TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 107, 22 January 1923, Page 11

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

While demolishing some old buildings in New Plymouth recently (stalos the “News”) swarms of rats made their appearance, and several captures, ranging from a couplo up to a dozen rodents were made.

A canon ball, -the size of an orange was recently picked up by a youth named Kretschmar, within 200yds. of tho Paritutu quarry (states the “Taranaki Herald”).

“Did you empty a kettle of boiling water at the defendant when ho called to seo the children?” asked counsel in a maintenance case at the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court tho other day (says the “Southland Times”). “Yes,” replied witness. “Did you follow that with a brick?” was then asked, and an affirmative received. “Did the broom follow the brick?” was next asked. “No,” replied the witness, “I chased him with the broom.”

During the hearing of a gaming case in the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court the other day (says the “Southland Times”) counsel for the defence said that the competition complained of had been conducted for boys only. “No, by the boys’ department of the . firm corrected the police. “Perhaps it was a. lottery for boys and young, constables” related one of the solicitors who was awaiting his case.

It is rumoured (says the “Wanganui Herald”) that there will ho an advance in the price of bacon at an early date, but no official statement has been issued by the wholesalers. Apparently orders‘sent out by local retailers are not being filled to the full extent, and when this happens it is a sure indication of a fluctuation in price.

A scheme is afoot (states an exchange), to settle a portion of Matakana Island, near Tauranga, with retired English officers. At a meeting of the Tauranga County Council a communication was read from an Auckland firm of surveyors, submitting for approval the plan of the sub-division of part of Matakana Island. It was stated that ample reserves for recreation and all other public purposes had been made. The council decided that the engineer should visit the locality, and, if he is satisfied with the scheme, that the plan he approved.

Tho far-reaching effect of a dairy factory in Wanganui can bo gathered from the average daily arrival of cream, which aggregates 20,000 gallons, which is nearly al! brought by rail (says the “Wanganui Herald”). In the evenings it is not unusual to see 1200 or more cans stacked at St. John’s station. It requires a good deal of experience to stack these empties in rotation in the vans so that they can be dropped off at their proper destinations, and is calculated to make, any new arrival on the railways wish he had never seen the Department.

“You want to remember that it is not vour risk,” remarked Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., to a young man who informed him at the New I’lrmour.l’ Court (states the “News”) that be had taken the risk of riding a bicycle at night without a light. “The r.'»b lies with the other man, who has just ns much right to the road as you,” His Worship added, “as through yon’’ ration he might meet with an accident.”

The electric light in New. Plymouth failed for a few minutes a little before nine o’clock last 'Wednesday evening, mid the whole town was in darkness (states the “Herald”). The trouble arose through a sharp hurricane which struck the Mangorei, district and disturbed one of tne lilies at the hydro works. Tlie trouble was located quickly. and the light was restored in about 11 minutes.

“Did you fall in?” asked a fair swimmer of the municipal baths custodian as ho emerged from the bath on Tuesday, water streaming from his clothes' (says the “Taranaki Herald”). So quickly did the incident happen that few of the bathers realised anything untoward had occurred. Two little girls had decided to try th« chute at the deep end, 'but the unusual entry caused one’s bathing cap to obstruct her eyes. In an endeavour to seo she unconsciously “ducked” her companion, with the result both got into difficulty. The girls were promptly pulled out, none the worse for their experience, by the custodian and two young ladies who saw what had happened. As ail instance that continual supervision was necessary, Mr. Matliieson said last season he was not once reenired to give assistance, but during the east fortnight ho had been in three times already. ’“This incident should serve as n- warning to beo-inners,” said the custodian to a “Herald” renorter “not to trespass in the deep end.”

.Tiist as the Waitemata was on tho point of leaving the No. 3 Wharf the other evening (says the “Timaru Post”) there was a heated argument between two of the crew. Ono of them had apparently gained the impression that the other had threatened' to kill him, and he was very anxious for hostilities to commence straight away ; so much so that he grasped the man who had allegedly threatened him by tho nose, and there might have been a “dust up” had not one of the officers intervened. The argument, however, wna proceeding merrily as tho ship loft the wharf.

