The Opotiki News Monday, November 27, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 264, 27 November 1939, Page 2

The Opotiki News Monday, November 27, 1939. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Temperatures. North Island temperatures at 9 o'clock on Saturday, morning were ns follows:—Auekliuid 60 degrees, Taul'angu. 67, Opotiki 66. East Cape 61. Gisborne and Napier 60/ and Wellington 38. Sign of the Times. A New Plymouth businessman had occasion to advertise for a typist for his office work. He received 23 applications lor the position and seven of the applicants were girls who had lost their positions as a result of the import restrictions. Traffic Inspector's “Cop”, Traffic inspector Morel I had a surprise cadh during the week-end, when fishing at Torero. Finding something on the line, the inspector pulled in with plenty; of vigour to find that he had landed an 11-pouml mold. It was found that the fish was not hooked hut had part of the line around its nose, the line then running down [ the hoidy and being twisted around the tail. The' baited hook was at least 2(v feet away ■ from the lucky catch. Heavy Rain in Gisborne. Following recent rains heavy rain again fell in the Gisborne district during the week-end. Some of the showers were of great intensity, and in the town nearly one inch fell in an hour. The rain will he of great benefit to farmers generally. Production in the Gisborne district during), the last month has been above lastyear’s. figure and it, is hoped as a result of the Curt her heavy rain, that production J’or the season will show a substantial improvement over the previous year’s hutterfat production, Monster Eel Caught. While two young women were engaged in fishing from the Wniocka bridige one of them hooked n large fish, - which proved to he such a. task to pull up that they called out lor assistance. Mr. Kururangi junr. who was near the spot went to the assistance of the girl and took over the line. When the eel was drawn to the surface it made such a commotion that the girls took fright and left the scene of battle. Mr. Kururangi succeeded in landing the eel, which when weighed, turned the scales at 20lbs. The eel was of great girth and was approximately sft. 3iii. in length, the tail being Gin. long. Wind and Rain. The heavy north-easterly gale which sprang up during the night in the Opotiki district, was accompanied by very heavy rain. The total rainfall for the 2-1 hours ending at 9 a.m. to-day was 1.74 inches, this being the heaviest fall of rain for some time. A lair amount of damage was done to gardens and trees. The loss from fruit trees is fairly heavy. The good soaking the district lias received will do a great deal of good and should again force up Inittcrliit production, which was again commencing to feel the effects of lack of rain. Conditions Hciitiinicd to he gusty throughout the day. with threatening conditions. Building Material Shortage. Shoitages of metal materials from which private building has suffered lor sometime are now affecting State housing operations. Difficulties in se--1 curing siilfick'.nt moling iron, copper and galvanised d,ewupipos arc said to be holding' up much building, and dis-' trihutors of nails have been unable to provide, adequate supplies to builders. Tiie New Zealand nail industry has had to reduce staffs because defence contracts in Australia have held up orders for steel wire'from which nails arc cut. Comparatively small quantities of wire have been forthcoming and an Auckland manufacturin' has had to reduce shifts. However, some slight relief. to the nail situation in Auckland will he provided' by the arrival of small stocks of wire. The importation of fencing wire also has suffered because Australian manufacturers are unable to supply their usual quantities for the time being.