TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 122, 8 February 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

Of late the poisoning of docs in Mosgiel has been of rather frequent occurrences, and in connection therewith a smile was raised at the local borough council the other night, says the “Otago Daily Times.” When the dog tax had been fixed and the registrar appointed, a councillor remarked that the registrar should make an early start or his duties would be light.

Some time ago hawthorn was declared a noxious weed, but there are still very many to be seen around about Grevtown, says the “Wairarapa Standard.” At the present time they aro afflicted with a blight which gives thorn the appearance of having been burnt, which may or may not bo the dreaded fire blight.

The recent rain has had a detrimental effect on the rape in the Matahiwi district, near Feilding. and in the last two or three days, states an exchange, tha crops have all turned yellow. To save a complete destruction it is feared the crops will have to be eaten off before they are ready-

A. six minuts’ stoppage of the Lake Coleridge power supply, which occurred at Christchurch recently, proved to bo due to an eel, which got into one of the main inlet pipes at the powerhouse. says an exchange. The engineers were compelled to stop some of the plant while it was removed.

As tho 4 p.m. train from Auckland was approaching Whangamarino station last Friday, states the "New Zealand Herald.” Guard H-Watts tried to light the gas in the van when tho lighted match fell on to a parcel of kinematograph films, which ignited ana blazed up, severely burning the guard about the right hand and arm. He managed to throw the burning mass from the van before injury was done to other contents of the van.

Well known to the police by reason of his frequent appearances in the Auckland Police Court, Peter, the quiet old dog owned by Mr. J. \> ■ Poynton, S.M., created a mild sensation last Saturday morning (states- the “New Zealand Herald”) by trotting up to tho Bench with a substantial piece of fresh meat in his mouth. Peter, it was noted, did not take up his wonted position on a sunny spot of the floor, but took his moat—loot, probably —to his master s seat. lhe dog was escorted from the court, and the humdrum business routine was resumed.

The wet and humid conditions experienced in the Auckland district at intervals during the (past fortnight have had a. disastrous effect on all stone fruit approaching the ripening •tage (states the “Star ). Brown spot (or,- ripe rot) is very prevalent this season, and many orchardists complain that their losses are very heavy in plums, peaches, and nectarines. It is stated in some districts that the nectarine crop is affected to the extent of 50 per cent, owing to the above trouble. Tomato growers are also complaining of blight.

Workmen are at present engaged in relaying the tiles over an urea of about a dozen square yards at the eastern endi of the Cathedral floo (savs tho “Lyttelton Times”). Tho problem of tho floor tiles working loose or bulging up is a recurring one, and no satisfactory solution of the difficulty has yet been found. It becomes necessary periodically to take up a portion of the tiles and relay thorn.

A total of thirty-three accidents occurred in connection with the Christchurch tramways during the moiith or December (says the Lyttelton Times”). Six of these were a result of people alighting from moving cars, and twenty-one were due to collision® with motor-cars and other vehicles. The remaining six accidents were clue to various causes. The chairman (Mr. D. Svkes) at a meeting of the J ramwav "Board, referred to the large number of collisions, and said that many of them were due to reckless driving on the part of motorists.

“It’s like drawing tooth,” said the town clerk of Wanganui to a reporter when asked how the rates had come in (states an exchange) ._ Saturday was the last day for payment before .the 10 per cent, penalty could be put on. Thero was a big rush of ratepayers during the last week to avoid the 10 nor cent, additional, but rates amounting to from £4090 to £5OOO out of £04,000 was still outstanding.

That despicable person, the sneakthief, is again making his presence known in Greytown Wo learn (says the “Standard”) that during the past few nights the fruit tree.s and gardens of three well-known residents have been visited and stripped of pears, plums, tomatoes, etc. If the person or persons concerned are caught they w.ill be. brought to jsjtice and made an example of.

One Wairarapa resident at least must have been pleased to see the Greytown “express” waiting at the junction tho other morning, “j/d ™ secure a seat in it (says the Standard”).. The lady traveller referred to had come from Wellington after a tiring boat journey, and though she paid for a seat in the train had had the privilege of standing all tho way. Truly. the days of chivalry seem to have departed from our midst.

That she and her husband lived in an old fowlliouse because they wanted to pay off a debt, was the remarkable statement made by a -witness in the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth (says an exchange). They now desired possession of a cottage which they had routed to defendant. Their present place of abode had no flooring or lining, and tho only means of ventilation was the door!

A neat little compliment was paid to Scotsmen by His Honour Mr. Justice Herdman at tho Auckland Supreme Court the other day (says the Auckland “Star”). A. witness with the unmistakable “burr” of the land ,of heather and oatcakes, was protesting that ho bad had good experience of tho tailoring tirade, and 51© added, “Not only here, but at Home.” “And you come from a good country,” remarked Judge quietly.

The deep sea fishing at the Bay of Islands continues to attract many distinguished people from abroad (says the Auckland “Star”). Ono of the lattst visitors to the fishing camp at Deep Water Cove is Baron Dickson, of Gothenburg, who was so fascinated by the sport that he is coming back next year. The Baron landed one swordfish weighing: 24531 b., and another monster he.-hooked fought for five and a half hours, after which it got away, breaking both lino and rod. Mr. Kirkev, a fisherman from Hastings, also had a remarkable fortnight at the cove. Ho landed two make sharks tthe kind the Maori used to hunt for the sake of its teeth), ono of which sealed no loss than 3501 b., and a swordfish which went 2031 b. My. G. S. Reade, a sportsman from the Old Country, opened the season with a 2201 b. swordfish, and hq also litis to his credit a, couplo of m«ucos, one weighing 2901 b., and the other not muchi less.

