TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 176, 13 April 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

There was found a few days ago at the Thames abattoir, in the .stomach of .a cow practically a whole rubber bicycle tire (states the Rotorua. "Chronicle”). The cow was fat and in every way healthy.

, The Mayor of Christchurch stated at a meeting of the City Council that some representations should be made to the Minister of Railways to provide precautions at level crossings to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities that had been so numerous of late (says the Christchurch "Press”). The council agreed that a communication should be sent to the Minister.

The cold snap on Monday resulted (n the peak load on the Lake Coleridge hydro-dlectricity power-house jumping to 9600 k.w. (states the Christchurch “Press”), 600 k.w. in excess of the nominal output.

"How manv feet of timber did you handle in a day?” asked counsel of a sawmill employee in the Supreme Court at Masterton (states an exchange). “I can tell you how much Limber .1 could handle, but not how much I did handle!” was the smiling reply, which raised a laugh in Court.

At a meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce (states an exchange), a report, furnished by the Canterbury Progress League, was read, in which it was stated that of the £200,000 which the Post and Telegraph Department proposed to raise by the increased telephone charges, £150,000 would be levied on business people.

It is seldom that a soldier turns down a Joan, but at the last meeting of the Dannevirke branch of the Hawke s Bay War Relief Association (states the “News”), an applicant who had been induced to seek financial assistance wrote that he would not now require the money as he believed h® could get along without it. “He is lucky,” remarked the chairman (Mr. F. G. Cowper). “Well, we cannot force him to take it,” added Mr. J. Livingston. “If an inspector attempts to discriminate he will find himself in a hopeless muddle,” said Mr. Wyvern Milson, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court nt Christchurch (states an exchange). “He leaves himself open to question if ho decided to let one man off and prosecute another. An inspector is not there to discriminate, hut to tie. tect breaches of the by-laws. ’

"Hands up those who plnv football.” said the headmaster of the Temuka School (Mr. R. Malcolm), during the Hon. C. J. Parr’s visit. To the Minister’s great approval (relates the Timaru “Post”), all but ’two small bovs promptly raised their hands enthusiastically.

’ At an informal meeting of the Into South Waimakariri River Board (says the Christchurch “Press”), the exchairman, Mr. Jones, said ’t would he an expensive business to the ratepayers if there was a contested electon over so wide an area as the new district, and suggested that an election mio-ht be avoided if the candidates selected had the public confidence. After considerable discussion, it was decided that four men of long expentttice of the river and expert knowledge should he nominated.

In connectiont with the forthcoming municipal elections at Pul'ekoho. the ‘Franklin Times” states that 1000 invitations have been issued ratepayers to visit the Council rb-mbors. when the council is in soss'on. and take note of the stupendous work done. “As a special inducement to he iiwcent,” (adds the “Times” facetiously), ‘it will be announced that the ‘quarreS scene’ from Jubus Caesar will- he, interpreted by His Worship the Mayor and Councillor I'atteraon.”

When Mr. H. Bundle, S.M., was discriminating between two witnesses in «o far as the allowance of expenses was concerned. Senior-Sergeant Mathicsort revealed an anomaly of a nature favourable to witnesses called by ti-e police (states the ‘Otago Daily Times ) He pointed out that, whether or not nxpenses were allowed by the court, they were paid by the department. The Magistrate remarked that this was ridiculous. He asked the officer to see that expenses were not paid under those circumstances in the future.

In connection with the anomaly by which workmen travelling to Tomoana and Whakatu from Napier have to pay Cs. 6d. and ss. fid. each respectively tor weekly tickets, whereas the coat of a weekly worker’s ticket to Hastings is only 35.. Mr. L. Mcllvride, M.P., has sent a letter to tlie Minister, of Railways asking that the extraordinary position bo removed (states the “Daily Telegraph”). .Mr. Mcllvride pointed out that it was unreasonable to compel a greater payment for a less service and added that a large building scheme was shortly to be commenced at Tomoana, which would take many workers from Napier. The Minister acknowledged receipt of the letter, and has promised to send a further leply when the* matter complained of l.as bean considered.

“What would you call a largo herd?” aeked an “Eltham Argus” reporter of a gentleman closely connected with dairying in the district. TJie reply was that a herd of 60 or 70 cows was generally considered large. There were many of that number round El than, and several larger still, one farmer milking as many as 140. On the other hand there were very many small holdings, and the average number in the herds milked in this locality would probably riot exceed 30 or 40.

A Woodville settler, Mr. W. Gosling, has discovered a new blight on one of Its stringy bark tms (states the “Pahiatua Herald”). At first sight it looks as if the stalks are all scaly but close examination discloses tiny shell eases, like small sea shells, closely packed together, each containing numbers of eggs. The cases are soft and j’xude a vermilion coloured matter which leaves a stain. So far the blight has not affected the trees. A branch has been forwarded to the Agricultural Department for further information.

The main street in Opotiki was the scene of a great amount of activity and excitement on Saturday night, when, under the leadership of an eloquent speaker, three zealots expounded the doctrine similar to that preached by Dr. Piggot, who founded the “Abode of Txive” on Clapham Common, England (states the local paper); The crowd at first showed displeasure through the medium of crackers, stink bombs, etc., but when the leader made pointed reference to a woman in the audience and she retaliated by the primitive method of punching his face, it became the signal for a general bombardment with maize-cobs and eggs of doubtful nature. At the same moment the Salvation Army Band sonm yards away rendered mart'cl and if it had not been for prompt and able handling oi the situation by a police sergeant, the strangers would probably have become “acquainted with the river.”

