HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 301, 4 December 1936, Page 3

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

GLEANINGS OF DOMINION NEWS.

Fruit-growers’ Troubles. As a result of late frosts the fruit crops in Central Otago will be less prolific than usual 'this year. The severe frosts in Hawke's Bay have caused almost a panic in the North Island, and fruit agents from as far north as Auckland have been visiting the Central Otago districts in an endeavour .to arrange for consignments during the season. ‘lf the weather permits, large quantities of fruit will go from Central Otago to tlih North Island.

Lots of Luck. It is a superstition perhaps, but a pleasant one, to expect good luck to follow the finding of a four-leafed clover. If this be true then a Young lady resident of Clifden, Invercargill, should have all the luck she could wish, for she found a nine-leafed clover yesterday. The clover was perfectly formed and was found in a paddock. Grafton Bridge. A recommendation to the works committee (that a guard fence be erected along the Grafton Bridge parapet is to be made, according to a decision reached at a special meeting of .the finance committee of the Auckland City Council. Plans were approved, subject to the committee being satisfied with them. Floating Population. Over one-third of the 'total number of children enrolled at the Eltham Public School during the year represented a floating population and comment on this z future was made at the meeting of the school committee on Tuesday by .the chairman, Dr. D. H. Saunders. For the year tfliere had been 164 admissions and withdrawals, said the headmaster, Mr. K. Vause, and this had effected an increase of 35 on the roll number last year. This appeared to be a feature common to Taranaki schools, said Mr Vause, and the figures relating to sifhilar movements at the Manaia school were considerably greater than those mentioned. Admissions had been somewhat increased by the return of the five-year-olds, and without this factor, the incoming and outgoing totals would probably have equated.

Industrial Progress. Preliminary work in connection with the erection of the Whakaiane Paper Mills Company’s mill will be commenced next week. The initial undertaking will be the convension of the 'three storey freezing works building into quarters for single employees, and the work of constructing the pulp and paper mills will commence immediately after the New Year holiday's. Athletes for N.Z. Two of the most prominent athletes in 'the United States will visit New Zealand in the Now Year as the result- of negotiations between the New Zealand Amateur Athletic .Association and the New South Wales Athletic Union. They are Foy Draper, Olympic sprinter and member of the U.S.A, relay team at Berlin; and George Mackey, field and jumping events. They will be accompanied by a manager. Short of Teamsters. As the season progresses in Sou'th Canterbury it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill the vacancies for farm work. An official at the Teniuka Unemployment Bureau said that there was a might bigger demand for farm labour during the last few days than earlier in the spring. So far the bureau had managed to fill most of .the positions, but. there] seemed] to be a very definite* shortage of experienced teamsters.

Peculiar Fungus. There is a fungus peculiar to Christchurch. It grows vigorously on verandah posts, and positively thrives on the concrete kerbing at the side of the footpaths, (says an exchange). Sometimes it reaches over on the path itself, where it creates considerable difficulty to pedestrians, who have (to step round it to avoid contamination. Unchecked, it will grow and spread rapidly'. Its activity, acute in day-light, is not diminished by darkness. Residents have become more or less accustomed to it, but visitors find i't distresses them. They wonder why it is allowed such freedom of growth. There is no scientific name for the fungus, but it is commonly known as the bicycle. Butter for Hawaii. The American shipping strike has had the effect of practically isolating Honolulu as far as shipments of foodstuffs are concerned from the United States. Inquiries have been made in New Zealand for dairy produce, and the mail liner Aorangi, to sail from Auckland on December 8. will carry about 5000 boxes of butter, which is now being packed by some of the local factories. Despite a high duty, there has always been a sale for New Zealand butter in Honolulu, and the demand at the moment is about double that of an ordinary shipment. Consignments from New Zelaland are regular for six months in the year commencing about October, which corresponds with the off season for dairy production in the United States. While butter shipped to the United Kingdom is controlled by the Primary Products Marketing Dement, there is no restriction on produce going elsewhere. Merchants, however, will have to buy from the Department, which fixes the price monthly based on London parity. The quotation for the month is in advance of 1/- a lb.

Shearing Difficulties. Many’ sheep-farmers in the Manawatu are finding much difficulty in getting the shearing through 'thia year on account of the wet weather, while Department of Labour officials have been on the spot in some parts of 'the district enforcing the regulations against shearing on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. The bidibid is sticking to the wool and naturally farmers wan't to get the wool off in. .the best condition, but with a shortage of shearers and showery weather, there is much delay' in all sheds. At the moment a good shearer is as much sought after as a debu'tante at a ball. In several sheds blade-shear-ing progresses by those skilled .with the shears, but. there does not spent to be many of the younger brigade learning to shear and it is noticeable 'this year that several of the older men, who only a few years ago thought their shearing days over, are now busily engaged in the hustle of the shearing sheds, with its buzz of machineis ami fly'ing fleeces. With fine weather and the suspension of the Saturday' afternoon shearers’ agreement, there will be no time lost in sending the wool (forward while the market is so good.

Brothers at Altar. An incident believed to be unique in the Dominion church history, 'took place to-day when three brothers officiated at the saying of Mass at the one altar on the o'rcasion of the silver jubilee of 'the ordinating to the priesthood of Rev Father J. Chllen. At the Solemn High Mass of thanksgiving in St. Mary’s Church, Nelson, the throe bnctheirs .officiating weuM Father J. Cullen, of Nelson, Monsignor F. Cullen, of Hawera, and Father A. Cullen, of Christchurch.. A One-Man Lift. An astonishing feat of strength by an elderly 11-stone man was seen the other day at a. Dunedin city corner. A boy on a bicycle was knocked down by a heavy touring car, and when the car pulled up in about its own length, the boy and the bicycle were wedged under it bietlwwen the ifront and| rear wheels. The back of the car was raised high enough by one man to make it possible for the boy to be taken out. under the rifnning board. The man was Tommy Walker, sen., ex-light weigh'!, champion wrestler of New Zealand. It was a demonstration of strength worthy of a professional weight-lifted.

Bowler Struck By Bullet. | A member of the New Brighton j Bowling Club, Mr. W. Larcombe, luck- j ily escaped serious injury when he I was wounded above the elbow by a | bullet, from a .22 rifle on a recent ‘ evening. Shortly after 7 o’clock nine i members of the club were gathered , on the embankment watching a championship double, when a loud rattle. I was heard against the fence at their backs. This was followed by a further rattle and rending of wood, and Mr. Larcombe jumped up, grasping hiis arm. Sergeant A. McCarthy, who had just been playing, quickly grasp- I ed the situation and, realising that; further shots might be fired with dis- i astious results, located the offenders, | who were firing with a .22 rille at a i box in the ccir.re of a yard in pre- i mises adjourning the howling green. ; Mr. Larcombe’s arm was badly' bitt's- I ed, but tile bullet, when found, was , flattened to half its original length, ! which shows that Mr. Larcombe i would have b< en seriously injured ’ had the bullet not gone first through ' the box, the fence, and a notice ' board.