TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 17, Issue 289, 23 August 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

“Gaining and gambling,” said Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., at Auckland (reports an exchange), “are due to a perversion of tho hunting instinct still strong in most of us. Unfortunately, this instinct is often degraded to base uses, the worst of which is gambling—that is, chasing after the other fellow’s goods.”

“Peeping Tom” has again made his appearance in Timaru (states the “Herald"), and is carrying on his nefarious practice of peeping through tho windows of private houses, in an unusually bold way taking such risks as presage an early capture by the police.

“It is one of the greatest flaws in tho jury system, a system which has been in existence in England for hundreds of years, and is part of our constitution, that a jury may be carried away by sympathy,” said His Honour Mr. Justice Reed at the Supreme Court at Christchurch (reports the “Sun”). A Wanganui lady recently sent to relatives in the Old Land a price list for beef published by a local butchery firm (states an exchange). By last mail she received a London price list, giving! the following) prices:—Fillet beef 2s. Bd., rump steak 2s. Bd., sirloin Is. lid., ribs Is. lid., top side Is. Bd., flank Is., stewing steak Is. 9d., gravy beef Is. 4d., brisket lOd.

The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, who passed through Palmerston North on a recent morning, received states the local “Standard”) a wireless message from the Rev. J. F. Goldie in the Solomon Islands, which is the first received from this station. Tho plant, which was installed by the Methodist Church Foreign Missions Society, is, we understand, the first to be installed in any mission station in the Pacific.

“How much do you lose by coming here to-day?” asked counsel in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court of two witnesses from Rongotca. They replied 17s. and 15s. respectively, whereupon (reports the “Standard”) His Worship called them up from the rear of the Court, saying, “Come up here and let us find out what you actually do lose. Don’t make it too much or you will get nothing.”

Since the Otira Tunnel has been made available for traffic (states the “Lyttelton Times”) 2500 tons of coal have been delivered in Christchurch from the West Coast. In giving this information to the Railway Committee of the Canterbury Progress League, Mr. J. 13. Mitchell, District Traffic Manager, stated that the carrying of coal through the tunnel had relieved Chrischurch of an acute coal shortage.

That this grand jury is of the opinion that where a person has been convicted of a charge of driving a motor to the danger of the public, power should be given to the Judge or Magistrate, should tho circumstances warrant it, to prohibit such a person holding a license or driving a motor in any district in the Dominion, and that after such prohibition it should he a penal offence for any such person so prohibited to drive a car cr motor in the Dominion ,’’ was a recommendation made at the opening of the Christchurch Supreme. Court—a recommendation (states an exchange) that was endorsed by Mr. Justice Reed, who hoped tho. effect of it wo--Id be to cause legislation to be carried out in this connection.

A good deal of bicycle thieving has been going on in Timaru for some time (states the “HeralcJ”). The police had one boy before the Magistrate for tho theft of a bicycle on Saturday last, and another tor stealing a bicycle lamp The latter was sent to Weraroa training farm, and the former was placed on probation for twelve months. The Magistrate has intimated his intention to deal more severely with offenders of this kind in the future.

The Government officer to handle opossum skins in Wanganui, stamped 1575 in July and 23vd this month (states an exchange). Thj season for killing closed on Saturday last, but a large number of skins have still to come to band. On each skin Is. »s collected.

It is quite often that, at National week, the “hotel-barber" operates, and this year there are evidences of his presence (says the Christchurch “Sun"). Last week a private hotel reported the presence of an unwelcome “guest," and during the week-end a licensed house was visited by one or more of the light-fingered gentry. The doors of two bedrooms were forced. A start was being made on a third room when the intruders were disturbed and escaped. The occupiers lost in all about £3.

■ There is reason to believe (states a 'Wanganui paper), that some vendors of !ltoncy are not over' particular what class of article they put rn the market; that is, as far as adding some other substance to make the honey spin out. A .'ample of this class of blended honey, sold io a local storekeeper, has been brought under notice. The storekeeper states that he is returning the consignment with an intimation that next time le receives honey of that quality ho will institute a prosecution.. The price cf honey is 'dear enough without being mixed with glucose, lard, or other substances, which, when too liberally applied, give a flavour very much like candle grease.

“Half house, liiifurn.. convs., children welcome. . .” So read an advertisement in the Auckland “Star.” By reason of its uniqueness (says the “Star”) this advertisement has attracted particular attention, for it is not since the long-distant days before the housing shortage that children were ever tolerated by landlords. . . But perhaps this “Children welcome" advertisement is preliminary to a change of heart on tho part of the property owner, and that in the near future wo shall see houses advertised to bo let only to those couples whom nature has blessed —with preference to large families!

The accumulation of two years’ marine growth has been removed from the hull of the steamer Atua, which is now in dock in Auckland for cleaning and painting (states the “Star”). This consisted of a crop of mussels weighing almost 100 tons, and evidenced the rapid rate at which marine growth gathers on the hulls of steamers lying at anchor in the stream. It was two years on August 17 since the Atua was floated out of dock, after the last painting of her hull, and as she lay in dry dock on. Saturday her appearance attracted much attention from small boys living in tho vicinity of Calliope Dock.

A builder named William Thomson, who has been extradited from Melbourne, is due to appear in Auckland before a Magistrate to-day (Thursday) on a charge of having left New Zealand without the written permission of a Magistrate while in arrears with money payable under a maintenance order in respect to his wife and child. The extradition proceedings were taken on the complaint of the wife, and (states the “Star”) under the reciprocity arrangement which exists between Now Zealand and the Australian States with respect to tho apprehension of wife deserters.

