NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Record Trout Landed. Fishing at Delatours pool, Waitahanui, on Sunday, Mr. D. M. Hanna landed the record fish on the fly for this season in Taupo when he took a perfect specimen weighing 11 lib. Taupo Hotel Threatened. Danger threatened the Terraces Hotel, Taupo, on Monday, owing to a serious scrub fire which started just behind the Waipahihi Maori pa. The fire spread quickly in the dense scrub, and,, fanned by a strong southwesterly gale, it made a rapid advance toward the hotel. The guests and staff packed their belongings and made a hasty departure. A sudden change in the direction of the wind, however, averted the danger. Warning to 'Motorists. “I give one more warning about ’ speeding in the city,” said Mr. R. C. Abernethy, S.M., in the Invercargill Magistrate's Court. “The Court is imprisoning or heavily fining intoxicated drivers. Speeding in cars at 50 miles an hour through the city deserves a heavy line, and offenders will get heavy fines. Fifty miles an hour across an intersection is comparable with drunken driving. This is the last warning I will give.” RefugeeT Indirect Route. To reach Australia, where the} intend o settle, 29 Jewish refugees froE'. Germany, who arrived at Auckland by the South Pacific Line steamer Tasman on Monday, have been forced to take a very indirect route. The refugees embarked at Marselles and travelled by French steamer to Noumea. New Caledonia, by way of the Panama Canal and Fiji. From Noumea they intended to travel direct to Sydney by another French vessel, but on arrival they found this had broken down and ■ would be out of commission for three | months. Their only alternative was' to ship by the Tasman and proceed I by way of New Zealand. Viuhrng Pennant. When she entered the port of Auckland from Sydney on Mond r . tne Awatea flew at her foremast h» j ad. vndcr the liner’s golden greyn.rn. the small silk pennant which is to be awarded to the winner of the world's championship for ISft. yachts, which is to be decided on Waitemata Harbour this week. The pennant later was displayed at the civic reception to the crews of the three competing Sydney boats and the accompanying Australian officials and visitors. It is made of green and gold material, with a gold fringe, and bears a beautifully embroidered picture in colours of a yacht racing, within a border of flags. Cabbage 4ft. Acros#. Weighing 271 b.. a large cabbage has been grown by Mr. W. Farquhar, of Ngarua. The measurement overall exceeded 4ft., while the heart had a depth of ISin. and measured 16in. across. Mr. Farquhar states that it was grown from an ordinary packet of seed and that it far exceeded any other plants in the bed. Walker Lo;ee» Wr.gcr.

Before Messrs. D. E. Pankhurst and D. Chatwin left Te Kuiti for Te Awamutu on a walking journey for a wager, Mr. C. C. Dallaston, the Te Kuiti scoutmaster, wagered them he would reduce their time by four hours. Messrs and Chatwin took 10 hours 28 minutes. Mr. Dallaston set out with a well-known marathon runner and walked and ran alternately. When Kihikihi was reached Mr. Dallaston had almost collapsed owing to the heat and rough roads. He and Mr. McCalman, the runner, arrived at Te Awamutu four minutes too late. The journey took 6 hours 27 minutes and they required a journey of 6 hours 23 minutes to win the wager.

Surprise for Fisherman. Probably the most surprised man in Auckland on Saturday was a fisherman who was sitting quietly in his dinghy waiting for a bite, immediately below the battery on North Head when the guns went into sudden action as part of the exercises for the defence of the port. Two blank rounds were tired in quick succession and the speed with which the dinghy was removed, without waiting for a repetition of the firing caused some amusement among the spectators. Father, Please Copy! Like the male penguin, the Javanese father is not averse to performing for his children some of tnose little offices usually carried out by the mother, states the Auckland Star. Visitors to the “between decks” area on the South Pacific Line's passenger vessel Tasman, where 357 Javanese, returning from indentured labour service in Noumea to their native country, were accommodated, were surprised on Monday to see some of the men engaged in feeding the babies with rice. In other cases they were petting the youngsters and attending | to their comfort in other necessary ways. This would be a lesson to some fathers. Cats and Native Birds. The Forest and Bird Protection Society continues to receive complaints about the killing of native birds, especially robins, by cats from Public Works camps along the new road in South Westland. Therefore, another letter has been sent to the Minister of Public Works (Mr. R. Semple) urging that a prohibition order should be issued against the introduction of cats to the camps. “It : is the same old story,” says a member I of the society’s executive. “First there 'is a careless scattering of waste-food 1 scraps which attracts rats. Then cats are brought in to attack the rats, but i cats prefer the daintier diet of ■ native birds, which are easily caught." Main Trunk Anniversary. The through passenger service on the North Island Main Trunk railway was inaugurated 30 years ago on Tuesday, a train leaving Auckland for Wellington on February 14, 1909. Actually, the railway had been used prior to that date, as on August 3, 1908, the two railheads had been brought together at Manganui-o-te-ao. about halfway between the two termini. Four days later a snecial train conveying a Parliamentary party came through to Auckland to welcome the visiting American Fleet. The first trains took 19 hours to complete the journey, but with the introduction of the limited express, the journey was reduced to 14 hours 20 minutes. Congested Queen Street. After several months' trial of pedestrian crossings in Queen Street, the civic authorities in Auckland have formed the opinion th a* changes art necessary. “The whole question of tram stops, safety zones and pedestrian crossings in Queen Street is i under reiew,” remarked Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who is the deputy-Mayor. at Monday's meeting of the Transport Board. The acting-chairman. the Hon. F. E. Lark, said that early action would be taken to deal with the position. One effect of the pedestrian crossings, according to the experience of tramway motormen, is that people are using these stopping places to board and alight from trams. Speeds are reduced, and traffic congestion is increased. By interfering with time-table running, this compels motormen to speed up on other parts of their routes to make up. for time lost. There is thus greater risk of ’ accident, and greater nervous strain on motormen.