NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1935, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Early Scrub Fire. Clouds of intermingled smoke and sparks lit by a fierce glow from the gully between Carrington Road and the top of Mill Road, New Plymouth, after ft o’clock last night gave the impression that a building was on fire. The blaze was, however, merely consuming an area of gorse that burned as freely as if the season was midsummer. Visitors to Mountain. Probably 1000 cars had visited the North Egmont Hostel last week, Mr. F. Amoore told members of the Automobile Association (Taranaki) last night, when he urged that the service officer should be in attendance on special occasions. He remarked that he had towed “a breakdown,” the owner of which was not a member of the association. Three Hours of Hockey. Eight Kaponga hockey players had a strenuous afternoon yesterday. In one match Kaponga won the men’s Taranaki championship, and eight of the team then helped the central division to win the George and Doughty Cup. What made playing two games more than ordinarily strenuous was that to gain a decision in the second match 23 minutes extra time was required. Altogether they were on the field for three hours. Death from a Banana. A banana is not usually regarded as a lethal weapon, but an Invercargill resident made use of one to protect his household goods from robbery the other evening. Hearing a noise in his pantry, he opened the door and saw an intruder. He was unarmed, but his brain worked quickly. Seizing a ripe banana he dealt the thief such a blow behind the ear that it fell dead. He has come to the conclusion that mouse traps are not nearly as effective as bananas. Establishment of Maori Pa. A sympathetic reception was given by the Napier Harbour Board to a suggestion by Lady McLean for the establishment of a Maori pa on Quarantine Island, in the Ahuriri Lagoon. It was stated by the chairman, Mr. Trevor M. Geddis, that the land in question had been leased to the Government, and he thought that the board, as owners, should co-operate in any transaction. At his suggestion the matter was referred to the board’s reserves committee. Heard Well in Pacific. “Since IYA increased its power to 10 kilowatts it has been one of the best stations in the Pacific,” said Mr. Tomio Toshima, chief radio operator of the Japanese training ship Shintoku Maru, at Auckland. Mr. Toshima said the Auckland station could generally be heard fairly clearly in all parts of the Pacific. He expressed surprise at the absence of any short-wave station in the Dominion. Most countries now regarded short-wave transmitters as excellent advertising media, he said. In Hot Country. Dangerous ground is being crossed in connection with the laying of the pipes for the Ohinemutu sewerage scheme. The operations are now in the active area fronting the marae. Trenching operations across the section styled Frying Pan Fiat proved a most hazardous undertaking, and at times cold water had to be pumped into the excavations from the lake in order to reduce the boiling water to a sufficiently low temperature to allow the Maori workmen to remain in the trenches. Child’s Narrow Escape. Only desperate measures by a motorist prevented an accident to a small girl at the intersection of Devon and Eliot Streets, New Plymouth, late yesterday afternoon. On being told by an adult that the way was clear, she ran. from behind a motor-car travelling eastwards, directly into the path of one coming in the opposite direction. The driver applied the full force of his brakes and swerved, his car jolting over the channelling to come to rest astride the footpath as the child ran back across the road. The motorist reversed on to the road and continued on his way, his car undamaged. Motorists’ Appreciation. Delegates who attended the North Island Motor Union conference at New Plymouth wrote to the Automobile Association (Taranaki) at its meeting last night expressing appreciation of the hospitality extended and the excellence of the arrangements. “If this is a fair sample of Taranaki hospitality I think we should hold all future conferences at New Plymouth,” stated one letter. Letters of appreciation were received from the North Island Motor Union Insurance Company and from the Wellington and Wairarapa associations. Dr. W. Fitzgerald, Napier, sent -a personal message of thanks. Injured in Coal Fall. As the result of an accident at the Mangapehi coal mine Mr. William Dyet senr. was admitted to the Te Kuiti Hospital with extensive injuries. His left arm and several of his ribs were broken and he was suffering from abrasions and shock. His condition is not serious. The injuries were caused by a fall of coal. Mr. Dyet was engaged enlarging the drive when, owing to there being a “greasy back,” half a ton of coal fell, burying him. He was extricated with much difficulty and taken to hospital, where he is making good progress. Users of the famous Elizabeth Arden Beauty Preparations are advised that Scanlans Ltd. have just opened a comprehensive shipment of the most required lines such as skin tonics, creams, powders, rouges, lotions and lipsticks. Millions of women everywhere have found these preparations essential for correct home care of the skin.*

Full Reports Appreciated. “I do not know whether it is necessary for me to give a resume of the North Island Motor Union conference," said Mr. W. T. Guild, chairman, at a meeting of the Automobile Association (Taranaki) last night. “It was fully and excellently reported in the Press,” he added. Members stated that the special motor supplements “made excellent leading.” Geographical Likenesses. New Zealand was described as “three curious, lonely-looking islands” by Sir Alexander Herdman in an address to members of the junior division of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Sir Alexander was referring to New Zealand’s triumph in the face of her isolation from her chief markets. “Look at the map and cast your eye toward the south down in the direction of the Antarctic,” he said. “There you will see three curious, lonely-looking islands. The most northerly one is not unlike a leg of mutton, the South Island reminds one of a side of bacon, and Stewart Island is not unlike a kidney. Yet small though these islands be, remote as is their situation, they have during the last 80 years had a history which reads like fiction.”

Investigating Trout. When the Maunganui left Wellington for San Francisco she carried a consignment of rainbow trout of both sexes to be forwarded to Dr. F. W. Thompson, of the International Fisheries Commission at Seattle, Washington. Dr. Thompson will make a scientific investigation on the fish at the University of Washington ana will later report whether the fish are true rainbow or a species of steel-head trout. The consignment has been taken from Lake Alexandria. Nearly 50 years ago tile Marine Department sent a man to America, who procured a consignment of rainbow trout which was liberated in Lake Rotorua. Since then many lakes and streams in the Dominion have drawn on these supplier. It was not until a few years ago tnat the authenticity of the original stock was doubted.