LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Many pohutukawa trees are out in partial or full bloom near the New Plymouth beach and at Omata, heralding the coming of Christmas. The recent spell of fine, warm weather has admirably suited them. During 1933 the Supreme Court will hold quarterly sessions commencing at New Plymouth on February 13, May 22, August 14 and November 13. The Soldiers’ Club, New Plymouth, presented an animated scene yesterday when members of the New Plymouth Relief Association, the Toe H and the St. Vincent de Paul Society made short work of the parcelling of approximately 300 parcels of groceries for distribution in connection with Christmas cheer. The comet recently reported from Adelaide was observed on Tuesday evening at Stratford by Mr. A. W. Burrell in the position right ascension 23 hours 12$ minutes, south declination 26 degrees 37 minutes, and at the New Plymouth observatory for a few minutes on Wednesday in the position right ascension 23 hours 16 minutes, south declination 25 degrees 8 minutes. The prolonged dry weather in North Taranaki is having a noticeable effect on the gardens and pastures of Taranaki. Even the liberal use of hoses on the vegetables has not made up for the lack of rain, only ,30in. of which has fallen during the past 17 days. Household tanks in the country have been low and many farmers have been compelled to carry water from streams and wells.

Fishing in the Bay of Islands . last week, Mr. H. Stonex, formerly of Bell Block, landed the first mako shark of the season, and secured the Kohukohu silver badge for the feat. He ’had bad luck with a big hammerhead shark, which he played for a considerable time and got it close to the launch only to lose it through the line becoming fouled. Writing to a New Plymouth friend, he said that he has lately got some good hauls of hapuka, catching as many as 32 in the day’s fishing, Flying an Avro Avian belonging to the Wellington Aero Club, Captain George Burrell landed on the New Plymouth aerodrome at about 10 a.m. yesterday in the course of a flight to Auckland. He had with him as passenger Mr. Scott, a Wellington pilot, and the aerodrome was cleared after re-fuelling. Another plane is to be brought from Auckland, and the two pilots are expected to re-fuel at the New Plymouth aerodrome on the homeward flight this morning.

It is not expected that the StratfordOhura line will be available for passenger traffic until the beginning of the next financial year in April. Inquiries have been made at New Plymouth whether the line would be open for passenger traffic during the holiday season, but according to present advice passengers for north of Marton will have to travel by the old route. At present the Ohura line may be used only for the transport of goods in limited loads. “The rush to post for Christmas appears to be just as keen at New Plymouth as last year,” said Mr. W. G. Cooper, the chief postmaster, to a News reporter yesterday. “Fifty bags of mail went southwards this morning, for instance.” Many of the parcels posted this Christmas have been small, and the tendency on the part of donors to confine their purchases to inexpensive, small presents has become even more , manifest this year than last year. A difference noted by the officials behind the counter was that business was much more steady. There have been no holdups or slack periods this year, whereas last year people appeared to come in in batches, causing long waits at times. Les Murray, light-weight champion of New Zealand for several years, who also fought with success both in Australidand America, was known to have made more money than most boxers in the game in the Dominion. Since his return from America a few years ago this popular ringman of his day has continued to- prosper, and only this month, with Mr. A. E. Smith, of Skipper’s, brought to the Bank of New Zealand in Dunedin 4170 z. 2dwt. of gold, valued at about £2600. This rich wash-up was taken from Mr. Smith’s claim at Maori Point, on the Shotover River. Now the claims held by Messrs. Smith and Murray have been amalgamated, and the results will be watched with a good deal of interest as these two claims are recognised as being the richest in the Lakes District. Les in the ring. was a great crowd-pleas-er, and his many friends and old admirers throughout the Dominion will wish him the best of luck in his latest Venture.

“New Zealanders do not appreciate their good luck, and.you should count your many blessings before talking depression,” said Miss Nelle Scanlan, when addressing the Wellington Travel Men’s League at a recent luncheon. Remarking that there was nothing in New Zealand to justify all the pessimistic talk, Miss Scanlan added: “Here I find a land with plenty of food, and you have not poverty as it is understood in the older countries. I am not shutting my eyes to

the fact that there is unemployment, and the farmers are not doing well, but New Zealanders should see the distress of some European nations to appreciate their fortune. When your conditions are compared with those of many millions you should be thankful for good food and a roef over your heads. From the ‘scare’ stories which have been published about New Zealand in England I expected to find something terrible.” In relation to real poverty, as seen in some parts of Europe, she said, conditions in the Dominion were refreshing. Few races can equal the natives of the ’ Pacific for rhythm, and of those peoples the Maori is as great an artist as any. Members of the Wanganui Development League were made quite aware of the fact on. Sunday at Parikino. An orchestra of mandolins, bottles and a piano set the air athrob With that joyous music which makes the toes tingle. It was interesting to note expressions on people’s faces. Maori maidens gracefully moved into that twisting, snake-like dance which is a heritage from a more barbaric age, old men’s eyes rolled with fearsome mien, wahines could, not keep still. Two members of the Development League’s party who were of very obvious Scottish descent found is hard to refrain from taking the floor too. One did come through the ordeal safely, but the other had to have his “fling.” His was a dance which combined the warlike stepping of the wild Highlands and the “Hula hula” of the southern hemisphere. It was a strange scene enacted on a site famous for its Maori tradition.

