NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

W halebonc Head. A carved Maori head fashioned from a whale's vertebrae is the latest addition to the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Ait Gallery’ exhibits. The head is of the type that used to be affixed to the posts cf tf.e stocaade of a Pa, but the remarkable thing about it is the size. In the wards of a member of the museum committee, "it must have been seme whale.” The head was found near Waimarama. Tomato Crop. There is promise of a heavy, late tomato crop in Auckland, and, although there has been considerable rain of late, so far there has not been so much of the blight trouble as in previous years. Last year blight was generally prevalent, the fruit turning black in many cases before it ripened. Many growers now take the precaution of spraying their tomato plants, and the result is generally beneficial, states the Auckland Star. Wheat Harvest Late. Drainage Canal. To provide a further outlet for the waters from the Kaitaia swamp drainage area to the sea the Land Drainage Department has begun cutting a canal from the lower end of the small farm settlement in the swamp area to Waipapakauri. For some months six men have been employed assembling a dredge at Waipapakauri and this m now at work. About half a mile of the canal has been cut. It is hoped that with this extra outlet the flooding problem of the drainage area will be solved. Already the Government has expended about a third of a million pounds in the drainage of this large area, the greater part of which is first-class farming land. Stocking Trout Streams. During the last week many thousands ot trout fingerlings have been liberated in Te Kuiti waters by Mr. B. J. Drake, acting on behalf of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. A total of 20,000 fingerlings were distributed in the Awakino River, and 10,000 each in the Mangaokewa anu Marokoha streams. In other years it has been the practice to stock the local rivers with trout fry, and, i*i spite of an ever-increasing number ot anglers, the fishing has improved noticeably. Observations having shown, however, that the fingerlings' chances of survival are better than the try's, the extra trouble in rearing was considered to be well worth while. Dominion Hospitals Praised. High praise for the standard of Australian and New Zealand Izispitals i*i comparison with similar institutions in Europe was'voiced by Dr. I. H. Van der Hope, of Melbourne, who is returning to Australia on the Aorangi after two years of post-graduate study abroad. He had found that Australian hospitals were well up to date in their equipment and the standard of the work, particularly on the surgical side, was equal to overseas practice.

Large Shark Taken. A grey nurse shark, measuring almost 9ft. in length and weighing over 3601 b., was caught by a party of four men fishing in a 15ft. dingy at the mouth of the Tamaki River on Saturday afternoon. The fish was first sighted when it took one of the schnapper lines, and it was eventually captured on a swordfish hook. The . shark put up a good fight and it was three-quarters of an hour before it was brought on board the boat. A number of smaller sharks have been caught in the vicinity during the past few weeks, but this is the largest to be captured for some time. The correct weight could not be estimated, as the scales available only measured up

Modern Block Planned. Specifications are being prepared for the new central block at Si. Mary’s Convent in Hamilton East to replace the present three-storeyed wooden structure, one of the oldest and largest wooden buildings in the town. The erection of the block will be the final item in buildings for Catholic education of the district, the chapel and boarders’ wing having been completed. Rugby 1/::gue Tour. In spite of the general restrictions imposed on the transfer of New Zealand funds to overseas countries, no difficulties are anticipated in financing the tour ot the New Zealand Rugby League football team in Great Britain this year, estimated to cost in the vicinity of £12,000. It is considered unlikely that the international aspect of sporting activities will be seriously prejudiced by the exchange embargo. American Yacht’s Visit. To be used by an American party for fishing in northern waters, the 79ft. auxiliary schooner-yacht Navigator is to reach Auckland to-day from American Samoa on the last stage of a voyage which began from San Pedro early last month. The Navigator is commanded by Captain F. K. Klebimgat, who visited Auckland with the yacht Fisherman on one of Mr. Zane Grey’s earlier fishing calls. Value of lodine. Praising the Maori fish and seaweed diet for its value in preventing goitre, Dr. John Guthrie, in an address to the New Zealand branch of the Royal Sanitary Institute, at Christchurch. suggested that more seaweed might be used in garden and orchard soils. He said that if more iodine-con-taining refuse were used in this way it would help to protect people against goitre. Mako Shark Caught. In his first day’s fishing at Wangaroa Dr. R. L. Sutton, of Kansas City, United States, caught a mako shark I weighing 3501 b. Mrs Sutton succeeded in capturing a striped marlin sword- ( fish weighing 2621 b. Dr. Sutton wiil . remain at Whangaroa for 10 days and ’ will then leave for South Africa. A | mako shark weighing 2671 b. was caught by Mrs. Percy Tnode, of Whangaroa, last week. Owing to unfavourable weather during the greater pait of the growing season, the wheat harvest in the Canterbury district is late, and there are indications of a lower total yield this year. So far the samples of wheat are of excellent character, with many lines showing a low moisture content. A wet autumn held up sowings, and rather more spring wheat was put in than usual. In some districts high winds and hail caused damage to the crops. God and Man.

“Other religions teach that man has to seek God, out the Christian religion teaches that God is seeking man. Other religions teach that man has to make sacrifices to God, but the Christian religion teaches that God sacrificed for man,” said the Rev. R. C. Gillie, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of England, who opened an eight months’ ministry at St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Khyber Pass, on Sunday. Dr. Gillie was speaking before a large congregation lat the morning service, and in the course of an inspiring address gave a new view of the relationship between God and man. “The light of the glorii ous Gospel of Christ still shines,” he said.