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Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 3, 4 January 1923, Page 4

Apparently the Auckland Racing Club does not disapprove of cigarette smoking among the fair sex. Just prior to the start of a race at Ellerslie the other day a young man was observed by an official of the club smoking in the lawn grandstand. The man bearing the familiar "A.R.C." band on his arm promptly, but politely approached the smoker and informed him that smoking by men was not allowed in the stand. "Thanks very much,'' said the young man, "but I was not aware of the by-law prohibiting one to smoke." "That's all right, - ' said the official, and in an afterthought, "You can hand the cigarette to your young lady, the restriction does not a Pply to her." A surprised young man thereupon handed over the cigarette to his fair companion, who kept it alight until the time came for a stroll on the lawn.

In the course of his sermon at Christchurch Cathedral on Christmas Sunday (states an exchange) Canon Wilford referred to the grammar school which the Cathedral authorities are starting fin February. The Catnedral, he said, had always been interested in education, and in the early days had had its own school. But after a time, and partly to help Christ's College, the Cathedral School had amalgamated with Christ's College Grammar School. An end had now come to that arrangement. The Cathedral was going to start a grammar school of its own, and it was going to be second to none in the whole of New ZeaJand. It was the ambition of many that it should attract boys from the farthest north and from the farthest south.

The fast current which prevails in the Hutt River is a source of danger to ail but good swimmers, and bathers unfamiliar with this fact have frequently got into difficulties. Two little -rirls, belonging to a party of picnickers, while enjoying a bathe in the river on New Year's Day near Mangaroa, got into difficulties. Mr. Mat. Lawlor, who went to their assistance, also got caught in th« strong current, but all three were fortunately rescued by Mr. Thomas Riley, who luckily happened to be on the spot. One of the girls, Kathleen Callaghan, was unconscious for some minutes, but recovered after artificial respiration had been applied.

Two young boys who escaped from the Weraroa Training School on Christmas Eve, stole a gig, horse and harness at Palmerston North and travelled to Wairoa. There they stole sundry articles and cooked food by means of a kerosene tin. By this time the horse was played out, so they confiscated another from Mr. Martin Edwards, a well-known footballer. Sergeant Wade, of Wairoa. followed the miscreants as far as Whakaki over heavy roads. Finally he communicated with the Gisbome police, who captured the boys and sent them back to Napier. Ladies' stockings have been in great demand for presentation purposes this Christmas, and the biggest purchasers have been men. This proved the case in Christchurch, where one big drapery firm was hardjy able to cope with the demand, and in Timaru the same occurred. A local draper told a "Timaru Post" reporter that he had never known so great a sale of silk stockings, and he had been amazed to note the numbers of extremely bashful but quite undaunted young men who had asked for fancy liose ''for their sisters."

A book by the Dowager-Countess of Jersey, on ''Fifty-one years of Victorian Life," is reviewed in the English papers which came to hand by the mail last week. In it she passes in review the countries she lias visited. New Zealand she found so richly endowed with treasures and beauty and strength that she thought it must have waited while Providence bestowed gifts on many lands and then have received special bounty from each store of blessing.

A unique- party assembled on Xew Year's Day at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. James Morison, Kaipara Mats, when their family and descendants fqregnthered in the old home. Mr. Morison was born in Auckland on January 3, 1844, his parents having arrived in the Jane Gilford in 1842. Eight daughters and one son were present, together with 33 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

One night last week a family clothes line in Featherston Street. Palniereton North, was-cut from its posts at both ends witli a pair of pliers, and carried away with its display of tine linen and silk hose, apparently (snys the local "Times") ill a motor-car, the wheel marks and the oil dvopg from the engine of Which were seen on the path near the gate way.

A letter from Hastings to a Paimerston resident says:—"The recent. liai£ storm was the most disastrous in our history. It looks as though a mighty wind had swept the leaves and left the fruit tra«s bare, and n plngue of caterpillars had robbed the vegetables and flowers of ex-cry vestigo of green anil left the stalks ,to die,"