TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 174, 11 April 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

Somebody (states an exchange) stole the goal-posts of the Christchuich Polo Club in Hagley Park last week, apparontly for firewood. They were seen by children being wheeled away on a peramulator.

Remembering, when making his will, that “small contributions are thankfully received” by churches, an Ashburton tanner, now deceased, bequeathed his pony (a rather valuable animal) to the local Anglican Church to be realised on ,for church work (states the Lyttelton “Times”).

Even shopkeepers, it seems, must cat (declares an exchange), and the tradesmen at Greymouth are definitely taking notice of the fact by a movement to inaugurate a universal dinner hour for retail shops. Those who initiated the proposal felt that the existing lunch hour system meant considerable inconvenience to both shopkeepers and shoppers.

The remains of a small two-cylinder car now lie on f*ie roadside on Foxton Road, between Himatangi and Bainesse, having been thoroughly burnt by fire (states the “Manawatu Daily Times”). Judging by the completeness of the ourn, the fire must have been a fierce one. and an empty fire extinguished alongside bears tribute to the efforts that bad been made to subdue it.

“Is this where ’s dancing class is held?” Such (says the “Taranaki Herald”) was the amazing question iasked at the vestry door of St. Mary’s Church at the conclusion of a recent evening service. The inquirer’s proper destination should have been the Sunday school hall on the other side of the road.

It is reported from Wanganui (states the “Taranaki Daily News”) that the proprietor of one of the hotels at which some of the visiting oarsmen were accommodated during their stay in Wanganui for the regatta, complains that their conduct savoured so much of the larrikin type that he intends to report the matter to the New Zealand Rowing Association.

A fifteen-year-old boy, from a family of ten, pleaded guilty at the Christchurch Juvenile Court to two burglaries and theft of £26 in company with two other boys previously dealt with (states the “Press”). Ho said ho had already wasted his share of the money. He was sent to the Weraroa Industrial School.

Thjp success of the Ashburton Brass Band (Ist Canterbury M .tinted Rifles) in beating all the North Island competitors at the Dunedin contest has stimulated keen local interest (says the “Lyttelton Times”). An appeal for now young members forythe junior division bought in thirty-two applicants, and these are now being trained.

The New Plymouth Justices of the Peace Association has decided (states the “News”) not. to affiliate with the Wellington association. ' The matter has been under discussion for some time, but it was felt that in the meantime it would bo better for ...the New Plymouth association to remain a separate body. The desirability of forming a New Zealand Justices of the Peace Association -was mentioned, but no further action was taken.

The tourist traffic in Canterbury for tho year ended March 31 showed a marked increase over that of the previous twelve months (states a southern exchange). The number of overseas visitors was considerably greater. Mount Cook and the Franz Josef Glacier, as well as the east and West Coast tours via, Kaikoura and Nelson and tho Buller and Otira Gorges, wore easily the most popular trips in the South Island.

A peculiar phenomenon in tree-graft-ing was shown us recently (savs the “King Country Chronicle”) by Mr. T. Pine. ' On a stock grown from a seedling, Mr. Pine grafted branches of Cox orangei pippin. Jonathan, and Delicious trees. This issultant true boro a heavy crop, . and among the apples' was one bearing exactly onethird of the colcoring of the Jonathan, while two-thirds was orange pippin. Tho deep reA of the Jonathan speries looked as if. it had been painted with a brush, being clearly defined.

Model yacht racing has become so popular among the boys in Dunedin that a spprial event for miniature craft was pvt on at the recent Ravensbourne regatta Estates the Christchi'Fcli “Sun’s” correspondent). There was no lack of interest in the race, and the juveniles were not the only ones who were specially attracted; the helmsman of a launch was so intent in watching the proceedings that he steered into another launch, stoving her stern in.

At the inquest concerning, the death of John Collis, who was killed when attempting to board a train at Taihape railway station, the Coroner (states the Auckland “Star”) commented strongly on the policy of the Railway Department in allowing such a large number of people with no legitimate business to congregate on the railway station when the express train is at the platform. Ho thought there would bo less risk of accident if there were not such a large number.of people on the platform to obstruct tho officials and police in case of accident. A representative of the Railway Department, who was present at the inquest, promised to represent the matter to tho lic-ads of the Department.

An amusing situation occurred duri'l.o! a game at the polo tournament at Clnudelands last Thursday (states the “Waikato Timos”). 2V rising ball was caught in the hair of the tail of one of tho horses in the To Awamutu B team, which was defending at the time. .4mid the exhortations of “Go for the goal,” the rider set his . steed off at full gallop with Hamilto i in hot pursuit. Half the field had been traversed before the ball dropped from its position. Tho spectators laughed heartily at this amusing and unexpected development from the customary incidents of the play.

It is accepted by most people (states th) “Taranaki Herald’’) that it is impossible to do two things at the same time, but there is one country resident in Taranaki who .is. evidently quite willing to risk both his own and other people’s lives in an endeavour to disprove the. axiom. He sat in his - on Thursday afternoon and allowed the horse to wander nin’osslv up the hill approaching the AVaikwakndio golf links. He was deeply immersed in a book and obvious of the f ict that a motor-car was approaching: from the other direction. It was only after repeated use of the horn that be .was made to realise his surroundings. Then ho carefully closed the cause of bis abstraction, placed his fingers between the leaves to keep the place and leisurely guided his veli’cl; to the side of the'road. As the car passed him ho erected it with a look which plain-ly-asked: “What right have you <0 disturb me, anyway?”

