General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 3

General News

Kingfishers in City. Kingfishers are particularly plentiful about the city area in Auckland al present, and are daily to be seen perched on thu tops of telegraph pole** or on overhead wires, giving lull vent to their monotonous piping, consisting of three or four similar notes in rapid succession. The blueish green back, chestnut back, chestnut bread and long beak render the bird very conspicuous. Revolver Recovered. When a worker was engaged in digging a trench fur sewerage connected with flats which are being erected at the corner of Nelson Terrace and Albert Street, Timaru, he unearthed a six-chambered revolver, 25 cartridges and a small door-key. These were found al a depth oi : 18 inches, and, judging from the rusty condition of the revolver, they must have been buried lor some uoru-idcrablc time. Speedboat Cliaiiipionsliip. The speedboat Pelorous Jack, the holder of the New Zealand speedboat championship, has been receiving every attention from its owner, Mr. John Brownley, of Havelock, in preparation for this year’s event, which takes place on January 22. After the mishap which occurred during the last race, when t’no craft almui t sank, every part has been strengthened and the chances for a recurrence of the trouble are remote. Pelorous Jack passed through Blenheim last week on its way to I’icton in readiness to dei’end the title. Real Estate Values. An indication of the fall in value of real estate which occurred in Dunedin during the depression years was given by a well-known land agent last week. Taking a general average over Dunedin cilv freehold property, Ire said, the fall would be about 15 per cent, but it varied accordingly to circumstances. Thus it was estimated that on c-ld buildings or in the case of very large houses tiie decrease in valu-e ranged up to 40 per cent. It was stated that the drop in pricer-- had been arrested and that property values were now steady, while the outlook for the coining year was brighter than it had been lor some years past. Migration Figures. New Zealanders are leaving their own country more ihan twice as last as new residents are coining to it, according to the latest (li)ecember) Abstract of Sta.tistic.s. For the eight months ended in November immigrants intending permanent residence numbered 1223 (including 32 Indians and 18 Chinese). For the same period the number of former perrnanant residents departing with no intention of returning was 2532 (including 11 Indians and 26 Chinese). Of these emigrants 14L. left for Australia, 1033 for the British Isles, 226 for other British countries, 49 for the United States, and 110 for other foreign countries. Besides these, of course, there were many New Zealanders—739B in all —who left the Dominion. temporarily. Alternative Route. A route between AVairoa and Gisborne which is destined to gain great popularity is that via Tiniroto, which was reopened in September lact. I- 1 addition, tire road will probably serve to reduce the distance between. Gisborne and Auckland by ninety miles, as there is a road in construction which connects with the main highway to Auckland on the. other side of Lake Waikaremoana. Therefore, it is probable that this new road will carry much traffic in the not distant future. A tremendous amount c-f improvement work has been carried out on the road. Previously, a trip over it was something of an adventure not to be taken lightlv, but this state of affairs does not new exist. In the event of tne highway being blocked this alternative route will prove invaluable and will save much of the trouble experienced previously. “Was Don Bradman Playing?” Stories emanating from barbers’ chairs arc sometimes apt, like stories associated with the noble art of angling, to improve with the telling and to so increase and multiply in incident that by the lime they get back to their originator they arc barely recognisable (says the Napier Daily Telegraph). The following, however, is vouched for by a Napier barber as having taken place on Monday. Barbers are noted for their abilitv to make conversation upon anv subject whatever which is considered will interest a ;>arlicular client of the moment, and the barber in question, engaged in trimming the locks of an English visitor, thought that he would forestall the inevitable remark, connected with the AH Pdacks’ defeat in England. ”1. see that the All Blacks wore properly beaten in England,’’ he observed conversationally. “Yes,, and I’m jolly glad, too,” was the not unexpected reply. What followed was not responsible for this story beifig related —“Was Don Bradman playing?” she asked. The barber's reaction and reply were lost in the whirr of the electric clippers. Willows Refuse to be Killed. The manner in which willows are again establishing themselves on the Ohura River banks at Niho Niho is causing considerable concern to members of the Ohura County Council. After the very heav/ - floods that caused so much damage m the district about three years ago the authorities utilised unemployment relief labour to clear the willows, which were blocking the free flow of the Ohura River for two or three miles. A very good job appeared to have been made, for it was impossible to see a w-illow shoot anywhere. With the pertinacity to life for which they are noted the willows have appanently made a great recovery, tor shoo'ts are. to be seen almost as thick as oats flourishing along the banks of the river. The Ohura County Council has had men using a flame thrower and spraying with sodium chlorate in an endeavour to check them. Councillors at Wednesday’s meeting stated that though sodium chlorate appeared to be 90 per cent, effective, the willows appeared to recover. It was considered that the most effective manner to have deglt with the willows would have been to have ring-barked the big trees and apply poison. In view of the expense that will be entailed in coping with tin* willows and the necessity for immediate action being’ taken the council decided to communicate with the district engineer of the Public Works Department at Taumaruuui asking for assistance.