TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 194, 12 May 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

Rugby Onlooker: “What’s the referee like, Bill?” Wairarapa player: “Best I ever played against.”—“Daily Times.”

“Did you have any wins?” asked counsel of a native witness, who admitted in the Palmerston North Supreme Court that he had made bets with another man—an alleged bookmaker. “Oh, more pay-outs, I think,” naively replied the Maori. —"Daily Times.”

There has been a great increase in the numbers of diphtheria cases at the Palmerston North hospital, 29 being admitted during April, fully taxing the . accommodation (states the local “Tinies”). Three cases of scarlet fever, and one of pneumonia were also admitted.

Potatoes are not too plentiful in Dunedin (states the “Star”). Good sorts command £8 per. ton wholesale. The usual price at this time of tho year is about £6. Stirling and tho Taieri are supplying most of the demand at present, and some parcels have come from Canterbury.

When the clouds which have been enveloping ICgmont for the past week or so rolled by, a beautiful sight was revealed, says an exchange. The noble mountain iras no more a. maps of sharp lidges "and grey scoria, but a symmetrical cone, of glittering snow, standing out against the delicate blue of the cloudless sky.

“It has given us a shock to see the wav in which the roads have been cut about by excessive motor traffic during the strike. The latter gave a. great impetus to motor traffic which is not likely to bo recaptured bv the railways, so that we will bo involved )n still further expenditure on roads.” said Sir James Wilson, at Palmerston North (states the “Mauawatu Daily Times”).

The two propellers salvaged from the wrecked steamer Port Elliot, which ran ashore on the East Cape at midnight on January 12, are being brought to Auckland by the Richardson steamer Mako (states the “Star”). The propellers, measuring 16 feet across,, are of solid phosphor bronze, and each weighs five and a half tons. They are valued at about £BOO each.

The basis of suffrage of junior high school committees has been communicated to Auckland by the Education Department (states tho “Star”). Elections on the same lines as those of the primary schools are to be held every two years, after the primary school elections, and before the end of June, and tho members elected hold office till the last day in Juno two years later. There is only one junior high school in Auckland.

It was ’ announced at a, meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute by the president, Mr. M. H. Godby, that the Admiralty ships Laburnum and Veronica were going on a cruise of the Rarotonga group, and were prepared to take a limited party of scientists —he understood that four was the maximum (states the Christchurch “Press”). Full particulars could be obtained by those interested from the secretary of the institute.

Two little girls, about 12 years of age, had a narrow escape in Palmerston North (states the local “Times”). They were riding a bicycle in the “double banking” method of progression on the wrong side of the road, when a motor-car struck them and passed completely over girls and bicycle. The driver of the car was flip most perturbed of the trio, for the girls were extricated from beneath the vehicle quite unhurt.

The considerable loss being suffered throughout Marlborough at present in pinus insignis plantations was mention at a meeting of the A. and P. Association by Mr. 0- G. Teschcmaker, who expressed the view that it was due to some form of blight (states an exchange). The matter evoked a good deal of discussion, some members being of the belief that the death of the trees was due to the dry weather experienced in the early part of this year. It was decided to ask the Forestry Department to ascertain if it is blight that is infecting the trees.

A long list of university successes won by past and present students of the Auckland Training College was received yesterday by the Auckland Education Board fiom the principal of tiin- Training. Collioge, Mr. H. D. Cousins. Special mention was made of the conspicuous success achieved by four students. “I am glad to see that Auckland at last is coming into its own,” remarked the chairman of tho board (states the “Herald”). “It means that the plums of the profession will no longer go to graduates of southern colleges, 'out will be available for our Auckland teachers.”

The “Wairarapa Age” states that Two Masterton citizens are endeavouring to acquire an aeroplane lor commercial and passenger flying.

A little boy had a remarkable escape from injury, if not death, in Christchurch on Monday night (states the “Press”). With his parents, who were apparently .waiting to gain admission to a picture theatre, the youngster was standing on the footpath, shortly before 7 o’clock, when he suddenly ran into tho. road, not seeing a motor-car, which was almost upon him. The child went down, but bv good fortune he fell between the wheels and the car passed harmlessly over him. The parents, who were taken completely by surprise at the child’s breakaway from them, darted into the road and picked him up, expecting to find him injured. 4hey were overjoyed to discover that the little chap had escaped practically without a scratch. But they did not go to the pictures.

A reassuring statement I’egarding sugar supplies was made to an Auckland “Star” reporter by a local business man closely in touch with the industry. Despite a rumour to the contrary, he could not see that it would be possible for a shortage. of sugar to exist in the south, since supplies had been going forward regularly, and a substantial consignment was then due at Lyttelton. .There would have been some disorganisation owing to the railway strike, he said, but big stocks were held prior to the trouble, and supplies had lately been going forward with the usual regularity. He did not think it in the least likely that dealers would have to resort to rationing with a view to conserving stocks.

A Palmerston North lady who travelled to Auckland and back in the ladies’ carriage on the Main trunk line during the congestion following the strike, pays a tribute to the excellent arrangements for the comfort and safety of women and children, and the uniformly courteous attention of the ladies in charge (states the “Daily Times”). Tea and refreshments are brought to the adults, and not or cold milk for the little ones if desired. She, however, expresses her surprise and regret that the advantages of this mode of travel de luxe for both first and second-class passengers have not beeh adequately made known by the railway authorities. In the hands of a business concern it would bo skilfully featured.

Oats are in the peculiar position of not 1 being wanted, and yet being firm (states the Christchurch . “Press ). This paradoxical position is duo to sellers having to find the oats and name tho port of delivery, whilst the buyer does uot know whore he is going to place them. The actual position is that business is of a paper character. Later information confirms tho earlier reports that Southland areas are about the smallest since the oats were an important part of the farming system. The yields are exceptionally good, but they fall far short of compensating for the reduced area.

Every new vicar of Fairlie has it discovered to him that the Hermitage at Mount Cook is iu his cure (says the- “Church News”). Now, the Hermitage is only forty miles or so from Fairlie as tho crow flics, but the mortal way is about ninety-six miles, over a miscellaneous assortment of roads, mostly highly prejudicial to tires. The last forty miles are almost devoid of habitation. Hitherto, any adventuring vicar on whose conscience the Hermitage has weighed, has had to do it at his own expense, and of course at tho cost of a day’s service in the more closely-settled part. The Fairlie vestry asked the Standing Committee of the diocese to make a grant towards the expenses of this visitation, more particularly because it was of a special character, and hardly within the parochial scope. Recognising this, the committee granted £lO for tho new financial year and asked for a report to be furnished at the end of the period.

At a result of letters to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Christchurch R.S.A. (states an exchange) has been successful in getting the work of erecting permanent headstones to soldiers graves in Christchurch commenced. Originally it was decided to complete the work in the North Island first, but work has now been commenced at the Sydenham cemetery. The official headstone of New Zealand granite is being erected on each grave, and a concrete kerbing completes the work. There are no"fewer than 2000 soldiers’ graves contained in 490 cemeteries situated in all parts of the Dominion, and extending from within a few miles of tho North Cape to the Bluff. Some of these little cemeteries are in very isolated spots, but every soldier’s grave will eventually bear the permanent granite headstone.