TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 133, 21 February 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

“Levin is in the front in egg production, and we want to make it go 'ahead iu the quality of its poultry, too,’’ said Mr. J. K- Allen at a poultrymen's meeting when supporting the holding of an egg-laying competition.— Levin “Chronicle.”

When a carpenter commenced repairs to an old building in Levin, he found a hive of bees well establishea in the roof (states the “Manawatu Daily Times”). The bees must have been in occupation for some considerable time, for 13 large combs of honey had been collected by the busy little workers, which proved a good haul for the luck.) finders

The ship’s cannon which once graced the deck of the ill-fated Hydrabad—the remains of which are still embedded on the coast near Otaki —has been placed in Ihaknra Garden, Foxton (states the “Manawatu Daily Times”). For many years the cannon was in possession of the la'.e Air. Andrew Jonson, and was subsequently handed over to the Foxton Borough Council.

A lad)' of Palmerston North whose husband looked upon red wine and too frequently indulged in little jaunts from home, showed a woman’s ready resource last Saturday evening, when her lord and master got the' car out for another little trip (relates the “Manawatu Daily Times”). She jumped on the footboard and rode to the front gate. When he got out to open the gate she switched off, having meantime flung the starting handle into a bushy tree beside the driveFor that day, aV least, his escapade was off.

Much excitement was caused the other afternoon in the vicinity of Elies Road. Invercargill (states the “Southland Timos”), when a pig which was being taken home from market, escaped from the confines of a bag. and set out on the quest for adventure. During the next quarter of an hour piggy trotted aimlessly around, eluding the frantic grasps of the dozen or so men and boys who were vainly endeavouring to catch the wily animal. After nearly ending its young life under a tramcar, the pig was finally captured, and amidst much squealing and kicking, deposited back in the bag.

A New South ‘Wales bowler, on the Ashburton railway station on Saturday, ventured the remark, states the “Guardian,” that the traini (the first express) he was travelling on that morning was the longest he had ridden in. He also added the Ashburton refreshment rooms were by far the best appointed he had patronised in this country, and of the railway stations he had so far seen Ashburton had the longest platform.

A game of croquet lasting over lour hours must be a record (says the “Taranaki Daily News”). Such a performance was made by four ladies playing in the championship doubles at the Taranaki tournament nt New Plymouth. Pipy started at 9.30 m the morning, but a heavy showed caused a 20 minutes’ interval, after wh’ch the contest was continued. During a shower at midday lunch was partaken of after which the ladies again took up their mallets. Finality was reached at 3.20 p.m . after an exciting match which had lasted almost twice as long as the average game of eroquet.

The great recovery’ in the wool market this season and the excellent prices realised for dairying products, has had the effect of stimulating the demand for farming properties (states the Auckland “Herald”). A prominent Auckland land agent states, that he has recently received inauines for farms, particularly moderate-sized blocks, suitable for sheep. He expressed the opinion that a good. many properties would change hands in the near future, provided the prospective purchasers could make reasonable arrangements for stocking the farms.

The Waipuknrau “Press” reports that an accident happened on *he Lower Gorge Road near the Sanatorium last Saturday afternoon. The Waiuukurau cricketers, in Mr.-MMn-tvre's car, were proceeding up the lull, on the wav to Onga Onga. when thov met two bovs, named Basham and Haines, on horsehack riding into town. The car and horses moved over to their respective correct sides of the road, the two bovs taking the outside. Just at the point where they passed there is a sheer drop from the road down a cliff of about seventy feet. There is a fence along the side of the road, but nt one point there is an indentation in the side of the cliff- encroaching on the road, and dangerously obscured bv a growth of grass and bushes. The fence overhangs this hole, which goes straight down for about sixty feet, and the road looks quite safe—a veritable death-trap at this point. Basham passed the car safely, skirting the hole, and Haines was following him when his horse swerved towards the hole, and disappeared hmd feet first., Haines was thrown off towards the road, and then into the hole, but managed to clutch some bushes and was rescued, unhurt.. Iho horse went straight down for sixty or seventy feet and. broke its neck.

Statements that there is likely to be trouble amongst Canterbury slaughtermen in connection with a suggestion from Otago slaughtermen that killing should be restricted to eight an hour, are not borne out as. the result of inquiries in official union circles (states th« Christchurch “Press”). “I know nothing about it,” was the reply given a reporter bv Mr. F. C. Ellis, secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Works and Related Trades Union, to whom a question on the subject was addressed. The statements referred to had their source, it appears, in Southland. Free labour is employed at the Ocean Beach and Balclutha works, and certain unionists feel hurt because they cannot get hooks. They have been promised work when things get busier, and to accelerate the arrival of that period a restriction of output has been suggested. In Canterbury killing has hardly started; at any rate it is not in full swing, and, as one man put it to the reporter: “Just imagine eight an hour when we are not getting eight n day!” The possibility of action by Canterbury slaughtermen on the linos suggested bv those in the south is considered very unlikely.

Tuesday was pay day for the Natives in the Pa tea district, reports the “Press,” quite a largo sum accruing from rents being distributed by the Native Trustee. Among the visiting Natives was the well-known Maori faith healer Ratana, who was accompanied by his sister and several other supporters. As there are a number of Natives in the district who are politically' opposed to Ratana it was not long before the public were treated to some animated scones, though nothing worse than verbal duels took place. One bone ftf contention with the prophet’s supporters appeared to bo the fact that a Native lady with a curious sense of humour had nanied her baby “Wawata.” which being interpreted means “'one who wants everything.” Keeling throughout the day appeared to be running very high, the supporters of Dr. Pomare resentin'* a declaration made bv some of the R,?.tana supporters that the genial doctor and his followers would one day ho. “LuHttt ip siaUes.’’

