Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10305, 14 January 1927, Page 4

Local and General.

JLA very sharp shock of earthquake f\'aa experienced at Whakatane at 7.40 a.m. yesterday.—P.A.

A Newcastle message states that the Ihumata, Kartigi and "Whangape, sailed for New Zealand yesterday.U.P.A.

Farmers and dealers are reminded by advertisement in this issue that the public dip at the Matawhero yards is now ready for use.

Nominations for the Gisborne Racing Club’s summer meeting to be held, on tiic Park on February 3 and >5, will close with the secretary Mr. H. E. Dodd, at 8 o’clock tonight.

The fact that local sheep-breeders are receiving recognition outside is emphasised by a shipment this week of two Romney rams from Mr A. Kirkpatrick’s Patutahi flock for Mr. Shortt, the well-known Fending breeder.

Lovers of euchre are reminded that at Liberty Hall on Monday next will be held the first of a ten-night session with aggregate prizes of £.6 and* £5. Cash prizes as usual each night. The-proceeds are in aid of the Kaiti Meeting Hyuse. j#Employees of the firm of Messrs /Common, Shelton and Co., Ltd., ’gathered at the Patutahi Domain yesterday on the occasion of the firm s annual- picnic. A varied programme of sports was conducted and interdepartmental contests, - including a cricket match, indulged in.

Rams are already coming to hand for the forthcoming ram fair. The Putiki, on her last trip, brought over 700, mostlv'from Wairarapa breeders. Some of these, of course, had been sold privately to local breeders, but the majority will be offered at the ram fair on January 24 and 25.

As yet, there is no official report in regard to the condition of hulk Monowai at Whareongaonga. Speakin" on the question yesterday, Mr. Campbell, the Board’s engineer, said that Though he could not make a definite statement be did not think the ve*el had shifted from the bed on vffiich it had first been sunk.

t A daring burglary was committed ’at Piopio on Tuesday evening, states a Te Kuiti message, when the Fanners’ Union Trading Co.’s branch was entered bv a person smashing the skylight. ‘Clothing, boots and cigarette, to the value of £BO were taken, but an attempt to open the safe failed. The burglars first attempted to force the door with a tyre lever.— P.A.

A brighter tone has been registered in the local land and estate market during the last week or so. Agents report increased inquiry for farm and station property from men with cash apparentlv prepared- to deal if they can find ‘sellers with their ideas of value. It is considered, however, that holders still have to reduce values considerably if they expect to attract business.

Owing to the unemployment position in°Christchurch having become again acute. 196 unemployed being registered, the Citizen s Unemployment Committee, which had ‘easeu to function some time ago, was called together again yesterday and decided that £l3O still remaining in the fund be handed tu the reserves committee of the City Council to provide immediate relief. —P.A.

Advice was received yesterday by Mr. J. S. Wauchop, a member of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, that Messrs Sheen and Stevens’ tender for the erection of the Awapuni school had been accepted, and the work of the erection of the building will commence immediately. As tlie plans provide only for four rooms, it is expected that the school will be ready tor occupation by the second term.

Despite rumors to the contrary the dredger Korua is making steady progress and is keeping ahead of the sand. Operations have certainly been hung up owing to the holidays and the unfavorable weather, making it impossible to take the barges out to •sea but there is now a depth of five feet at high water at the entrance. The barges should be able to work from the seaward end early in February.

For December, states a P.A. mef;*ige from Wellington, the Dairy' Department graded 1629 tons of butter, of which 454 tons were unsalted, compared with 109-5 tons in December, 1925. For the past five months the total was 35,615 tons, compared with 32,752* tons. The cheese graded in December totalled 12,875 tons, compared with 12,952 tons, and for the past five months 33,839 tons compared with 33,474 tons.

At tlie meeting of the Cook Flos pital Board on January 20 the undermentioned notice of motion will be moved by the chairman (Mr. W. G. Slierrutt): “That tlie following resolution passed at Board meeting on IBth November, 1526, and confirmed at Board meeting on 16th. December, 1926. be rescinded; ‘That the following washing only', be given out, counterpanes, blankets, sheets and table cloths, and the balance to be done at the Memorial Home with the present arrangements.’ ”

The 1927-28 motor registration plates, now being distributed to the centres, have a black background with the figures outlined in orange. The new motor year will also witness the introduction of a number of initial letters prefacing certain number plates. “A” prefacing a number will indicate a four-wheeled trainer, “B” will indicate motor buses and commercial vehicles with solid tyres, “O’* will indicate two-wlieeled trainers, “D” will indicate dealers’ ears and other vehicles as at present, and “E” will indicate Government vehicles and those of local and public author!ties.