According to the Wairoa correspondent oif tho “Hfiwke’s Bay Herald,” there arc prospects of considerable difficulty being experienced in inducing shipowners to send Home liners to the new Waikokopu harbour to load frozen meat. Although no definite statement has been made on the subject!, information available tends to point in Iho direction, indicated. In the event of tho Home liners cutting out Waikokopu, the effect on the new railway to the port from Wairoa would bo very considerable, as one of the chief reasons for tho- constiuciion of the branch was its necessity for the conveyance of produce from Wairoa to steamers loading at the creek harbour. 'The Overseas’ Shipowners’ Committee appears to he very conservative and non-committal on riio question at present, and 4 is hinted tb/.i.t even if the committee agrees to tho sending of vessels to Waikokopu the marine insurance icoplo may have a word to say.

Stops are being taken by sheep farmers in the AVaiparn County to have the whole of the two AVcka Pass streams declared sanctuaries for native and imported game (states the “Lyttelton 'l’imes”). Mr. F. C. Archer, of AVeka Pass station, already has had the part of one of the streams that runs through his property declared a sanctuary, ami applications by Messrs. AV. Todd, B. I).‘Johnson, L. AV. Ferguson. AV. Ana.nd A. Craighead will be sent to the’ Department of Internal Affairs. “There arc on the streams quite a number of grey ducks rind several blue or mountain ducks,” Mr. Archer states in a, letter to the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. “AVe are most anxious to have all parts of the streams declared sanctuaries, as ducks often come over from adjacent sanctuaries at (lionmark. AVe are constantly troubled by parties of motorists shooting indiscriminately. This has been going on for some time.”

Whaling from open boats on the high seas has its own peculiar perils, states Captain 11. F. Cook, master or the Ilananui 11, who has had ill J years’ experience in tins particular line. Only once, he says, has ho nacl his boat “chewed up.” That was when he was serving in the Kspcctilador, reports tho “Now Zealand Belaid.” Off the Kennadec Islands they were after a big “lone” bull whale, a type which may bo likened to a “roguo” elephant. The harpoon had been sent into him, when he turned in anger on Captain Cook’s boat. Bo came at it open-mouthed, and bit it clean in two. Tho men were all thrown into the water, but none va injured or drowned. Two other ot the Especulador’s boats were in the vicinity at the time, and the huge ) put both of these out of action. Ono he stove in with his flukes, and tho other he broke with Ins teeth, but not sufficiently to sink it. The men in tho water were all picked up. and the whale then disappeared from the scene. “That was a bad-tempered fish, said Captain Cook,' “and it was the nearest escape I ever had. It was touch and go.”

A rather remarkable occurrence took place on the Stanley bowling green, Auckland, recently (says an exchange It was a beautifully warm day when the play commenced. Play had proceeded till about half-time., and on account of the heat tho players had discarded all unnecessary garmentsPresently, however, dark clouds commenced to gather, and peals of distant thunder were heard, and it was soon that a storm was gathering up. Rain could soon be seen advancing an falling with torrential heaviness, and the sound on many iron roofs in tho vicinity made nearly every player drop his bowls because of the coming pi the storm, which was tropical in its severity, but a» if by magic, and 1 although Rangitoto was obscured and other places were hidden from view because of the heavy rain, hardly a. drop tell at Stanley Point in the vicinity or the green, and while it still rained only a few yards away, players saw what was happening, doffed their coats again, and wont on with tho play. I l ier ° was a considerable drop in the temperature while tho storm lasted, but afterwards tho sun shone out in all its brilliancy, and those accustomed to tropical climates said that there was nothing unusual in such a phenomenon, and such experiences were common m the tropics.

