TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 149, 18 March 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

During a polo match at Bulls against H’eilding (relates an exchange), a pon> ndden by Mr. Roy Scott was accidentally struck between the ears by a polo stick, aad it dropped dead on the spot. 1

People who ventured on to the Waikana-.- beach a few mornings ago were much surprised to observe a number of goeso and ducks among the heavy driftwood which was scattered all ever the beach (says the “Poverty Bay Herald”). The birds had apparently been carried down the river during the storm, and although they were still alive they were too exhausted to get away. It is considered improbable that all the birds will be returned to their owner or owners.

The. floods have come as blessings in disguise to some enterprising individuals (remarks the Naper “Telegraph”). At rern’hlll several Maoris were observed loading wagons to their full capacity with drift-wood, and people could be seen along the beaches eagerly pouncing on the tossed up spoil. AL Whakatu a huge quantity of wood was banked up against the bridge, and this will serve to replenish the diminished supplies of firewood of a bigger township than Whakatu. The full consignment of wood banked up against this bridge was estimated by an experienced woodman to be 25 tons at least.

River bank dwellers who depend upon drift wood for fuel, will derive much benefit from the river flood, for large quantities of timber, came down (reports the Wanganui “Herald”). When the water subsides there should bo a great many logs stranded on the banks, and these will make excellent fuel for winter fires.

According to b. letter which a “Southland News” correspondent recently received from New York, tho American Treasury shows a surplus of billions of dollars on the year. The United States is so wealthy that it has decided to abolish tho amusement tax, while all other taxation is to be considerbly reduced.

The other day a farmer from Fordell was driving a mob of steers up the incline in Parsons Street to St. Johns* Hill (relates the Wanganui “Herald”) When nearing the top he states that lie noticed some person with a bicycle making signals to him, and as he approached, tho man with the bicycle told him to go back, that he had no right to drive cattle along that route. The steers themselves soon decided the point, as they careered along towards the cyclist, he dropped his machine and lost not time in getting over the nearest fence.

Bidders at a series of stock sales make an interesting study (relates the Wanganui “Herald”). There are a certain class of fanners in this district who apparently never attempt to speculate in anything but old crocks of ewes, Ab they are consistently following up this class of sheep, there is evidently money to bo made at the game, if one only knew the secret.

The floods have brought many _ stories of pluck and endurance in their wake (says tho Napier “Telegraph”), but none more stirring than that of tho quiet determination of the guard, tho firemen, and the engine-driver of the 6.15 train to Hastings •on Tuesday night. When this train reached tho Whakatu bridge that structure was two feet deep in a raging, muddy torrent, and drift-wood was piled to a height of six feet, hard up against the bridge. Wthout knowing whether they would ever reach the other side, these courageous officers went straight into the danger, and by dint of sheer skill took their train safely through the terrible swirl. Few people realised the danger the train was in at that moment, but tho guard, who is an experienced man, and certainly not chicken-hearted, said that never again would he go through such a situation.

A special marriage followed swiftly upon tho granting of a decree absolute (states the Auckland correspondent, of tho “Lyttelton Times”). The lady concerned was granted a decree nisi three menths ago. Tho .solicitor vbo had conducted her case was in the Police Court tlie other day when he was called out to see her. “Have you got the decree absolute?” she asked breathlessly. The matter bad not quite reached that stage as the statutory period had only just expired. “But I’m getting married again to-morrow,” explained the lady. At once the solicitor put all other business aside and motored do the Supremo Court to apply to Mr. Justice Herdman for the necessary decree. This was graned, and the solicitor returned to the office where the expectant' bride was waiting. The business was completed in good time, and with a smilo the lady hurried away, once more to embark upon tlie great adventure.

During the hearing of a case before Mr. E. U. Cutten, S.M., at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court, a witness seemed to be under the impression that every query put by counsel for tho other side was aimed at proving him to be untruthful (states the “Star”). At length the witness asked the lawyer: “Do you think I am telling a lie? Because if you do you had better readjust your cogitating apparatus.”

