NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3716, 12 November 1927, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

An old resident of Poverty Bay has a record that takes some beating. It is his boast that lie has attended every A. and P. Show at Gisborne since 1884 until this year, when owing to indisposition, he was unable to be present. IVhat is probably the largest pine log to be milled in Whangarei is lying in the yard of Messrs Lovaitt, says the Northern Advocate. The log is approximately 18ft. long and 12ft. in circumference, totalling approximately 2000 ft. super. This log comprises only the base of the tree, so that the whole tree will contain quite a considerable amount more timber than this. The tree is pinus insignis, grown on Colonel McCarroll’s farm at Maunu, and has not been planted more than 60 years. An unpleasant experience, fortunately not attended with serious consequences, befel Rev. Father Forrester, of Inglewood, while conducting the service in St. Joseph’s Church at Eltliam on Sunday evening. Approaching too near to an altar light behind him the clergyman’s lace surplice accidentally, and unknown’ to him, caught fire. But /or the promptness of M. Sheehy, an altar bpy, who assisted n tearing the blazing garment from his' Shoulders, Father Forrester would probably have suffered injury. An account of a wonderful feat in the water by a native is contained in a letter from Mr. G. W, W. Cozens, marine superintendent for the British Phosphate Commission at Ocean Island, to an Auckland friend. Mr ICozens, himself a fine swimmer and: diver, said the incident occurred when passing five cases of money—about £2OO0 —into a whalebeat from the schooner Nauru Chief. The last box was being handed over, when the accommodation ladder broke off suddenly and threw the native boys into the water. At the time the box was in the hands of a boy named Neti, and to the amazement of everyone he came to the surface Avith the box in his hands. The boys in the boat helped him to get it safely on board. “This is the most wonderful feat I have ever seen in the Avater,” stated Mr. 'Cozens. “The box

had in it two bags, (>aoh containing £I.OO worth ol.‘ 2s pieces and each bag weighing 251 Its. The boy was handed £2 for his act, and was very pleased about it all.” Had the box sunk it would have been covered by 150 fathoms of water.