TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 13

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

According to tho Levin “Chronicle.” a Wernroa resident is engaged in breedinf pheasants, which lie sells to acclimatisation societies. At the present time he has 4<J birds.

That a stag should run with bullocks is in itself remarkable, but that an eight-pointer allows a human being to go within 30 yards of it and not show a desire to flee is still more so (says the “JJanawutu Standard ). Yet this is actually what is happening on a settler’s property at Greatford.

A Palmerston bowler, who has recently returned from a business trip to Te Kuiti, reports (says an exchange) that upon receiving payment for a block of land every eligible Maori in the town joined the bowling club.

The road between Carterton and Featherston has been allowed to get into a disgraceful state (states the “AVairarapa Dailv Tinies”). Ono racegoer described is as just about the worst- in New Zealand, while another, a returned soldier, was heard to exclaim: “Pot holes! More like shellholes 1”

“Oh. we don’t know when we will be back: he is stranded down the line ilt ?” was the answer that met a business man in Auckland who had to make a call on a Queen Street firm (says the “Star”).

Commercial fruitgrowers in the Oamaru ict will not suffer a_ serious loss a result of the railway strike (sn the “North Otagu Times”), as most of their fruit has already been sent to market. All that remains is a small quantity of late pears and' apples.

“Anyone who wilfully damages an electric transmission lino is, under the Power Boards Act, liable to a fine upon conviction of up to £5OO. . said Mr. W. McArthur, when exhibiting at To Awamutu two insulators tnat had been shattered 'oy bullets. —Exchange.

It is not often that one hears t» genuine “Spoonerism” (remarks the Oamaru “Mail”). Mr. 11. E. Holland perpetrated a beauty in his address in Takaro Park in Oamaru when he stated that the Government had let a measure fall , “with a dull, thickening svd, in mistake for u a dull, sickening thud. It passed almost unnoticed.

“It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.” The increased motor traffic through Foxton (says the local Heiald”) causes a fair niirffior of cars to pull up in Main Street for fuel, etc., and the passengers have time to indulge in refreshments and a visit to the shops.

When passengers were seeking a seat in the "arious motor-vehicles outside the post office one of the strikers, or an individual who was a very earnest supporter of their cause (says the Auckland “Star”), remarked to tho driver of a motor which was undertaking a long-distance run, “I hope you break your neck.” “You step cut in the road here and I will break vours, ’ was the reply courteous. There was no strike.

The Wairoa tailors, who donated between them a gentleman’s complete outfit, valued at 21 guineas, were very much relieved (relates the Napier “Telegraph”) when they found out that a certain “doggie” man of huge proportions had been . beaten by a midget competitor, and in order to show their gratitude it is rumoured that they intend te give the latter an extra pair of pants, in order to show appreciation of their narrow escape from a shortage of tailoring materials.

A Bluff fisherman, named A. Ccoper, had his hand bitten by a large conger eel which he find his companion had captured in a seine net the other evening (says the “Southland News”). Cooper was putting some flounders into a basket when the eel, which V'as lying in the boat, suddenly snapped at his hand, and tore his thumb so badly that ho had to have four stitches inserted.

On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of last week ants by tho million were noticeable in the Papamoa district (states the “Bay of Plenty Times”). They were particularly thick" on the sea coast. A settler who i ode along the beach for about a mile noticed a trail of dead and living ants four or five inches wide on the beach. Evidently the ants had been caught at sea and washed up to high water-mark.

It is reported that a Wcraroa resident has evolved a new variety of potato (states the Manawatu “Standard”). In a small spot treated exactly as was the remainder of the surrounding crop, the average weight of potatoes per root -was from 9 to lOlbs., whilst other varieties gave a result of a third or less than this weight. The potato has been grown by tho Weraroa resident for several years and is a consistently heavy bearer, several neighbouring farmers who have obtained seed having also secured exceptional results.

A Wanganui bride as she was about to set out for the honeymoon was asked what would happen if tho railwaymen came out on strike. She replied (relates an exchange) that she was not in the least concerned. Her husband was duo back in a fortnight, but she did not care a rap if the railwaymen kept them stranded a month.

A bit of unconscions (Humour arising out of the strike conditions was contained in a Departmental communication received by the secretary (Mr. T. F. Hall), of the Christchurch Competitions Society, relative to the society’s application for the customary concessions to competitors travelling from their homes to Christchurch by rail, says the “Press-” The Department’s letter stated that the concessions would be granted and the tickets issued would be available from a certain date before the competitions started till a date shortly after they concluded. Thon camo the concluding paragraph: “Of course, above is subject to trains running.”

The other day, when a Wanganui reporter could not obtain a chair in the local courthouse, he filled the only one loft, which was on the bench. Another reporter (states an exchange) went one better. at lhe Ratepayers’ Association meeting one night, and when the chairman was standing up explaining tho annual report. the scribe promptly “pinched” _ his chair and went quietly on with his writing. As tho chairman could not bo left standing, the necessary accommodation was soon provided for him.

The use of the word “gentleman arose during the hearing in tho Supreme Court at Auckland by Mr. Justice Herdman of the Wairakei case (states an exchange). A witness stated that he was a farmer, but was not now farminc. “Then we will call vou a gentleman.” said Mr. Northcroft, one of the counsel for plaintiff. Mr. Luxford, one of the defendant’s counsel added, “having had an occupation.” Mr. Northcroft remarked that many gentlemen had never had any occupation. His Honour. with a smile, asked tho witness if he represented tho title, and the latter being quite complacent, the case proceeded.