One hears of many articles given as presents. Some are hopelessly useless. Some just flt the bill, but, as both give: - and receiver know, the great majority are in between. A present given on Friday to a retiring school teacher, Mr. W. Hammond, of the Thames Central School, provides a thought for shopweary present hunters. Mr. Hammond had been given a fountain pen and a travelling rug. These have been given many, many times before in countless other similar instances. In fact, everyone who leaves has a fair chance of being given either a fountain pen or a travelling rug. No. It was not these which provided the thought. The girls of the sixth standard got together and achieved originality. They realised the time of the year. They thought of all things connected with Christmas—and their contribution towards the present to a well-liked master was a Christmas sake.

One of the best-known hunters in the Auckland province, Mercury, owned by Mr. A. E. Watkins, had to be destroyed on Tuesday afternoon after breaking a ■ leg. The horse was grazing in a paddock at Mission Bay at the time. Mer- ! cury had won many prizes at shows and : was well-known on the hunting field. “The blackbird is responsible for an enormous amount of damage in the • country,” said Mr. B. T. Booker at a recent meeting of the Manukau County Council. “There will have to be an extensive campaign to exterminate the bird,” he added. He said that on a large area growing strawberry plants , this season, insufficient berries had been gathered to provide a meal, owing to the depredations of blackbirds. . The duties of secretary for the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation have been carried out for some two years by Mr. R. T. Edmonds, in addition to his work as secretary of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association. At a meeting of the federation in October it was decided to separate these duties. There were nearly 150 applications for the federation secretaryship in response to an advertisement, and eight of the applicants have been selected to be interviewed. Two years ago Mr. W. Tiller, of Colville, on the Coromandel Peninsula, burnt and sowed a small bush clearing,, purchasing the seed from Auckland. Some time later Mr. Tiller was surprised to find several plants of ragwort made their appearance with the new grass. As this weed had previously been unknown in the district and has never been seen by many people in the district, it is surmised that the ragwort must have been in the grass seed sown on the bumt-off area. In many South Island districts it is claimed that the introduction of ragwort has been traced to the use for horse feed of oaten chaff grown in ragwort-infested areas. Some very large shipments of dried sheepskins are to be made from Gisborne shortly. In the past most of the skins shipped from New Zealand have' gone through the pickling process to suit fellmongers’ requirements. More recently, however, the market has taken a turn in favour of dried skins, and the, effect of this is to be seen at the A. and P. Association’s showgrounds, the Park racecourse, at Makaraka premises, the brick works, and in several of the large sheds in the town. The skins are hung in. the open for a short period, and the drying process is completed indoors. Heavy purchases have been made of skins for the drying process, and one firm alone has secured ?5,OiK) from the Kaiti and Tokomaru Bay freezing works for ultimate dispatch to overseas markets. There is every possibility that at least three boats of the Wanganui Motor Boat and Sailing Club will attend the regatta to be held on the Patea River on New Year’s Day by the Patea Beach Improvement Society. At a meeting of the club on Tuesday evening a letter was received from the society suggesting that owners attend with their outboard motor-boats. As there are practically no outboards owned by the club it was decided that if suitable arranger meme could be made several speed boats would travel to Patea. It is likely that the club will ask for a special event to be staged for their craft, otherwise the wash from their boats might swamp the outboards.

A business concern whose progress provides, a striking and encouraging example of industrial enterprise in the Dominions is a well known New Zealand gelatine company. . Starting humbly in Auckland about 30 years ago it has seen the capital it employs grow from £l5OO to £775,000, and the extension of its trading to all parts of the world. It is now the world’s largest producer of gelatine, and its only factories are in Australia and New Zealand. The company produces practically all the gelatine, used in Australia and Zealand; from 75 to 80 per cent, of that used in Africa; 46 per cent, of that used in Canada; a substantial amount for ■ England, and lesser amounts for almost every other country in the world. Whether medals or certificates are more highly valued by athletes and cyclists was a question which provoked some keen discussion at last week’s meeting of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre. The matter arose as a result of the recommendation of a subcommittee that this season certificates, instead of bronze medals, should be awarded for the provincial track and field championships. Mr. P. G. Thomson said he knew an athlete with 90 medals. They were stowed away in an old chocolate box, whereas the certificates the 'athlete had also won had a more honoured place. Mr. L. Bond said that the question resolved itself into a question of the cost of medals as against the cost of certificates. It was necessary for the centre this season to conserve its finances' as far as possible. The medals would cost about £3O, and the certificates £5. This explanation probably influenced the centre, apart from other considerations, to decide that certificates should be ' awarded for the championships. A badge, with ribbon attached, was decided upon as a suitable trophy to give members of the winning teams in the Dewar Shield competition.