TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 151, 20 March 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES’ FROM THE PROVINCES

“Bricklayers and plasterers cannot be found,” stated a speaker at a board meeting in Napier. “None of them work under award pay, but get nearly double.”—Exchange.

A 3ft. frost fish was found on the Otaki beach on a recent morning, and readily sold at 2s. 6d. per lb. (states the Otaki “Mail”). On Saturday last two fine fish were found, one sft. 6in. and the other 4ft.

There is no accounting for a woman’s taste (says an exchange). Giving evidence at the Hamilton Supreme Court in a pig-farm case, a woman said she had no objection to pigs in the ordinary way. She thought little pigs were little dears, so long as they were well kept.

“You are telling the truth?” asked counsel of a witness in the Masterton Police Court. “Yes,” was the reply. “The whole truth?” “Yes.” “And if you dropped down dead there now ?” “I wouldn’t be able to fell you anything,” was the quick reply, which ‘(states an exchange) raised a general laugh.

When a fire occurs in Nelson the residents are in the habit of ringing up the telephone exchange to ascertain where the fire is located. One recent evening (states an exchange) some 300 or more subscribers rang simultaneously, rendering the exchange practically inoperative. It would have taken the one attendant on duty at that hour quite 40 minutes to answer the 300 calls.

“I have seen a number of farms sold by order of mortgagees during the past two years, and I do not know’ of any instance in a forced sale where the property has realised more than the prortgage upon it,” said Mr. G. H Smith, of Pahiatua, while giving evidence (states an exchange) in the Supreme Court at Masterton.

“People are suffering from ‘bungalowitis’ just now,” stated a land .agent when discussing conditions in the house property market with a “Manawatu Standard’ reporter. “Generally speaking,” he added, “conditions are fairly good, and there is a big demand for sections. Old houses are not beina sought, the craze being for new bungalows. People are leaving their loss modern houses and are building this type of home. As for renting a house, it is almost impossible just now, as they are very difficult to get for letting purposes. On the average we have as many as 20 people a day calling and inquiring if we have a house to let.’’

For the past two or three weeks, Feilding residents possessing wireless receiving sets have had their eveninr.s spoilt by some amateur who (relates the “Star”’) apparently finds it impossible to get his set in tune. Apparently it is the custom for listenersin to tune up about 8 p.m., then settle down and listen to the music from Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, or Sydney just as the fancy takes them ; but for the past three weeks or so a new set in Feilding or within a few miles' of the town has been installed, the owner of which is learning how to tune up, and is not making much progress.

Bitter complaint is made by Wanganui pigeon fanciers that their birds are being shot. Despite, the fact that the owners supply the birds with grit, the pigeons have a habit of making for the beaches for further supplies, and as they usually go to the same spot they are evidently waited for and fired upon. In several instances paitially maimed birds have returned to their lofts, and the reason why others have not returned appears to be only too apparent. The breeders intend offering a reward in the hope that it will put an end to the despicable practice (states a local paper).

In acclimatisation circles there is considerable interest in regard to the prospect of quinnat salmon making a run in the Wanganui and adjacent rivers. Recently, at the mouth of the Rangitikei River quinnat salmon could be seen playing about, and it is believed the fish have also entered the Wanganui ’River, although definite proof on that point is being eagerly awaited. —“Chronicle.”

A Stratford horticulturist took to the local “Post” office a freak discovered in his garden, showing a hyacinth bulb pierced by a root of couch, that bugbear of the tiller of the soil everywhere. The bulb had fastened on to the root, which was several inches in length on each side, giving the freak an appearance not unlike a toy aeioplane.

Surprise was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers Association executive (states the New Zealand Herald”) that the Government Sanatorium at Rotorua did not give any concessions to returned soldier patients. A former patient wrote stating that the f?es charged were £3 3s. per week, but a reduction to £2 10s. was given to members of friendly societies and hospital boards’ patients. It was decided to write to the officer in charge, and if such a state of affairs did exist, to ask that the reduction also be given to returned soldier patients.

A few days back (says the Dunedin “Star”) mention was made of the discovery in the premises of a plumber in Dunedin of a penny token such as were in circulation 50 to 60 years a £°’ Out attention has now been directed (adds the “Star”)—once more by a plumber—to a token issued by Day and Mieville in 1857, which was found by him in the North-east Valiev, and to make up a full chain of coincidences ho states that the ground, on which his present business premises is built formerly belonged to Air. Mieville. and the ground upon which his residence is situated was formerly owned by Mr. Day.

One of the. big elephants from a circus went investigating in Cook s Gardens, Wanganui, during the performance, and fell over a baiiit into tho badti yard of a private hotel (relates the Wanganui Chronicle ). Crashing of trees, a few loud snorts, and a terrific thud announced the stranger’s visit. It had time to <r e t entangled in the clothes lines and. have a look in at the window of the kitchen before a chattering, excited Indian coolie bounded' into the yard to take the animal back tc the sawdust ring.

Some interesting observations on tho value of sheep country and the price of wool were made by a stock , and land agent to a Palmerston North “Standard” reporter. “Sheep country is worth the present prices asked for' it.” Ke said, “when you base tho land value on the price of wool, but buyers are not prepared to purchase on the present terms as assessed on the value of wool. If fleece should continue at its present rate, sheep country will be worth its value to-day, but if wool prices drop the laud will go down also. _ It must be remembered that the price of wool is solely dependent on conditions _ in Flurope. and one cannot help but view with a great deal, of anxiety.

