LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 167, 2 August 1937, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL

Bonus on Pigs. Cabmet has decided to pay 1/- a hestd for all wild pigs destroyed in certain parts of the North lsland during August, September, October and November, in accordance with the scheme i'ormulated to reiieve settlers in the outlying districts from the ravages oi these animals. Estimating Speed. "I wooild advise you to accept witL the vel'y greatest reserve estimates oi speed iu anything like miles an hour," said Ml' J ustice (Jallan wlien addressin^ a jury jn a negligent-driving case in Auckland. Jfmpkasising the difficulty oi making any such estimate his HonoUi suggested a possible test for the jury. If he invited them to stand by a public road and estimate the speed of passiii" vehicles he would imdertake, he said. that he would get 12 different estimates of speed more often than not. in such a test they would be prepared to exercise their best judgment, but witnesses in these cases had fclieir minds on something else altogether. ~3 Farm Land Not in Use. JLn four years l,UUO,tMJO acres ot land previously farmed had been given uj: and was not now in use, ana iu tu= Uomimon more than 4,OUO,OUO acres oi land was carrying a second growth oi scrub and fern, said Colonel S. J. E. Ciosey, Dominion organiser iOT the com-pensated-price campaign, in an address at Christchurch. The value df all this land was now less than zero, he added. It was idle because, from high costs, no farmer„ thought he could work it profitably. Eventually, such a quantity of land out of use must cause a serious crisis, he said. Why Mornington 1 Last week a block of land belonging to the Mornington estate (Wellington South) waB sold by auction. One oi those present at the sale waB curious to know: how the district obtained its name. The answer was forthcoming on reference to an issue of "John o' London,"** which gave the origin of the name Wellington. It appears that when Sir Arl>hur Weilesley was given a duxedom and asked to select u name for it, he manufactured the word Wellington. His father was an Irishman, the liarl of Mornington. In order to weave his own name with that of his father's he took the well from hds own name, Weilesley, and added thereto the "ington" from his father's name Mornington. Regains His Hearlng. Thanks to an efficient little apparatus, a well-known resident of Hastings, of nearly 40 years standing in. the town, has regained his hearing, and as a result, he is hnding great joy and added interest . in life. Yesterday he was at Cornwall Park and heard the Hastings Citizens' Band play for the iirst time. "I've read a lot ^bout the band and have often contributed to their contest funds," he said, "but until this afternoon 1 had never heard them play," he said. "They are quite as good as I had thought they would be from all the glowing reports that I've read of them." He made a point oi complimenting the bandsmen upon their performance, and they in turn have promised to play a special request number for him at some future date. The Early Roses. Keen amateur hortjculturists — which there. are many in Auckland — have had an opportunity during the past few weeks of observing how roses behave under unusual winter conditions. Early in July it was noticed that the bushes were beginning to break into growth before all the last season'g leaves had fallen. Then, as if Nature realised that a mistabe had been made and had to be put right, tbe young ieaf buds were checked by a wet, sunless July. To the amateur this may be a disappointment "or not, according as he or she prefers early or late blooms, but to the professional rose-grower the setback is welcome, as it will proloug the season. Of course, the fixtures for the spring shows also have to be remembered, and the amateur exbibitor will naturally be in a happier position ii he has his blooms at the normal time. Tax on Sdldlere' Industry. A deniai of the reporttd statement 121 London by Lady Haig that articles made by disabled returned soldiers wero admitted duty-free to the Dominion while the British Government refused to allow a. similar concession to similar New Zealand and Australian goods entering England was made by Mr H. W. Guy, secretary-manager of the Disabled Sailors' and Soldiers' Mutual Association. Mr Guy is touring New Zealand with an exhibition of goods made by crippled soldiers in England. Stating that Lady Haig must have been misinformed, Mr Guy said that in New Zealand and Australia he had been asked to pay full duty and sales-tax on all goods sold, despite the fact that they had been made by some of the worst cases of crippled sailors and soldiers. When the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, was interviewed in London recently by representatives of the association, be had stated that the Govefnment was unable to make any exception. Mr Guy expressed his agreement with Lady Hunter that such goods should be exempt from duty, and suggested that the Government's concerned migbt come to an agreement on the subject. v

