TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 149, 12 March 1923, Page 11

TOWN AND COUNTRY

, NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCIS

During the absence of a St. J oh' l s Hill (Wanganui) family on a holiday (states an exchange) rats played havoc in the green house, between 60 and 70 bunches of luscious grapes being destroyed.

There are sixty children travelling from Eltha.ni daily to attend secondary schools at Stratford and Hawera. This is regarded by tho Eltham School Committee as a strong and emphatic reason for the establishment of a junior school there, says tho local “Argus,”

Rabbits have made their presence felt at tho Opaki racecourse by burrowing on the course proper (says the “Wairarapa Age’.’). A considerable amount of filling-in has keen necessary to prepare the course for racing.

An interesting chase of a turkev over the roofs of buildings in Hall and Queen Streets in Masterton was witnessed the other .afternoon (states the “Age”). The bird escar I from the prospect of an enrlv deatu in a butcher’s shop and got on tho roofs, closely followed by two anxious pursuers. When the chase got too hot tho bird flew down to earth again.. whtwo he was once more taken to captivity.

“Having finished his legislative duties for the time bring?’ says tho ‘‘Christchurch “the Hon V. H. Mclntyre, M.L.C.. has resumed his ordinary vocation as a ‘coalie’ in tho Millerton mine.”

The three brick houses erected at Wanganui by the Government during the period of extreme house shortage are still unoccupied (says tho “Herald”). Certain alterations are now being made to the exterior, of the buildings, with a. view to making them more attractive in the hope of finding biivern.

A rather unusual sight can be witnessed any morning from the Waimauku station, states th© “New Zealand Herald.” Large cover- of pukeko can be seen casually stalking about on a newly ploughed area adjacent to a swamp. These native birds seem quite talk. Evidently theploughed ground affords a pleasant change of food.

A smart capture was made in Wanganui by Constables Rogers and Grainger, of al man inquired for by the Auckland police for alleged theft (states tho “Chronicle”). They saw the man in thd Avenue and as he answered to the description of tho wanted person they questioned him. The man denied his identity, but was taken to the police station where the necessary proof of identity was secured. He will be sent to Auckland for trial.

“I have been in this district for 30 years, and at various times have tried to get a quicker service between Palmerston North and Wellington,” said Mr. J. M. Johnston at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, “but it was utterly impossible—and yet, when an election came along, it temporarily materialised.” —"Manawatu Times.”

The Health Department has been having some correspondence with a resident of Patoa, who insists he is a loner, and demands to. be sent to Quail Island. Inquiries showed (states the “Wanganui Chronicle”), that the gentleman was ono whose malady .varied from week to week, his latest fanev being for leprosy, Finally he telegraphed offering to pay his expenses to Quail Island and wanting a berth hooked. The Department definitely decided that be will never see the island, but may have to see another Government institution.

The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. H. Gunson, states that last winter 120.000 trees were planted in the Cornwallis area, and tho programme for the coming winter contemplates the planting iof a further 300 acres with 350,000 trees. Lnst winter’s plantings have done remarkably well, the failures being very few.

Figures entered largely into a discussion by the Wanganui Borough Council at its last meeting, in regard to the water supply (states the “Chronicle”). One civic father said that the dam should be raised 17,000 feet. He corrected himself amid laughter, but there was . more laughter when a colleague inonired if he wanted to look over Mount Egmont. Later in the evening a councillor, said that the population of Wanganui was £22,000.

A party of motorist had a remarkably fortunate escape from injury a few days back while driving between Tauhoa and Kaipara Flats (states an exchange). When going up a long hill the car met a vehicle, the horses in which were restive. In endeavouring to pass these the car got over a steep bank and turned three complete somersaults before* it come to rest. The four occupants of the car then climed out, practically unhurt, excent that one man had his wrist slightly injured. The car was soon on the road again and resumed its journey.

The great dam at Nihotupu. which is to hold 540.000.000 gallons of water, is almost completed, and it is to be officially opened on April 18 (states the Auckland “"Herald”), T l ’** cost of the dam will reach £196.000, including payments made to the contractors who haYnled the project over to the city council about two years ago, owing to their inability to carry out their contract.

It is possible that when the promoters of the Summer Carnival in Auckland decided nnon the dates for the groat outdoor festival they did not realise they were encroaching upon the period of Lent (states an exchange). Hie carnival is arranged to commence on March 17. and is to continue throughout the week until March 24, and although these dates come within the 40. days of fasting which precede Easter, it is not thought that the Gay Week of 1923 will suffer greatly. It was. however, noticeable that whdn the first rehearsal of tho amalgamated choirs for tho carnival was held only 170 chorists attended out of the 5001 expected. As some of the singers who were expected to take part are members of choirs which have a special call made upon their time during Passion Week, they are unablo to devote any time to the practices which will bo necessary to bring the carnival choir to the desired pitch of perfection.

The King Country, in common with all newly-settled country, has found reading problems to be its greatest difficulty (states the “N.Z. Herald”). As tho bush land was cut out and the farmer began to take up his holdings the demand for access became more and more insistent, and slowly roads began to transform tho countryside and give it an increased appearance of civilisation and prosperity. The reading difficulty, however, has not yot been completely solved, and there are many farmers who still bemoan their isolated state and. the hardships they have to put up with in getting provisions to their farms, and in sending their stock and produce to tho markets.

