TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 183, 29 April 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

“A pessimist is a man who sees an obstacle in everything. An optimist is a man who sees an opportunity in every obstacle,” stated the Rev. G. K. Moir, of Greytown, at the G.E.M.S. Conference recently (says an exchange). The laughter which greeted the quip was nothing to that when the president, Bishop Sprott, of Wellington, remarked: “A pessimist is a man who has lived with an optimist.”

“It is a slur on our national character,” said the Rev. Knowles Smith at the Greytown memorial service recently (says the “Wairarapa Age”), “that after what we had promised them on embarking for service for the Empire our soldiers were being robbed and turned off their holdings penniless because of inflated land .'values created by individual greed.”

The inspector for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 'Eimaru recently showed a “Herald” reporter the top portion of the head of a cow which had been destroyed. Both horns had grown in to such an extent that they had penetrated the skin, and one had grown about an inch into the skull. This must have caused the animal considerable pain, which could easily have been avoided if the owner had sawn off the tips of the horns. The inspector remarked that if owners of cattle with ingrowing horns wished to avoid trouble they should saw off the tips of such horns.

A diminutive young man, looking a picture of misery as ne made his way hurriedly down the Avenue at Wangar nui the other afternoon, attracted considerable attention (says the "Wanganui “Chronicle”), the reason being that the lower portion of his garments bore a decidedly bluish appearance. It appears that the dejected man, in the course of his duties, found it necessary to climb on to a barrel. He had no sooner ascended to his precarious perch than the lid gave way under his weight* and he was immersed up to his waist in a bluish substance, which proved to be oil. He naturally had good reason to look completely “fed up” for, besides feeling decidedly uncomfortable, he had completely ruined a good suit and an overcoat.

The matter of allowing dogs to wander round near reservoirs was brought up by Councillor Shacklock rt a recent meeting of the City Council (states the Dunedin “Evening Star”). The councillor said that he himself had seen a dog taken into the Southern Reservoir area, and also, someone had stopped him on the street and had told him that he had seen +wo dogs swimming in the Southern Reservoir. Councillor Begg (chairman of the Water Committee) said that instructions had always been issued that the caretakers should keep dogs off tie reserves. He would report the matter to the department. There was one caretaker who was “death on dogs.” He hanged every dog he caught to the nearest tree. He had actually asked the engineer- for a shotgun to enable him to shoot the dogs. The er gineer had demurred at this request, but had offered to supply the caretaker with a bow and arrows. (Laughter.)

A visitor to Wanganui, says the “Herald” tells a good story of how it is possible for a cockie to fake a test right under the eyes of a Government inspector. Recently -when an inspector called on a farmer near Woodville to supervise his test, the farmer milked his cow, but while doing so he had a bulb in his pocket with a rubber tube attached. The bulb was in a handy position and contained cream, and unnoticed the cockie squirted the contents into the bucket. Under this testing scheme the Government official strips the cow dry, but there was no necessity for him to do so on this occasion, for the bucket of milk doubtless yielded a rattling good test, and the farmer was able to boast to his neighbours what good dairy stock he kept on the premises.

The Rev. Knowles Smith. Methodist minister, of Gtreytown, who was a chaplain during the war, is a straight hitter for returned soldiers, states the “Wairarapa Age.” During a service last week he deprecated the action of a number of employers, who promised to leave jobs open for men enlisting. turning the soldiers down on returning because cheaper labour had been obtained. “That,” he said, “was putting personal greed against sacrifice and service.” He also referred to men who had earned the greatest distinction on tho field of battle being allowed to sell toys and other things in the streets to earn a livelihood. “It was,’’ he said, “the most damnable slur on the British Empire and its people that such obtained.”

“Virtue has its own reward,” quoted a pleasant faced motorist to three small country boys on a recent Sunday afternoon a few miles north of Masterton, He had pulled up to repair a puncture, and his steaming radiator brought the boys from a nearby farmhouse with a billy of water, for which they were rewarded with 6d. each. The next Sunday was a lean one; a few cars purred peacefully past, so the following Sunday young New Zealand had an inspiration, and a few staples placed upright in the dust brought the first car up with a bang. When the small fry appeared from behind a fence they were horrified to find that they had bagged a red-faced neighbour, and now dad has to keep his staples under lock and key.— “Wairarapa Age.”

A well-known Dunedin Labour man has a keen sense of the humorous, however wild his statements against what he terms tho capitalistic system may be at times. He tells with glee an incident which occurred at a mass meeting of railwaymen, held at tho Art Gallery recently, says the “Otago Times-” At that meeting there were many Labour M.P.’s and leaders from other parts of the Dominion. Just before the proceedings commenced, said the particular Labour man who tells the story, a member of the audience with a big mop of hair claimed the attention of the chairman. He said that at the present time they had as Prime Minister in England a man who had risen right from the ranks Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. He thought a country where such a state of government could exist was a country worth living for, and under the circumstances be considered they should open the meeting by singing the National Anthem. “Every man got up,” said the humorous person, “even so and so” (mentioning a Labour man who is known from one end of the Dominion to the other for his diatribes against the existing form of government) “and joined heartily in the singing. I said to one North Island Labour'M.P. afterwards that I thought he never sang the National Anthem, and he replied: ‘Me! I’ll sing anything. They can’t side-track mz that way.’ ”

It is not unusual for a person to mislay an umbrella or a walking stick and forget all about it for a time; but to casually leave a horse and gig on the highway is not a common thing tor the most absent-minded to do. Last Saturday afternoon a constable came across a horse attached to a gig on the road near Black Jack’s Point, Dunedin. Nobody was in attendance, so tho constable took charge, and so far the owner has not turned up to claim his property.—“Star.”

