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Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3706, 16 December 1912, Page 5

'l'ho Minister for Public Works, the Hon. W. Fraser, intends visiting this district early in the new year. Yesterday’s extreme heat attracted many liunclre-ds to tlio beacli, tlie coolmg waters of the Waikanae providing a good deal of pleasure, ° Constable Maloney arrested a younoman on warrant at Wharekopae yesterday, on a charge' of failing to provide for the maintenance of his illegitimate child at Auckland. The man ivas brought to town last evening.

-The Union S.S. Co.’s Kittawa, 1247 T?ns, was successfully berthed at the Haiti wharf yesterday morning. She is the largest vessel yet to enter the river, and coming up the channel was assisted by the Tuatea. She brinsrs about 300,OOQft of timber from Greymouth .

lhe Gisoorne Slieepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Company, Ltd., by advertisement in this issue, invite competitive designs for offices for the company, to be erected on their freehold property near the wharf. Plans must be in by February 21. 4 be fishing season in the Wai'karemoana district promises to be a good one. in a communication, Mr. W. A. Neale, cf Tapui, states that the largest fish lie has taken so far is a brown trout weighing 121 b 8-loz, and measuring 2ft 6£in in length and login in girth.

Attention is directed to the clearing sale of Mr. W. Gordon’s furniture, which will bo conducted by Mr. G. X. Miller, at Te Hnpara, at 2 o’clock, on Thursday next. As Mr. Gordon is leaving for Auckland, the whole of the large catalogue, which appears in the advertising columns of this issue, must be disposed of. A gentleman called at the “Times”office last evening to complain of the conduct of some small boys who aro said to be in the habit of throwing objects from the hillside on to passers-by on Kaiti beach. If tlie parents of the delinquents meted out a sound, spanking to the youngsters it Would probably have the desired effect

Speaking at Friday’s meeting of the Land Board, the Commissioner of Ciown Lands (Mr. R. T. Sadd) said the purchase of the Timalianga block •was not sufficiently forward for the Board to deal with. He had heard unofficially that the Maori Land Board had purchased 3800 acres. He pointed out that two sections of 7700 and 3900 acres had been taken, but there were 21,900 acres in the whole block. The whole of the Omahaki block, 1-5,700 acres, had been purchased. Speaking as to the soil, Mr Sadd said.it was very good and all grasses' grew profusely.

An incident bordering on tragedy, and yet associated with a touch of comedy, happened at Oneliunga a few days ago (says the Auckland “Star”). An anxious mother noticed her little girl, aged two years, disappearing through the kitchen window, and terrifying visions arose. There was a drop of 10ft to the ground, and at the ' bottom was a big log. Quick as thought, the mother called to the husband, who was in another part of the house, and at the same time clutched the two tiny feet of the child as it vanished bead first. But the feet were clothed in a pair of loose cotton socks, and the baby fell out of them, leaving only the footgear tightly clasped in the mother’s hands. Sad to relate, the little one was picked up unconscious and with a broken arm,- but providentially it had missed the log referred to and fallen on the softer ground. Some .sportsmen spending the weekend with rod and gun on the Puerua stream at Lochindorb, espied a shag enjoying a dinner of eel (says the Olutha “Leader”), there being about two inches of the tail end of the fish protruding out of the* bird’s bill. On the bird 1 using shot and the eel drawn cut it was found that the feathered diner had “bitten off more than he could chew,” so to speak, for the fish was fully 2ft long, and the head was undergoing the process of digestion. A photograph was taken, and it clearly proved the devoured to be longer than the devourer. Later on the party gaffed a large eel, about a 14-pounder, and on it being opened it was found that he had been dining well, for four trout weighing between half a pound to three-quarters of a pound, as well as a lobster, were brought to light. The “fish” were brought back to Clntha to convince sceptics of the truth of the-story.