The subject of bitumen roads is to bo brought forward at the annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers at Auckland (states the “Herald”). The Matamata. County Council has instructed its engineer, Mr. F. Shannon, to obtain the fullest possible discussion and information on the matter from the gathering. The council’s interest in the matter arises from the fact that it is becoming increasingly evident in the Waikato that metal roads are an inadequate and costly provision for modern motorlorry traffic, especially in. the cartage of who’e milk to the dried-milk factories and in timber haulage.

Sportsmen and others who have been in the habit of carrying guns into the Orongorongo State Forest are .warned that in future anyone caught with firearms in this locality will be prosecuted. This measure had to be adopted in order to safeguard native bird-life, many species of which are in danger of extinction through the ruthless operations of armed parties, who in past years have roamed the country. The State Forest Service announces that until further notice no permits to carry guns in this forest will be allowed. Rangers have been notified to take action against any person found in possession of firearms there.

The immense expansion of Auckland during recent years which was temporarily arrested owing to the slump in our primary products is now proceeding with renewed activity (states the “Herald”). In practically all the suburban areas an almost feverish activity in building is apparent. In some districts houses are appearing like the proverbial mushroom growth, and there is no abatement of the demandfor residences. There seems at last to he a definite attempt to overtake the building shortage occasioned by the war.

The stupid habit of carving names in public places has accounted for the spoiling in many places of the new coat of paint on the seats on Caroline Bay, Timarti (says the “Post”). The seats were freshly painted before the Christmas holidays, and now the names ,of persons, who are seemingly eager to be in the public eye, and to leave specimens of their superior workmanship with the pocket-knife behind them, are cut deeply into the wood. The Bay caretaker is on the lookout for some of the “seat-carvers.”

The easy-going individual is evidently found among poultrymen as in other occupations (remarks the Levin “Chronicle”). It was stated by a speaker at the meeting of the local Poultry-keepers’ Association at Levin that some of the suppliers would not even trouble themselves to come up for their cheques. Air. J. W. Thompson (secretary of the association) : “Yes; that is quite true. I sent out a cheque by post a few days ago that was three months’ old. The supplier simply would not come for it, so .1 sent it.” The first speaker said it was useless trying to get support from this class of poultryman for an egg-laying competition. Such a man would not. trouble himself about anything.

A visitor to Auckland set out to find the residence of a friend the other day. He was armed (states the “Star”) "with a slip of paper with the name' of the person, street, and num-, her of the house written upon it, and he felt certain that he would experience no difficulty in locating the residence. But his mind was speedily disabused of this idea. In the first place he found that the sjtreet was-a mile long. Next he discovered that the houses were not numbered. Going from side to side of the street he asked the residents to direct him to his friend’s house. Nobody could give him any assistance. Then, knowing that the number of the house was 5, ho realised that he had entered the street at tin wrong end, so he trudged the weary mile, but not a number did he see. At the other end he found his friend’s house. It was the only place in the whole length of the street that sported a number.

“When I addressed von ai the last annual meeting the prospects of the farmer were certainly very gloomy, both meat and wool prices being at. a. low ebb,” stated the chairman of directors at_±ho annual meeting of the Southland Frozen Moat and Produce Export Co., Ltd. (savs the “Mataura Ensign”). then the position has "very steadily improved and today these prices are probably the highest on record. As to what extent they may he maintained there seems a .considerable amount of uncertainty, as there have been. for. some time indications for a reaction .in the I-lome' markets, and an unwillingness on the part of the buyers to operate on forward deliveries except for the earliest shipments. There annears to he at rpesent heavy supplies of Australian lambs ava’lnUe on tlie Home markets, which will , have a- lowering tendency on the prices of secondyrade New Zealand lamb. The object, therefore, should naturally be to ami at shipping prime finished stuff for which there is now a profitable and estab’ished demand.”

“Personally, I think that’s the hardest blow swimming has had for some years.” was the opinion expressed to the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association by Mr. H. S. Williams, in reference to a decision to abolish the intermediate grade in swimming and lower the junio’’ age limit to 16. This (states the Christchurch “Sun”) was a . remit passed at. a conference of swimmers in Timaru, and recommended to the Now Zealand Swimming Council. Mr. Williams contended that the intermediate grade had produced many promising swimmers,. and so had justified its existence. Moreover, it seemed unfair for young boys to compete against others 16 years of age. The remit was supported by the centre, chiefly on the ground that many swimmers had strained themselves while in the intermediate class, and had not liad such a good record as seniors.

Mr. John A. Spencer, a world-wide authority on petroleum, and formerly of tlie Anglo-Persian Oil Co., writing to the “Taranaki Herald,” comments upon the fact that recently one South Australian syndicate had raised .£20.000 in New' Zealand for an oil venture in that State. The writer- states that it is difficult to understand the eagerness of New Zealand people to invest in oil ventures abroad, especially as in New Zealand itself oil deposits have been proved to exist oyer and over again. Without reasonable doubt payable oil will bo won in Now Zealand. Mr. Spencer points out that what is wanted is close and expert mapping by competent petroleum geologists instead of wild haphazard methods which have hitherto be<yi adopted. Tie adds that if Australia could only produce even a few spoonfuls of the crude oil such as can be got around Taranaki, millions of pounds would automatically flow into the coffers of the syndicate lucky enough to come across it. Mr. Spencer then refers to what the Dutch are doing in Now- Guineas in the matter of development of an oil area, and adds they are a progressive race, and have a faculty for developing their own territory, which is apparently dead or dorL nian in New Zealand.