NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Last night’s rain was very acceptable to farmers and gardeners in North Taranaki. There had been little or not rain for the previous fortnight, and pastures and gardens were beginning to show the effects of the dryness.

Fifty-four years ago to-day there was much excitement in New Plymouth. Streets and premises were first lighted by gas and though some of the special outside illuminations were not too successful owing to a high wind the inauguration was good enough to make the public aware that a new and very important facility was at its disposal.

An interesting exhibit was shown the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister for Lands at the interview with the Egmont National Park Board at New Plymouth yesterday. It was produced by Mr. G. Gibson, Rahotu, and consisted of a pair of horns from a billy goat. The horns, which looked like the antlers of a deer, were 25Jin in width. They were taken from an animal shot in the Okaihu Gorge, Rahotu.

It was reported by Mr. T. R. Anderson at the Egmont Park Board yesterday that the caretaker of the East house had recently shot seven out of a mob of 10 goats near the house. Mr. Gibson mentioned that goats had recently made their appearance in large numbers near the Kahui house, between 30 and 40 being in one mob recently seen.

Complaint was made at yesterday s meeting of the Inglewood County Council that some motor-lorries which had been granted permits to carry loads above the road classification limit were abusing that privilege by travelling at a rate much in excess of that allowed by the heavy motor vehicle regulations. The council decided to communicate with the owners with a view to stopping the practice.

The mother of one of our greatest scientists has been celebrating her 91st birthday in New Zealand (says the latest issue of the Children’s Newspaper). She is Mrs. James Rutherford, New Plymouth, and she is justly proud of the scientific achievements of her son Ernest, now Lord Rutherford of Nelson. He did not forget his old New Zealand home of Nelson when he chose his title, and for 40 years he has never forgotten the fortnightly letter to his mother. He is certainly a son to be proud of, and he would say the same of his mother.

In discussing the value of bush as. a means of retaining moisture, the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) said at New Plymouth yesterday that he had seen the effects of the denudation of bush in certain parts of his own district. If Taranaki people had had the same experience they would, he ventured to think, be more apprehensive of what would happen to their pastures if the forect on Mount Egmont were allowed to be destroyed, as it would be were the wild goats in the reserve permitted to go on increasing. “Taranaki has experience of droughts,” assured Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. “Last spring, for instance, we had three weeks’ drought! ’

Mr. W. H. Skinner remarked to the Minister of Lands at New Plymouth yesterday that goats had got into the beautiful Parinihinihi (Mount Messenger) scenic reserve and had began their depredations. Mr. G. Gibson (Rahotu) expressed the opinion that the time had come for the Government to enact a law preventing settlers from running goats within a certain distance of public reserves. Instancing conditions near the radius line of Mount Egmont, he said that goats were of little or no use in keeping down blackberry. Only when they weretethered in a confined space where there was no other food would they attack the blackberry. As soon as they were permitted to roam about they made for more acceptable fare, and, unfortunately, the mountain reserve provided them with plenty of food. Hence their fecundity and menace.

A deputation from the Taranaki branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals asked the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, at New Plymouth yesterday to convey to the Minister of Internal .Affairs its representations that the society s inspector should be provided with a free railway pass from New Plymouth to Whangamomona and New Plymouth to Patea. Archdeacon G. H. Gavin and Mr. R. C. Hughes (president) comprised the deputation. Archdeacon Gavin indicated the great assistance such a concession would be to the society, which was not in a good financial position. The ranger received only an honorarium of £lO a year. The Minister promised to submit the representations.

Miss Kathleen Goodin, Okato, was successful in passing her art of teaching examination. She is a pupil of Miss Gilhooley.

On his return from the North Mount Egmont hostel yesterday the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, motored through the Huatoki settlement, several settlers in which had made representations to him on Monday evening regarding relief. in the matter of payments.

The Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, though he did not see the scenic attraction of the drive to the North Mount Egmont hostel at its best owing to heavy rain yesterday, expressed himself as impressed with what he could see under the conditions.

The Wellington express train was 1 hour 27 minutes late in arriving at New Plymouth last night. The delay was caused by a wait for the express from Napier at Palmerston North. The Taranaki train always waits for the train from Hawke’s Bay in order to bring passengers on. On this occasion there were more passengers than usual, including delegates to the Masonic conference at New Plymouth.

“New Plymouth tradespeople have treated us better than we could have been treated in any other place in New Zealand,” said Mr. P. E. Stainton at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Mayor’s Relief Council. At another stage of the meeting Mr. Stainton said: “If you have a worthy cause at New Plymouth you need not be afraid that the money you require will not be forthcoming.” __ A start has been made with excavating work under the Y.W.C.A. Hall, New Plymouth, in preparation for the erection of a gymnasium 65 feet by 25 feet, and dressing rooms, office and showers. The work will take two and a half months and the gymnasium will be ready for the winter. The total cost will be £llOO, of which nearly £7OO has been raised. The balance has been promised. The work will be done by schedule; that is, no work will be proceeded with for which there is not the cash equivalent. The wettest spot on earth is Cherrapunji, near Shillong, the capital of the Province of Assam in Northern India, where between 485 and 500 inches of rain fall every year, according to Dr. A. C. Vardon, assistant director of the King Edward VII. Memorial Pasteur Institute and Medical Research Institute at Shillong. Although Shillong is only 30 miles by motor road from. Cherrapunji, the rainfall at Shillong is comparatively moderate, averaging about 85 inches a year. The immense fall at Cherrapunji occurs in the few months of the monsoon season, from June to September. The average rainfall of Canterbury is about 45 inches a year. It is very rare for two tennis teams to be as evenly matched as the Mount Albert and Eden and Epsom fourth grade grass court teams which met at Stanley Street on Saturday afternoon hi the final of their grade. Great interest was taken in the matches, and it was soon apparent that every game was going to be of importance. Some very keen contests were witnessed, and at the end it was found that not only were matches even at five all, but sets were even at 11 all. It was therefore necessary to take into account each game played, and when this was done it was found that the honours in games also had been exactly divided, 95 games having been won by each side. It will now be necessary to replay the entire match as it will not be possible to compute the actual points won in each game. A strong feature at Scanlan’s end-of-season sale is the extraordinary value being offered in remnants of all descriptions. More of these have been brought down for the concluding stages of the sale and many a woman will find it to her advantage to spend a little time looking over the tables.* Men’s felt hats cleaned and re-blocked for 2/6. We also renovate suits, costumes, dresses, etc., at J. K. Hawkins, Dyers and Dry Cleaners, comer Devon and Liardet Streets, New Plymouth. ’Phone 685. We collect and deliver.*