General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 4

General News

Beach Golf Discouraged, The practice of visitors to Foxtoa Beach bringing golf clubs into playwar referred to at a recent meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board, when it was suggested that steps be taken to stop this dangerous practice. The practice, a most reprehensible one, is also common on other beaches along this const, states a Foxton paper. A Faulty Stamp. Of interest to philatelists is an item of news received from a United States correspondent, who states that owing to an error in the illustration of the M R.A. stamp issue of 3 cents., only 350,000 stamps were issued before being recalled (says the Woodville Examiner). The illustration depicts President Roosevelt’s recovery plan, and the figure representing the professional man can be plainly seen with only one log. Farmers and Land Settlement. “I consider that if the Farmers’ Union endorses any scheme of land settlement at present it will react against the farmers, as placing more men on the land will only intensify the the prevailing so-called over-produc-tion remarked the chairman. Mr. J. H. Furniss at a meeting of the Waikato Sub-Provincial executive of the union. If such a scheme was financed by internal inflation, as seemed likely, farmers would be penalised by higher costs of production and lower prices, by increased exports. Tourist Facilities. ''There is need for a wider recognition in New Zealand of the fact that its increasing tourist traffic from Australia can only be retained with services which are as nearly 100 per cent, efficient as possible.” this statement was made in an interview in Wellington by Mr. George Groom, a Queensland newspaper owner and a member of a family which has been continuously and prominently associated with the journalistic and political history of the Commonwealth for over 73 years. Mr.Groom is ia New Zealand studying the arrangements made in this country for the reception and accommodation of tourist traffic. Consequent upon the depression, this matter has aroused much interest in North Queensland, where the number of visitors has trebled within two years, and continues to increase.

Exchange Rate. The belief that the increase in the exchange rate had saved the farmers of New Zealand was expressed by Air. David Jones (chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board) at Ashburton on Friday. There werestill some farmers who said that the exchange did not matter, as the farmer did not obtain the benefit of it, said Mr. Jones but he considered that the producers received every penny of the exchange on their wool and on their moat. “I believe it saved the farmers of Now Zealand, and I came back from Britain fully convinced that we wore getting the full benefit of the increase in the rate.” he stated. He said it was the opinion o f one large banker in London that New Zealand should not alter the rate of exchange until the world settled down financially. He also remarked that the English buvers were not worying about the New Zealand exchange rate.

Wool’s Up! After selling their hogget wool for 15|d and 14}d, two Waikato growers adjourned on Alonday afternoon to a nearby hotel to celebrate the great event, says the Auckland Star. There were four people altogether in the party, and the las| to “shout” was a man who had quitted 94 bales at an allround average of close on Is per bale. In the animated conversation ho had not noticed what money had gone over the counter for the drinks, and threw down a couple of florins. The barton dcr hoard them ring, and hurried alongto protest that, as the boss was out, he was not empowered to entertain any offer to buy the hotel in his absence. The farmer, who had not been to town for a long time, was astounded to hear that threepenny drinks were served in that particular bar. After four years of frugality nobody thought of ordering champagne—perhaps that vintage will be forthcoming when the broker’s cheques reach the payees. Weapons Old and Modern. A remarkable collection of pistols, revolvers and rifles has accumulated at the Napier police station during the past year, says the Daily Telegraph. Discarded by their owners, who no longer feel inclined to meet the registration fees which the law places on them, or confiscated by the police, these, weapons include a number which areobviously of great age and of equally great interest. There are half a dozen relics of the Maori War, and one of the most interesting exhibits is an ancient double-barrelled pistol, with large hammers and clumsy butt, which was probably an important item in an army officer’s equipment as long as a century ago. Wartime trophies which were, brought to the Dominion by members* of the Expeditionary Forces, and which the owners no longer desire to retain,’ are numerous. In addition to German automatics, there are heavy service revolvers and small but useful-looking pistols. There arc several rifles some old and battered, others in good condition. and showing little signs of wear. Except for one or two of the most modern weapons, which will be sold as opportunity offers, all will be beaten out. of shape before being consigned to the scrapheap. Historic Watch Lost. An historic gold watch has been lost, and a plea, is made to any finder to return it to its owner, or its owner’s descendants, states the Auckland Star. On January 7, 1863. the Orpheus was wrecked off the Alanukau Heads, and some of the survivors were cared for with true hospitality by Apihai to Kawau, who was the grandfather of 9 e Hira Pateoro. the old Alaori whoso passing Orakei so recently mourned, who was a child when Hobson landed on the beach before the settlement 92 years ago. The captain of the Orpheus presented the watch to the old Alaori as some recognition of his irooilness. As for the reason for the wreck, that if best told in the words of Rawinia lainui, the widow of To herself 95 years old. who lives to thif day at Orakei. “The Orpheus, why she ran aground because of what het captain said ho wa s going to do to the Maoris,” she said. “He said that lid would clean away all the Alaoris before his kettle boiled; but he did not, for ho was wrecked. But Apihai, ho looked after those who came ashore, so the captain gave him the watch because h e had done that. But Apihai, ho passed the watch on, and It was lost afterwards at Atangere. It was a very fine watch, all gold, with fine inscription inside telling you about it all. But it was lost. Would you ask that anyone who found it would return it to mo here, because it belonged to my husband*”