TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 113, 5 February 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

Eight, years ago a father and two sons took up a small farm near Wanganui, and during the tune they worked hard (relates the “Chronicle”). Recently they walked off the place, abandoning it because it did not pay.

An albino pigeon was recently seen near Raorikia (says the Wanganui “Chronicle”), the bird being mostly white in colour.

An Oamaru resident is quite satisfied that a certain well-known make of ear has a tradition (says the “North Otago Times”). On the rear of one of them he saw inscribed “B.C. 162.

“To tell the truth, I don’t think many sheep are privately owned ig this country,” said a witness in a case m the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning, and added, “They all belong to the firms 1” —Tituaru L’OSl.”

“Is it not a fact that you gave your teamster ten minutes to get off your paddocks at one time?” asked a defendant of a witness in a case in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning (relates the “Post ). “No,” replied the witness, “it a tact. I gave him two minutes I”

About the best crop of wheat in the Oamaru district this season is on the farm of Mr. R. Dick at Weston (says the “North Otago Times”). Jins is expected to produce a yield ot fitty bushels to tho acre.

Just after I started out on my own, I happened to get into debt to the extent of a hundred pounds, and I can tell you that the matter caused me great worry,” said a well-known farmer at a gathering held in Geraldine recently. “‘No* I owe thousands, and have no occasion to worry. }t was the first few hundreds that caused all the trouble,” he remarked, amidst hearty laughter.—Timaru “Post.”

Speaking to a “Poverty Bar Herald” reporter, a, farmer from the le Karaka district said that they had not had near. Jv enough rain to do much good, especially on those places which had the native grass fairly established. The feed was now commencing to come away, but unless a good 48 hours’ rain was experienced during the next week or two, hte feed would not come away to any appreciable extent. Further back in the country which is free from native grass tho rain had done a great deal of good, and the feed was making rapid headway.

Anglers in the vicinity of the Rangitata River mouth report shoals of qumnat about the waters there (says the Timaru “Herald”). The fish have not been seon in such numbers for many years. One angler landed a 13-pounder but failed with another two. There were no quinnat caught in rhe river, whiab was in high ilood..

Recently a party of motorists from Bulls had an unusual experience when travelling up Mount Stewart (relates an exchange). A hare which was probably sleeping on the bank was suddenly awakened and jumped into the rear seat of the car. It hit a lady on the head and fell into the lap of a man sitting alongside of her. The happening was so sudden that, before the man had realised what it was, I e had picked the animal up, and thrown it out of tho vehicle, when it was noticed that the long-eared intruder was galloping off at a record speed.

Oamaru residents who have recently visited Waianakarua, have been impressed with the number of fantails that are to bo seen flitting; about on tho fringe of the native bush (says the “North Otago Times”). These little birds are now making their seasonal visit to Oamaru.

The bluegum scale does not appear to have seriously affected the blucgums in the Oamaru district in recent years (says the “North Otago Times”). Illis is probably due to the increased number of ladybirds which are the natural enemy of the scale.

It'is reported that a rair of huias have been seen in the bush country some distance up the Wanganui River (says the “Chronicle”). The birds were observed by a bushman and a Maori in the same locality where huias ' ere seen' some five or six years ago,* and where the kiwi is known to exist. The find is interesting, because the' bird has been considered to be extinct.

Information reached Oamaru on Friday that thousands of dead mullet are at present to be found in the Wa’anakarua stream. The dead fish (says the “North Otago Times”) extend for fully a mile up the river. The cause of the death of the fish has not been ascertained.

In a country township not one hundred miles from Oamaru (relates the “North Otago Times”), a man who was slightly under the influence was using expressions of a somewhat lurid character. The village constable happened upon the scene and said, “Here, now, be careful, don’t you know who I am I’m tho constable I” “Oh, are you,” was the response. “Well, I’m tho cook.” The constable collapsed.

In conversation with a representative of the “North Otago Times” one of tho oldest farmers in the district stated that he had not experienced such a poor harvest for the last twenty-five years. The failure of the oat crop has been particularly pronounced. The harvest would not have been so bad, he said, had it not been for the -withering winds in the month of November,

“The deep-sea fish in the southern centres of the Dominion differ slightly from those secured in the trawl nets off the northern coasts,” remarked an Auckland resident who has just re turned from a holid- visit to tho south. “It is stated ’"t the colder tho water the finer i' fish and yet, I think, that in spite f the warmer climate, our fish compare very favourably with those cf the South Island. The southern trawling fleets do not comprise so many vessels as those in the north. —“New Zealand Herald.”

For the first time in the history of the Stanley Bay Park, Auckland, two horse carts traversed it cn Thursday with heavy loads of scoria boulders, which will be used for strengthening the weak parts of the outer wall. At tho time (says the “Star”) tho wall was built, over four years ago, tests which were taken showed that there was nine or ten feet of soft mud all over the flat in the outer area. As tho months have gone by this has consolidated, tho salt has dried out of it, and it will now bear the heaviest loads. The opinion is held by those, who have a knowledge of similar reclaimed areas that what tho ground needs now is deep ploughing and . scarifying, and then it would surprise the most optimistic the amount of grass it would grow. An estimate of £l6 has been given as tho cost of doing the work, and il is suggested that as a test the Borough Council authorise the work.

