NEAR AND FAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 90, 7 December 1931, Page 3

NEAR AND FAR

Tobacco Preferred. "I possess only tbe elothes I stand up in," elaimed a def endant givmg evidence in tbe Hamiltqn- Magistrate's Court the other day. ."I have "been sending tobacco vouchers away for a singlet, as I ■ have only . the one I am now wearing." The magistrate (Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.) commented that it appeared that def endant preferred to have tobacco in his pipe rather than a clean singlet on his body. School of Porpoises. A big school of porpoises was seen gamholing in the Hauraki Gulf oi? Wilsons' Bay on the Thames-Coro-mandel Road recently. Porpoises have been fairly plentiful in these waters this spring. Inspiring and Beautiful . "I was delighted to hear you sing the National Anthem as I came in, not only because it is a vocal expression of loyalty to the Grown, but because. as I expeeted, it was on these premi'ses a fine achievement of musical art," said Lord Bledisloe, to the boys of the Cathedral Grammar School (reports the Christchurch Press). "Tlie National Anthem can so easily be murdered as a vocal effort — I have heard It so in the course of my journeys about the Dominion. When well done, it is a national song as inspiring and beautiful as any in the . world." Enormous Stingaree.- • , An enormous stingaree, * estimated to weigh 9cwt., was caught at 'Waitara recently by two fishermen, who were pieking up one of their nets between the walls at the , mouth of the, river. They found the stingaree in the net, and after much difficulty, and with assistance, got it into the boat. The fish was about 7ft 4in long, 5ft 4in broad and well over two feet through at the thickest part, and had two stings, one about a foot long and the other about 7 inches. One of the fishermen removed the stings, which he is keeping, and the fish was cut up for drying purposes by some Maoris. Weevils as Destroyers of Gorse. Dr. D. Miller, of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, visited Otago last month to investigate the results of the latest experiments in the control of gorse by the liberating of Apion weevils. These weevils, of European origin, live on the seeds of gorse, burrowing into the pods, sucking them dry, and depositing eggs. Great care was taken before liberating these weevils to make sure that they would not at the same time destroy vegetation other than gorse. It was found that they will not take to peas or beans or any of the other varieties .submitted. The gorse land chosen for their liberation is at Manuherikia, Saddle Hill and Flagstaff. Dr. Miller was so Satisfied with the Otago experiment .that he has undertaken to send down another consignment of the Apion. Another Fish Story. A Stratford angler has had good success so far this seasori. He has landed 58 fish, and the latest is a fine 33-pounder, in splendid condition. For the past two seasons the angler has angled unsuccessfully for the same fish in the same hole, but last week saw his Waterloo. The angler in question has had many years' experience with the rod (his hag last season was a total of 108)," and he commented that never before had he seen another fish leap out of the water so much, as did another in the same hole, while the one that had taken the bait was being played. Remarkable Insects. , The atlas moth, a night-flying insect of Central Brazil, is one of the largest winged insects in the world. Its wings measure fourteen inches from tip to tip! Another remarkable insect, found in the mquntainous regions of India and Ceylon, is a spider that spins a bright yellow silk web about five feet in diameter, the supporting lines being ten to twelve feet long. These webs are" so strong that even birds and small lizards are caught in them. The spiders with their legs out measure six inches across. As soon as affiird.is caught in the huge snare the* spider throws coils of web about its victim's head Until it is choked to death. In the jungles of the Island of Sumatra lives a spider measuring over eight inches adross the back and seventeen inches with legs spread out. In Venezuela is to be found the largest insect known. This is the elephant beetle, which often weighs seven

ounces. Maori Relic. ■ * ' , Made from the centre-pole of the old church built hy the Maoris at Pukemahoe in 1853, a wooden cross was presented to the vicar of the new chureh built by the Maoris at Purangi by Mr. W. H. Skinner, on behalf of Bishop F. A. Bennett, at the biennial meeting of the Taranaki Archdeaconry Board. The cross bore an inscription on the base, , "Made from the centre pole of the Maori church which was erected at Pukemahoe, Taranaki, about the years 1853-55. Owing to the qutt^e^k of war between the two raees in 1860 ; it fell into disuse and gradually became a ruin . and . eventually was entirely hurned. The centre tpole . was the only part that remained, and for 40 years it remained pointing heavenward. The part of the pole that escaped the fire was cut down in 1903 hy me and this cross is made from it. Presented hy F. A. Bennett, Bishop." The centre pole, said Mr. Skinner, was cohsidefed tapu hy tbe' Maoris. He had taken the. old bell from the Pukemahoe chureh and had presented it to the new church at Purangi. The Only One. . The candidate at a Dunedin election meeting had finished his denunciation of the other party and was proclaiming the good intentions of his own party when one of the audience murmured to his . neighbouy. "Only one man, so far as I'know/ever entered Parliament with good .intentions." "Who was that?" was the response. "Guy Fawkes," was the reply.