Shark Attacks Whale.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1938, Page 4

Shark Attacks Whale.

A fight between a .whale and a shark was witnessed on the Te Kaha side of Waihau Bay, near Cape Runaway, by several Opotiki residents. When the whale was first seen it was making in the direction of Opotiki, but as the battle progressed it changed direction and made off toward Te Kaha. The whale was very close inshore and came up to blow on several occasions, while the shark was seen io leap right out of the water.. Growing Fame.

Thousands of people have visited the Palmerston North Esplanade recently to view the cherry blossoms, which have been in their full glory. Other sections of the gardens have proved of interest also, and service station owners report that inquiries by motorists as to the location of the Esplanade, and comments by those who have been there, showed that in the two weekends large numbers of people from considerable distances have made special trips to the city to see the beauty of nature.

Strong Arm of the Law. Hamilton has an athletic police officer in Constable D. Martin, who recently demonstrated his prowess as a sprinter by chasing and overtaking a cyclist who would not stop when called upon. Giving evidence in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, when the offending cyclist was fined 10s on each of two charges, Constable Martin said he caught the cyclist in 30 yards. He was congratulated on his performance by the presiding Magistrate, Mr S. L. Paterson. A Shortage of Kittens.

Heavy mortality among cats was caused during the winter months as the result of the worst epidemic of influenza to affect animals in Auckland- for many years. The fact that females suffered most from the epidemic has resulted in an unusual shortage of kittens at present. The Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a list of about 60 persons who have applied for kittens in recent weeks, and the demand is said to be much in excess of the number of kittens available. A Muddy. Adventure.

Two girls basking in the sunshine on the banks of the Avon (Christchurch) were startled from their lazy dreaming by insistent shouts. They looked up in time to see one of the hats they had left on the river bank floating serenely downstream. A gust of wind had apparently bowled the nat down to the water and it was travelling further away every moment. The owner took off her shoes and stockings and entered the river after the hat. All went well until she stepped in a mudhole and sank up to her waist. With difficulty she extricated herself and then returned to the shore—with her hat. Fortunately for her she had friends living nearby and was able to get into dry clothes within a few minutes of struggling out of the river.

Town Planning Legislation. “It was hoped that the Town Planning Act would have been amended during the last Parliament and brought more into conformity with present-day requirements of local governing bodies and of the orderly development of city and rural lands,” says the annual report of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand. It is encouraging to note the increased attention being shown by local governing bodies to the principles of town planning. As taxpayers and ratepayers come to realise the serious and continuous economic waste that results from the failure of town and county councils to plan ahead, pressure of public opinion will give increased support to local governing bodies in the institution of far-sight-ed plans for the development of city and rural areas.”