LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

The light showery weather prevailing for the past few days has affected a wonderful recovery in the kitchen and flower gardens throughout the district, and the resultant growth is quite apparent.

The favourable season is resulting in a large increase in the dairy produce output in the Feilding district. Factories report an increase up to 40 per cent., as compared with last year. With increased prices also, dairy farmers are much more cheerful.

As the Wellington Education Board has received several letters as to the legality of opening schools later in the morning, the board has decided to inform all Committees that no departure from the by-laws will be allowed, these permit schools being opened at. any time up to 9.30 a.m.

There are 150 seamen reported to be unemployed in Wellington, due mainly to several of the Union Steamship Company’s cargo boats, and the Maheno and Moeraki being laid up. The causes also given are the greater use of New Zealand coal, mainly railborne through the Otira tunnel, and the greater use of oil fuel, making less deman-U for bunker coal.

On account of the unsettled state of the weather, the Havelock Swimming Club’s sports, which were to have been held last evening, have been postponed to next Wednesday.

The North Otago Show opened in glorious weather with entries about 200 over last year. All classes of stock are well represented. Judging is proceeding.—(Press Association).

The Auckland Rugby Union has decided to ask the New Zealand Union to convene a meeting of delegates as soon after November 30 as possiblo for the purpose of appointing a manager for the South African tour.— (Press Association.)

Replying to Mr. J. J. Elliott (Oroua), the Minister of Agriculture said in the House of Representatives yesterday that he hoped that within a few days arrangements would be made which would enable the Government to lift the embargo on the importation of stud stock from Britain, under very strict conditions.

Californian quail are a great pest in settlements on the upper roaches of the Auckland Harbour at present. It is stated that successive sowings of seeds in vegetable gardens have been ruined by them and considerable loss is being incurred by strawberry growers owing to quail nipping off berries as soon as the fruit is formed.

“We could have a concrete road a chain wide to Wairoa with the money which is being spent on bridges for the East Coast railway. I don’t think that it will ever serve any great purpose, and it ought to be stopped before further money is wasted on it,” said Mr. F. G. Smith, senr., at the meeting of motor owners in Napier last night.

Alfred Barnes, a competitor in a cycle road race in August, was charged in the Supreme Court in Wanganui yesterday with manslaughter, the charge wising from the death of an elderly woman, who was knocked down during the race. Mr. Justice Ostler said there did not seem to be any evidence of criminal negligence, and" the jury found Barnes not guilty.

On December 10th the Havelock North Fire Brigade will celebrate the arrival of their new fire engine by demonstrations and competitions in the Domain. In addition there will be fruit, ice-cream and lollie stalls, and any amount of amusement for the kiddies. It is expected that members of the Napier, Hastings and Tomoana Brigades will be there in force to assist.

The South Island Motor Union last night decided to take political action in support of the demand of the South Island for the apportionment of the petrol tax between the North and South Islands on the basis of the numbers of vehicles registered in each island. In the course of the discussion i! was suggested that the union should organise a campaign against every member of .Parliament who failed to support the union’s demand in this respect.

That there is some revival in goldmining is evidence by the increased export of gold from the Westland district. In more than one locality gold is being recovered, some of the yields being very satisfactory. The Riinu Flat is still yielding good returns with, of course, a very large area of country yet to be treated. It is expected when hydro-electric power passes adjacent to some of the alluvial fields further developments will take place, the power enabling mining to be resumed on an economic basis.

A strange experience recently befel the Norwegian motor ship Gisla, which is en route from Montreal to Auckland. On September 14th, when the vessel was proceeding through the Gulf Stream from St. John to Montreal, to continue loading, she was struck by lightning, and the first officer and three men, who were on watch, were rendered unconscious. The captain, who was in the ehartroom, was temporarily blinded. The ship’s compass w-as put out four points, and the wireless was disabled.

The Waikato A. ’and P. Association’s 36th annual show was opened in unfavourable weather yesterday. The stock submitted to the judges was of high quality. The Waikato Jersey Breekers’ Oaks, 1927, was won by W. J. Chinoweth’s Marcnlands Cream. The champion Jersey cow was W. J. Meirs’ Jersey Brae Seassel, and the reserve champion Moreland and Son’s Buchlands Violette. The champion Jersey bull was W. J. Chenoweth’s Sybil’s, Earl. The Waikato Hunt Club Cup for the cleverest hunter was won by B. M. Myers’ Heather Bell.

Encouraging results have been obtained by the Government entomologist, Mr. D. Miller, in his experiments in combating the pear midge, the ravages of which have resulted in serious loss to orchardists in recent years. Last year two varieties of flies, the grubs of which were expected to prey upon those of the parasite, were bred in cages and liberated in an affected orchard at Henderson. On a recent visit of inspection Mr. Miller was gratified to find the experiment had apparently proved highly successful and little evidence of the presence of the midge was to be seen on the pear trees.

The matron of Abbotsford Home, Waipawa, wishes to acknowledge with very many thanks the following gifts:—Mrs. H. M. Rathbone, cake, papers, plants, and fruit; Mrs. H. W. White, jam; “A Friend,” clothing; Mr. Bibby, fruit; Mrs. Nash, sweets and fruit; Mrs. McGregor, roses; Mrs. Butterfield, butter; Waipukurau W.D.F.U. social, cakes; “A Friend,” sweets and fruit; Mt. Arrow, vegetables; Mr. Cradoek, milk from two cows daily; Jack Chong, fireworks; “A Friend,” fruit, sweets and the use of a gramophone; Mrs. Mitchell, cake; “Anon,” cups; St. Peter’s Girls’ Club, cakes; “A Friend,” flowers; Havelock N. Mothers’ Union, provisions and garments, etc.; Mrs. Barnard Chambers, garments. Also Mr. Hall and Mr. Peters for special kindnesses.