GENERAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 39, 17 February 1915, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

Two libel action* will be brought under the forthcoming sittings of the Supreme Court at Christclmich. .Samuel Kraet/.er, the well-known racecourse detective, is suing the Lyttelton Times for £IOOO, and C. I. •len T nuigs, Mayor of Rangiora, is suing toe Christchurch Sun for £IOOO.

“I mu very disagreeably surprised to find so much of the New Zealand native bush is fast disappearing,’ said Dr Mortensen in a lecture at the Philosophical Society’s meeting at Palmerston North on Ihursday night. “Where is the liuia ? That nnKiue bird has gone because the hush has gone. In Place of the native birds are the blackbird and the sparrow. People do not realise that it is their duty to preserve New Zealand’s native hush.”

The wheat imported by the Government is said by millers to lie “dirty, that is. to contain a fairly large quantity of rubbish (says the Oamarn Mail). Ode sample was found to contain 71h of rubbish to the bag as against the usual allowance by North Otago millers of ,‘Ulh where New Zealand wheat was concerned. I'or milling purposes the loss was inconsideiable in the face of the need which the wheat supplies, hilt some of the imported wheat was, it is understood, required by farmers for sowing. In this latter ease the greatest care should be exercised to thoroughly cleanse it before use, as among a sample seen was a variety of. diminutive thistle of sturdy habit, unknown to those who have so far soon it.

Regarding the recent attack by two Turks on a Broken Hill excursion train, the following official statement was issued in Berlin, where the news created great enthusiasm: —“A notable success has been achieved by our arms in Australia, near Broken Hill, where a force* of Porks surprised and put to flight a superior force which was being transported by rail. Forty of the enemy were killed and seventy wounded; the casualties among the Turks being only two killed. Broken Hill is an important mining centre and port on the west coast of Australia. The success of our arms practically assures the control of the valuable metal mines in the neighbourhood; and leaves the way open for an attack on Candhris, the capital of Australia, and its most strongly fortified centre, although owing to the flooded condition of the country, an attack may lie impossible until next spring.”

Fishermen at Russell have had some most exciting sport during the last week (states the Auckland Herald) Two well-known Australian sportsmen, Messrs Andreas and Dempster, made a record catch, landing in the one trip the largest kingfish caught this season, weighing 601 b, and the largest shark ever caught at Russell. The shark, over nine feet in length, belonged to the “muku” species, a particularly ferocious kind, and gave his captors a most exciting three hours’ chase. The “mnku” is a sporting shark, and a vei v strong swimmer,, and in his efforts- to escape towed his cantors’ launch several nvles out past Cape Brett, at times leaping his full length out of the water. It was only after an exhausting struggle that the shark was finally killed and towed into Russell. On Saturday, whiLt kingfi Vug, ■ the same party hooked a huge swordfish, but it cut the line 6 feet above the hook and escaped. A few days later, however, it was cantured by Mr A. Campbell, being the only swordfish ever caught in ’these waters. When measured it was found to he over nine feet in length, and weighed close upon 20011). Launching parties report excellent catches of smaller fish, one party bringing in a surprising variety, schnanoer. kingfish. harnu-outa, red cod, and black rock cod. The work of the fish hatchery at Bortohello (Dunedin) last year consisted chiefly of rearing the stock of turbot which was brought nut in 191.2 (says the Otago Daily Times). One hundred and ninety-five fish, tfic largest the size of half-a-erown, were placed in the tanks in April of that year. To-day there are 194,- many of them being 16in. in length. This result, unequalled in the history of fish hatcheries and marine aquaria, lias been brought about by the scrupulous care and attention bestowed on them by Messrs Anderton and Adams. It i intended to increase, the tank accommodation*, and, if possible, retain the fish over another winter when, it is expected, they will commence to spawn. Turbot commence to spawn when from 12in. to 19in. in length, and produce enorm'ons quantities of eggs. If the fish grow too large to retain the whole stock then a proportion will he turned out on some sandy beach away from trawlers and fishermen, and the remainder retained for spawning. The probabilities are that this finest of European food fishes, which grow to as much as ,‘lft in length, will be permanently established in New Zealand waters at a ridiculously low expenditure of money. During the year some 750,000 lobster fry and over 00 million fry of the large European crab have been liberated in the barhour. "These crustaceans may lie looked for at any time now, as it is six or seven years since the first were set free.