HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 330, 11 January 1937, Page 3

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

GLEANINGS OF DOMINION NEWS.

Otira Tunnel Freight. Freight hauled through the Otira tunnel last week amounted to 2537 tons, as compared with 2044 tons in the corresponding week of last .year, an increase of 493 tons. In 1935 the freight in the corresponding week totalled 1316 tons. Bull’s Sudden Leap. A rather alarming experience befell a party of motorists in a small car when passing through Drury recently. The car had practically pulled up to allow a cow and a bull to pass, when suddenly the 'bull leaped in the air and fell over the car, damaging it extensively. The passengers, two ladies and two men, who were just commencing a holiday tour, were considerably shaken, but not injured.

Immigration Restrictions. “Sb long as a person is of good i character, and has not served a prison sentence within the last tfwo years, there is no restriction on his entry into New Zealand,” said Sub-' Inspector J. A. Dempsey in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington, when a youth appeared before Mr J. H. Lusford, S.M., on a charge of deserting his ship, a cargo liner in the Home trade. Sub-Inspector Dempsey went on to explain thait a provision of the Immigration Restriction Act making further stipulations had lapsed after December 31, 1936. Whitebait Spawning. Mr A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, went on a mystery hike recently. The mystery lies in the fact that Mr Hefford refuses to say where he went. He visited a whitebait spawning ground —something very few people have ever seen. He would not say to-day what river

it was near, nor give any clue to its whereabouts except that it was “within a hundred miles of Christchurch.” The reason for M.r Hefford’s secrecy is the fear that interested people might visit the spot and, quit© unintentionally, tramp the spawn into the ground. Whitebait, it has been discovered, do not spawn in rivers or in the sea. They await the spring tides and spawn on marshy banks adjoining the rivers.

Old War Canoe. Manned by 30 stalwart Maoris, stripped to the waist, a famous old war canoe made an imposing appearance recently. It is named “Te Wehi o te rangi” (“Vengeance from the skies”), and according to history, is of even more significance than the large canoe now housed in the Wanganui Museum. So fast was this canoe in the water that it was the terifcr of all the river in the old fighting days, for it wreaked vengeance as swift as lightning. This canoe has been kept in good condition at Parakino for the last three or four decades, and it was Used for the first time in three years at the carnival. It had a carved bow-pie.ee and stern-post, which are reputed to be as old as the canoe—lso years. Impression Of Germany. Restored enthusiasm and selfrespect, combined with a’ worship of Hitler which made it impossible for those who opposed him to open their mouths was noted in Germany by Miss Mary A. McLachlan, of the dental department of the Christchurch Public Hospital, who has returned after some months opent abroad. There was great interest in health in Germany, she said, and both for men and women the slim athletic figure was being aimed at, where formerly the Germans were heavy eaters and drinkers. New Zealand, she thought, needed a “good shake”; she had noticed a general slouchiness since her return.

Unscheduled Stop. Passengers on the goods train from Wanganui to Palmerston North on a recent night hitherto uninitiated to i the sights of this city, found themselves treated to an unscheduled •‘stop” when their carriage became stationary somewhere near the Victoria Avenue crossing. As the minutes fled by some began to imagine that they had come to their destination or perhaps overslept themselves and been shunted on to a siding. But their confusion was as nothing compared with that of people on the station platform who were treated to the spectacle of only' the front portion of the train drawing into the station. The explanation is simple enough. Owiing to a coupling breaking, Che driver was ■ compelled to leave the remainder of I the rolling stock and come into the station and make arrangements to overcome the unusual situation. No delay was occasioned other trains, and the Auckland Limdted express, , which departs north soon after the I arrival of the Wanganui train, was > able to leave on time. •

Farm Labour. According to figures supplied by the Blenheim, branch of the Employment Bureau, there is no shortage of farm labour in Marlborough, for of 120 men now on No. 5 Scheme between 50 and 60 are available for farm work. There are 208 men on the unemployment register in Blenheim, 120 on the No. 5 Scheme, 78 working on gold prospecting, and 10 working on a subsidy scheme by which the employer subsidises the wages to bring them up to standard rates. During the last 10 days there has been one call for farm labour — three harvesters—and the call was filled within five minutes.

An Unrehearsed Rescue. Pretence of being drowned which nearly became reality and a lifesaving demonstration which became a 'genuine rescue were witnessed on Waihi Beach recently by a large crowd. A “dummy” had swum out to sea and was awaiting the arrival of the rescue party, composed of members of the local Ifie-savin.g club, when the latter’s attention directed to a man on an inflated mattress, which had been' carried out beyond the safety limit. This man was in difficulties, although he was in no immediate danger, and the life-saving squad brought him safely to the beach. In the meantime the “dummy” had become exhausted by his long wait, and was in danger of being drowned when, his plight was observed. He was brought to the shore and revived.

Nocturnal Prowlers. Strange nocturnal prowlers at the Western Spring? •motor camp at Auckland one night recently caused some momentary alarm to two campers who have had considerable experience ot wild animals. One ot the campers was awakened by a peculiar grunting noise outside the tent, atid lor a time thought that the intruder might be a leopard escaped from the zoo, which adjoins the camp site. However, an investigation with the aid of an electric torch proved that the noise emanated from a female hedgehog, angrily admonishing three of her young as she shepherded them across some open ground in front ot the tents.