NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Barry, an Inglewood cricketer, took nine wickets in a match against Waitara yesterday. The other man was run out.

Messrs. R. Hemison and J. W. Patterson, Timaru, who have been prospecting in the Upper Waitahu, near Reefton, were successful in finding a nugget weighing 4%0z, reports the Timaru Post. Mr. Patterson states that he and his mate had not had much luck, and for four days previously had not found as much as a “colour.” They were just considering the ground hopeless when they made the find. The nugget, which is the shape of a small kidney potato, is the largest found in the Inangahuna district for many years.

The dignity and gracefulness of the tree-ferns in Taranaki have been remarked upon since the days when the first European settlers arrived. Viewed from any aspect they are striking additions to a landscape, but it is rarely that the passer-by has the opportunity of looking into the heart of the larger ferns. Such an opportunity exists, and in the drab surroundings of commercial New Plymouth. On either side of the Huatoki River, just where it flows under Powderham Street there are magnificent tree-ferns, one at least 20 feet high and the other taller still. From the pavement those interested can look right down upon the glorious heads of the ferns, and for beauty of shading, and marvellous symmetry of plant form inspection is well worth while. Our Double Dry Cleaning process is now in operation. Suits and Costumes renovated for 4/6. J. K. Hawkins and Co., Dry Cleaners and Dyers, corner Devon and Liardet Streets, New Plymouth. Stratford depot, Rudkin’s Confectionery.*

The highest temperature reached at the New Plymouth swimming baths this season was recorded yesterday. In the afternoon the thermometer rose to 76 degrees when the water was tested. Over thirty wooden labels are being prepared for the more important trees at Brooklands, New Plymouth. They will be attached probably next week and it is hoped that their presence will make a visit to the gardens even more interesting.

• Crashing into a telegraph post at Dannevirke recently a small car owned by Mr. P. E. Grover, New Plymouth, was wrecked, the driver receiving only slight cuts. Mr. Grover himself was not involved in the accident as the car had been “converted” while standing outside a hotel.

The Stratford Borough Council at a special meeting last night decided to extend the .footpath lighting system by the erection of 13 lamps to be placed from Petrie’s comer along Regan Street and Broadway. There will be one lamp at the comer and six on each side of it. It was recommended that the proposed extension of the system to Broadway north next year be considered. The enormous weight of the boughs of the giant Spanish chestnut tree at Brooklands, New Plymouth, causes a gradual distortion of the trunk which has become evident only during the last 15 years. Every spring hundreds of young shoots grow up along each limb, and these have to be cut down lest they overburden and weaken the bough. The trimming this year is just completed.

After the completion of an item at a concert at St. Mary s Hall, New Plymouth, last night an admirer advanced with a bouquet. In the meantime, however, the performer had retired to the back of the stafee, but the undaunted flower bearer leapt up to the accompaniment of applause and disappeared into a darkened scene behind the curtain. Eventually the bouquet was delivered.

The huge fortunes that grow from trifling inventions were remarked by a New Plymouth business 'man who has recently returned from a trip to America. When there he paid a visit to the works of the makers of chewing gum. In the harbour at Los Angeles the firm owned a huge island, which was converted into a great playground to which people were taken on steam ferry boats. The voluminous visitors’ book had been signed by the Prince of Wales on his American tour. All this, commented the New Zealander, commenced from so simple a thing as chewing gum.

An unusual presentation at the concert given at St. Mary’s Hall, New Plymouth, last night by the pupils of Misses V. Ross and B. Hadden was the choral speaking. Although such performances are gaining popularity in England the idea was novel to New Zealand, explained Miss Hadden after the programme’s completion. . It had been an experiment, she said. .The well modulated voices speaking in unison with background effects of humming and moaning emphasised the spirit of the pieces presented as no single elocutionist could possibly have done. The experiment was a success.

Pheasant, duck and quail are at present nesting at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. In spite of the vigilance of the ground staff dogs continually stray into the reserve and disturb sitting birds by nosing about in the undergrowth. Whenever caught the dogs are put in charge of the borough inspector for disposal, but the numbers of them that elude pursuit are concerning the staff. Evidently the dogs do not relish a visit to the inspector because they strenuously resist arrest. The latest capture, this week made a prolonged and noisy fight for freedom. Ultimately after severely biting the hand of one of the gardeners he escaped and was last seen racing off towards the exit gates.

On her maiden trip in New Zealand waters the North German Line ship Erlangen arrived at New Plymouth yesterday to discharge 1000 tons of sulphur. Built in Germany by Blohm and Voss in 1929 the vessel has a speed of 16 knots. She is German-owned and is manned by Germans in every department. She is the third German vessel to visit the port, the first being the Walkure in 1914. The Erlangen will proceed to Australia from New Zealand, and if sufficient inducement offers will be a more frequent visitor to New Zealand waters.

That conditions were definitely improving in Germany was the opinion of an officer of the steamer Erlangen, which is at present at New Plymouth. Many of the cabled reports published in the Press, particularly in the Australian Press, were considerably exaggerated, he said. Things were not a tenth as bad as they were painted. All the commercial fleets were putting to sea again, and conditions in shipping circles were quite bright. The North German Line had not one ship tied up. The trade was mostly with the Far East and. the United States of America. Sometimes there were as many as 14 and 15 vessels en route to and from the U.S.A. In Australia the Duke of Gloucester is proving himself to be extremely popular with children. A Melbourne man who saw the reception given to His Royal Highness at Melbourne and Sydney, said that the Duke seemed to be naturally attracted to young people. This had deeply impressed the Australians. During his progress through the States, whenever His Royal Highness met with a crowd of children he invariably had the vehicle in which he was travelling slowed so that he could see them and wave to them. The Australian children had taken their Royal guest very much to their hearts.

If another point of rain had fallen on the day the Melbourne centenary cycle race finished the promoters would have received £2OOO. Mr. H. G. Watson, one of the New Zealand competitors in the race, who returned a few days ago to Christchurch, stated that the “gate” was insured for £2OOO. The policy provided that five points of rain must fall before the insurance company would pay out, and although the day of the finish was wet enough to affect the takings considerably,. only four points of rain fell in the specified time. Mr. Watson said that in Melbourne the takings for the finals of the League football competitions were all insured, and that this season the insurance companies had had to pay out on all except one Saturday.

Farmers all the world over are noted for the help they give one another in cases of sickness or adversity. Recently a farmer was four weeks in the Auckland hospital, missing, as he thought, very valuable time in preparing his land for the usual crops. His delight was beyond bounds when he returned home recently to find the farm in better order than he had ever known it, and crops growing splendidly. He says he will reap a bigger harvest than he has done for many years, all this being due to the kindness of his neighbours, who worked long hours after they had. finished their own work to give him a pleasant surprise after he had recovered from a double operation. He says that much is often told of how the pioneers helped one another, but the spirit is still alive.

Shantung and Assam Silk Swagger Coats in well cut styles are being featured at Scanlan’s Melbourne Comer just now. These coats are particularly fashionable at present and being nice and cool are very suitable for warm weather conditions. Prices range from 39/6 to 45/-. Smart marocain coatees with pleated trimming are also being shown at 29/6 to 45/-.*