On Tuesday last week at the Riccarton races a patron of the sport lost a banknote for £lOO in the bar. Search was made, but it was not recovered until the morning of the second day or tlie, races (says the “Sun ) when tho man engaged in sweeping the room noticed a piece of paper fhat-.had a clean, crisp apnearance. It was the missing £lOO. It was worth £2O besides tho day’s wages to the sweeper, brom.the location of tho note it appeared to have rested there the two days. Hundreds of dry sports must have tramped over it as they slaked their thirst between races and collections.

Auckland University is to benefit by the splendid gift of £lO,OOO from the Auckland Savings Bank (states the “Star”). The gift was announced recently and was referred to at a nieetof the council of the Auckland University College by the Hon. G. Fowlds, who said that a letter had been received from tho trustees of the bank agreeing to make a contribution of the amount mentioned towards the campaign fund in connection with tho ne 'v university building. This gift would, of course, require empowering legislation, but it would be a small measure which no doubt, would be put through before the present session of Parliament concluded. On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved to write a very cordial letter of thanks to the trustees for their splendid contribution towards the funds of education.

A return prepared by the registrar (Mr. R. O’Shea) in connection with the representation of Auckland University at the British Empire Exhibition next year, strikingly illustrates the' increased prestige of the northern seat of learning (states the “Star”). In 1912 Auckland University.had but 510 students. In 1922 the number had more than doubled, reaching the total of 1045. There were only 10 men graduates in 1912: last year there were 42. It is peculiar, however, that only nine women students graduated in 1922. whereas the same number took their degrees a decade ago. Educational experts consider tint great ns has. been tho growth of Auckland University in the past decade it was as nothing to the advances that will have been made m every direction by 1932.

Conspicuous for a beautiful fur coat was the occupant who sat in solitary state in a dress circle seat at His Majesty’s Theatre. Dunedin, last Saturday night, lending ear to Jean Gerard’s memorable playing of an old Hebrew chant— a model of absorbed appreciation. The sympathy of tho audience (says the “Otago Daily T'mes”), was not upon the side of the usher who at the close if the item, literally bundled ‘ho listener out of the auditorium to tho accompaniment of a protest no louder than the finest pianissimo of the artist’s ’cello. No whisper of scandal has been raised, hut who shall say that a cat has no • jul for music?

When tho matter of landing oversea •■argo at Port Chalmers instead of at Dunedin was under review it was -fated that delay resulted when the i-nrgo was landed at Port Chalmers. This matter of alleged delav (states tho “Otago Daily Times”) was brought up at a meeting of tho Port Chalmers Council and it was then stated thr the Railway Department, was . being blamed for delay in delivery of the '■nods at Dunedin. Tho council considered this should bo referred to the Railway Department and that course was adopted. At a subsequent meeting of the Borough Council a letter was received from the Railway Department in reply to the council’s representations. This letter, was regarded by the council as an adequate reply to the allegations of delav. and it was decided to make it public.

At a meeting, of the North Otago Executive of the Farmers’ Union (states the “Otago Dailv Times”). Mr I>. J. Ross mentioned the question of the continuation of tho railway from Dunback to Kokonga. The distance was only 25 miles, and the construction of the railway would be a boon to Central Otago. When in Wellington recently, he had conferred with the Minister of I’ubl'c Works upon the subject. The Minister admitted that tho railway was necessary, and had cxnressed the opinion that it would ultimately come. Tho Middlemarch railway line was becoming dangerous, and it was expected that it would ultimately have to be abandoned. Mr. Ross pointed out that the farmers cf Central Ota< T o were at present losing one shilinn- head on their sheep, on account of the long distance they had to convey them by rail. On the motion of Mr. Ross, it was decided that a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. R. B. Meek J. Macdonald, J. Newlands, and the president approach the Chamber of Commerce upon the subject, and endeavour to arrange for concerted action.

The wintry weather experienced in Christchurch this week was ’esponsible for small attendances of pupils at the primary schools (states the “Press”). At one of ihe ’arger city schools out of a total roll number of 830. there was only an attendance of 323 —over 500 pupils being absent. A headmaster informed a reporter that the present winter has been the worst that be can recall for breaks in school attendance. The state of affairs this year has been even worse than during the influenza epidemic year. Since the beginning of winter this year, he states, it had been nothing but a series ot interruptions due to illness amongst the children.

His. Honour Mr. Justice Reed in Christchurch refused an application by Mr. W. J. Hunter that a prisoner on trial for a serious offence should he allowed' bail over night, the hearing of the charge against him having been begun in the afternoon and adjourned till next, morning His Honour said that he made it a rule not to admit a prisoner to bai lafter the jury that was trying him had beou empanelled. He had no doubt that no member of a jury would allow interference on a prisoner’s behalf, but there must be a strong temptation to into .’fere with the jury, and in the interests of the prisoner himself it was wise that he should have no opportunity to do anything of that nature.

The question cf widening and beautifying tne streets of Christchurch was before the Christchurch Citv Council nt its last meeting (states the “Sun”), but no decision was arrived at. The Works Committee reported that it was of opinion that new streets should be laid out with 10ft. footpaths, leaving 42ft. carriage-way after allowance was made for side-channels, and'-recom-mended that this he insisted upon in future. Ono councillor said that narrow streets were no good with the increase in traffic. It was fancied that, when tho wider footpaths were made, the cost would bo less than if grass grew on tho side of the road. But it always devolved on the council to look after the grass, and so tho cost was really greater than if the road were wider. Tho clause was referred to tho By-laws Committee.