TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 89, 11 January 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

The motor cyclist who opens the exhaust of his machine and goes all out through town and country is spared the sound of curses that are often hurled at him by exasperated bystanders. A bad case occurred m Broadway, Stratford, after midday on Sunday (states the “Poet”), when a motor-hog, regardless of vehicular and pedestrian traffic from the churches, took a southerly course at a speed well on to seventy miles an hour, which was.one spectator’s estimate. It is time the powers that be made au example of one of these dangerous maniacs.

A sort of Christmas armistice has apparently been observed during the past week or two (says the “Marlborough Express”) between the Blenheim Borough by-laws ranger and those members of the community who prefer riding their cycles on' the footpath to on tho roads, or who make a practice of dodging along o’ nights without lights. The war between the ranger and the owners of wandering cattle, however, has been continued fiercely throughout the season of good will, and there will be several prosecutions nt the next sittings of the Court.

A lorry was proceeding along a private road at Waimata one day last week (states the “Poverty Bay Herald”). The road was steep, and as a result of rain a bit greasy. The engine threatened to _ stall, and the driver threw out his clutch and prut on the brakes, which, however, could not hold the Ibrry on the steep pinch. To regain control, the driver “rooted up” his and shot the clutch home again. -Tire force thus transmitted to tne rear wheels raised the front wheels off the ground, and the lorry cams to a rest in that position, the end of a load of timber propping it at the rear

Prohibitionists would have lost any illusion that this country is in favour of abolishing the liquor traffic had they visited the Cross Wharf at Dunedin the other morning (says the “Star”). The whole length of the wharf was covered with barrels of beer of all sizes. The collection would probably number over one thousand barrels. The greater portion were labelled “Auckland.” The consignment is being shipped by the steamer Wingatui, and as sling after sling was hoisted on. board the big brewery motor-lorries deposited additional loads on the wharf. While this huge consignment was being shipped empty barrels by the hundred were being discharged from the vessel. The contents having partly satisfied the thirst of Auckland’s multitudes.

When a harassed cow, rebelling againsF the rule of'The drover’s lash, sought peace and quietness in the strongroom of a Waimate business firm, needless to say (states tho Christchurch “Press”) it became the centre of 'attraction. Shortly after 12 o’clock fast Saturday an elderly, sober-faced female of the bovine species entered the double swing doors of jPyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd.’s premises and gazed with interest, at; the office staff, who promptly “panicked/' The scene changed abruptly with the entry of the drover. The cow recognised an old enemy, and scenting danger, careered down tho passage to tho dimly-’it strong-room, which seemed a haven of refuge. Meantime a crowd had gathered to see the fun. The animal refused to budge, and she remained blocking the entrance of the strongroom, despite tho entreaties of stockman and helpers. Finally she yielded to gentle nose pressure and was backed slowly and without loss of dignity, through the length of the office to thp street and so to the fair. ■

There is something in the saying, “It’s better to be born lucky than rich,” judging from the experiences ol n resident of Brydone (says an exchange) Some 12 months ago he lost a pocket book at Mataura containing over --ClOO, and fortunately for him a couple of ladies picked it up and banded it over to the police. Naturally the own£r of the book was pleased to receive the money, and he rewarded the ladies for their honesty. The other day the old man lost his book again with a sum of £53 in it, and again another honest individual found it and handed it to the police. The young man who picked up the book was rewarded for his honesty, and it Was a pleased old man who received his cash once again.

A party of. tranipars comprising Wellington and Auckland students from the recent conference- at Solway and consisting of four ladies and six men, had an enjoyable trip over une Tararua range, says the Levin “Chronicle.” The party was under the experienced guidance of Mr. P. Buston, of the Tailarua and Victoria College Tramping Clubs, and had the pleasure of seeing the mountains in their summer verdure. Mountain blooms of various kinds were seen at their best, whilst the . sunset effects amd other views obtained were extremely fine.

