TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 178, 22 April 1924, Page 10

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES '

The kingfisher, a bird that was at one time numerous in North Otago, but lias latterly been almost extinct, has made its reappearance m the neighbourhood of Oaniaru (states the “North Otago Times”).

For the first time for some years, tho port of Tiinaru ,3 landing wheat, instead of loading it (states the hterajd”). The s.s. Kauri, at present in harbour, is discharging 28,000 bags of Australian grain from Geelong, for local mills. It is understood that there will be altogether 27 shipments coming to New Zealand, two of that number beinir expected at this port.

A sheepskin weighing 351 b. must be a record. Alessrs. AVatson and Co. informed the Christchurch “Press that tliev s-old a skin (halfbred) of this weight at their Alarcli sale- At 2-lid it realised £3 10s. 9d. They also sold eight other halfbred skins totalling 1071 b. at 241 d.—an average of £1 7s. per skin.

The AVauganui Education Board has decided to make application to the Department to establish a school dental clinia at Feilding (states the “Chronicle”).

A Wanganui angler had a narrow escape from drowning in Lake Taupo recently (reports the “Chronicle”). He was standing on a sandbank, which collapsed and precipitated him into deep water. The angler was hampered with waders, but fortunately a local doctor, who was fishing close by, reached the 'spot in time to save him.

A number of boys from the Eketahuna District High School were present at the last meeting of tho Eketahuna Borough Council (states the “Wairarapa Age”).' Tho boys were taken with the purpose of gaining an insight into the conduct of municipal affairs.

“I am not sure a man is the best for the position—a smart girl might b 0 better,” stated a Tararua Power Board member in reference to a position to be filled. “I have got a lot of time for the girls of to-day but mighty little for tho boys.”—(“Wairarapa Age”).

Air- R. K. Smith, of Tarras, lias disposed of his Afalvern Downs estate; consisting of 5000 acres of freehold. Tho purchasers (states the “North Otago Tinies”) are mostly settlers in the district, and arc the owners of adjoining farms.

Coistal shipping in and out of Napier is now showing signs of the seasonal falling off generally noticeable at this period of the year. It is stated (says the “Telegraph”) that this decline is more pronounced now than during the war per : ' when coastal business was active ..lost the whole year round. It is. offset, however, by the verj’ busy period experienced during the past summer.

While giving his decision in a case in the Alasterton Court where a motorist had run into a cyclist from the rear, Air. S. L. P. Free. S.AL, stated (reports an exchange) that a borough by-law existed whereby all cyclists were required to carry a red reflector on the rear of their cycles, and he would like to see this carried into effect in the interests of public safety.

A case was brought in the Afagistrate’s Court at New Plymouth bv the borough inspector against a youth for driving a motor-car without having a certificate of ability. Air. Day (reports the “Herald”) pointed out that there were many people driving cars about the borough who had no certificates and the case had been brought as a warning to such people. “And not before time,” commented the Afagistrate- “During the time I have been in New Plymouth I have seen more people driving cars who nlainly should not be doing so, than I have seen anywhere else.”

So acute is the water shortage in Ashburton East, which area is mainly dependent on tank supply, that more than one husband has found it expeditious to send the wife and family away (states the “Guardian”). To borrow was next door to impossible, as practically everyone in the neighbourhood is more or less “in the same boat.” A good rain is urgently needed, and unless a break in the weather is experienced shortly it is hard to say how the people of Ashburton East are going to fare. The entire community will be very pleased when the Borough Council succeeds in raising the lean recently sanctioned to provide their area with a high-pressure service.

Those who play with fire sooner or later get burned, goes an old saying. This was very true to a little girl in Ashburton the other afternoon (states the “Guardian”). She was motoring with her father and another littlo child. The youngsters had apparently been playing with the handle of tho car door, despite instructions to leave it severely alone. However, when the car Avung over the Havelock Street railway crossing, the door flew open and a girl flew out. Fortunately the car was going very slowly at the time, and was pulled up within almost its own ,’p.ngth. The little girl was more frightened than hurt.

In conversation with a “Southland Daily News” reporter, Air. Adam Adamson, the “Ambegris King’’ from Alason Bay, Stewart Island, said that ever since prohibition was carried in America the price of the highest grade fined grey ambegris had not been as good as previously. Since that time the Homo market for the valuable substance had remained steadily at about £3 10s. an ounce.

“I think your country roads in South Canterbury are among the best I have ever seen, and I have seen some good ones,” said an Australian motorist who visited Tiinaru recently (reports the “Lyttelton Times”). “The other day I motored to Tiinaru from Oaniaru via AVaihao Downs, and I was surprised at the excellence of the road between the AVaitaki River and Waimate. I cannot say the same for your main highways, however; the mam North and South Road is full of potholes and irregularities.”

Owing to the dejireciation of the franc aud the adverse state of the exchange, menders of the crew of the French sloop Aldebaran, now in New Zealand waters, will find their stay in New Zealand rather expensive (says an exchange). Their wages work out at 60 francs a month, and as the present rate of exchange is 73 francs to the £1 sterling, it means that their month’s wages are equal to less than £l. They'have already visited Auckland. AVellington, and Dunedin, and they state that unless they are granted free passes on the railways, many of the ratings will not be able to do much travelling.

A brown trout 26)1b. in weight was recently captured in a tea tree r ousn near Lake Taupo. Although a fish story it has tho merit of being true. The facts were (states an exchange), that during the recent heavy rain the Tongariro stream rose suddenly and inundated the low-lying areas near its banks. AVhen the water was subsiding a number of trout were -seen floundering in the tea tree scrub, and the 26j-pounder was secured.

At the annual meeting of householders in the Auckland education district, labour tickets were put forward at various places, particularly keen interest being taken in the elecptions at Ponsonby and Northcote (says the “Herald”). A sound.defeat was recorded against the Labour noniinees at Ponsonby, not one of the nine candidates gaining a seat. At Northcote a slightlv better result was obtaied by Labour, three out of the nine nominees being successful.

A resident of Dunedin, writing to a ‘friend in Auckland regarding the dry spell, states (reports the “Stax ): “AVhile the weather is delightful, our power is running short. 11ns churches as there are no Sunday trams, because they run by electricity. The churches have been requested to keep tho lights down to the lowest possible during services. Tho corporation suggested that services should start at 5.30 p.m., but the churches did not agree to that proposal.”

There is a good deal cf disatisfaction •'in some of the suburban a ' r l“ country schools regarding the awards made in connection with the schools o-arden competition this year (says the “Lyttelton Times”) In the distribution of marks. 75 were given for drawings in the nature study books of boys in Standards A”, and AL, these being: the z pupils who usually attend to the garden work. Twentyfive marks were also allotted for keeping the garden tools in order. In at least one instance, the drawings, it is stated, were never examined by the judge, neither were the garden implements inspected. The garden, however, was looked over. It is claimed that without the inspection of the drawings and implements a proper adjustment of marks was impossible.