A peculiar and very painful accident occurred to a lad the other afternoon on the Castlecliff wharf (relates tho Wanganui “Herald”). He was leaning on the bulwarks of H.M.S. Veronica, with his heel firmly planted against the planking of the wharf, when the vessel heeled over slightly, jamming his lag between the side of the steamer and the wharf. A scream of pain and terror escaped from the boy as the pressure was exerted, and a rush was made to the lad’s help by a number of middies and others in the vicinity, who pushed tho vessel from the. wharf and released the sufferer, who had fainted. The lad was carried aboard the Veronica, where the ship’s doctor attended him. Fortunately no bones were broken,

A few days ago (relates the Auckland “Star”), a man wandering along Piha Beach found on the wet sands just after high tide a lump of greyish foreign matter that gave off an odour something between phosphates and a low grade guano. “Ambergris!” said one of the party, and it really seemed that the dream'of half a life-time had come true. Carefully packed up the find was brought to town and submitted to Mr. Mason (whose family have for nearly half a century been among the few exports in ambergris in this part of the Dominion), and as soon as he got a sniff of tho“treasure,” all :|m castles in Spain that had been built on its prospective price came tumbling down. The denouement of tins tragedy was quick. Not so one that happened at Napier. A considerable lump was found on the beach, and carefully locked up in a bank safe among 'the gold ami other precious things pending tho report upon a sample that had been sent to a London expert. In the meantime the finder had. as a great favour, allowed a particular friend to have an ounce of it for £5. After wens and weeks of waiting, out came the London report, and all it said was “the substance submitted is a very poor sample of lowgrade tallow in an advanced stage oi deco in position.”

A Waitaki farmer told a „,l e P r< i? e !/ a 7 tive of the “North Otago limes that the rains of the last few days had had a remarkably lino effect ,on the too crops, and grass was now assured loi the winter.

A South Canterbury fanner who is spending a few days’ hqhdav anui, in conversation with a lleiai i reporter, stated that it was Ins first visit. What impressed him on the journey up from Wellington was the splendid showing of grass compared With the South. The feed there had only just started to come away atte the long spell of dry weather, but the frosts would soon bo setting in and would cut the young grass back again. Asked regarding the controversy over wheat-growing, and the suggestion < reducing sowings, he lepnea that it was the same old story oyer and over again. Farmers who talked in that strain generally lost sight ot the fact that as soon as one farmer noticed the other fellow slackening m grain-growing he invariably put in an extra acre himself, and so the yields were kept up from year to year. in war time it was different, when sheep and cattle brought phenomenal prices. That was not likely to happen again, so mixed farming was necessary, and grain-growing a profitable adjunct.

Tho sudden descent of heavy ram on a recent afternoon produced an odd scene in Queen Street, Auckland (says the “Herald”). Many ladies on shopping intent had ventured out without preparation for moist weather. » ladies, taken by surprise wl ."-h their best summer millinery on their heads, are fertile in expedients for the protection of their finery. It so happens that in a large drapery etablishment there is displayed a pile of fashion magazines, above which hangs an invitation to “take one”—just the article for such an emergency. Consequently, while the storm was at its height, quite a procession of shoppers was to be seen emergin'’- from the establishment, with the papers, something after the style of college mortarboards. surmounting their more dainty headgear.

“Good timber spoilt,” was the comment of a witness in the Auckland Supreme Court when describing a farm house at Putaruru. He would not, he said,_ call it a house, but just a building,’ and it would seem as if the only tools used in its coinstruction were a saw, an axe, and a hammer. The doors were put on with lead-headed nails, and an axe had been used to chop away part of the timber so that the door handle could be turned. Mr. Justice Herdman dryly’ asked (says the “Herald”) if the house had any other peculiarities, and tlw witness, in reply, dealt with the conditions of the bathroom and wash-house, concluding with the remark that tho work had evidently been done by a bush carpenter.

