LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 57, 29 October 1931, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Diver Patches Leaks. The partially completed tank pf the Borough seWerage plant in King Street has now been rendered eompletely water tight by the patehing of the two leaks whicR developed in the concrete jbottom after the water was first drawn off. In order to carfy out the patehing, the tank was again allowed to fill with water and a diver was sent down to concrete the leaksAs soon as the patehing had set, the water was pumped out again and it was found that the leaks had been completely stopped. The f eeder main which will connect the tanlc with the reticulating system will shortly be comm'enced and will entail the laying of 250 feet of main constructiop at a depth of approximately 12 feet. Okareka Scenic Reserve In connection with a report which appeared In the "Post" on September 30 in regard to sanctuary Boundaries, the Department of Internal Affairs advises that it is npt necessary for any fisherman to obtain a permit before going on the Lake Okareka scenic reserve. The declaration of I an area as a scenic reserve,, the Department states, does not prevent fishing on that reserve so long as anglers do not contravene the provisions of the Scenery Preservation Acts and the provisions of the Animals Protecr tion and Game Act, by taking with them either dogs or guns. Tax on Witnesses' Expenses. From Oetober 22, according to a recently gazetted Order in Coun'cil, all allowances payable to court witnesses, other than medical or other expert witnesses, as well as allowances payable to jurors, are lia'ble to the Emergency Unemployment Tax. Travelling allowances and night allowances, however, are not liable for the tax. Rotorua Labour Campaign ( Mr. F- Moncur, Labour candidate for the Rotorua seat, met the local branch of the party on Tuesday evening and outlined his programme for the approaching election campaigp,Mr W. Rodgers, the Labour candidate for the Wanganui seat in opposij fcion to Mr. W. A. Veitch, w;as also present and informally addressed the meeting. Mr. Moncur will open his campaign at Rotoma on Sunday afternoon and will speak at Rotoiti on Sunday evening . Annual Conference. The annual conference of the New Zealand Oil, Glass and Colour Merchants Association is at present be- : ing held in Rotorua and will eonelude to-day. The following are among the members present: — Mr. J. K. Connell (Christchurch) ; Mr. C. K. Smith (Auckland), Mr C. S- Camp (Wellington), Mr. J- Sullivan ( Christchurch) , Mr Guthrie (Wellington), Mr. Auld (Wellington), Mr N. Oram (Dunedin), Mr. J. Spears (Wellington) l Mr Impey (Auckland), Mr. Lomas (New Plymouth), Mr. Jackson (Wellington). Reform Party Meeting A meeting of the Rotorua branch of the Reform Party is to be held at Putaruru on Monday when the position with regard to the approaching general election, and the party's candidate, will be considered.

Coat Stealing Coat stealing from parked cars is ' stated to be prevalent in. Rotorua af I present. Earlier in the week a valu- ' able coat was >stoIen from a car parked at Whakarewarewa and other similar thefts have been reported in the town. Serious Position At the end of next week which is an "off" week for Rotorua unemployed, single men on relief will have earned the princely sum of 9/- during a month. A simple sum in division places their taggregate weekly earnings at 2/3 for each man. This position has arisen as a result pf the reductions in the district relief allocations, which have made it necessary for the local committee to put off all single men and only retain married men on reduced hours. This week, single men, of whom there are at present 98 on the list, obtained one day's work which brought them in 9/-, but for the previous fortnight they had no work at all, while next week, all men will be off again. Oflieials of the Rotorua Unemployment , Relief Committee regard the position as most serious and state that steps ; j are at present being considered to raise funds to cope with the situa-,-tion-

Magnificeiit Moth. A moth of extraordinary beauty and size found a way into the Taranaki Herald oifice recently. The wings are delicately marked brown and gold and when spread measure several inches from tip to tip. From the huge head to the end of the. wings the body measures over three inches. The moth was referred to Mr. W. W. Smith, who identified it as a magnificent specimen of porina characterif era. It was described by Commander Walker in the year 1847. He obtained it, with others, from New Zealand. Its lava is root-feeding in habit, and occurs on the roots of the tawa. Mr. Smith declares that it is to be found on Mount Egmont, where he has captured specimens on two occasions in the month of February.