that made by chain harrowing in a neighbour’s paddock on top of the hill. On investigating he was surprised to find the noise was made by a huge flock of starlings, which covered about half an acre of ground. A direction that windows in schools should not be higher than 2ft 6in from the floor, and that as far as possible a special type should be used, gave rise to criticism at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board this week. A member said the windows were built higher so that children would not come in contact with a draught and catch colds. It was decided to obtain a report from the architect.

“The tangi is dying out, and it would die out sooner but for the feast and the Maori idea of acquired importance at such gatherings,” said Mr. E. H. Nepia, speaking at a meeting of the anthropology and Maori race section of the Auckland Institute and Museum. In former times the utmost solemnity distinguished tangi rites and all the people wore emblems of mourning. Even to-day this respect was generally observed by the wearing of slips from some trailer plant. The disapproval caused by the first inter-school Rugby match in England the historic game between Marlborough and Clifton, was recalled by Mr. N. Gibson, who presided at a combined reunion of old boys of Christ’s College, Wellington College, Nelson College and the Wanganui Collegiate School at Auckland on Thursday evening. z He said the game horrified tho authorities, who considered it most unsuitable for public schools, with the result that it was not played again for many years. In this issue H. E. Hodder Ltd., who have recently opened a business in Main St., Opunake, draw attention by advertisement to some of the remarkable _ values they have to offer in men’s and ladies’ apparel.* The attention of cricketers is drawn to the annual meeting of the Western Park Cricket Club on Monday night, as advertised in to-day’s issue.

Lissaman’s Mammitis Paint. Our repeat orders show that our mammitis paint is very satisfactory. Try a bottle, 5s Gd. Send to S. Lissaman, Box 63A, Kaponga, oy at all stores.* Consumers of electricity are advised that power will be cut off for the purpose of line alterations between the hours of 4.30 and 7.0 am. and 9 to 11 a.m. and 1.0 to 4.30 p.m. over the Gill Street area on Sunday next the 208 h. inst.

Inexpensive summer dress fabrics at Moreys Ltd. are advertised on page 23 of this issue. Floral voiles Is a yard, fadeless cambric 1/3 yard.,; Figured crepes IOJd yard. Figured rayons 1/6 yard. See advertisement.*