When excavating on his section near Collingwood Street bridge (says the Nelson “Evening Mail”), Mr. T. W. Forster unearthed a number of curios, amongst them being u double-barrel pistol, a Baptist Mission Centenary medal, 1792-1892, and a Pills and Ointment token, dated 1856. The olde* residents or the city will remember buying lollies with the latter.

He was a very old gentleman, and he was riding his bicycle up the steep Rath that leads from the bay (says the Timaru “Herald”). He had a stiff starched collar that seemed far too large altogether in the prevailing hot weather. He was extremely unhappy before the top of the hill was reached. All of a sudden his machine went over a stone. He rose slightly m the saddle, bent forward, and coughed—not from choice. Something fell with a click to the ground. It was his teeth.

A peculiar discovery was made recently by a Palmerston North resident when pulling down a chimney erected 40 years ago (states the “Manawatu Daily Times!’). Embedded in the old cement he was amazed to find a loin of mutton which, although hard and dry, looked quite fresh and “ready fcr the oven,” to use his own words. On being exposed to the air, however, it quickly putrified. It is surmised that the mutton was covered over by accident when the chimney was being built, and that the cement had thus preserved the meat in this remarkable ins nner.

A half-penny, issued in Jamacia, was found by a resident of Palmerston North amongst some silver he had received in change from a local shop (states an exchange). The coin, was innocently handed over as a shilling piece and the mistake is a natural one, as the half-penny piece is a dull white in colour and the size of a shilling niece. The former was minted in 1893 and bears Queen Victoria’s head dn one side and a coat of arms with “Jamaica, half-penny” on the other.

Reference was made at a meeting of the Palmerston North Borough Council by the Mayor to the fact that a new brick school, accommodating 350 children, was to be erected at Hokowhitu on the site presented to the Department by tie council (states the “Manawatu Evening Standard”). The speaker stressed the value and need of the new school, adding that the Prime ’Minister had spoken eulogistically of the generosity of the council in donating a site. The children who would attend the new school, he pointed out, would not have to walk so far as at present to receive their education, mid it would obviate the necessity, for some of them crossing the railway line to Terrace End.

The point was raised at the Wanganui Court the other day as to what language a person should use within the hearing of passers-by iso as not to bring 'hiiniself within reach of the law (states the “Wanganui Herald”). The Magistrate replied to Mr., Slipper that if he happened to be in his baqk yard or garden and hit his thumb with a hammer and used profane language it would be quite alright providing it was not heard by some person passing by. He suggested, however, it would be better to confine this class of language to the back garden and not the front. Mr. Slipper holding up his left hand replied, ’‘‘Unfortunately I have lost my thumb, Sir.”

In tendering his resignation from thd Tlimaru Presbytery (states the local “Post”) the Bev. Charles Macdo'nald described that body as “a model Presbytery.” Mr, Hughes, in speaking with regret of the resignation of Mr. Macdonald stated that if the Presbytery had been without the spice that the retiring minister had added to the proceedings, the meetings would have been tame indeed. Mr. Macdonald, in responding to the motion of ’regret at his resignation, stated that he was probably the oldest member on the body, and had sometimes been called the “father” of the Presbytery, a term which was ■ very embarrassing when applied to him as a bachelor.

“This is the first case of its koind for some time,” remarked Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., at the Hamilton Court when a resident was charged with permitting cows to be at large (states the “Waikato Times”). "Is it because no cows have been roaming the streets of late, or why is it?” asked the Magistrate of the Board Inspector (Mr. J. A. de Silva). "Oh! the Borough Ranger is dead,” replied Mr. de Silva (lakighter); “and Ave are only just getting a new man.” Defendant was fined. 10s. and costs 75., but as it was stated that he had eight children the fine was remitted. New Zealanders sometimes say hard things about their climate, though they do not like other people to do so, for in their hearts they hold a very good opinion of it, states the “Rotorua Chronicle.” They should, therefore, appreciate a tribute paid thereto by a visitor from England, who was recently in Rotorua and who said: ‘ ‘You may talk about your bad weather. You nave no bad weather ; you hardly know what bad weather is. You have never had to postpone a tennis match for six weeks, as I have known done in England.”

At the Golden Downs Accommodation House (Institute Reserve) the new road to connect with the bridge over the Motueka River now being built by the Public Works Department has been laid out and a certain amount of formation has been done (says the Nelson “Evening Mail”). It is stated that the county will have to take over the road in its present state, which will mean considerable expense before it is lit for traffic. The new bridge is 140 ft. long, of three spans, and should soon be finished. The contractor, however, has been delayed foi want of timber. A deep cutting will be necessary lor the approach from the Accommodation House end of it. In the gold-mining days “swaggers” were numerous, and it is recorded that as many as 50 were accommodated in a single night at the accommodation house in the vicinity in use in those early times.

It was stated at a conference of the Auckland Presbytery (reports the “Star”), that this paucity of men was causing serious concern. There are 20,795 Presbyterian people—or people who call themselves Presbyterians — within the jurisdiction of the Auckland Presbytery,, and, roughly, only onehalf of these have their spiritual wants attended to. Districts particularised as requiring attention in the country were Hok’anga, Dargaville, and North of the Wairoa, whilst round about Auckland city there are neglected areas, such as the growing settlements in between Onehunga, Mount Eden, and Mount Roskill, tn the area beyond Mt. Smart towards Otahuhu, and from Epsom barn along Wheturangi Road, in the direction of Ellerslie—all described as stretches of “No Man’s Land.”