LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 214, 31 July 1939, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

•jepansso Onions. Part of the shipment of Japanese onions which lias arrived in New Zea-land-and has caused much controversy. arrived by boat at Opotiki .last week. Giant Hawk. A hawk or unusually large-size was shot by Mr. I’Jrrol H. Cunningham at Waiiiui yesterday. When measured it was found that the wing-spread was oil in., while the body was Ift. llin. in length. Effects of Frcsts. Many citrus fruit trees have been damaged by the recent frosts, while it is stated that even puriri trees, pungas, and ferns were blackened by the frosts. Indoor plants also suffered as a result of being frozen, plants which escaped entirely the effects of the heavy frosts some time ago. failing to stand up to last week’s exceptionally severe conditions. Conditions throughout New Zealand are still very cold and a message from Gisborne to-day state's that the Wharerata bill beteween Gisborne and Morere was covered with snow again.

Whakatane Queen Carnival. A queen carnival to raise IJBOO for improved sporting facilities cm the W ha kata ue Domain was decided on by a meeting of sports bodies in Wliakatane. Queens were chosen as follows: 'Town football, Miss Shirley Tippett; country football, Miss -Marie Garter; cricket- and hockey, Miss Margaret Hownt; basketball and tennis, queen to- ho chosen later.

snower 1 / Asti oncmers expect a shower of meteors to fall next Thursday night. That night the world will rush close across the tail of a comet. It is likely that the stardust trailing in the wake of tile comet will hurtle into the earth’s atmosphere and break into a rain of falling -stars. The comet is that known as J urh.T-Aclimanarof-Husscl. Twice in the next six months its course will nearly intersect that of the earth, the occasions being this week and at the end of January. On each occasion a shower of meteors is likely- to occur. No iVlore Banners. A decision which is practically a prohibition on banner advertising displays in the main street of Gisborne was made by the Poverty Bay ElectricPower Board last week, when the hoard agreed that apart from exceptional cases no more banners would he fixed ‘to the hoard’s poles. This follows a similar stand taken by the Post and 'Telegraph Department, so that those bodies desiring to erect such banners in future will have, nothing to which to attach their displays, even when the permission ol the -Gisborne Borough Council is secured to make such displays.

Thoroughbred Purchase. A cable message from England states that Mr. C. If. Robertson, stud stock manager for Wright Stephenson and Co., has completed the purchase ic.r Messrs. K. J. Savage and Sons cl the “Tniioc Jersey Stud”. Waimana. Ray of Plenty, of the celcbiatcd highly bred racehorse “-Revelation,” by Manna, winner of the Derby and Two Thousand guineas and £23,03-l. sire to date in England of winners of over GIIo.OOQ and leading sire of Italy in 1930; from White Ibid, winner of the “Lincolnshire” ami other good races. “Revelation” lias won four good races in .England and is stated to be a very fine type of thoroughbred. Progress at (Homer Tunnel. “Work is proceeding at the Homer Tunnel with one shift a day,” said the Minister of Public Works, the lion. R. Semple, in reply to a question in Dunedin. “The progress is naturally slow, hut it is important for the tunnel is being kept tree from the flooding which would otherwise occur, and would cause delay in tlie resumption of the work if it were once ceased.” Once the tunnel was pierced—and lie expected that this would lie about the first month of the new year the .subsequent work would be much easier, for the tunnel was on a down grade and the natural drainage would obviate the pumping difficulties. '! lie spoil would then also be dumped downhill and progress would he mud more rapid.