General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 4

General News

Loss of Trawlers The trawler Hinemoa, which was washed ashore near Wairoa, has broken up, and sections are scattered along the beaches in the vicinity. An inquiry into the loss of the Hinemoa and Waiata will be made by the Customs Department.-—(P.A.) Opossum Trapping

Because of complaints about‘damage done by opossums the fee for a trapper’s licence has been reduced to 10s. Regulations providing for payment of a royalty on skins have been abolished, and it is no longer necessary to prepare trappers’ statements arid have skins stamped. This advice was re-. ceived from the Internal Affairs Department at the monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

' Demand for Greenstone There is a demand on the West Coast for the first time in many years for good quality greenstone and it is meeting a ready sale, stones which have lain untouched for many years being readily marketed. An echo of one such transaction was heard in the Magistrate’s Court at Hokitika when James Steel, *of Kumara, proceeded against Dan Thompson and George Lakin, claiming one piece of greenstone, valued at £lO, alleged to have been taken by the defendants on or about March 9, 1945, or its value in case possession could not be obtained. After hearing evidence, in which It was stated the stone had been sold for £lO, Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M., said he was satisfied there was no doubt the defendants were not entitled to the stone, although their conduct in removing it did not amount to theft in the ordinary way. As to whether the plaintiff, or the Crown, should recover was a matter on which he would have to reserve his decision. The hearing was adjourned to enable counsel for plaintiff. Mr M: B. James, to produce evidence as to the nature of the plaintiff’s mining rights over the stone. — (F.0.0.R.) Air Service to Fiji The first weekly return air service between New Zealand and Fiji was successfully completed on Saturday when a Royal New Zealand Air Force Sunderland flying-boat arrived back in Auckland from Lauthala Bay, Fiji. It carried service’ personnel as passengers, but on future flights increasing numbers of civilians are expected to use the service. The Sunderland left Auckland on Thursday, and the return flight was accomplished without incident. The , aircraft was the Tokomaru, the first of four Air Force Sunderlands to be converted for peacetime use. In addition to the crew of eight, it can carry 24 passengers comfortably accommodated.—(P.A.)

Shipping Restriction Lifted For the first time since the outbreak of war, the approaches to the port of Auckland were all opened to shipping on Saturday, and no further routing instructions are required by shipmasters. Acting on advice from the Navy that German-laid minefields in the -Hauraki Gulf had been cleared to the satisfaction of the Admiralty, the Marine Department informed the Naval Control Service on Saturday that prohibition on sailing through restricted gulf areas had - been lifted.— (P.A.) Floating Mine Seen

A warning has been sent out to shipping that a floating mine has been located in the* Bay of Islands, halfway between Tapeka Point (the northernmost part of Russell peninsula) and Robinson Island. The mine, when last seen at dusk, was being driven by a strong wind toward Tapeka Point, and a bomb disposal squad will be sent from Whangarei early this morning to deal with it if it goes ashore. —(P.A.) Message Carried by Harriers “The bearer, Achilles of to-day, brings you ‘greetings from Waimate.’ In these days of science and invention it is somewhat unique to send messages by way of runners, but, while the method may be one of the ‘old order,’ the sentiments expressed will remain good for all time. This was the text pf a message wrapped around each of the batons carried by runners participating in the Waimate to Timaru road relay race, which was held on Saturday, after a lapse of six years. "The message was from the Mayor of Waimate (Mr W. F. Boland), who started the race from the Waimate Post Office, to the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan). Eels for China Canned eels to a total of 700,0001 b will be shipped to China this year from New Zealand. A firm order for them has been placed by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration through the Ministry of supply. This follows the cabled announcement from Sydney :hat an experimental consignment of 70001 b from last season’s stocks is going forward. Production is being undertaken by an Invercargill canning firm. It is estimated that some of New Zealand’s inland waters contain up to 600 tons of eels to the square mile, and it is considered that 5000 tons of eels could be taken in New Zealand annually. —(P.A.)

Greymouth Waterfront

In compliance with a request from the Waterfront Control CommissiQn received last month, members of the Greymouth Waterside Workers’ Union are working every Sunday, to ship urgently-needed coal and timber to the North Island. Members of the union worked on Sundays through, the war, but the practice was discontinued early this year. The shortage of gas and household coal in the North Island. combined with the need for timber to relieve the housing shortage there, led, however, to the commission requesting . that Sunday work be reintroduced. Coal cargoes will continue to be considerably restricted, because of low depth on the bar, ■ the latest high water depth re " cording being 16ft, lOin, the second lowest for more than a month. The lowest depth was 16ft 3in ,on May 23. Salmon Fishing Season A conference to discuss the closing date of the salmon fishing season has been suggested by the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The Ashburton Society advised that the Marine Department had informed the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society that the trout fishing licence could not be extended to cover fishing for salmon up to May 15 and, if it was desired that trout licences should also confer the right to fish for salmon, could not open before October. “This opens a big question and we cannot come to a decision without consulting the North Canterbury, Ashburton, and Waimate Societies,” said the chairman (Mr H. B. Timmings). Auckland Gas Supply

Normal gas pressure in Auckland will be available only during the three meal periods each aay until the coal position improves. This was announced yesterday by /he Auckland TJas Com•pany’s manager (Mr R. Worley), who said that the gas position had rapidly deteriorated because of the failure of the steam supply at the works. The shortage of Waikato coal was, he added, the sole cause of difficulty.— (P.A.) Land for Servicemen

An addition of nearly 11,000 acres during April brought the total land acquired for the settlement of former members of the forces up to 277,342 acres, states the Rehabilitation Department. Of this total, 220,264 acres had been acquired under the provisions of the Small Farms Act, 45,799 under Section 51 of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, and 11,279 under part two of the latter act. The actual acquisitions during April under the authorities, and in the same order given above, were, 9891 acres, 348 acres, and 788 acres. The 45,799 acres acquired under Section 51 of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act was made up of 164 privatelyowned properties capable of subdivision into 238 single-unit farms.