There are parts of Taranaki, says the “Manaia Witness,” where bagpipes are much in favour, yet the music produced does not seem to be always understood. At. a concert held recently in a neighbouring town, when the instruments were being tuned up, an elderly man was heard to say quite seriously “Ay, it as many a day since I heard that tune, it’s my favourite; I often used to hear my father playing it.”

An application for permission to issue to all pupils covers for the “School Journal” camo before last meeting of the Otago Education Board (states an exchange). The covers were to be issued free, the idea being that the advertisements printed on them would recoup the applicant. It was pointed out by the chairman and other members that the board should be chary as to what was done in this respect- For instance, the advertisements might not be of a desirable character. It was further pointed out that a firm to whom the board had granted the right to issue free exercise hooks to school children had abandoned the project. The application was declined.

On a Wanganui bowling green last Saturday a well-known skip, usually of a modest disposition, caused no little' surprise among his fellow bowlers by an ostentatious display of wealth, which he seemed inclined to manifest in the manner peculiar to the newly-rich, says the Wanganui “Chronicle.” He openly boasted that lie had become a millionaire several times over. Finally, when his illbecoming “uppishness” could no longer be tolerated, he was challenged to prove his words. The necessary documentary evidence was speedily forthcoming in the form of a State-backed order to pay ten million—marks! It was a German note of that denomination, which a facetious club-mate promptly offered to purchase for a modest “tanner.” Having thus frankly discounted his financial worth, the paper millionaire became once more his modest self.

In 1874, fifty rears ago. (says the Taranaki “Herald.” reminiscently), there were nine licensed houses in New Plymouth —the Taranaki, the Imperial, tho White Hart. the Bed House, the Ship, the Masonic, the Windsor Castle, the Beach, and the South Road Hotels. In the country districts there were II hotels, the Telegraph at Opnnake, the Omata Inn. the Village Inn. and the Prince of Wales at Bell Block, the Waitara and the Bridge nt Waitara. the Manutahi, and the Urenni Hotel. Of the town hotels six still carry on business on the same sites, three under the old names, while two —the Bench (now the Terminus), and the Taranaki (now the Royal)—are in substantially the same buildings, added to and improved, of course. The South Road Hotel building is also still in existence, though not now licensed. Of the 11 country hotels in 1874 four have disappeared, but there are four others—one each nt. Waitara, Rnhotu, Stony River, and Opunako. The total population sowed was just over 3000. of whom 1000 were in New Plymouth.

A Tanpiri settlor writes to a contemporary as follows: —“I arrived in the Dominion in October. 1908. Mv wife’s brother being in Now Zealand, wo. were enabled to take advantage of assisted passages for ourselves and five children, the eldest being twelve and the youngest three. > My occupation for 20 years previously being in the clothing trade, in business on my own account, on arrival in New Zealand I futended kecpiAg to my trade, but after looking around, the land seemed to appeal to me. I in. vested mv total of £9OO in 74J acres at Tanpiri. lam now .48 years of age. and my financial position is such that it is at mv own option whether I continue to work- or otherwise. In my opinion there is room on tbo land for anyone who is prepared to work, and if a man docs not do well in New Zealand he would not do well anywhere.”

A Chinese, carrying on business in Te Aroha, under the firm title of Garland and Joe, was proceeded against bv the Te Archa Borough Council at the Magistrate’s Court for tampering with the electrio meter, with intent to defraud (reports an exchange). The liorough electrical engineer stated that he happened to call at defendant’s s'hoji and found the sftal and some of the screws removed. He asked tho Chinese, what he had been doing, and received the reply: “Oh, you pardon me this time; I only wanted to see inside him.” Upon inspection witness could find nothing wrong with the mechanism. After hearing all the evidence the Magistrate said he regarded the action of the Chinese as that of an ignorant man. but it must be understood it was a, serious offence to tamper with an * electric motor. He imposed a fine of £1 and costs.

The practice of handing bouquet,s across the footlights to juvenile performers has frequently been commented on as being unfair and embarrassing to tnose who are less fortunate a? regards the degree of “paternal pride” shown toward them. At the performance of “Cinderella.” the children’s operetta staged at the Theatre Royal in Ashburton, there was an uncomfortable pause before the screen was dropped, during which bouquets were handed up (states the “Guardian”). The idea of presenting bouquets is an old one, hut when it first originated the presentations were usually spontaneous, not studied. There is no merit attaching to tho idea of presenting a cliild with a bouquet whether he or she deserves it or not, and sometimes the child most entitled to any such tribute goes without. His practice of allowing parents this latitude should be stopped, or, if tho promoters are responsible, tbev should spare a few minutes to view the little ceremony from the auditorium, and they would probably hare their opinions changed.

The adventurous spirit of their ancestors cropped up in throe local Maori lads, all of school age, during the Easter holidays (states the “Munawatn Herald”). Often they had watched the launches and “flatties” set out. for deep sea fishing over the bap and so decided to Dy their hands at tho game. They “borrowed” fishing gear and an old “flattie” and set out. Fortunately the sea was calm, and thy bar was negotiated in safetv. . Residents at tho bench, however, did not. like the look of lhe enterprise, and communicated with town, lhe father of the boys knew nothing of tho escapade, and immediately set out for the beach. On arrival lliere nothing could be seen of the boat or its occupants. Meanwhile, the occupants of the tiny craft wero being tossed about well out to sea, and before long two of the partv fell victims to seasick, ness. and all idea of fishing 'was givtn up ' Tho ether Ind. however, stuck to the oars, and after strenuous pulling, landed the boat on the Levin beach. Tho boat was then towed in the hronkors To fhe mouth of tho Manawatu. and it- was a very bwlrarried trio that arrived home that night, “sadder but wiser,” after their eventful escapade.