TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 28 April 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

A Hastings lady, anxious to avoid housework over Easter, undertook before the holidays a hasty rearrangement of her curtains, and other domestic properties. The result (says the Napier “Telegraph”) was a fall from a ladder while adjusting a curtain rod, and the lady suffered a broken dollar bone as material evidence of her industry.

■' “But I submit, Your Worship, that ihe defendant is a most reputable citizen,” remarked counsel in a case of negligent driving at the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court (relates the “Southland Times”). “Yes, I know that, but that doesn’t affect the ease,” said the Magistrate (Mr. G. Cruickshank. S.M.). “Some of our most reputable citizens are our worst motorists.”

“"What condition were you in on the date in question,” asked SeniorSergeant Scandrett of a defendant in a case before the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court (relates the “Southland Times”). “In a good condition,” was the prompt reply, amidst laughter. “Were you happy?” asked the SeniorSergeant. “Quite happy,” replied the witness, “and quite sober, too-”

Women on a Rugby committee—it isn’t a far step t.o control of the game on the field. At the annual general meeting of the Taranaki Primary Schools’ Union at Stratford a week ago among the delegates was Miss' Sartore, of Wharehuia, whose school (states an exchange) won the junior schools’ championship in 1923. Another lady delegate was Mrs. M. U. Burak, of IVarea, last year’s coastal representative on the union.

In a Napier Sunday School on Easter Sunday a minister put to the bright boy of his class the question : “What happened on Good Friday?” He expected a ready response giving the reasons for the perpetuation of the occasion (says the “Telegraph”), but it was not forthcoming. “Please, sir, they made hot cross buns,” was the boy’s answer.

“I didn’t come here to say there were no rabbits on my property,” said a defendant at the Gore Magistrate’s Court a few days ago (states an exchange). “There are too many for my liking, and if the Government spent money in trying to find a means to get rid of them it would be more good than by paving inspectors to prosecute the land-owners.”

It is understood that there is some possibility of a police prosecution in connection with the trouble at the Rugby match at Petane recently (states the Napier “Telegraph”). The charges, it is said, will be based on what happened after the game, when several Maori players rushed two or three H. 5.0.8. players; but it is stated that neither the Hawke’s Ilav Rugby Union nor the H. 5.0.8. club wish the matter to go further.

“The best trip in the world,” says Mr. R. R. Woodcock, referring to the tour from Napier to Waikaremoana, Gisborne, on to Bay of Plenty ana Rotorua, and via Taupo back to Napier, a journey he has just covered bv car (states the “Poverty Bay Herald”). The scenery all along the trip is beautiful, and the roads very good although one or two stretches, notably near Gisborne, would be bad in wet weather.

lloferrinn; to the story, published in “Town and Country,” of a horse that turned on a water-tap to get a drink, Mr. John Tennant, of AVhangarei, writes to a contemporary: “My brother. David Tennant, owns an old cow which he cannot leave near any of his water taps at night- When Quennie wants a drink she goes to tho tank and turns on the tap to draw water for her own use. When Mr. Sorrenson was in business here lie had a horse that was an adept at this game. No fear of the other horses going without water if Slomiky was in the yard. When this horse was fed from the box resting on the ground he would pick up the box in his teeth and shake the feed from out of the corners. Slomiky was the despised horse in that stable, yet he seemed to be gifted with most sense.”

The prevalence of shop-lifting in Christchurch is creating considerable anxiety amongst the larger drapery and other retail establishments at the present time, and although no prosecutions have been reported lately, it is authoritatively stated (says lan exchange) that the practice is being carried on to an alarming extent. Unceasing vigilance is necessary on the part of the assistants and shop-walk-ers in order to cope with the increasing menace. Several prominent drapery firms have found it necessary io improvise systems of reflecting mirrors by which constant observation can be kept. Even with these precautions, however, thefts are repeatedly occurring, and the losses of one large establishment run into hundreds of pounds annually.

A party of Carterton mountaineers essaying the Mount Hector trip to Otaki at Easter had a most enjoyable time (states the local “Tinies”). They reached Alpha J Lui on Thursday night, and on Friday morning were joined by several more climbers. Friday was so foggy and wet that no effort was made to continue, and towards night fall the but accommodation was further taxed by the advent of 19 Petono footballers en route to Otaki for a game. The hut is only 20 x 10, and the advent of tho footballers swelled the party to 33. The next day was fine, and the whole party had. an excellent trip to Otaki, which was reached easily and in good time.

The ingenuity of the rook has extended the scope of his depredations to severe damage upon the crops ot walnuts (says an exchange). Many country people with walnut trees confidently assert that the rook has developed a taste tor the nut, and gratifies it by onslaughts when the nuts have fallen to the ground. Last year, it is said, rooks used the crude method of merely breaking and smashing the shells; but this year they have learned finesse, and artfully open the shell with much less troubls.

It. is difficult io say whether they were actuated by a spirit of determination or of mere bravado, but the fact remains that three young ladies v.ho bad been holiday-making in Tim.> u. and who were anxious to get buck to Christchurch, set out at 5.30 a.m. co “foot it” to the city because of the railway strike (relates the Ashburton “Guardian”). Beside their ordinary luggage they had tennis rackets and so on, and needless to say it required more than a little grit to undertake the walk. However, when still on the southern side of the Rangitata River, a car driver happened along, but as it was impossible for him io give them all a lift, they decided to plod along as before. The car driver took their luggage on to Ashl ni ton for them. They were fortunate enough some few miles farther on, to be. picked up by a car winch had plenty of room for all. and thus the journey was continued and ended.