During an electrical storm at Whangarei, Mark Jurakovitch’s fishing boat was at the Hen and Chickens when the storm broke. While working round to the lee side for shelter there was a heavv thunderclap (says the Auckland “Star”). Simultaneously two of the crew were thrown violently to the deck, where they remained unconscious for some time. Subsequently recovering, they were at a loss to know what had strudk them, as there were no marks. One theory is that the concussion caused by the thunder rebounding off a rockv wall under which the boat was sheltering was responsible.

A number of Manaia farmers (states fihe Wanganui “Chronicle”) hakl a bad experience with the recent gale. Some beautiful lucerne paddocks were completely ruined, temporarily, by the salt spray. In one paddock where the lucerne stood about three feet high every leaf was shrivelled off, and now nothing but a forest of stalks remains. . The lucerne will come again but in the meantime a vast quantity of good fodder has been destroyed. Carrots likewise suffered to the extent of the foliage being withered, but the roots are not injured. The grass also suffered, and carries so much salt that it is proving injurious to the cows. A fall of rain is now required to wash the salt off the grass and drive it into the soil, where it will be beneficial.

Habitues of a Christchurch hotel, a few days ago. went into the bar for the usual mid-day “spot’’ (relates an exchange), but the barmaid who usually served them was in the act of putting on her hat, and a minute or two later left the bar. Understanding that their services were soon to be replaced by men, the barmaids decided to ‘ldown towels.” and =<> get in first. Within a few minutes their places were filled by barmen, and thirsts were slaked in due course. This is the second Christchurch hotel recently which has staffed its bars with men.

Napier, after its severe buffeting last week, is beginning to look a little more ship-shape (states the “Telegraph”). The corporation’s employees have had a very busy time clearing debris and silt from the roadways, but it will be some little time yet before the whole of this is carted away. When the flood was at its height in the Esk Valley, a piano taken out from Napier for use at the artillery camp was washed away. Tire instrument has since been located, but whether or not it will be of any farther use remains for expert opinion to decide.

A number of ministers, discussing the harvest thanksgiving services which are held at this season of the year in their churches, said that it was very noticeable that tho big pumpkins which used to have such a prominent place on the tables were very conspicuous by their absence (reports tho Auckland “Star”). It was sure evidence that tho vegetable must • have failed this season, or else small growers had not grown them. In contrast to this it was noticeable that the big quartern cottage loaves, which in bygone days, always had tho most prominent place amongst the other gifts, were again coming into favour, and were supplied to many of the church festivals this season.

A district farmer relates a most amazing insiancq in connection with a cow’s tenacity of life and powers of recuperation (says tho Waipa “Post”). One of his dairy herd was missed one day, and during the next three days tho owner searched diligently, believing the animal had got into some swamp country and become ’ bogged. After three days of fruitless search he concluded the beast was now a bad debt, but later —I'3 days after the cow disappeared—the owner and a friend were quartering the swamp. hoping their olfactorv organs would guide them to the carcass. Imagine their surprise to find the cow alive with onlv the back and head 'bowing. She had cronped every vestige of vegetation within reach, and thus managed to sustain life. She was hauled cut on to firm ground with the aid of horses, and after a spell was got to the homestead, whore special attention was .given her to aid recovery. The animal is now very much alive, and though a veritable bag of bones, she is still being milked daily. 'The owner says the skin of the cow has lost all hair except that part that was not submerged, and she was terribly emaciated, but he is hopeful that she will make a good recovery.

Since the flood in the Esk Valiev (states tfie Napier “Telegraph”), the artillerymen who volunteered to go to the rescue and recover the camp equipment, guns. eri).. have had a busv and strenuous time, but it is reported that their efforts have met with considerable success and it is not anticipated the loss will bo very great. All the guns were recovered, and are in the artillery barracks in Napier. They are in fair order, but are very dirtv. They will be sent to Wellington to the workshops for overhaul. Most of the artillerymen have returned to Napier, hut a few will remain at Eskdnlc for the remainder of the week putting tae finishing touches to salvage operations. Most of the equipment has already been recovered.

An unarranged turn provided quite a lot of amusement to spectators at the Stratford A. and P. Carnival last Saturday (states the “Taranaki Herald”). The star performer was a young hare, barely a few months old, which darted into the arena from nowhere in particular. A pack of men and boys was soon in full cry. Leaping, dodging and doubling as only hares know how, threading lus way through the legs of hundreds, he salelv negotiated tho full width of the oval, only to fall a victim to fema e charm. With his long ears flat on his bacw. the elusive little animal was making a clean get-away under tho rails when he practically dived into tho lap ot one of several ladies who were seatea on tho ground outside. The last seen of master bunny, was a wide-eyed little creature reposing timidly in tie arms of a Boj’ Scout who. at the time, was the hero of a hundred other lads.

For several days the North Egmont Hostelry was cut off from the rest ot the world as a result of the gale ot last, week (states the “Taranaki Herald”). The telephone line suffereo considerably, a number of poles being blown down, and fallen trees and branches causing breaks, and it was not until Friday that tho linesmen could complete repairs. The removing of one rata tree which fell across the roadway in the reserve required the sevices on two days of five bushmen. fully equipped. Though it had snapped off thirty or forty feet almve the ground tho trunk was four or five feel in diameter when it lay upon the road. Until it. had been removed tho telegraph linesmen were unable to proceed with their work, as their lorry could not pass. A motor-car was blockaded between two fallen trees and had to be abandoned temporarily.