LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1928, Page 5

LATE LOCALS.

The summer whirling season has begun in the seas around northern New Zealand. The whaler Hananui 11., under the command of Captain 13. Cook, commenced operations last month, and up to the present seven whales have,been, captured, all near Cape Brett. The summer whaling season in the north extends from September to November, and the winter season from-May to August.

A party of six men are now engaged at the Inglewood mine at Mur- 1 ray Creek, Iteefton, and it is expected that crushing operations will he put in hand before Christmas. The Inglewood mine'has been closed down f for some time through a dispute be-' tween the company and the Inaiigahua Miners’ Union concerning the driving of a rise which had gone a distance of 70 feet. It is understood that a settlement lias now been reached between the parties concerned. The Inglewood party is reported to be operating on good payable stone.

A Wanganui bailiff had a very unhappy time when lie took possession of a shop which a lady was conducting. For quite a long time he was a target for unkind and uncomplimentary remarks, and so he decided to take a walk round the. .premises. The bailiff was exploring the contents of a back room wtih appraising eye. Evidently the lady crept along quietly and locked the door, and before long the bailiff found himself a prisoner. It was four hours later before muffled cries drew the attention of a shopkeeper next door and the unfortunate official was released.

An invention which, it is claimed, will greatly simplify sawmill transport lias undergone successful tests in Australia. It is known as the 'Trial Fordson tractor and was invented by Mr Frank Trail, of New Zealand, the first machine being manufactured by Messrs A. and T. Burt, of Dunedin. 'lho tractor, which runs on rails, is capable Of (hauling heavy loads at comparatively small cost, and during the demonstration in Australia conveyed a load of nearly 12 tons over eight miles of mountain country at a ost of a little over one tin of power kerosene. The tractor, which weighs about four tons, consists of a 24 horsepower motor on four wheels of eightinch tread and 21-inch flanges. A feature of the machine is the attachment of a connecting shaft from the motor by two universal joints to a bogie