The sum of £l5OO has been set aside by the Auckland City Council for the improvement of Parnell Park and “Kilbryde,” the former residence of the late Sir John Logan Campbell, but now the property of the city (states the “Herald”). In his report, the Mayor stated that expenditure on this property had for the past few years been greatly restricted, with the result that it was not at present in a creditable condition. As this area appeared to have the strongest claim of all tho parks, an increased vote had been provided. The vote for Myers Park was also increased to £l5OO to provide for the construction of a new approach from Karangahape Road.

It is gratifying to know (says, the Nelson “Mail”) that there is still a large number of business people who are willing to put their hands in their pockets to keep sport going and do it with a smile. On Wednesday a committee of two from the Football Association set out to get £lOO as a guarantee to bring the Chinese team to Nelson, and as Greymouth had got their guarantee in a day and Auckland theirs in three hours, they felt they had to put their best foot forward, with the result that they got tho lot in actual cash in 1 hour 45 minutes. It may be stated that the last guarantee of £75 to get the New South Wales Soccer players to Nelson resulted in a huge success, and all tho guarantors got their money refunded.

Great fishing is' reported from Lake Te Anau (reports the Invercargill coirespondent of the “Otago Daily Times”), where Atlantic salmon is verj plentiful and affording excellent sport. On Wednesday one party caught 27 and another 23 fish. The best fishing is being obtained by trawling on the lake round the source of the River Waiau. As applies to the adjace'.n streams, the fish is rather scarce, as salmon have not commenced to run. The opinion of fishermen in Eglington is that April 30 is too early to close the Atlantic salmon season, as it is evidently dependant upon the conditions when salmon run. It is intended to make representations to the society, to extend the season for the fine sporting fish.

As a result of the recent pageant at CarisHrook, Dunedin, the sum of £2104 is lodged in the bank (states the “Star”). The accounts for goods and services are not yet all in, but tho treasurer is confident that there will be a handsome surplus to pass on to the war memorial fund. One of the necessary charges was for an insurance policy to cover any accident to. tho men who ■were engaged in the mimic warfare. A much appreciated contribution to tho funds was made on tho last night. A ladv handed to one of the managers a £5 note as a gift from -the Norwegian captain of the whaler Sir James Clark Ross. One or two other persons also felt prompted to give more than the fees asked for admittance and seats. In a general way tbe public manifested great appreciation of and gratitude for tho pageant. One exception is reported. As part of the night attack coloured lights were fired bv Verey pistols, the property of the Defence Department, and somebody took one of these pistols-

Striking, evidence of the growth ol the administration of the spending department's of the Auckland City Council is given in the estimates for the current rear (states the “Herald”). It was shown that the expenditure from the general account in 1915 was £114.334, whereas the estimated expenditure for the current year was £231,970. Commenting on the figures. tho Mayor, Mr. J. 11. Gunson, said that no relative comparison could be made with these figures, for not only had there been a normal expansion, but by the amalgamation of many districts the area of the citv had greatly increased. It had also to be remembered that the genera] raising of the standard of requirements had imposed added burdens in the matter of expenditure. It should also be noted that in addition large and steadily maintained works had been carried out on loan moneys.

Convincing evidence of the extraordinary mildness of the past season in Dunedin was brought to the Otago “Times” office in the shape of two rine and luscious figs. They were grown in the open air on a young fig tree belonging to Mr. G. T. Railton, of Forburv Road. They leave nothing to be desired in colour and flavour, and the crop is sufficiently plentiful to enable jam to be made from it. It would appear that Dunedin is likely to be incurring enmity again for starting to produce a fruit which has long been looked upon as one of the special attarction of Auckland.

A surprise was experienced bv the general manager of the Christchurch tramways the other morning in the form of a letter, signed “Hor.esty,” in which was enclosed two one penny stamps. The writer (states the “Press”) explained that he had tried unsuccessfully to pay his fare to a conductor, and being determined that the board should receive it, forwarded it by post.

Mills up the Otira line and thereabouts have fairly full skids lately, owing to their inability to secure enougTi trucks for the overland trade from the Railway Department during the time Boats were recently here for Australia (states the “Greymouth Argus”). Moreover, many trucks were last week diverted to coal traffic. At the same time, millers expect to continue cutting for the present. “I cannot understand why so many people declare that Samoa is .unhealthy.” remarked Dlr- A. T. Dick, relieving manager of the Crowp Estates in Samoa, in conversation .with an “Auckland Star” representative. Mr. Dick Raid he had spent many years in the Pacific Islands, and his opinion was that Samoa was the healthiest. He considered there was a great future for Samoa. A trader, touching cn tlie same question, remarked that’ in many cases sick people secured positions in the islands, and when their health broke down utterly, the climate was blamed, no notice being taken of the fact that these peonle were in bad health when they left New Zealand. During the hearing of an industrial dispute 'at tho Auckland Conciliation Council a warm tribute was paid to tho general labourers by a representative of the employers (states the “Herald”). The men seeking an increase in rates of pay were building contractors’ labourers, and during the discussion an employer remarked that of all sections of labour in Auckland none was more honourable or hardworking than the unskilled labourer, who justly deserved an increase in wages. Information is being obtained by the Auckland City Council as to the cost and modern designs of an aquarium, which it is considered would bo a further groat asset to the Auckland Zoological Gardens (states tho “Herald”). Recent expert visitors have advised that with the wealth and variety of fish in those Pacific waters, a marine aquarium of groat value and interest could be established. “Well.” said a. Greymouth motorist the other day in a relieved tone, “we need not worry about railway crossings for a little while I Star.