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Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 6

A white heron which appeared in the Whangarei district last summer evidently found the climate and surroundings to its liking, for it has returned apparently for another season, states the Northern Advocate. The bird was observed during the week-end on the small island of Reotahi, down the harbour.

The Armando Diaz, one of the most modem units-) of the Italian fleet ana one of the fastest cruisers afloat, will visit Melbourne during the centenary celebrations after, which she will come to Wellington, arriving there on November 16. Launched at Spezia in 1930 the vessel was ready for commission in 1932. She has a displacement of 5009 tons, has engines of 95,000 horsepower, and a speed of 37 knots. It is interesting to note that it is 50 years or more since an Italian warship visited New Zealand.

The fact that he had brought out an experimental talking book for use among tlie blind was mentioned by Sir lan Fraser at a reception given him at the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, Auckland. Sir lan said that with the book were half a doken records, which would read off a whole book. The reading was of wonderful clarity. There was an electrical “pick-up.” The machines would shortly be available throughout the world, as at present were Braille booko.

Benalla, Victoria, a centre which loomed large in days of long ago, when the infamous Kelly Gang was busy, has once again come into the Australian picture. A five-year-old ewe, the property of a farmer in that district, is evidently out to break the world’s record. She recently gave birth to four lambs, bringing her total to 17 in five lambings. Twins arrived on two occasions, triplets once and now the second lot of quadruplets.

The magnetic truck which is used by the Main Highways Board to remove metal scraps and other potential causes of motor-tyre punctures from the main roads of the Dominion is now covering the South Island roads for the second time, states an exchange. The truck secured a very large haul of nails, small nuts and bolts, pieces of tin and wire and staples on its previous round of Canterbury a year ago, and is now repeating the performance, collecting hundreds of pounds of material a month, “There might be times when the Rongotai aerodrome won’t be good, and there may be times when it won't be as good as it might be if it were better.” This was the observation of Mr. F. W. Furkert, chairman of the technical committee appointed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to investigate schemes for an airport for Wellington, in speaking on the report on Tuesday. Mr. Furket’s point was that a scheme ideal in every respect was virtually unattainable.