General News

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21247, 20 August 1934, Page 10

General News

An Umbrella Ruined There was no need for any attrac tions other than the football i Christ's College oil Saturday, bi two incidents added to the enjo% .mcnt of the spectators. A vigoroL kick into touch landed on an uir brella. It is now of no further us as an umbrella. Its owner joined i the general laughter, but somewhi ruefully. The second diversion wa provided by a dog. He had bee trotting up and down the sidelin looking distinctly bored. The refera after an unusually long interva sounded his whistle shrilly and th dog set otr at speed to investigat< He was half-way across the field bt fore he heard his owner's comman to return, lie trotted back with resigned ox o ressi on. Obsolete Fire Engine "I believe a small ear offered lln fire engine a low up a hill om night," said Mr If. Curd at a meet ing of the Pukekohe Borough Conn ril, after stating that the fire en gine had become obsolete. "Jt eer tainly does not seem right.'' re marked the Mayor, Mr John Routh "that private cars should pass tin engine on the way to the fire anc arrive there well ahead of it." M; Roulty, who is also chairman of tin Pukekohe Fire Board, said In thought the brigade had well earnec a new engine, and in all probability the matter would be considered a the next meeting of the board. A Ratepayer*:. Offer A mower, a gramophone, and iji records wore offered recently to an\ member of the Wairau River Board Blenheim. who cared to putchase them. The vendor wa a Taumarina ratepayer win was anxious to liquidate an ac count with the board for overdtn rates. Members of the boarc thought the vendor was sufforin> from hardship, and decided to grant some relief. Farmers and Free Speech The principle of free speech wa: approved at a meeling of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, when support wa: sought by Ihe Free Speech Council A resolution was passed that while the necessity for sf me restriction on the locality of meetings was recognised, free speech should be allowed without restrictions in approved localities. Koad Courtesies Speaking on what, be termed hobby of his." Or. S. A. Gibbs, the chairman at last week's meeting of the No. 7 Licensing Authority in Greyiuouth. appealed for an extension of road courtesies. He referred particularly to the need for careful use of the rear-retlecting mirror, and the "come-on" and "standback" signals to overtaking drivers, which, he said, was a custom observed in all other civilised countries. He concluded with an appeal for careful observance of the provisions of the .Stock Driving Act. Trouble. Indeed The hazards of bookmakiug caused ioiiit amusement when they were "elated by a Maori witness at the Magistrate's Court at I'atea. He was aeing examined by counsel on a jookmaking busine:s with which he lad been connected in I'atea some years ago, and which had broken ip. "And why," a.-bed counsel, 'was the business broken up'.'" 'Well," replied the ?vlaon, "a man nit fid on a horse and then drew tfiOO from us." Counsel appeared nterested. "What was the name of he horse'."' be enquired. "Trouble," ■epiied the Maori, and there was aughtcr in the court. Tastes in Art To find out what type., oi pictures ippeal to the public of Auckland, is iters to the loan exhibition of jonlcmporary British art now being ie!d at. the Aud 'and Art Gallery ire being suppin << with a questionlaire which the committee- in charge las prepared. They are asked to :xpress their opinion of the present •xhibition, and to give any suggesions that would help the committee n arranging others. They are also nvited to mark which of the (blowing classes of pictures they pre"er:— I'aintings by old masters, Kugisli water colour paintings, modern Miropean paintings-, etchings and •ngravings, modern drawings and a ine-nian show (the artist, to be lamed). The questionnaire will be , distributed until the close of the exhibition at the end of this week. Old Coins : Several strange coins have reI cenlly ciime into the possession of a j Palmerst.on North shopkeeper. They : I have been proffered at various j times as pennies, and, while not de- ! eeived by the resemblance, the shop- ' I keeper accepted them because ofi I their rarity. Probably the most uu- j .usual in New Zealand is a piece of! j "eight, doubles," a Guernsey Island , I coin of 1SI!5. The reverse side bears ' ; the design of three lions, but the ; coin boasts no intricate pattern. By | comparison with other standard | 'coins, its value is very small. Better l known is a specimen of the di\- con- • I times of the F.rnpire Fiancais under j ! Napoleon lib This one is dated b'Kil!. - !An Irish penny of l!);ll is almost.; i identical in size with tin.' New Zea- , j land penny. A reminder of the early j j days of Australia is given by a token ; i coin used in 3<!20 by an Australian : i hardware firm domiciled in Sydney. j I The collection is completed by a j f cinq centimes of the same period as; I the larger French coin. It. was ten- j | dered in change for a halfpenny. 1 i Nobody's Railway ! With the intention of bringing an l j action against Ihe Mail ways Depart-) I nient. for the loss of stock' killed on! t Ihe railway lint' at. Warepa, a well-, | known South Otago farmer recently! | consulted his solicitors and arranged j |to institute proceedings immedi- j | atcly. A few days later, however, j ! lie was amazed to learn from his i i legal advisers that lie had no claim. ! i as the railway, the mam line from.' j Ounedin to invercnrgill, did not bo- t ; long to anyone. On asking why. he; ' was told that, since the railway had ! : never been gazetted it could not. be' regarded as Ihc property of anyone! in particular, so that, in law there | could be no defendant, in the pro-I ceoding. Since legal proceedings I called for a defendant as well as aj plaintiff, no action could possibly lie; in this case. : The New Silver Medal Drill .1. pur-j chased at the last Christclmrch Show j. has proved very satisfactory, and in j my opinion undoubtedly the best drill I on the market., locally made or im- i ported. I can fully recognise that no! other drill had a chance against it in ; the Lincoln College trials, and I am; glad that I selected your drill when IS purchased. The placing of the grass- ■ seed box low down to the ground : as we requested lias been a great sue-) • cess.' and we would recommend that ' position in nil cases. —Yours faithfully, ! i • Sgd.i Eric W. Hood. Chertsey. P. j i and D, Duncan, Limited. 196 Tuani I ' street, Christchurcli, and at Ashbur- «' 1 ton. _J i 1