NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 123, 21 November 1932, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Battle of Rangiriri,

I'esterday was the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Rangiriri, one of the most sanguinary encounters during the Maori Wars. Following an engagement in which the British Forces lost 35 killed i and 93 wounded, General Cameron carried the Maori position and captured 183 prisoners. The Maoris were hemmed in at Kangiriri after having been driven from the Clevedon district. The Native fortifications were besieged from both ]and and water, but tho attacking forces were held up by heavy fire. Lacking gunpowder, the Maoris were obliged to surrender the next morning. They lost 36 men. The victory resulted in the subjugation of the Lower Waikato tribes. Fine Hutt Trout. A 15* pound trout, caught by Mr. J. Nelson of Wellington in the big pool just below . the confluence of the Whakatikei and Hutt rivers, was on view in. the city to-day. It was 33 inches long and 18 inches in girth, and for a large male fish was of beautiful shape. Usually the males are more rangy and not as symmetrical as'the females, but the fish was in excellent condition. It was caught on a No. 10 Greenwall's Glory fly, and a 3x cast, an apparently improbable feat unless the hole is taken iuto consideration; ib is fifty yards wide, and about 100 yards long, very deep in the middle, and with a slack, eddying current, giving an angler plenty of room to play a big fish. Another "De Groot" Incident. An amusing incident took place at the opening of the Haupiri Bridge at Eopara on the West Coast. Just prior to the ceremony of tho cutting of. tho ribbon being performed a well-known West Coast identity, an Irishman, galloped up on a horse and, with a dramatic sweep of a stick, severed the ribbon across the bridge and triumphantly galloped over it. The action of the amateur "Do Groot" caused much laughter among those present. Flying Ground at Mount Cook.. .After' making investigations 'at Mount Cook into '. the possibility of establishing a landing ground there, Squadron Leader T. M. Wilkes, Director of Air Services, and Mr. T. W. White returned to' Timaru on Friday (states "The Press")- ■ Squadron Leader Wilkes left for the north later in the afternoon by aeroplane. ; The Islands Compared. _ "It shows how the two Islands loom in the eyes of members of Parliament," said the chairman of the Heatheote County Council (Mr. C. Flavell), when at a meeting of the council a letter was received: from the South Island Motor Union pointing ut that the Public Works roading vote., for the North Island was £534,298 and for the SouthIsland £108,636, the Highways .Board allocations being £181,973 for the North Island and £58,592 , for the South Island (reports ",The Press"). "Tho North Island is a big blob and the South Island a little speck,'s added Mr. Flavell. ■ ' . ■ ■ - Waifcato'Harvests. Ensilage-making operations are in full swing in the Waikato, and most farmers have their stacks well advanced, reports the " Waikato Times. > > Harvesting has commenced in some parts of the district, and within the' next few weeks most of the farming community will be busily engaged in this seasona.l work. , In!. past years haymaking has absorbed every available man, and many town and city dwellers have migrated ti the country districts to earn good monuy in the hay fields. Bu'; the low prices which the primary producer has received for his produce in-the last year or, two has placed him in a position where he cannotf > afford to employ outside labour. *<>r- this reason it is not 'anticipated that haymaking and harvesting will absorb as many outside workers this year as in the past. The country is iookmg^well and farmers are assured of a prolific growth of grass. Mount Somers Line. , :Tlie Bailways Board has decided to; give the Mount Somers branch'line a further trial on a reorganised schedule.1 Ihis—announcement was' made «on baturday by the- chairman of the board 'Br' »HV H- o Sterlijlg>> ; "The Star." Mr. Sterling said that the main teatures of the proposals- involved the -abandonment, of passenger traffic on the; branch and the working of the line from Ashburton, instead of from Springburn,- on three days a week, ■that would involve some loss of revemie_ on the passenger business, but would be much more than offset by tho saving that; would result in operating costs. It. was expected also that the greater measure of convenience for stock traffic for the weekly sales would result in an improvement in the railway business in that traffic which would also offset in some measure the loss of revenue in connection with the passenger .business. Since the board's tour of the district a representative B'°?if o Peoi)le of the district had been held at Ashburton, added Mr. bterlmg, and he had attended the meeting on behalf of the board. The whole matter had been very fully discussed, and the meeting had decided that the railway was very necessary to fhe best interests of the district, and that in order to secure its continued operation the people of the district should accord the^railway the fullest measure of support.' '■ ■ ■■■■..■ .;•...'■'.■ '.■ .