LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 23 August 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Record Sized Hapuka What is claimed to be a Tecord sized hapuku was caught at Mangonui, North Auckland, during the week-end. The fish weighed 881b cleaned and measured over 5ft 6in from tip to tail. The average hapuku weighs between 401b and 501b. Wbat Interjections Indicate "When we get the most.noise we know we are most effective," crushingly retorted the -Leader of the Opposition. (Mr. Holland) in the House of Representatives when replying to a mass of interjections from the Labour members .as he trenchantly criticised the Budget. Onion Planting Delayed The recent bad weather has delayed the planting of onions at Opiki, stated an official of the Pal-

merston North branch of the Department of Agriculture. Already the planting has been held up two weeks, and if the delay lasts a great deal longer, the seasoh might be run over, as it was "last season when harvesting continued well. into the winter. Band Music oh Sunday Sunday, July 21, the occasion of the first public appearance of the Levin Municipal Ba,nd in the Public Gardens, wa§- a bright and sunny afternoon after quite a few weeks of unpleasant weather, and many citizens took sadvahtage of it to hear thrs combination. Next Sunday afternoon, if the weather again favours them, the band, under the condudtdrship -of Mr. G. R. Lester, . wil:l give- its second recital in the gardens commencing at 2.30 p.m. ■•'-• — .. Pians for New Exchange Plans of the building it is proposed to erect at the rear of the present post office to accommodate the new telephohe exchange in Levin have been received by the postmaster (Mr. L. A. Whitham) for his inspection and comments. The building is 49 feet long and 17 feet wide, and includes provision for after-hour tolls. Once the building is completed the installation of the new equipment and the changing over of 800 subscribers without interru'ption in the service will be a big task, but it is hoped to complete it by October. Eliminating Goat Menace A team of experienced deerstalkers for the elimination of the goat menace at Mount Egmont would be available, as promised, by November, replied the 'Minister ofInternal Affai'rs '( M-rv, Bar r,y to. ;;Mr r, JE. P. Aderfiian 'C^aLi' New Plymouth) , in the Hduse "pf Re|)resentatives yesterday. The Minister added that a field oflicer and anexperienced team had' been-briefed for the work as an immediate fol-low-on from three winter goatdestruction campaigns now in progress. The Egmont National Park goat campaign would begin not later than November. Petrels Washed Ashore Large ' numbers of petrels " are reported washed up in the past few weeks on the Nortfi Island west coast beaches between Paekakariki and Muriwai. It is surmised that the birds met their fate through the severe weather off the coast. It is the first time in 14 years that this has occurred, the last occasion when 'large numbers were washed ashore being in 1932. The Director of th'e Dominion Museum, Dr. Oliver, requests visitors to the beaches to 'ndtify the museum should the-y see any sign of petrels having been washed ashore. The museum would welcome further information regarding the reported occurrence. 5Fruit Fly Daiiger The ques'tion of the import-ation of peaches, eher'ries, and other, stone fruit from AuStralia was raised during the visit to New Zealand of the New South Wales Minister of Agriculture- ■(Mr. E. H. Graham) , but had hot yet received Ministerial consider'ation, stated the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) in a wriften reply to a question by Mr. W. A. Bohin (NAt., Central Otago) in the House of Representatives. The Minister added that in the event of kpecified quantities o'f stone fruit from Australia being admitted in an' ord'erly mannet -so 'as not to coine in conflict Vfith lofcal crops it would be obligatory for the importer to •furriish a certificate issued by the bepartment of Agriculture of the -State where the fruit was grown -cettifying to the fruit beirig free from disease.