NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Eclipses in 1939. There will be four eclipses this year two of the sun and two of the moon —three of which will be visible in New Zealand. An annular eclipse of the sun on April 19 is the only one which will not be seen in the Dominion, the track lying over Alaska and the North Pole. A total eclipse of the moon on May 4 will be seen in all its stages, and a total eclipse of the sun on October 12 will be visible as a partial eclipse in New Zealand The final eclipse of the year will be a partial lunar one on October 28, but only th? final stages of the phenomen will be seen here. Man’s Fall From Steamer. After the Port Line steamer Port Auckland had drawn out into the stream from Princes Wharf, Auckland, on Saturday afternoon watchers on the shore saw a man fall from the boat-deck into the harbour. A boat was lowered from the steamer, which was stopped. The man was picked up apparently none the worse for his immersion. as the boat returned to the steamer, which resumed her voyage after a delay of about 20 minutes. Five People Saved. Five people, including two women, were rescued in spectacular las’.iion from drowning when they were carried out to sea on inflated rubber rafts at Waihi Beach on Friday, states a correspondent. All five were brought ashore in an exhausted condition by members of the Waihi Surf Life-saving Club and another bather, Mr. D. Hunt, who brought two men ashore on his surf-ski. The people rescued, three of whom, were visitors to the beach, had gone into bathe on a falling tide and with a strong wind blowing from th? shore, and it was not long before they were carried rapidly out to seat. Their plight was noticed by the look-out patrol and beltmen were sent out. The two women, Mrs. Laurie, of Te Aroha/and Mrs. H. D. Clifford, of Hamilton, were brought ashore by the beltmen. while the men, one of whom was Mr. J. Turner, of Matiere, were brought in by Mr. Hunter on the surf-ski. The women and Mr. Turner, who was suffering from shock, were given treatment on the beacn. Broken Glass Dangers. One of the worst menaces to full enjoyment of our beautiful beaches is the peril of broken bottles in shallow *-ater, says the Auckland Star. While me beaches are well plastered with warnings about horses, dogs, lighting izes, damaging trees, etc., the bottledropping pest has almost been forgotten. An instance of this was the experience of the captain of the visiting Brabin Cup cricket colts team from Wellington, who was billeted with the captain of the Auckland colts, A. H. Smith, at Takapuna. After the first game ended they were enjoying a swim and playing with a tennis bail in shallow water when Phil Rough, the Wellington skipper, slipped down and caught his right elbow on a broken bottle nearly buried in the sand. The gash necessitated six stitches, and put him out of action for the rest of the tour, and also the Brabin Shield contest now in progress at Wellinglor against the Canterbury colts. It is hoped this promising young plajcr will not suffer permanent injury through his misfortune. The accident emphasises the need for drastic action by our local authorities.

An Overcrowded Rookery The “house full’’ sign might well have appeared on the gannet sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers; the accommodation available has become so overtaxed that many of the birds have been obliged to look elsewhere (says an exchange). A recent inspection revealed that many, of the birds have nested on the mainland or on the Black Reef. The bay between the Black Reef and the cape, which has for long been rough and rocky, is now covered over with a thick layer of sand, according to a report which has been received by the Cape Kidnappers Bird Sanctuary Board from its Honorary ranger. Under the Ranger’s Eye A report, which was given publicity in our news columns last week, that a forest ranger in the Waipoua Forest cama on a group of four women who had kindled a fire in a cutting under a group of kauri trees on the road, is the subject of an explanation by Mr. R. B. Collett, the senior ranger of the forest. He writes to say that the fire in question had been lit in a safe place selected by him, and was being tended by his personal assistants for the purpose of preparing afternoon tea for a vice-regal party while he was piloting the party to the sights of the forest in an adjacent area. Damage to School Grounds. Damage to the grounds at the Beil Block School was caused by a motorist whose car charged through the school boundary fence near Mr. J. W. Bethell’s shop, and careered round the lawn and gardens, crushing down young trees recently planted, says the Taranaki Herald. A second gap in the fence was forced and a wider sweep taken over the grounds. This is very disappointing to the committee ana the school, especially in view of the large amount of work that has been done on these grounds recently, transforming them into a model school environment. The matter has been reported to the police. Curiosity Wins. After Friday’s earthquake, a man stopped in Broadway, Palmerston North, and gazed at the top of the 1. and G. building. Seeing him looking, others became curious, and also gazed. Then an epidemic of gazing swept along the footway, with inquiries as to what the other person was looking at Nobody seemed to know, yet each new arrival was unable to suppress the urge to gaze heavenwards. And more than an hour later groups were still as curious and still nobody seemed to have a reason. Request to Motorists. Neatly painted on a signboard at the gate of a residence on the Great North Road several miles from Auckland is the notice: “Motorists, please do not call here with your troubles.” The house is midway between two garage.,, which are about apart, and the resident found tnat motorists in trouble would call in at all hours of the day and night. The climax was reached on a recent week-end, whei no less than 12 came seeking help. One wanted a little oil, another was out of benzine, and still another roused the unfortunate householder from his bed about midnight to inquire whether accommodation was available in the neighbourhood.