General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18921, 9 February 1927, Page 8

General News.

At the last meetin of the Paparua County Council, tho clerk was mstru ted to convey to Mr A. F. Wripht tf.j Council's appreciation of the article on "Motor Roads," lately contributed to The Paess.

At its meeting last evening, the Christehurch Fire Board passed a resolution complimenting tho men on the times in which tho events were carried out in the recent competitions at the City Firo Station. Tho condition of Joseph Robinson, who was badly injured in a motor smash lato in the ovening of January 24th, is reported to be still serious. Robinson, who lives at 396 Manchester street, had been in Now Zealand a few days when tho nccidcnt occurred. In order to improve the Avon for eight-oar rowing, the Christehurch Rowing Association last night decided to write to the Christehurch Drainage Board, asking them to straighten tho bend in the Avon, as far as possible, on the south side of the river above tho Stannioro road bridge.

A suggestion that mail-sorters might be carried on Bteamers trading between Australia and New Zealand, in order to obviate the inconvenience to commercial pcoplo in tho delayed delivery of mails, was made at a meeting last night of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Mr Andrew Mackenzie considered thero was no other port in the world where the dolay in landing mail was so great as in Wellington. A committee was set up to look into the matter Phess Service.

Mr H. 11. Sharpe, inspecting engineer to the Public Works Department, mentioned recently that most of the Speaker's chair and canopy in the Houso of Representatives is mude from stout puriri stringers, which were in the original traffic bridge over tho Waiwakaiho River at New Plymouth. Mr Sharpe recalled the hunt lor suitable puriri timber which engaged the attention at tho time, and remarked thnt, notwithstanding tho long time tho stringers were in use on the bridge, the wood required a considerable amount of seasoning before being ready for fashioning iuto the chair. In 13 years and sis months Auckland will celebrate its centenary (says the "Star"). A number of citizens have suggested that it is quite tinio preparations began. Is Auckland to have a centenary memorial? Nowhere in the city is there an adequate monument to its founders—yet none did moro for Auckland than some of the pioneers whose tombstones stand, some of them, maybe, rather aslant, and bndly marked by the passing of time, in tho cemetery near Grafton Bridge. Suggestions have been made that Auckland should commercialise this cemetery, but there are others who consider that the land which contains the bones of tho pioneers of Auckland should be. kept sacred to their memory for all time.

At the meeting of the Canterbury Yachting Association last evening, disappointment was expressed over the poor response for contributions towards i-.o entertainment of visiting crews il .i ing the Sanders Cup contest. The chairman, Mr AV. T. Lester, stated it tho first time- in the history of Canterbury that the people had had an opportunity of entertaining visiting yntchtsmen. "No wonder we get the name of a 'dud' province. It's about time Canterbury woke up." he said. Other members said they were disappointed that people had not shown more interest in this connexion. "It is the poorest response I hare ever had nnythinp to do with." said Mr R. B. Owen. "The trouble is that the contest is on the wrong side of the hill. If it were on this side, I think there would he little dilTieultv in raising

The annual conference of the New J Zealand Grocers' Federation ia to be ; held in New Plymouth nest week. i While bathing at Wjukuku one Sunj d;iv recently, a young man lost his artilicial teeth in the surf. They ! Wl >i,. washed tip on the beach, and loiim: quite undamaged nearly a week later. An iidvcrtiseui'**: in 'lue Pukss l' . to their return, and the owner is now wearing them in tamp.

\. shark about tut in length was i-iiti'-ht at .Surprise Island recently by tiiel-rew of the Kaiapui, which reached ~and on Friday morning. When the li-'n was hauled to the surface near t stern of the steamer, six .Native labourers dived overboard from a lighter, and, amid great excitement, tied u rope passed down Iroin the deck to thu shark's tail Owing (o the excitel cut the crew of the steamer forgot to make their end of the rope fast on |,." liirt |. ;,ml «licn the ,l,;.rk in its struggle* broke tlie li-hiiv lino it. made tor tlie open sea trailin- some fathoms PI Manila ,0,.e attached 1o its tail The Natives "ere Loyalty Islanders, and showed ii') fear of tlie shark. ~ Now /.ealander who has just returned iruin a holiday visit to Honolulu marvelled at. the way that they deal with the weed nuisance in the Hawaiian Islands. There, the pineapple is one of the chief primary products, and the area ot Hat, volcanic -nil suitable for its culture, is comparatively limited. Between the rows of ; owiiiL' pineapples are spread wide strip., of tarred paper, for in Hawaii it i, re-oguised that it is much cheaper prevent weeds from growin c than to pav for the labour of digging them out. Perhaps, some day, when Now Zealand advance- further in the direction of close (settlement and intense cultivation, something similnr may be done in the direction of dealing with the Dominion's prolific crop of noxious weeds although that time is probably still a good way off. Both in the Police Court and in the Supreme Court, witnesses occasionally ect confounded, and strange titles arc sometimes bestowed upon the occupant of Bench. "Your Honour" and "Me Lord" are two titles which have been misapplied, at least ono Magistrate has had the experience of being called "Your Riverence," and a dignilied country J.P bas had reason to feel aggrieved when a hilarious defendant—his next door neighbour-pers sted with the title of '"Ole Sport. "Sir!'' is always a safe word to use in either the lower Court or the Supreme Court. A badly,flusterrd witness in the Supreme Court at \Yanganni on one occasion addressed Sir Bassett Edwards as "Your Majesty." His Honour threw tin his hands in horror "Don't call me his Majesty," he said. Call me sir—that's cood enough for me!''