There was a dog, a handsome black collie, run over and seriously injured e by a motor-car in Tay Street, Invercargill, the other day in front of a warehouse (relates an exchange). A tew minutes after the event, the manager of the warehouse was informed that his dog had been the victim. Its removal to Wood Street was ordered, and the gentleman in question identified the animal and signed the necessary papers authorising the inspector to destroy it. This was done, but at the end of the day, when he returned home, the somewhat depressed. owner” was met at his gate by Ins own black collie! He is now wondering whose dog ho passed the death sentence upon.

The spectacle of an individual sitting in the middle of the road in a cloud of dust is not part’cularly dignified at anv time (remarks the Auckland “Star”), but when the said individual happens to be a policeman or no mean proportions the situation becomes even more humorous. hile alighting from a moving tramcar .in Ponsonby Road on Thursday evening a well-known member of the Force was knocked down by a small boy on a bicycle who was following some few yards behind the tram. Both boy .and policeman hit the ground at precisely the same instant, but neither appeared injured. The lad, with awed countenance, gazed at the constable, who had bounced to his feet with the ease of a trained athlete, while numerous grinning faces peered rudely from the car, which had stopped a short distance along the road.

New Zealanders nre not the only people proud of their Prime Minister; all Ulster is proud of him too (says the Tima'f'u “Herald”). His recent visit to the land of his nativity and the village in which he spent his earliest years was a national event, and judging by the enterprise of cne of Belfast’s leading .manufacturing firms, should go a long way to cement, not only friendship but business relations. A Timaru firm the other day received from one firm a catalogue cf prices, carried in a large bearing the red-printed message: “Your Mr. Mfissey called with us yesterday.’.’ Besides the catalogue is an artistically printed 8-page quarto pamphlet inscribed “Our Mr. Massey will be with you soon." The pamphlet is profusely illustrated with views of incidents in Mr. Masesy’s visit to Ulster, and to his native township of Limavady, with extracts from speeches by. the Prime Minister along with eulogiums by represen ta tiro statesmen, and tho North Ireland Press. Altogether the production is artistic, beautifully printed, nnd timely, displaying characteristic enterprise combined with rare sentiment.

It Is not every day in tho week that “fivers” nnd “tenners,” with a few negotiable clieoues thrown in, are seen being wafted lightly cn a notorious Palmerston North breeze, and consequently when a bank clerk was robbed of his bundle of notes by Friday’s troublesome wind, quite a < ommotion was caused (relates the “Manawatu Times”). It appears that the clerk was about to enter the Bank of New Zealand, when the ungentle zephyr tore the book he carried containing the notes from his grasp, and carried them gaily in the direction of Broadway. The young man. realising that his precious burden was petting farther and farther away from him, dashed down the street, and after an, exciting chase, in which a number joined, fortunately retrieved tho whole of the sum —approximately £lO0 —with which lie had been entrusted.

The bird commonly referred to as the little grey owl was the subject of some unfavourable comment by Mr. G. Howes at a meeting of the Council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. Mr. Howes said these birds were particularly plentiful around Balclutha, where they could be seen sitting on the telegraph wires even in the sunshine. He had counted as many as fifteen in an evening. They were very numerous, lie said, and he thought in time they would become a curse to the district. Tho chairman (Mr. McIntosh) said he did not think they were protected, and perhaps it would be advisable to get the opinions of some fruit-growers and settlers. Mr. Howes said that the birds were favoured by the fruit-growers, as they had wrought havoc among the smaller birds, which formerly stripped their trees (reports the “Otago Daily Times”). It was decided that . the ranger should ascertain tho opinion of the settlers regarding these birds.

It has been well ,said (remarks an exchange) that bathing costumes and dress-suits are great levellers of humanity, but, ns was shown in Beach Road. Auckland, recently, an accident sometimes gives men of widely different callings a common interest. A general carrier’s lorry had crashed into a tram pole, the driver was injured, tho engine had stopped a.nd the wrecked vehicle had to be removed from the outward tram tracks. . The lorry had to bo pushed so the little crowd of men that had gathered around pushed right heartily, A barrister, a blacksmith, a gaol warder, a Customs official, two tramway inspectors, a motorman, a conductor, a carpenter, a. theatre attendant, a journalist, and three or four others (“occupation unknown”) put their shoulders to tne wheel, as it were, and pushed the heavy vehicle to the roadside, then returned to their seats in a. waiting tramcar, and all except the journalist forgot that for once trade or calling had" made no difference, had played no part, in the manner in which they should act.

In connection with the unpleasant odour which has aroused so much interest in Napier, a representative of the “Telegraph” on IVcdnesday made an inspection if a house in Riverbend Road, which was said to be covered with what ap|ieared to bo sulphur. Tho substance on tho house did appear to be sulphur, and the faint odour from it corresponded. It was evident from the few patches loft i:neolnured that tlio house had been quite white before. A curious thing about the substance is that it is most thick on the parts of the wall lying beneath the eityes or window sills, in these cases it being of a reddish colour mixed with the yellow. So completely did tlio yellow material show its pre-, ferenca for windows that two or three were framed with it. Another house pot far away was also affected.