Technical Band Concert. The Napier Technical Memoria'i Band played a very well-arranged musical programme in the Sound Shell, Marine Tarade, yesterjlay afternoon. The weather was uelightful and there was a la^e attendance, includifig many visitors to the towii, Who thofoughly appreciated the programme presented. Whitebait Are In. A fair supply of whitebait caine- to hand in Hastings on Saturday mornmg, but the price held at 6/- a 1b. Only two hshmongers appeared to have supplies, and in the case of oue of tlies1 the total stock was only 7 Ibs. The rivers are reported to be clearing well, and good catches are expected during ; the next few days if the weather rel niahis hue. Once supplies lmprove the : price will soon drop to a more reason- ' able tigure. , 3and at Cornwall Park. ; Another very line opeu-air recital was i given. by the Hastings Citizens' Band • at Cornwall Park yesterday aiternuon. i Conditions were exeellent, and there 1 was an exceptiunally big crowd of • townspeople present. The programme ; was a most enjoyable one, including various popular marches and selections, as well as a number of hymns. A collection was taken up and realised £8 14/-, quite the biggest amount col- , lected for many years by the 'band at . its many outdoor appearances. r'arm-Labour Problem. Although the new dairyiug seasoii has • not yet commenced, difficulties ot obi taining labour are again stated to be i exercismg the minds of farmers in the Waikato. One farnier from the Camoridge dis'trict said that he knew of a i number of instances where producers • were culling their herds extensively in i order to bring them down to a siz§ which Would be easily manageable by members of the family. The extra grazing that was then available was being utilised for the raising jf sheep, [ and on a large number of farms where dairying was formerly the sole occupa- ( tion flocks of breeding ewes were now being run. Billy Goat as Pet. An old man passed along Dunedin streets the other day with a str'angely clean and groomed goat, which showed all the docility and devotion of a domestically trained dog. Remembering that an old goat is "never more reverend for his beard," pedestrians who had to share the pavement with the billy gave him a wide berth and beat. fast to windward when their courses threatened to cross. Billy, howevex, had none of ^ the peculiar traits which made "old men of the mountains" idertifiable at a long distance when the hunter gets to leeward of them. His keeper had apparently bathed and combed him before taking him on his stroll through the city. Week-end Railway Excursion. The week-end railway excursion from Wellington , which reached Hawke's Bay on Saturday, brought about 450 excursionistg to Napier and Hastings. The weather proved delightfully finn both Saturday and yesterday, and the visitors were able to enjoy theiir stay in Hawke's Bay to the full. Quite a number of the visitors spent part o'f their stay in each town, and their siglit-see-ing was doiie under the most favourable circumstances. Special bus trips to various points of interest were availed of by many. The warm sunshine induced many to have a dip in the briny at Napier or Westshore. The excursionists returned home yesterday afternoon well pleased with their trip Wet ro the Skin. Quite a number of mothers in Hast* ings yesterday afternoon had reason to "bless" the Hastings Borough Council and its novel watering scheme at Cornwall Paftk. Throughout the hour or so the 24 miniature fountains were playing in concert at the park scores of youngsters romped gleefully m. and out of the showers, and in very short time the majbrity were soaked tc tho skin. Each sprinkler is capable of spraying some 240 gallons of water t very hour, and as there are 24 sprinlt.•.'.is installed it is not to be wondered at that in a very short time the youngsters were beginning to wring oonsiderable quantities of water from their clothing. No doubt the eoidwater showers will be greatly appreoiated in the hot summer months when it will be possible, perhaps, for the youngsters to do,u the more conventional attire for such gambols.