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Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1930, Page 4

There was an earthquake shock experienced this morning about 12.45 o'clock. It was of a fairly long nature, but was hot heavy, though sufficient to rattle crockery in places. ,

The dancers at the Druids Ball on Wednesday night will have the pleasure of completing for prizes which will he presented for two of the dances, so come along and waltz for your luck.

The death occurred at Reefton Ilqsital on Saturday morning of the six- 1 years-old soil of Mr Ryan, of Reefton I Bailway Station. The child went to,j school on i< riday morning, but was sent home before the commencement of lessons. He was removed to the Hospital to be operated on, bat never rallied. •;

An explosion of gelignite- occurred, at Waiuta on Saturday morning, as the result of which Mr George White, a miner, who lias been a resident.;,of the township for many years, received severe injuries to his head, it is understood that White was assisting in the formation of a bowling green, and, while working on a mullock heap, he struck some gelignite with the point of his pick, causing the explosion.

Princess Theatre has been booked for the amateur entertainment on Thursday next, when a very bright and pleasing performance will engage attention, Up* wards of fifty performers will appear in a varied programme embracing music, song, story and dancing. The costumed items will be a pleasing surprise, and will mean the introduction of fresh local talent. Several vocal gems will be rendered, including numbers from popular comic operas. Altogether a very unique and entertaining bill of fare will be presented.

About eleven o’clock on Wednesday night residents living, near the lighthouse on Cape Wanbrow, were, states tlio Oaniaru correspondent of the “Times,” startled by a loud explosion which has been likened to a loud clap of thunder, while those who happened to be in the open were dazzled by a brilliant ball of failing flame; The meteor was of huge dimensions, rushing through the air with an uncanny hissing sound. Before disappearing on the horizon the meteor split into several pieces and jets of flame playing from these made a beautiful sight., , .

During the past three weeks thousands of small fish, about five or six inches long, have congregated in the. Cam, at Kaiapoi. On Thursday two members of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation p'fociety, with the aid of a net captured two of the fish, which they identified as young quinna-t salman. This is the first time that the fish, have been noticed - in the rivers in such vast numbers, and considerable interest has been aroused amongst the local fishermen,, who have tried unsuccessfully to catch them. The opinion, hits been expressed that the. fish have gathered near the- tidal waters bo that they may. make their ran sea . together, and while waiting, become in part, acclimatised to the salt water.

A beacon fire on Mount Tuhua on Saturday evening excited a good dial of curiosity. It was explained +hat two young ladies set out in tue morning to C'.imb the peak, and the fire was the signal to friends that the task had been accomplished. Tuhua is nearly 3700 feet high, and the climbing time was just over three hours. The young ladies were lewarded with a magnificent panorama view of the West Coast. The day was beautifully clear, and a wonderful view was afforded in all directions. There was snow on the top but it i as frozen hard. The young ladies/ one of whom has now made eight trips to the hilltop, returned to the Lake' Hatchery at 4 o’clock in the afternoon after enjoying a splendid ciay s outing.

In the Haast, Hut, high up on the slopes of Mt. Cook, where no food can be obtained, there is a colony of mice. It is thought that they must, have been carried up there among some stores that had been left packed overnight at the Hermitage, but it is hard’ to guess how they manage to obtain food now, for none is left open in the' hut, and a bag of poisoned wheat is laid for them. Whenever the hut is visited the mice appear, and often they must live for months under snow, since at times when the hut has been visited, parties have had to dig through as much iis nine feet of it. It has been suggested that they thrive on the poisoned wheat, which is always found to have been broached. Turning out of Puketahi Street on to Tainui Street yesterday morning, the steering gear of a milk lorry broke. The vehicle careered across the road and snapping off a post from the A'erandah of Mr F. Groufsky’s shop, came to a halt, with its two wheels hanging over an embankment, leading to a house. The lorry was in charge of Mr Gage, and, as a result of the accident, some of the milk in the' cans was lost. A crane was requisitioned I from the Grey Motors,. and the lorry was lifted from its precarious position. Remarkably enough, it was little the worse for its misadventure, and it was able to be driven off on the continuation of the round, without any repairs being affected. Fluctuations 01 the current as experienced locally do not effect to any great extent the All Electric Maiestci Radio set. A ballast tube overcomes this annoying condition and also protects the Set against excessive voltage and the resultant burning out of transformers. Ring ’phone 112 and arrange for a demonstration. L. 8, Ross, Majestic agent far Wetland

Scrumptious supper at the Druids’ Bail, fruit salad, etc. etc. j; , Messrs W. Jeffries and Co. notify the sale by auction on Saturday, 16th. August of the well-known farm P r °- perty of Mr Harry Growcott, ing of 184 acres freehold and of 31 acres situate at ICoiterangi. Opossum trappers report that during the season just closed there' was a great increase in the quantity o>f. vermin trapped—.stoats, weasels, rats etc. In one instance a stoat had a tui in its mouth, and on another occasion a small rainbow trout. One particular trapper stated he had . caught, ovei sity stoats and weasels, the former be- , ing ‘in the, largest number. . In the up--A per reaches of the Hokitika;,river there are very large numbers of deer, about, while on one of the higher mountain. tops, tliar are in considerable quantity. Tliere are at present more ybllow and red-headed parrots to be f seen, in the bush than has been the ease for .many years, while kakas, for some yegrs an almost unknown quantity,' are . now present in considerable numbeis. Everything for Baby. Blanket cots, prams in artistic designs, push chairs, •baby high chairs, fire-guards, baths etc. Call and inspect our stocks at Yafrall s, ’ Bevell St. —Advt. ‘ .