THE OPOTIKI NEWS Friday, April 21, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 171, 21 April 1939, Page 2

THE OPOTIKI NEWS Friday, April 21, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mushrooms in Favour. Tlie warm, rain in Opotiki district in the last two days lias resulted in a goodl crop of mushrooms and residents have been busily engaged in searching for this autumn delicacy. The rain lias been rather late for mushrooms to grow for a long period., Warmer Temperatures. With overcast and unsettled conditions prevailing throughout the North Island yesterday, there was a noticeable rise in early morning temperatures, reading throughout the Island being as follows,: Auckland 68 degrees, Tauranga and Fast Cape 66, Opotiki 56, Gisborne 62, Napier 57, and Wellington 61. Court Humour. Court proceedings at Opotiki on Tuesday were not without humour. A well-known local lawyer, who was apparently very deep in thought at the time, raised a smile when he addressed the Magistrate, Mr. Walton, as “You 6 Majesty”. There was a loud titter when Mr. Walton, in referring to the. unreliability of a witness in a liquor case, remarked that her evidence “wouldn’t hang a cat”! Phar Lap Forgotten* Two of Entreaty's progeny were sold cheaply at the Faster blood-stock sale at Christchurch. It a phis, a four-year-old full-sister to the mighty Pliar Lap, was secured bv Mr. K. Austin for 40 guineas, and Ham Way, a two-year-old half-brother by Iliad to Pilar Lap, was bought by Air. H. A. Boyle, of Christchurch, for 25 guineas. Entreaty, the dam of Phar Lap, wa's also offered on account of Mr. F. Armstrong, pif Christchurch, and she was passed in at 100 guineas. Air Service. The new air service between Auckland and Gisborne lias experienced: the first period of bad weather since the sendee started some time ago. The plane from Gisborne yesterday morning flew well out to sea before turning back to pick up the coast. The roar of the engines could be heard as the air-liner flew at a good height but no sign of the plane coyld be seen. It was a considerable time before tlie plane was seen flying below the clouds after turning back towards the aerodrome. During periods of bad visibility it is necessary for the plane to get well clear of the high country before coming dawn to pick up bearings. General Rain Reported. Pain has been reported from practically ‘all parts of the North Island, and in some places the fall has been of great intensity. With the exception of a very heavy shower in the early hours this morning, • the rain in Opotiki lias been fairly light; the fall for the 24 hours ending at 9 a.hi. today being only 64 points in the borough. Heavy rain has been reported from the Matawai district where there has not been any substantial fall for two or three months and the country right down to the Gisborne flats lias presented a parched! appearance. With the rain recorded in Opotiki on the 15th. of the. month, tlie surface should now be moist enough to bring the grass away well, especially if the present humid conditions continue for a few days. The ground should he in a suitable condition for ploughing to be done easily, the ground previously being very bard.