Last Saturday, at midnight, while a resident of Wanganui Bast and his wife were attending a dance, a wouldbe burglar entered their house.. The intruder, relates an exchange, liaci evidently had a look through a couple of room’s, and was beginning a search of the dining-room when a lady visitor, who had been awakened by flier little child’s restlessness, got out of bed and went to the diping-room to secure a drink for the youngster. The iniui, heciring her approach, darted down the passage, rushing right past tho startled lady, who screamed out. Assistance was soon at hand, but no trace could bo found of the intruder. Fortunately, nothing was secured ly the would-be burglar, but the wnto of the owner of the house had left iter jewellery and purse under a hat cn the table in the dining-room, and no cljjubt this would have been discovered by the intruder had he not been disturbed in his search.

Nominal damages of one penny a. week have been awarded to Theodore Caesar, a farm hand, of Templeton, Christchurch, as a. result of a claim he brought against his father, Julius Adolph Albert Caesar under the Workers’ Compensation Act, spates an exchange. He was injured while hunting wild pigs on _ his father s farm, near Gisborne, in .December, 1221 when he was shot, in tho shoulder by his companion, another employee. Ho clfthned to be an cmployee of his father at £3 10s. a week ami “found.” The mam point was whether he was an employee or had a proprietary interest in the farm, and whether hunting wild pigs was F al ' t of the farm work in that dlstnct ; where wild pigs are plentiful and \cry destructive. The Victoria Insurance Pr.mmnv was cited as a thud paity. Th" case was heard bv the Arbi ration Court which stated that it could find n' mstZion for inferring that the nlrintiff had any actual proprietary interest in tho farm. Pig bmitmg was n«u,scarv for the safety of the sheep, j d-.-s rivarded as part of tho work ‘n sheen farm- The pig hunting eZit-on on December 29, 1921, del i nJt swan to. have been undertaken merolv for sport, although tho elenionr or spvt was present.

Horseflesh is evidently getting cheap in Wanganui (states an exchange Last week an old grey capable ol doing a few more years’ work was JilloeKCU down under flic hammer for 7s. 6a.

“I have stopped growing wheat,” Slid a farmer st the Ashburton sale the other morning (states the “Guardian”). “1 cannot see tho profit in growing it to provide only the millpwne.r with bread and butter. Jho sooner the wheat-growers realise the act that they are fools to themselves the better it will eb for them, and there will be a greater chance of the charges for threshing coming down.

A Christchurch sportsman reports that Atlantic salmon, are well acclimatised at the headquarters of the Waiau, in the To Anau district (states the “Press”). Fish up to ten pounds were taken on the fly. 'they are well acclimatised, and exceedingly plentiful. Eleven were counted in one pool, the only drawback is the fact that the district is rather inaccessible, a long way from civilisation.

According to reports, the soldier settlement at Reporoa is a picture at, present (states the Auckland ‘ Heraid”). In hundreds of acres the tops of the posts only can be seen owing to the magnificent growth of cocksfoot. The feeding value of tho grasses generally grown by the soldiers can be estimated by tho fact that several of them have averaged 2501 b. of butterfat per cow for the season. One expert- in agriculture states that the Reporoa soldier settlement is amongthe most successful of any in New Zealand.

The British Imperial Oil steamer Pinna, which arrived at Auckland from Singapore was unable to laud the Torres Straits pilot at Brisbane, and he was carried half-way across the Tasman Sea (reports the Auckland “Herald”). Steamers coming from India tako a pilot on board at Thursday Island to guide them through tho Barrier Reef. When the steamer arrives off Brisbane tho pilot boat is generally waiting to hud the pilot. On this occasion the boat was not in evidence, and the pilot had. to remain for another three days on board before the Pinna met the steamer Havre, belonging to tho same company. The Havre was en route from New Zealand to Singapore and had been intercepted by wireless. When the vessels met the pilot, was transferred. Had a vessel going back on the route not been met, the pilot would have had a trip to New Zealand

