TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 56, 30 November 1923, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

Coueism can prevent sea-sickness. Here is the Rev. W. J. Comrie’s eulogy, which he gave to the Presbyterian General Assembly the other day (says the “Press”). When. describing his recent trip to Australia: “I practised. Coueism on tho way over. I said every day, in every way, I am getting nearer Sydney, and 1 managed to attend every meal, even il i did not make a very great demand on it.”

Counsel at the Wanganui Supremo Court on Tuesday morning asked for JJIS 15s. costs for preparing a certain document, but His Honour, taking a cursory look at the document, quickly decided for only five guineas (relates the Wanganui “Chronicle”). Counsel made no reply, and sat down with a disappointed, look on bis face.

Mild excitement was evinced in Main Street, Greytown (relates the "Wairarapa Age”), when a motor lorry passed through carrying a small cottage. The telephone wires across the street at the Post Office caused a little trouble, but otherwise the transit was made with ease.

In connection with the decision of a recent meeting of pig breeders at Feilding to draw up n. scheme suitable for the" development of the pork . and bacon industry, a ‘.‘Manawatu Standard” reporter was informed that, owing to the near approach of the killing season, very little would be done in the matter until after Christmas.

Residents of counties in the vicinity of Christchurch have been ringing up the county clerks in respect of the issue of permits under the Explosives ana Dangerous Goods Act, It has been ascertained (says the “Press’’) that the Government is not authorising local bodies other than city and borough councils to become registering authorities, and consequently resi- . dents in counties will be under the necessity of making application direct to Wellington.

“The bulk of - tho duties of our church managers do not call for the display of a great deal or heroism,” declared the Rev. L. Hunt, of. Auckland, at Monday night’s sitting of the Presbyterian General Assembly (says tho “Lyttelton Times”). “Their main business is to take up the collections, and if a manager is fitted out with an officious manner and a pair of squeaky boots he is set for life.” (Laughter.)

“Yes. the motor wagon plays a very important part in tho wool sales now,’’ remarked a farmer to a “Wanganui Herald” reporter on Wednesday morning, Ho went on to state that it was only a few years ago that he paid 6s. per mile to get his wool taken out by horses 12 miles to a railway station. Now his son who is farming at Waverley, only pays the same amount to get his wool delivered to Wanganui by motor.

An unusual mistake in tho delivery qf a part of electrical machinery for tlie Auckland Electric Power Board has been disclosed (says the “Herald”). At a special meeting of the. committee of the whole board the chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, stated that the regulator of a new 5060 kilowatt set had been sent to Auckland bv mistake instead of Pretoria, and the regulator which should have been sent, to the board had been sent to Pretoria. Tho board decided that the makers be informed that as the board’s set was installed and in running order the board required to have the proper regulator hero before the present one could be returned.

Tho Canterbury Cricket Association has (says the “Lyttelton Times”) written to the Christchurch. Returned Soldiers’ Association stating that it has decided to issue free passes for Lancaster Park during the cricket season to disabled soldiers who, prior to the war, were enthusiastic cricketers, but who, on account of war injuries, such as leg amputations, paralysis, etc., are not able now to take an active part in the game.

“Why, we throw more into the pig bucket in New Zealand than tho average man pats in many starved countries,” declared Mr. Oscar Monrad, during his address to the Palmerston North Lunch Club on Tuesday. “You don’t know when you are well off. The country is being simply ruined for want of development.” —Manawatu Times.”

The Hon. J. G. Coates, PostmasterGeneral, speaking at a complimentary dinner at Dannevirko (reports tho “Woodville Examiner”), said that when he became a Minister of tho Crown ho made up his mind that ho was not going to make promises, and he had adhered to that policy, but when h 6 took a job in hand he would see it through. That was the only way to secure the best results. He did not object to honest criticism —it bucked one up—but he thought it was a good thing occasionally to give praise to the officers of tho State —it was wonderful how far a little commendation went in helping one along. It did more than continual fault-finding.

In replying to a question asked him lit tho Palmerston North Lunch Chib on the question of immigration, Mr. Oscar Monrad declared “Wo are not entitled to hold this country as part of the British Empire if wo . are not prepared to fill it up with people from overseas.-It is of no use shifting the burden from ono part of the Empire to the other in the shape of weaklings, but New Zealand could easily absorb 30,000 people, especially farmers and men following trades, also manual labourers, whq are willing to work.” —“Manawatu Times.”

Four years ago a Canterbury sheepfarmor, Mr. W. G. Rutherford, came to the conclusion that the climate in tile north of New Zealand should bo suitable for that production of fine wool similar to that exported from Australia (says the Auckland correspondent to the “Press”). Mr. Rutherford came to Auckland and bought the “Ardrossan” run at Wr.iheke Island. The place was then carrying Romney sheep. One pf Mr. Rutherford’s first steps was to purchase twelve merino rams to cross with the Romney ewes. The result is that today the bulk of the sheep on the run are TiaHbrccl. Evidence of the high quality of the wool produced is shown by the fact that at the sale last season, Mr. Rutherford’ clip realised top figure of 21-Jd. per lb. At tho sale last Saturday, Mr. Rutherford’s wool again topped the market, the figure this time being 24|d. per lb.