A largo meeting cf residents was held at Raetihi last week to dificuss the question of hotel licenses m the King Country (states a northern exchange), and the following resolution was earned:— ‘‘Tint this “levting or residents of the Raetihi district requests the Government to give effect to the recommendation cf the Licensing Commission in reference to local option in the Proclaimed Native NoLicense Area, and is of opinion that electors in this area should be given an opportunity of deciding whether licenses should be granted or otherwise.”

A well-known Christchurch merchant says that eggs are likely to be, cheaper this winter than has been the case for the past eight years (reports an exchange). Abundant supplies were m sight, and although durinc the nextfew weeks production would be falling off, yet there should be quite sufficient supplies to prevent exceptionally high prices. The supply of eggs this year was much in excess of that of previous vears. This was due to the large number of poultry which, were now being raised. In his opinion the . public should be able to obtain their eggs retail at about 2s. per dozen for tho next week or two at least.

In connection with the incident recently reported in which a young ‘nan named Kenneth Douglas was assaulted at Mount Eden whilst cndergoui'ing to safeguard threo girls from the attention of an undesirable individual, Douglas explains (states on exchange) that the man who attacked him spoke to him while in Eden Terrace, and left such an impression on his nund that when he saw the man follow three ladies at the Terminus he thought it advisable to be, on hand if undesirable developments occurred. Ho accordingly’ escorted the ladies to the corner of their street, and was returning when he was suddenly attacked, and so badly injured that he had to be taken to the hospital. Douglas further states that the ladies have since been located, and further developments may bo expected.

Mr. Julian Grande. tho Alpinist, states that in his opinion, the West Coast district was the most depressing, neglected and dirty looking place he had seen in Now Zealand (says' the "Lvtto.lton Timos”). He noticed a groat change after leaving Richmond. TTn had intended going to Westport, but could not face the prospect. and took the quickest route to Christel’,urch. The West Coast reminded trim of the south and west of Ireland. The houses and the surroundings on the coast were Quite different from those, say, in Canterbury. There the homes were well looked after and attractive, while the gardens were nrcelv laid out and well kept. Not so on the coast, where everything appeared dirty and neglected.

“Heathens and Communists and others don’t get justice when they are brought before the Court. . They are condemned before they begin! a Ins was the comment offered by Evan John Thomas, of Waikuniete, when he was charged at the Police Court, Auckland, with selling a document,. “Bourgoies Democracy and Proletarian Dictatorship.'’ The remark (states an exchange'' drew a few scathing comments 7rorn the presiding Magistrate, Mr. J. W. Poynton, who. pointed out that there was far more liberty in the rcu.ntrv now than would be the case wore the Qommunists in control. He added, “I can toll you this—you get the same fair hearing and justice in Court here as the Governor-General would himself.”

A keen eye for striking displays in advantageous positions is. gradually developing among the business sections of the community, so much so indeed, that sacred places and historic monuments are often defiled by glaring placards, said the Hon. G. M. Thomson, at the Amenities Society’s meeting, Dunedin (says an exchange). He remarked that he was proceeding to Port Chalmers the other day, when he observed a largo advertisement above the Scott Memorial monument. This was a most objectionable practice, and should be immediately stopped.

An interesting relic of the earliest days of the Thames goldfield has been preserved (states the “Now Zealand Herald’’). Mrs. George Clarkson, whose husband was one of the four owners of the prospectors’ claim —the Shotover —held by Messrs. W. A. Hunt, G. Clarkson, W. Cobley, and J. F. White, is still resident in the city, and has in her possession the miner’s pick with which the first gold was broken out in the district. It has lx>en suggesve>.l that it would be a pity if so historic an exhibit should not be secured some day as an exhibit for some public institution, such, for example, as thfc Old Colonists’ Museum. The Dunedin “Star’s” Clyde correspondent reports that the muchdespised bunny, “who has proved a blessing” to many families in this district, is again in the limelight. Big prices are looked for this season, and as a- result raobit blocks are keenly sought for. Several buyers are already in the field.

Eulogistic reference to the operations of the Waikatp Farmers’ Union Herd Testing Association was made bv Mr. K. W. Dalrymple, president of the Wellington provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, speaking to a “Waikato Times’ reporter. Mr. Dalrymple, who is visiting Hamilton to investigate the workings of the association, with a view of "introducing a sitrilar scheme in his own province, expressed himself as highly pleased with the whole scheme, so much so in fact that he has asked Mr. A. J. Schmitt, ihe Waikato organiser. to visit the Rantdtikei district and explain to the farmers there the benefits to be derived from such an association. Mr. Datovniple mentioned that in the south . many eyes were looking in the direction of the Waikato mid the working of the Farmers’ Union especially’ in connection witn 'te herd testing association.

In a brief talk with a representative of the “Oamaru Mail.” a farmer speakinn- from personal knowledge, said that the old idea that a- man with * small farm could not make a living without wheat-growing was exploded. The cultivation of lucerne had completely changed the position., and it liad become possible to obtain a good return from sheep from a small area where the farmer had this valuable and unfailing fodder r/ant to h<dn him* With its aid it was practicable to graze a great many more sheep on a small farm than under the old conditions. He had, lie said, proved this beyond doubt, and he did not intend in future to trouble w'th wheat, which was attended with too many risks. It is not only in connection with sb.-cp grazing that lucerne »"• a valuable asset; it is an inr'irauoe to the dairy farmer that ought w receive, wider attention. It is an agency that will mnkc small holdings hiphly rcmuucraties? and enable the production of inoro wealth from the rural lands of the Dominion.