THE OPOTIKI NEWS Wednesday, March 22, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 161, 22 March 1939, Page 2

THE OPOTIKI NEWS Wednesday, March 22, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Swordfish Off Coast. An Opotiki resident, while driving on the East Coast highway, observed a. swordfish broaching ' close in-shore. There appears to be no) doubt that swordfish are fairly plentiful off the. coast in the eastern end of the Bay of Plenty, this being the second oo easion that swordfish have been re•ported off the Opotiki coast recently. Shipping. The Opotiki wharf is experiencing a busy time this week. The m.v. Maiotalii left Opotiki for Auckland on Monday and will leave again for Opotiki- to-day and is expected to arrive here on • Friday. The m.v. Otimai which left Opotiki last night will leave Auckland! to-morrow . and arrive in Opotiki on Saturday. The m.v. Seagull arrived this morning with a load of manure for the Native Department. Theatre Taken Over, Another link in the chain of theatres directed by Mr. ft. J. lverridge, formerly of Gisborne and now of Auckland, was forged on Thursday when a theatre was taken over by M> - . Kerridge in Otorohanga. King Country. The theatre was acquired from private enterprises and has been completely renovated and modernised. ‘ This increases the number of theatres on the Kerridge chain to 29.

Big Load for Plane. The air-liner Kbrimakoi which travelled from Gisborne to Auckland yesterday was well patronised. 14 passengers altogether being carried over various stages of the journey. Jbe air-liner left Gisborne for Opctiki with eight passengers. Three l'nore were picked up at- Opotiki and at lauranga two pa.sserigers alighted and three other passengers were taken on, making a full load! of twelve for the final stage to Auckland. . ~

Pasture Experiments. Recent trials carried' out at Otolio and Miatawai, suggest- that in areas of high rainfall in high country where fertilisers bring away a strong white clover growth, it would appear to be wiser to introduce better types of white clover than to-endeavour to establish subterranean clover. T his 1 comment is made, by E. M. Bates.. B.Sc., instructor in Agriculture. Gisborne. in a- very interesting' review of tlx? trials. Another advantage of a good sxWivd of white clover is that it prevents soil erosion on. the high country. Temperatures. Fairly high temperatures were general throughout the North Island .yesterday, readings at various towns at 9 o’clock being as follows:—Auckland ,6t degrees. Tauranga. add East Capo 67. Opotiki 60, Gisborne 70. Napier 66, and Wellington 58. Tuesday’s 1 shade temperature in Gisborne reached 8t degrees, the reading being the fourth highest for the' season and only four degrees below the peak temperature for the summer, recorded on January 5. On the- two previous days .the maximum temperature did not exceed 71 degrees and Tuesday’s exceptionally warm conditions tame as a surprise. Overnight the temperature dropped steadily and the minimum reading yesterday morning was 38 degrees. A Fortunate Escape. A fortunate escape from an accident arising out of unusual circumstances was experienced l by a Gisborne -metdvist while travelling between Opotiki and Gisborne. While the j notori si was traversing the metal section of the road shortly after leaving Opotiki a large stone thrown up by an advancing car struck the windscreen. Fortunately, the missile struck the windscreen exactly outside a paper sticker attached to the screen, with the result that- the break was a clear one and the glass did not splinter. Had it done so. the risk of facial injury to- flu* driver of the car would have been serious. A Swedish Penalty. - Anyone found guilty of being drunk kx charge of a ear in Sweden is liable to a penalty of one month’s imprisonment. without the option of a line. The penalty is rigidly enforced, hut thei convicted motorist can choose his own month of punishment out of the six following the conviction.