TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 192, 9 May 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

It is reported (states an exchange) that two residents of Otaki beach are at present suffering severely from bites from katipo spiders. The spiders are said to be very plentiful in that locality.

Fruit retailers in Dunedin (states the “Star”), were hit seriously over the strike. Some of them say that 'their sales dropped by 30 per cent, during the time the railwaymen were out. If so, the inference is that railwaymen and their families are fond of a fruit diet.

When Aft - . Justice Frazer failed to recall the name of counsel who addressed him in the Arbitration Court at Auckland, he had. a good explanation to give (says the “Herald”). “So many young counsel have,” he said, '“grown up since I left Auckland, years ago, that I have lost track of them. But I used to know all the old hands.”

The Mayor of a town not one hundred miles from Feilding (says an exchange), was expecting an urgent telegram from an important personage. The wire not having arrived, His Worship called personally at the telegraph delivery office, and made inquiry if a telegram was there for him, and was promptly advised no. The next question put was: “Oh, yes, we had a telegram addressed to Mr. Mayor, and we have been looking for him.”

Three common jurors applied for exemption from service at the Dunedin Supreme Court the other morning. One juryman (relates the “Star”), stated that he was indispensable to a business employing 100 men. “What happens when you get influenza?” dryly asked His Honour. The applicant admitted that the business did not close up. “1 think you can serve, then,” added His Honour. One juror was exempted on the ground of deafness, and nnothsr because of his working at night.

It is believed that Frederick Marshall, who broke out of the Templeton prison on March 24, while undergoing a sentence of five years for forgery and uttering, is at large in Australia, certain information . having been received in the Dominion indicating that such is tho case (states the Christchurch “Press”). Marshall would feel quite at home in Australia, ho having been born there and possessing a good knowledge of ihc country about Sydney and Melbourne.

“Will the case take all day?” asked Sir John Salmond during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court in Palmerston the other day (reports the “Times”). Counsel replied that besides the witness in the box at the time, there wero still five more witnesses and two policemen to give evidence. “You do not class policemen as witnesses?” queried Sir John, with a smile. “I thought that would sound like too many witnesses,” naively answered counsel.

Mangere residents are strongly opposed io a proposal to deface one of the few remaining volcanic cones in tho district, adjacent to the bridge, the school, and the local domain, by using it as a private scoria pit (states the “New Zealand Herald”). At a public meeting strong resolutions of protest were carried, and a committee was appointed to approach tho Government in the matter, and also seek the (co-ojperation of the Manukau County Council, tho Mangere Domain Board, and the school committee. Tho owner of the property has been requested to refrain from action in the meantime.

A party of Dargavillo shooters tell a good story, according to the “North Auckland Times.” 'They came across a pair of sports recently who were after ducks. One of them had a gun and the other was behind a flaxbush quite naked waiting to retrieve the birds as they were shot. Being of a curious turn of mind, the party watched from the top of a rise for about lialf-an-hour, during which some dozen shots were fired by the would-be duck slayer. During the whole of this time the shivering retriever never had occasion to go into the water, and when the party went on its way he was still hopefully waiting behind the flaxbush.

It was at a country sale yard, not many miles from Waverley, that the little incident occurred. An unsuspecting reporter was standing on the rails, disinterested in the proceedings, while the auctioneer was gabbling something about empty ewes and “nineteen bob.” The reporter, noticing an acquaintance standing on the opposite rail, nodded, and immediately tho bid jumped up threepence. Then the auctioneer called out: “Nineteen-six . . .

The bid against you,” pointing to the reporter. The journalist, when he realised that ho was almost made a sheep farmer, dropped from his lofty perch and hurriedly left the sale yard.— Wanganui “Chronicle.”

A youth who was riding a bicycle along" Colombo Street, Sydenham (Christchurch), figured in a startling experience (states the “Press”). At tho railway crossing he saw s train being shunted slowly, and, having a good back-pedalling brake on his machine, he decided to ride up close to the crossing before stopping. Unfortunately, when he applied the brake, the chain of the bicycle came off, with the result that machine and rider came to a full-stop against the coupling between the engine ’and a truck. The rider escaped without injury, but the bicycle was wrecked.

It was reported recently that a couple of huias had been seen in a valley near the upper reaches of the Wanganui River. Commenting on this matter at the annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, the president remarked (states an exchange) that he was rather doubtful that tho birds seen were huias. Ho thought that they might have been New Zealand crows, which were somewhat similar in habit to huias. The latter birds used to frequent the Kaimanawa aud Tararua ranges, and their divergent spurs. He felt fairly certain that the birds seen were New Zealand crows.

While visiting Maketu recently, Mr. A. Morton, a well-known angler and bowler, when walking along the beach, picked up a board about one foot square, containing th- .citers R.M.S., 0.5.5., Messio, lonic. Beside these (states the Auckland “Herald”) it contained figures at intervals from' 1 to 12, as if for some game played on shipboard. The board has every appearance of having been waterworn. It would bo interesting to know in what part of the world it had been thrown into the sea, and how many miles it had floated before finding a haven at Maketu.

When addressing a meeting of Tauhei suppliers of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Mr. A, E. Missen (states the “New Zealand Herald’s” Hamilton correspondent) referred, to tho benefits to be gained by joining the New Zealand Co-operative Herdtesting Association. He said that 20 per cent, of the cows under test during the season had proved to be only worth culling. He advised farmers to go in for speying, stating that if .the operations were performed at the right time by a competent man it was simple and almost painless.

The prevalence of thefts from launches and yachts in the harbour was discussed by the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, when it was decided (states the “Star”) to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister of Justice, the Hon. C. J. Parr, and point out the necessity for additional police protection along the foreshore. It was stated at the meeting that gear and sails had been stolen, and from the yacht Rawene mirrors worth £3O had been removed.

An exciting time befell a party of Christchurch motorists who were endeavouring to make the trip to the West Coast T>y way of Arthur’s Pass (states an exchange). At Rough Creek the driver got out of the car and stood on the eastern bank to examine it, but while he stood there tho creek changed its course, and left the driver standing on the dry bank, while those who were still in the car wero surrounded by a. strong current. The engine stopped aud no assistance could be immediately obtained. The current bore huge b'luklcrs and rocks down the river, and wire ropes had to bo tied to the car so as to prevent it from getting washed down tho river. Next morning tho car was high and dry. The river again changed its course, but there were still difficulties to be contended with, for the car was covered with stones, shingle, and sand.

Some excitement was caused during the swimming of a heat in tho girl’s championship al the public schools’ sports in Dunedin Municipal Baths, when one of the small competitors, finding the width of the baths too much for her, lost her head and sank in deep water. A young boy (states an exchange) pluckily dived ’in and held the girl above water until Mr. E. H. Olds, custodian of the baths, dived in, fully dressed, and brought the child ashore. His act was loudly cheered by the spectators. The girl appeared none the worst for the experience.

Ways and means of securing good roads in the Waikato were discussed by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce the other evening (states the “New Zealand Herald” correspondent). After general remarks on the effect of modern motor traffic on what Were at one time regarded as good roads, it was suggested by Mr Seymour that a comprehensive report on reading conditions generally should be prepared and an effort made to interest local bodies in a good roads scheme for tho district. Tho Highways Act, he said, did rot go far enough. It dealt only with arterial roads. . It was decided to request tho executive to arrange for an address by an authority on roads.