The Tuapeka County jubilee brations yesterday were characterised by great enthusiasm, states a P.A. "message from Dunedin. The district lias a unique history, covering, the old gold rush days; when Gabriel’s Gully attracted thousands of gold seekers. In addition to representatives of all the local bodies in the district there were present Sir James Allen, the Hon. G. J. Anderson and Messrs J. Horn. J. McDickson and F. Waite, M.’sP. Among tlie many presentations made to i Mr. J. J. Woods, who has- been county clerk for the past fifty years was a cheque for £SO. Air. Woods immediately decided to give the money to the three hospitals in the county. As this sum carries a Government subsidy, the hospitals will benefit to the extent of : £IOO.—P.A.

L- ■ - .22112 -.,1 The initiative of a tnan standing by when a new motor truck caught fire at Kaka Point yesterday sa ,J the truck from complete destruction states a P.A. message from DunejbJt He jumped to .the wheel and drove the machine straight into the s ea and extinguished the blaze. The truck suffered comparatively little damage

A feature of a recent cricket match at Taihape was the creditable performance of a Itangitikei player, who, on account of war injuries, has to b a t with only one hand (says an exchange). A. W. Porter, of Hunterville, has seen 56 summers, yet bats with skill and power and runs with remarkable alacrity. In the match he was top-scorer, and in his club matches he is a sure run-getter.

On a recent afternoon (says the Nelson “Mail”) fishermen from James Ghing’s party, encamped at Monaco, Stoke, were net fishing off Grossi’s Island, when they landed & female shark sft 6in long. On the shark being cut open 44 young ones were found. Several experienced fishermen present had never before heard of a shark having so many young. This is probably a record. By landing this one the party ridded the sea oLAS potential sharks.

Motor buses, taking 13,000 persons every week into the business centre of Palmerston North, are so heartily welcome there that the local authorities have remitted the license fees, believing that the damage done to roads is offset by the increased prosperity they bring. A recent visitor to Palmerston North, states the “Otago Daily Times,” says that the local authorities at a cost of £ISOO, are providing a clearing station for ali road services. It is proposed V-* have parcel offices and other conveniences, even down to slot gas rings, at which mothers may heat water or milk.

A prominent member of the Ratana movement, when asked what effect the prosecution would have upon the followers of the movement, replied that they would not take the slightest notice of it. The Maori had a different way of viewing incidents of this sort to that of the pakeha mind, and was not so prone to scandalise his neighbor. As far as Ratana was concerned, his followers looked upon him in the same light that a loyal pakeha would look upon the King‘and if “the King can do no wrong,” neither could Ratana, said the Maori. Ho will still be held in warm affection by those in the movement

A pretty story, duly vouched for, comes from a town north of Greymouth where a trustful young girl posted a letter to Santa Claus. Being of apparent importance, the letter was referred to the Postmaster, who decided to open it. The enclosure a letter, asking for a doll’s pram and sunshade, was duly read, and the postmaster set about doing the “Santa. Claus” act by inviting the staff to assist in providing the wherewithal to supply the order. The result was that later in the afternoon the postman delivered a doll’s pram and sunshade at the address of the young lady, v.ith greetings from Father Christinas.

The unusual spectacle of a motorcar chasing its own front tyre was witnessed on Shakespeare Hill on a recent morning, states the Napier “Telegraph.” me vehicle in question, on its way to town had just topped the rise opposite Clyde Road and was commencing its descent, when, in some unaccountable fashion the off-side front tyre became detached from its rim, and, with the impetus it already possessed, plus the impetus gained from the slope of the hill, the runaway tyre gambolled away merrily in front of the car before the latter wad pulled up. After a short, but triumphant run. the tyre cam-) tc rest in a- gutter.

Deaths due to earthquakes in New Zealand are fortunately very j-gfcr, seven only having been recorded during the last 7-5 years. The shock of October, 1848, threw down a wail in Wellington, and three people were killed. On January 24, 1855, a death occurred at Wellington recorded as “accidental death from the falling of a chimney.” (A large earthquake took place during the night of January 23.) A child was killed- by the Cheviot earthquake on November 16 1901, and on April 12, 1913, a Maori was killed*at Masterton by material falling from the Post Office due to an earthquake. The last- fatality was recorded on October 7. 1914. when a shepherd met his end through the ’quake at Gisborne.

To be held prisoner in the cold, driving rain throughout Christmas night through getting his leg entangled in a wire fence, was the trying experience of Air W. L. Smith, aged 65 years, of Rock Ferry, north bank of the Wairau River. Air. Sharp was walking home from Remviek on the evening of Christmas Day, and was getting through the fence near his whare when two wires closed on his leg. The wires resisted all his efforts to release himself, and the unfortunate man had to spend the whole night out in the rain until on Sunday morning a neighbor discovered his predicament. Air. Sharp was suffering from exposure and injury to the leg ■ through the stoppage of blood circulation and was removed to the Wairau Hospital.