A number of returned soldiers are still out of employment, in Christchurch, tho relief works (says an exchange) having ceased owing to the funds of the North Unemployment Committee having oeen expended, and the committee having ceased operations. Most of the men, who number about 40, are of the unskilled labouring class, but there are also several clerks and storemen looking for work, while a number of partu ally disabled men are seeking light employment, such as for liftmen, caretakers, watchmen, and so on.

An accident in connection with which timely action averted serious consequences, occurred on the paddle>steamer Wakatere in Auckland harbour on Sunday evening (states the “Herald”). The steamer had been on an excursion to Ka-wau Island, and as she was about to berth at tho Northern Company’s wharf a winch was set in motion for mooring operations. The right-hand drum, which was not required to haul the rope, caught tho overcoat of a little girl sitting near by, and as it whirled round threatened to pull her on to the machinery;. Tho girl cried out, and a man’s timely, command to stop the winch averted injury to the child. The coat was badly cut by the revolving drum.

The ago of chivalry is not dead. Proof of this was given in a marked degree by a small boy in Feilding during the recent rain storms (states an exchange). Along Sandon Road the water had banked up' so much as to make the thoroughfare look impassable by an elderly lady who was out with the intention of making an afternoon oall. , A small boy saw the predicament, and came to tho rescue in a most remarkable as well as gallant manner. Ho secured two kerosene tins, and, using them alternately as stepping stones for the lady, handed her safely on to dry land. The lady who had this quaint experience tells with pride her adventure with the Feilding boy who went one better than Sir Walter Raleigh and his cloak.

A considerable amount of tho time of the Taieri River Trust was taken up at its last meeting on the matter of the opening of box culverts in embankments so that water would flow from the river into certain drains for watering stock, says the “Otago .Daily Times.” To da this without the authority of the engineer is an offence for which a penalty is provided of £5OO or two years’ imprisonment. Notwithstanding the risk run some person opened tho lids of some of the boxes on three different dates in January after repeated warnings. Water was allowed to flow in, and the hopes of the engineer to dry up the weeds that were growing at the bottom of the drains while the sun shines ab this period of the year were frustrated. The trust decided to offer a reward of £5O for information that would lead to tho conviction of the offenders.

Iflio marine survey of the Waikokopu roadstead has now been completed, states the chairman of tho Wairoa Harbour Board, and it only remains to have the sweeping of a certain area carried out to fulfil the conditions laid down by the Overseas Shippins; Committee, says tho “New Zealand Herald.” The net result of the survey is that depths have been secured ranging from 50ft. to 80ft. The latter appears only in isolated spots, but it would scorn that a sufficient depth of-water has been found for the mut>ton boats. Tho sea bottom is composed of a layer of fine sand practically all over the area, except on the northeast side of the bay. where rocks were found.

A very plucky rescue from drowning took place at Napier tho other day, states an exchange. A small boy, six years of age, while paddling on the edge of the surf, lost his balance, and was washed out into deep water, disappearing almost immediately. A young man,-Mr. Roy Gasson, of Wellington, who was sitting on the beach, rushed into the water fully clothed and secured a hold on the boy. For a moment it appeared that a double fatality would occur, but another man was at hand and managed to secure the struggling pair. Tho boy was nearly exhausted when handed over to his friends.

Some counsel aro notoriously longwinded in presenting their cases before tho various Courts, but there was certainly no justification for the implication which some members of the Bar read into an innocent remark by a fellow-pleader the other day, says the .“New Zealand Herald.” Mr. Justice Stringer wics fixing the order of business for the ponding civil session of the Supreme Court, and was anxious to know whether a certain case would fit into a gap in tho calendar. “Is this going to be a long case?” asked His Honour, and counsel on one side, seeing himself appealed to, replied hastily. “Oh, yes, Your Honour. M. ; is on the other side.”

Strong arguments in support of bud selection were given by Mr. James Boyd in the course of his remarks at the meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association on Saturday night (says the Christchurch “Press”). Mr. Boyd said that m California no nurseryman would offer for sale any line of trees unless it had a. pedigree behind it. Bud wood propagated from specially selected bees bad revolutionised the citrus fruit business, and citrus orchards that had been unprofitable had been made payable propositions simply through scientific bud selection work. Tho necessity for bud selection had been proved to be as great in respect of stone and i>ip fruit. Referring to what has been done in tha Roxburgh district in the matter of bud selection, Mr. Boyd said that he was glad that New Zealand was waking up, and was taking definite action in this important matter.

While a young fellow named Thomas Foote, of 'Dunedin, was being taken last Saturday to recover some ot the property he was alleged to have stolen ho bolted from the escorting policeman and disappeared (says the “Evening Star”). That was his initial mistake (for his eventual recapture was certain) ; but ho made a bigger one when ho wont into the juvenile probation officer’s (Mr. J. Lock) back yard next morning, apparently to search for unconsidered trifles. Mr. Lock, who lives in Victoria Avenue, St. Clair, was just about to go to church, when ho noticed a. figure m the yard. He went out and saw Foote, who made a dash for the gate, with Mr. Lock in hot pursuit. The fugitive dodged in and out several gates, and got as far as Inge Avenue before (lie probation officer caught him. There was a bit of a struggle, as Foote showed fight; but Mr. Lock won the bout, and brought his captive back to the house, whence the police camo and took him ni charge once more. An inspection of the premises disclosed the fact, that Foote had rummaged about amongst some clothes in the washhouse, but so far as could be ascertained there was nothing missing. That ho had made hay in other fields, however, was suspected from the little trinkets and other articles found upon him, of which ho could give no oatisfnctory account.