'liio action of an unknown persou in sending 2s as conscience money to the .'..ickland .Military Sports Association in consideration of his having witnessed the military pageant from the top of tho Wallace Ward has persua'-lpd a second "dead-head" to follow suit, and escape the pricks of conscience, says the "New Zealand Herald." The anonvmous writer, addressing Lieutenant Laffey, at the Drill Hall, says: "I am another who viewed tho miutarv pageant from the outside (twice)— not exactly intentionally. I was in tho neighbourhood at tho time, and sat on tli bank outside during the performance. I was exceedingly impressed by 1 3 whole production, which was magiiMcently got up. You deserve all the praise you are getting. I think the religious touch was finely worked in; it could not fail to do good. The whole thine was most commendably done. I enclose 25."

Should the girl behind a draper's counter have a seat? "A Draper, after a visit to a great retail establishment in Melbourno. writes to the "New Zealand Draper'* pointing out that "Victorian and New South Wales law insists on scats for girls behind tho counters. Tho New Zealand law does not specify where tho scats shall be. In San Francisco I was surprised to sco the girls sitting when ticketing and doing other work. I interviewed a manager and was informed that Californian State law insisted upon seats for girls behind counters. Having been in business for aver twenty years, I have found it good policy to allow each girl a seat when ticketing, Mocking laco, etc., as I find it keeps the pirls 'fresh' for customers, whereas a girl, owing to her physical make-up, is apt to get irritable, foot-sore, and nervy with customers if she is standing long hours."

Anions Auckland's army of unemployed was a man who secured a day's work in clearing up an empty section, on which the owner was about to build (says the "Star"). Weeks of hardship on scanty fore had made this, man caper to show that he could work when given a chance. All day long he toiled on the plot, which was far out in the suburbs. When he could no longer, see, he boarded a tram for home, happy in the knowledge that the section was now as devoid of weeds and lupins as a jellyfish of feathers. Next day ho went to a city office to collect his wages, only to \h> informed by the section owner that he had cleared the, wrong plnce. So he went back, found the riant section, and did another day's- solid graft, for which he was paid. However, when he approached the. owner of the section which had Ivecn cleared in mistake, he was contemptuously refused payment. The owner thought it a great joke that ho hod his section cleared free of charge. Owing to tho Into arrival of shipments we are overstocked with Garden jHose. To reduce we are selling 60ft lengths half inch, three-ply hose, complete with hose union spray end nozzle, at 22s Gd. Mako up your mind at once, for at this price wo expect to sell out rapidly. Mason, Strutliers and Co., Ltd. -6

J. Johnston and Son, Hardware Merchants, Rangiora, established 1803, solicit enquiries for all classes of General Hardware for household and farm. City prices guaranteed. Inspection invited. P.O. Bos 1. 'Phono 4. —6 As the children's birthday party draws neat, the prudent hostess looks lo r new whys of entertaining her young quests. There are presents to be bought, games to be arranged, and, of course, there must bo ice-cream, without which no party is complete. Cooke's, tho largest manufacturers of quality ice-cream, are ready to supply jour needs for parties,, picnics, and functions of all kind. Write W. R. Cooko and Son, High street, or 'phone S6lO. __g Booth Electric Household Pumps are selling on sheer merit: aa might be expected from the material and workmanship put into them, they are "standing up" to all requirements and giving efficient service all the time. A slow speed, Icathor-to-metal, solid job, and, quality considered, at a very reasonable price. Illustrated pamphlet post free. Hooth, Macdonald and Co. Ltd. _«*

Now that the stubble ploughing is at hand, before buying others, be sure you seo our latest pattern tractor plough, with improved Murray lift, front and rear wheel steerage, and rear lever lift. The best of all; guaranteed for Fifty years. Any trial given. Murray lifts for any make of existing plough £2l 10s cash, railage paid P. and D. Duncan. Ltd., Tuam street, Christdiureh. D 3190 Twitch can bo eradicated more thoroughly when the ground is too hard to plough: but, how to do itP Claw Harrow it! The only implement that will work in such conditions: the harder the ground, the better the job. For ordinary cultivating, it is more efficient in action, less expensive to buy than wheeled cultivators. We will demonstrate above claims to prospective purchasers. Pamphlets post free. Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd. —6