'Hie Wanganui County Council decided (states an exchange) to procure a quantity of poisoned wheat the other day, and to supply it free to ratepayers to assist in checking ttie small bird. pest.

It uas quite n common thing to hear said that the two greatest pests in Papua were flies and missionaries, said the Rev. A H. Scrivin, at the Palmerston North Lunch Club (reports an exchange).

A paddock of wheat thrashed at Fernside, Featherston (states an exchange), yielded 45 bushels to the acre, and one and three-quarter tons of thrashed straw to the acre.

“I think the time is coming when our Railway Department will have to learn a lesson from other countries or get out of business,” said Mr. T. R. Anders.cn at a meeting of the Taranaki Power Board (states the Pahiatua “Herald”), when a letter was read from the Railway Department that i certain number of high-sided wagons would have to be used for the transport of the board’s poles. The Dcpai iii.c'.it regretted their inability to supply a sufficient number of bogie wagons, but explained that the board nou.d hire a crane for the removal of the poles ut the usual rates.

A farmer in the Wanganui River district reports, (states the “Herald”), that since the deer stalking season commenced one of his stud rams was found shot through the head with a .303 bullet. The result is that deerstalking has now been prohibited on that propertv.

A Wanganui resident who motored through from Hawera last. Tuesday night, states that he counted 101 cars on the road, going north (reports the “Herald”). There were also a number of heavy lorries all well loaded with merchandise and cars collecting cream for transport to Wanganui. Nine motor-cats were noticed on the road disabled.

A resident of . Dunedin (states the “Otago Time'/'), has received the following letter from Admiral Hotham: —“The young New Zealand, men from the Chatham undergoing higher technical training at Portsmouth have passed their examinations very well —no failures, and 50 per cent, going on for still higher courses. I am very well pleased. . . .”

'Wanganui draws its supply of compressed yeast from Christchurch, and many anxious inquiries have been received., particularly from the country, as to when a supply was likely to come to hand (states the “Herald”). . If tho strike continues a shortage in a popular brand of beer is threatened in Wanganui. The holiday visitors during the warm weather drank freely of this ' beverage, with the result that many licensed houses find themselves in short supply.

Speaking at a meeting of the "Wanganui Borough Council, Councillor Pearce suggested that the motor-cars and cycles belonging to the Borough should be clearly distinguished by a plate to indicate that they were the property cf tho Council and to ensure that, the vehicles would be used only for Council business, and not on Sundays or for picnic parties. It was agreed (states the “Herald”), to hold over the matter until the estimates were framed.

In referring to the meat industry at a meeting of Waverley farmers, Mr. Christensen (states an Exchange), touched upon the mater of main ports. He considered that there was room for a good port at Wanganui. At the present time, lie said, New Plymouth, had the lead on Wanganui in this respect, but he believed that Wanganui as a port would eclipse New Plymouth.

A handsome monument to commemorate the sacrifice made by men of Hie Inglewood district in the Great Avar is at present being sculptured in New Plymouth (states an exchange). The base of the monument will be in the form of a moulded marble pedestal, and this will be surmounted bv the figure of a soldier in white Italian marble, standing with head bowed and arms reversed. The whole monument will stand about 18ft. high, and is to bo erected opposite the Inglewood Post Office. The figure of the soldier has been imported from Italy.

The survey of the East Coast Main Trunk railway permanent line between AVainiana, and Kutarerc is now nearing completion (states the “New Zealand Herald”). This railway will pass with.in a few chains of the Kutarere Wharf, and when the big block cutting about half a mile from the wharf is complete, with I'oom for the traffic road, it will save a mile on the round trip for motor-lorries. Now that work on the railway to Taneatua, is nearing completion, there is an agitation for a start being made on the Wainiana section. It is understood that the surveyors have their work advanced enough for starting formation work this wintei,

What was described as an iniquitous p; exceeding on the part of the taxation authorities was referred to at the meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce the other night (states tho “Star”). It was stated by the member who brought the matter up that a man wiio had lent some money on land received u surprise L'det on when he discovered that tho hud tax due by a former owner had not been paid. When the land cl ai.ged hands no intimation was given that the taxation had not been paid. Apparently the. Department had gone t-o sleep for several years, and then issued a demand for the payment of the tax. He believed that the Department was within its rights, but he thought that its action was very unfair. He understood the same thing had 1 appened in several cases. It was decided to write to the Department and to the other chambers of commerce with nfercnce to the matter.

Since the war footwear has gradually been reduced in price until to-day it is probably the lowest it bits been for some considerable time, elowever, the prices of boots and ='ioes have, apparently, already reached bedrock on the Homo market, for a <eblegrani just received by a Wanganui importer (states an exchange) announces that there has been a rise of Is. per pair on footwear, both black and tan. Ccnsequently, with the arrival cf ftesh shipments of English goods, there will be a tendency for the prices of footwear in New Zealand to again rise. Tho present prices of footwear are 50 per cent, higher than before the war. but the extent to which the prices l ave fluctuated since then may be '.leaned from the fact that to-day tp olntious are 50 per cent, lower than during and since the war.

The arrangements in connection with the provision of picture entertainments for school children were criticised in the annual report of the Grafton (Auckland) School Committee (states the “Star”). It was stated that a resolution had been sent to the .Minister taking objection to the charge for admission, and pointing out that the price debarred some of the children from attending the exhibition, with the result that they were left in school in charge of pupil teachers, a circumstance which suggested that picture lessons should be part of the general curriculum and free to al) children. This resolution had also been sent to the Association of .School Committees and the Education Board, and there appeared to be some hope that screenings might he given in the city schools.