In some football clubs a man is elected to the position of vice-president as an appreciation of the work ho has done for his chib, and he naturally regards it as ajn hononi (says the Christchurch “Press”). In other clubs it is different. A man is elected to this position only if ho is likely to send along a guinea. At a meeting of a chib reported in the Christchurch papers tho other day, no fewer than 53 names appeared of men who had been elected to the honourable position, aind if each ono forwarded a guinea the treasurer would have no need to worry over finance. A public man, especially a member of Parliament, appears to be easy prey for club members, for eno Canterbury’ M.P. last week received five communications stating that ho “had lieen elected a vice-president of tho club,” etc., but tho letter from winch the following is an extract will take a lot of beating:—“Dear sir, —At a meeting of the ■ Club von were unanimously elected vice-president for the coming season. Trusting you will favourably accept the position, knowing the keen interest you lake in football generally. Your humble servant , Honorary Secretary. P.S. —My club would deem it am honour to receive your approval, along with the usual donation of two guineas, £2 25.”

Two soldier settlors who aro sheep farniers on a holding in tho V> ai.ngarc riding of the Raglan County Council had their case successfully pleaded by their riding representative at a meeting of the council when it was agreed to remit £lO of their current year’s rates, which reached £5O (says tlie “Maikato Tinies”). Councillor V, ilson said that his clients had been five years jxu the place, working day and night. They were undoubtedly going to make a ‘de of it,” but required assistance at the present time. Tho Government bad collared every penny of revenue from the wool. Tlie chairman inquired if that would not also be the experience, when theso settlers “got <;n their toot? Members saw merit in the plea of Councillor Wilson, and gave unanimous consent to the request.

I am a bit Scotch, vou know, but only by absorption,” said Sir Maui I’oniaro during the course of his speech at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new hospital at Nelson. In cider to correct the evident wrong interpretation jiut I upon his remark by his hearers (says tho “Mail”) the Minister quickly added that it was through no fault of, his own. “It so happened that a Scotch-Presbyterian got wrecked in New Zealand in the early days and my ancestors absorbed him,” continued tiio Minister amid a rijiple of laughter. “That is how I have such good blood in me.”

Hie happiness of seeing so large an attendance of their children at their diamond wedding celebration as in the case of Mr. and Mrs. H. AV. Smith, oi Auckland, is given to few people (remarks an exchange). The event took place at the venerable couple’s residence, at Edendale. Of the 19 children born to them in their sixty years of married life, 17 are still living, and there are 51 grandchildren, and 15 gieat-grandchildren. Of the 83 descendants, more than 50 took part in tho festivities, of whom 15 were of the first generation. Many of tho participants, being farmers in different parts of the provincial district, had travelled over 100 miles to be present.

A grave menace to the grazing lands on parts of the Dominion, and very especially io Taranaki’s hinterland, is tho encroachment of ferns of various kinds on what was onco grass lano (says an exchange). There arc vast nre'as between the Wanganui and Mokan Rivers that were once bush lands, and now, after having been felled and grassed, arc rapidly going back to fein and manuka.

Tho damage caused to the farming community bv the. south-easterly gale cannot always bo judged by first appearances (remarks the Ila vic-a “Star”)- Pastures, crops, fences and buildings generally have suffered, but compensation will be found ui the amount of good done by the salt sprry. A good dressing of salt on the land is us necessary ns a top-dressing of any fertilizer. The amount of salt cannot bo readily gauged per acre; but the top-dressing just completed by the recent gale is a fairlv heavy one. Anyone viewing their nnstora! lands, particularly those paddocks which arc s.iut up can notice a whitish appearance closely resembling ? ’’old that had been limo top-dressed. Another noticeable feature of the quantity of salt ran. bo ranged bv the thirsty stock, particularly so in the case of milking cows.