A smart arrost was effected at the Timaru railway station the other evening, says tho Timaiu “Herald. ’ It appears that a wallet containing .610 was snatched from a man’s hand in the Waimate Hotel. Later it was found that a man answering to the description of the offender had embarked on tho train for Timaru, and telephone communication . with the Timaru police was immediately established. Mr. Twomey, proprietor of the Waimate Hotel, seirt his son. in company with Constable Swan to Tiniaru by car, and the journey was made in 40 minutes The constable and Detective Abbot were on the station when the ttfain arrived and the suspect was taken into custody.

Oamaru is usually considered to be free from petty thieves and kindred species of tho dregs of humanity, bui apparently there are at least one. or more in’ tho town, says the “Mail.” A. few days ago a party of throe women, carrying rugs ana overcoats, entered a local shop and one Engaged the attention of the sales lady, made a purchase and departed. A low minutes later it was found that a new high-priced hat had disappeared along with the party.

A Gisborne visitor to Palmerston says that- the Poverty Bay com.ro is the most isolated in New Zealand, Staten an exchange. Access or egress by sea or land is very lestimted, consequently local enterprise is apt to be experimental and to iavoiu innovation winch may or may not seem successful. “For instance,” he said, “wo were the first and so far i.ho only people in tills Dominion to use storage nutwries in our tranicars, to -’wn an ocean liner for meat export, or to nunose an annual charge upon At any rate we may claim to be /-p--prcciative of, and hospitable to, visi rurn who can find their way within .ho gates.”

“We axe remitting too many rates. Every month somebody addies to Hn» council, and we remit their rates lor Diem. By the end of the year the amount lost is fairly These, says tlm , ‘ ton JdnteS were remarks made bj Mi. H. latter son at a meeting of the Maintain County Council when the authorities of the Bannerdale Home applied to the council asking tWM t fieir rates should be remitted. Ihe chairman (Mr B. W. Hawke) said that tho country had done as much as -my other in patriotic matters, and their contribution to the £3OOO Mr. Cross said tno ap olication was a most deserving <ne, Lid ho moved that it should bo giu-m--tKI Mr. Patterson said tho case was deserving, but the principle was bad. Ho moved an amendment that the application should not be allowed. After discussion tho amendment was vithdrawn, and the motion was earned.

A smart rescue was performed at the swimming pool in the Woodhaugh Gaidens, Dunedin, on Saturday afternoon (says the “Star”). ■ A resident of North-East Valley was walking slowly towards tho pool when Ins att* ll *’"" was attracted by a shout from a. man standing on the bank, who Panted down into the water, crying out that he could not swim The former at once dashed over the bridge to the bank, and saw a child about four or five-years of ago fast sinking in the water. Before he could plunge in, however, a young man sudden y appeared on the opposite bank, and, taking in the situation at a R lallce > I dl ''js iii swam swiftly across the pool, and landed the child safely on the In the excitement which followed, the rescuer disappeared without leaving his name or waiting for so much as a word of thanks, although his clothes must have been ruined by immersion in the water.

Mr L. MeSavny, of Manakau, met with a severe accident on Sunday (says the “Levin Chronicle ). He. was niotor-cvcling down towards Otaki and kn Negotiating the concrete bridge over the railway struck the side of the structure. He was removed in an unconscious state to a private hospital in Otaki, where he lies in a precarious condition.

"While bathing at Brighton on Sunday morning (says an exchange), at a time when the tide was very low, a voting man named I. S. Arthur got into difficulties at a spot where there was considerable undertow. iwo brothers named Crimp went to his assistance, one Ropig out and keeping him afloat while the other brought the life lino into notion. Arthur was hrowdit ashore without much difficulty and after first aid had been rendered for about five minutes he .was able to leave the beach with assistance.