Dr Buck has often snoken in his lectures of the affinity of the Maoris to tho Scotchmen, and has pointed out many traits which the two races possess" in common. Recent visitors to tho >King Country who have returned from holiday trips in that direction (says the Auckland “Star”) speak with interest anil amusement of the efforts of some of the leading Maoris in the district on Hogmanay night, and as the New Year came in to “first foot coma of their Scotch neighbours. The ceremony was carried out in no halfhearted way, bells being rung, as tho houses were approached, and afterwards Highland reels were intermixed with Maori hakas and nose-rubbing. Cupboards were depleted, and bottles were emptied, and it is very hard to say who enjoyed tho fun most. Certain it ivas that when the farmers rose gif tho ftew Year’s morn thev looked out. on their lands and estate feeling that everything looked rosy for the fkiture. and that the New Year had opened well ; and the Maori, as ho went gown to liis favourite shady spot bv the river to catch a few big “tunas lor New Year’s dinner at the pa, was hoard to ejaculate several times, as is tho custom of the old-time'Maori when ho is ruminating over past events, “Kapai kanail the Scotchman; ho tho good fellow.”

A Taihapo settlor who has_ always maintained that, areas of pumice Und like that av Waiouru eafi bp settled successfully in small holdinj?s if tlm rabbits are got rid of, says that to his knowledge at least'l2o,ooo rabbits were cleared off that locality last season, though no reduction in their number is now apparent. live rabbits arc said to eat as much as would keep one sheep, but this does not state the position correctly, as land badly infested with rabbits is otherwise unsuitable for sheep. The rabbits taken off the land last season occupied an area which should be carrying at. least 30,000 sheep, which would bo sufficient to keep twenty sheep-farmers busy. If all tho rabbits were cleared off the land and development work carried on the pumice land m the locality mentioned would provide a good living for at least sixty sheep-farmers. The argument, sounds logical, anyway, says the Taihape “Times.”

Mr. A. W. Smith brought before the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society recently complaints that nets are placed across the mouth of the Waimakariri River, with tho result that large numbers of fish are netted (states the “Lyttelton Times’’). He said that tho practice was followed by “week-enders” at Kairaki. He asked if it was legal to net fish in estuaries. Mr. M. H. Godby, chairman. said that ha could not give an opinion, but thought that the position was affected by the Treaty of Waitangi, which, however, applied only to Maoris. A member of the council said that he did not think that the practice could be stopped under the regulations. Mr. Smith said that, he had been told that on one occasion four long nets were stretched across the river. It was decided to ask the Marine Department to state what regulations control netting in the Waimakariri and Ashley estuaries, and to instruct the society’s solicitor to submit an interprotation of the regulations.

The determination possessed by rats has been instanced in a very marked manner in a now concrete building in New Plymouth ''slates tho “News”). Th.o foundations were well and truly laid in concrete, yet for some time traces of rats inside tho building were observe-]. Careful search was made, and it was found that the rats had burrowed 1 under chc building. 'ihe next move on tho part of the rats was to gain entrance into tho building. Tn one corner was a. trap which could be lifted in case of drain trouble. The sides of the trap were of concrete, mi inch in thickness, but. the got. to work, and gnn.wed a Jiolo through. Tho hole was blocked next day with more concrete and broken glass, but by the following morning the rats ’had again eaten their way through the concrete. This was repeated for sovei'al days, and not '-'".tu a concrete wall over throe iiichos thick was put in did the rats give up the task of attempting to gain entry.

The To Awamiitu Borough Council is to hold a special statutory. mooting for the purpose of dealing with the hallholidav question (states the. \Aaipa Post”). A. petition is now in circulation, for presentation at tlio meeting, asking the council to revert to the Wednesday half holiday. So far there is no indication of a petition for the retention of Saturday. It is generally believed that if only one petition is received the council will declare in its favour, and that, if rival petitions suggest a difference of public opinion on the subject, the council will refer the issue for determination at an electors poll next April.