NEAR AND FAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 201, 18 April 1932, Page 4

NEAR AND FAR

Molesters of Women Gisborne has been comparatively free from prowling molesters of women and girls, but cases of molestation have been repdrted within the past few days frem Whataupoko, the most serious occurring last Tuesday. A young woman emerging from a private gateway was attacked by a man who had evidently noted her approach, and whose features were indistinguishahle in the darkness. Fighting the man off, the young woman screamed, and thus frightened her assailant, who disappeared after a short struggle to prevent her calling assistance. Had the victim of the attack been less able to take care of herself, the consequences of the incident might have bsen tragic, for the man left bruises about her throat. Unreasonable Cyclists "One meets with so many cyclists who quite unreasonably make it a practice to ride three and four abreast, and who, even when warning is given, make no attempt to comply with the regulations and draw as near as possible to the side of the road," said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch. "If they get struck hy fast traffic, the traffic is not to be blamed entirely for such an. accident. It is necessary. for a warning to be given, but I thinlc that cyclists should take note of the fact that it is unreasonable to ride three or four abreast." Hidden Treasure It is stated on excellent authority, says the "North Auckland Timds," that two well-known residents of Dargaville who are at present dn a visit to Australia are in quest of "hidden treasure," the proceeds of

the hold-up of a gold escort in the days when such things were common in Australia. It is stated that one of the party holds ihe plan of the spot where a huge quantity of gold was buri.ed by the looters of a coach from the Ballarat goldfields. The story is that of the robbers (six in number) five were killed, but the sixth escaped with the booty, which he hid, but did not recover. Before this man died he made a plan of the spot, which he gave to a relative of the person who now holds it, and it is on this plan that the Dargaville couple are working. It also stated that a man went to Australia some years ago in qnest of the hidden store of gold, but was unsuccessful. On that occasion hewas financed by two residents who have since left Dargaville. Potato Crops Spoilt A number of North Otago potatogrowers have this year had crops spoiled through the tubers craclcing, and generally this has been accompanied by a scab on them. The trouble has been attributed by. some to the excessively dry season followed by heavy rain, and while this may have had something to do with it, a gardening expert considers that the cracking and scab are due to a heavy wet soil and prescribes lime as the only remedy. Conference By Correspondence The 13th annual conference of the New Zealand branches of "the Navy League will be held by correspondence this year as an economy measure. During this month, the remits of the respective branches will he circulated among the other sections, which will discuss them and report their decision to headquarters at Wellington. Those remits which are supported by the majority ofj branches will be submitted by a strong and representative deputation to the Prime Minister. The majority of the remits urge that the present economie difficulties should not obscure the importance of maintaining the naval defence of the Empire.