Now Zealand ranks about equal with Sweden in regard to the popularity ol the telephone (states the “Wairarapa Age”). In New Zealand, there is a telephone for every 13 of population, tho greatest proportion being in M ellington district, where it is 1 for 10, and tho lowest in Auckland, where it is 1 for 15. In comparison with New Zealand’s 77 per 1000 of population we have Sweden with 64 per 1000, Switzerland with 30, Germany with 2J, France with 9, and Italy with only S. In England 19 persons m the IUUU have a telephone, and in the United States we get as high as 247, or about one-fourth of the population. Considering the distribution of the population of New Zealand, tho development of the telephone in tho Dominion is rather remarkable. x

The fate of a large tortara tree in Claude Road was decided on by the One Tree Hill Road Board in Auckland (states the “Herald”). The tree at present stands in front of the l Auckland Trotting Club’s now roadway from Gieen Lane to Claude Road, and it was considered that it would obstruct traffic. Tho engineer reported that ho had been advised that the tree could be removed in the winter without danger to the life of the tree, but it would be a very costly undertaking, which the value of the tree did not which the value of the tree did not warbe cut down and two new totara trees, one on each .-ide of. the be planted by the Trotting Club. Jins recommendation was adopted.

“As long as I’ve got clothes on my back I’ll always give my wife a drop of brandy if I think she doseryes it, declared a man in the New Plymoxith Magistrate’s Court when charged with being on licensed premises after hours (states tho “News’ 1 ). “A husband any woman should be pleased to have, no doubt,” said the Magistrate, “but the law throws upon you the onus of, showing what you were doing upon the hotel premises. Yon will be fined £1 and costs 75.”

"■What is the amount of pair other debts ?” the Magistrate asked a man in the New Plymouth Court (relates the “News”). “About £120,” was tho reply. “Hopeless! When do .you expect to-pay thorn off?” “Oh., some day, I suppose.” “What,” said the Magistrate, “do you expect a legacy?” Defendant said he could pay 11s. a week off his present debt in two months’ time after he had cleared up his New Plymouth debt. An order was made accordingly, but. the Magistrate commented that defendant, would bo a very lucky man indeed if ho could clear up all tho debts he said he owed in that time.

The biggest telegraph line construction jqb now in progress in the Taranaki district is the 'Tahora-Tatu line. This will cover the gap between Stratford and the Main Trunk district, and will give New Plymouth and . other Taranaki centres direct communication with the northern Main Trunk centres. Tho length of the line (states , tho “Taranaki News”) is about 70 miles. Other work in hand in the Taranaki district includes the construction of a small exchange alt Uruti, which, when completed, will give a further’extension of the telephono in that district. The circuits between New Plymouth, Opunake, and Hawera have boon completed, and the men transferred to the Tahora-Tatu job.

“The Empire Migration Committee of London has written to Mr. W. J. Napier, who represents the committee in New Zealand, in reference to statements made by Lord Ha»g, regarding dissatisfaction with the reception given to emigrants from England on arriving in Australia and New Zealand. The committee (states an exchange) asks Mr. Napier to submit a review of migration generally as affecting New Zealand and Jingland, stating in what direction improvements can be made. Mr. Napier is preparing a . memorandum containing the iwfprmation required and has assured the Empire Migration Committee that there is no cause for complaint so far as New Zealand is concerned, as the immigrants aro mot on arrival by an officer of the Govern' ment, and by an officer of the Salvation Army and frequently by himself. He states, however, that there is room for improvement by certain companies in the conditions life for immigrants on board the steamers, especially as regards the food for young children.

The first irrigation works, to be constructed in the Mackenzie Country have just been completed (states an exchange). A plentiful supply of water was obtained in the Mackenzie Pass by diverting the water from one creek into another. The race is two miles long and contains several pipe flumes. Tlioro is an eight head, supply of water sufficient to irrigate from 1000 to 1200 acres. What effect irrigation will have on the land affected remains to be seen.

An interesting instance of the manner in which money has been squandered and every principle of macadam flouted by the makers of certain roads was given the other dav by Mr. C. Barwell, the veteran cj’clist (says the Auckland “Herald”). “When I was eye King through North Auckland a couple of years ago,” ho said, “I rode over a clay road. A great number of men were preparing the surface and laying metal of excellent quality on this cln.y section, which was several miles in length. When I rode over tho same highway again this year I naturally expected to find a splendid metalled road. I found instead a highway that was an absolute horror. Tlie crude metal had actually been laid to a depth of 6in. or so on the raw clay foundation without an ounce of binding nor any attempt whatever to make the surface waterproof, which are among the first principles of macadam. The inevitable consequence wss that the rain had converted the clay beneath into a soft, putty-like paste, tho wheels of vehicles had forced the metal down into it, and great clay ridges wore pushing themselves up through tho metal between these ruts. A more hopeless moss and waste of money could nob be imagined. 1

Another forward phase in tho completion of tho Otira tunnel was successfully negotiated on Saturday last (states an exchange). The large Babcock boilers were heated, and steam was raised. Everything went off satisfactorily, the trial pleasing the engineers immensely. Incuiries made, at Otira lend to the belief that freight trains will be able to run through the tunnel in about a fortnight’s time. A little pressure on the Public Works and the Railway Departments should bring about a passenger service as well as freight service.

The old English stage coach which is being built to tho of Mr. FT. G. Ell for use on the Summit Road near Christchurch will, so Mr EH says, be completed in six weeks - or months (states an exchange). the cost of the coach is being met by nubile subscription, and a local gentleman prominently interested in sporting has undertaken to find the balance of the* money required. Mr. lit. Bothell has offered the loan of a splendid set of English coach harness for use until such time as a permanent sot can be procured.