“This man is a councillor and should know the by-laws,” remarked SeniorSergeant Mathew in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court, when a member of the Hamilton Borough Council, Mr. 0. A. Farrer, was charged with leaving his motor-car for more than half-an-hour in Victoria Street unattended. Defendant (says the “New Zealand Herald”) wrote stating that when he left the car ho intended to return m a few minutes. A client detained him in his office, and he forgot Hte car- A fins al* 10s, was iraj-osed.

“Ono cannot hold with the restriccd men that there is no room for opportunity in New Zealand, said Mr. O. Monrad, when talking of farming at the Palmerston North Lunch Glue on Tuesday (reports the “Manawatu Tinies”). “What room or opportunity was there for the pioneers, who spent many months on sailing ships, travelling many thousands of miles with little money, which had small purchasing power for anything except larict. and this of no value if it could not be developed ? In the face of that will anyone dare to say that there is no room here, provided there is the necessary determination, industry and thrift?”

That the spirit of giving to .a worthy object is still abroad in the community was borne out by Mr. Oliver E Nicholson at a meeting at Mount Albert in connection with the War Memorial Museum Fund, says trio “Herald.” “Within thie short space of 48 hours,” said Mr. Nicholson, “I collected no less than £l5OO. I think that it the people arc approached in a tactful, proper manner, the money' will lie forthcoming surely enough tor this splendid object.”

The muzzle of a rifle has been called many different names, but Mr. E. D. .Mosley, S.M., in the Timaru Police G'curt, caused a smile when he called it the “nozzle.” —“Timaru Post.”

“I am greatly impressed with the Dominion’s newspapers,” stated Lieut.-Colonct Suttor, of the Indian Mission, when in conversation with a ‘Mana-watu Standard” reporter. “The cable service is excellent, while the tone and gpneral appearance are of a very high standard.”

It is probably not generally known that members of fire brigades are exempt from jury service. A member of the New Plymouth brigade was called as a common juryman for service at the Supreme Court on Wednesaay morning, and <sked to be excused on that account (reports the “Taranaki Herald”). “How long have you been in the brigade?” asked the Judge, the reply being, “Twenty-seven years.” The juryman said he had never been called for service before, and his Honour intimated that fire brigade men were exempt.

At a meeting of tho Te Puke branch of tho Farmers’ Union on Saturday last (says tho “New Zealand Herald”), it was decided to request the Minister for Native Affairs, Hon. J. G. Coates, on his approaching visit to the district, to provide a ir.ians for the recovery of rates on native lands duo to county councils. It was stated that the Tauranga County Council had succeeded in collecting only £32 out of a total of £7OOO stiuck .over a period of several years.

A novel defence Was put up by a youth who appeared in the Timaru Police Court 'on Tuesday running charged with failing to attend drill (says the “Post”). He said he kept away because when he went to inns Retry practice the fumes after the discharge of the rifle gave him catarrh. On these grounds lie wan granted exemption after May 31, 1924, the end of the training year.

Thp visit of the Home liner Erroll, which left Timaru on Tuesday afternoon, has not been without incident (remarks the “Post”). At Wellington it WAs discovered that <aie of tin? firemen had deserted, so a. casual unit was signed on to fill the vacancy While the vessel was in pert .at Lyttelton last week this new hand im bibed not wisely but too well, and th? ship left for Timaru without him Without money, but with much of the sailor’s optimism when hi an awkward fix, the stranded one set out for Timaru, following his boat It was night time when he left Lyttelton in search of Timaru: as no trains were running he decided to waste no time, and so commenced tho journey overland on foot. oi> the whole of the journey down he obtained a “lift” for only about eleven miles, and he reached the port at 11.30 on Sunday evening. Whether he was welcomed with open arms or otherwise, is not recorded, but the loirn- tramp evidently revived his unfailing thirst and he again ventured forth in search of a bar. ’1 bat tho one he found was to his liking was evident by the fact that the Erroll sailed for Dunedin, when the seaman was still in .the bar. It is not known whether the stranded one s optimism is sufficient to carry him to the southern city.

“Whilst th» Government considers Maoris should be treated in precisely the same manner as Europeans, and those able to pay should pay, yet it is felt that in a few districts boards are put to heavy expense in the treatment of Maoris suffering from enteric fever.” stated a circular letter from the Director-General of Public Health that was read at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board on Tuesday evening. The letter added that the Health Department would reimburse the board at the rate of £1 per week for each Maori patient suffering from enteric if the hospital fee could not be obtained. The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace. said there were very few Maori patients at aiiv time in Auckland Hospital. but that some other boards would benefit. “It is quite uncalled for.” declared Mr.'M. J. Coyle, referring to the request that Maori patients should receive the same treatment as Europeans. “All patients are treated alike in the Auckland Hospital irrespective of creed or colour,” said Mr. Wallace. —“New Zealand Herald.”

In conversation with a “Wafrarapa Age” reporter, Mr. W. A. Tate, of Greytown, who recently returned from America in an effort to o;>en up markets for New Zealand apples, raid he doubted if it was worth while the Government spoon-feeding an industry that could only prosper if a preference was given on tho British market. If the land at present carrying fruit trees was grazing milch cows it would bp better for tho individual and the country. There was a surplus of apples for local consumption, and unless this could be successfully marketed outside, the industry could not possibly show a profit.