TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 76, 22 December 1924, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

A profitable industry has developed in Hawke’s Bay from the high price of wool (states the “Manawatu Daily Times”). A Palmcraton visitor to Napier reports that buyers are visiting the heaps of (laggings near the principal sheds, and subjecting them to a process of “sluicing” for wool.

A further reference to the nomenclature of Palmerston North was made at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce by Mr. J. M. Johnston (reports the “Standard”). “The town is the centre of the Manawatu —the finest district in New Zealand — and should be called ‘Manawatu* ” he declared, alluding to the number of letters and postal packets which went by mistake to Palmerston South. His recommendation that the incoming council of the chamber ba asked to further consider the matter of changing the name of the town was ap-

“I have great faith in the girl ot to-day,” stated Mrs. E. \V. Kane, of Wellington, at the annual prize-giving ceremony of the Girls’ High School (says the “Manawatu Standard”). She continued that, in this age of wireless, express trains and the kinematograph, it was unreasonable for anyone to expect the present-day girls to be like their sisters of the stage coach period, who lived and died in the one spot “The girl of to-day is just as fine in every respect as the girl of yesterday, and she will make just as fine a mother,” concluded Mrs, Kane.

A welcome to Bishop Averill to Kins’» College prize-giving ceremony was given by the chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. V. J. Larner, in the course of his remarks (reports the “Herald”). “Rumour has it, and 1 do not think she is a lying jade,” said Mr. Larner, “that new honours are awaiting him in the shape of the Archbishopric of New Zealand. When that title is conferred on him, no congratulations will be more heartfelt or sincere than those from King’s College.” (Applause,)

“Christchurch people are exceedingly gullible,” remarked a creditor at a bankruptcy meeting in Auckland recently (says the “New Zealand Herald”), when the sale of chattels was being discussed. “The town seems to be full of cranks and quacks.” A ratepayer in. the Carterton borough has paid rates on a non-existent section for the past 17 years, and finding this out at last he applied to the Carterton Borough Council for a refund (says the “Wairarapa News”)Councillors all agreed that a refund should be made of the total amount paid in, £4O 3s. 4d. Before doing this, however, the council obtained the opinion of , the municipal bodies’ solicitor, who stated that legally the council could ; refund only the rates for the immediate preceding six years, the Statute of Limitations then coining into operation. The council decided to refund six years’ rates, amounting to about £l3, and to endeavour to obtain the consent of the Audit Department for a full refund.

An albino blackbird which has been discovered in Oamaru, has been captured, and is now rearing a family’ in captivity. The bird (says the “North Otago Times”) had a black tail when it was taken. This was pulled out, and, singularly enough, white feathers appearej where formerly there ■were black.

Investigations by Professor J. Malcolm. Otago University, and Mr. T. B. Hamilton, show (says the “North Otago Times”) that the paua, usually spelt pawa, one. of the commonest shellfishes in New Zealand, used by Maoris as food, as well as tor ornament, has a fairly high food value. They state that an adult paua, weighing about 200 grammes, probably is as, much as one person would wish to eat for one meal. It would yield 5 grammes of fat, 4 to 5 grammes of inorganic matter, 2.5 grammes of glycogen, and about 28 grammes of protein, j and there would be about 10 grammes of substance of uncertain food value. The paua is comparatively rich in inorganic salts.

Last week (says the “Waipa Post”) Mr. C. Stewart, of Oparau, received a handsome all-wool rug, woven for him at a Scottish textile factory. The rug is the product of an 81b. hogget fleece ftom one of Mr. Stewat’s sheep, and was forwarded by him to Scotland to be manufactured either into a rug qr a suit length. The cost of manufacture was £l, Customs duty 95., and the value of the wool (at last year’s rates) 10s. The retail price of the rug, had it passed through the devious ways of tho merchant and the middleman, would probably have been £0 dr £B.

“People who think that the millennium can bo brought about by the efforts of any body of men —by bringing together such men as Bernard Shaw H. G. Wells, and others to apply their remedies for tli.o miseries of the world,” said Professor J. Macmillan Brown at the Wairarapa High School prize-giving ceremony, “are fit for onl one institution —a mental hospital.”—Exchange.

“It is most extraordinary the manner in which the Rotary Clubs in England and America are increasing, and the great work they aro doing,” said Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, secretary of the Auckland Rotary Club, who returned from an extensive tour by the Marama. Fie attended the conference known as Rotary Internationale at Toronto, where the Hon. G. Fowlds spoke, and then went to Eastbourne (England) to another conference (states the Auckland “Star”). Mr. Hutchinson said that the outstanding characteristic of tho English Rotary Clubs was the enthusiasm of the members, who at present are aiming at co-operation between employees and employers in business, Rotarian Pascal!, the well-known sweets manufacturer, being the leading light in this movement.

A member of the Waipa County Council, at Monday’s meeting, mentioned (says the “Post”) that _ there seemed to be some misapprehension on the part of motorists concerning their rights to use the roadways. Frequently, when a car breaks down, it is left on the side of tho road —frequently in the water-table —for a considerable period before being removed for repairs. Vehicles left on the roadside were frequently a danger to other traffic and the owners were clearly liable for damages that may arise therefrom

“At one time a teacher was ' a cross between a policeman and a sau-sage-machine,” said Mr. IT. F. McClune, headmaster of the Moturoa School, at a conference of the school committees’ association on Friday night. That idea had now entirely changed, he continued, and nowadays the good teacher was the one who encouraged co-operation amongst children and aimed at the production of good citizenship.—“Taranaki News.”

Speaking to parents and friends at the breaking-up ceremony of King’s School (reports the Auckland “Star”), Mr. S. Clifton-Smith said that even two and a half years’ residence in New Zealand had failed to reveal to him any definite reason why the Dominion had declared against the use of tho Bible in schools. Scripture continued to rank with the boys as one of their most interesting, subjects. Dav by day they delved into that marvellous storehouse of huriian endeavour shot through with divine purpose. As a schoolmaster carrying on the terriffic responsibility for development of character of small boys, he reioiced that the Great Book was available io him for his purpose.

A diversion was created in tho Magistrate's Court ,at Hokitika when Clinese witnesses in an assault case were being handled by opposing counsel (states the Christchurch “Press” correspondent). The complainant, who stated that he was 82 years of ago, bore with patience his cross-examina-tion bv counsel for the defendant for several minutes, but ultimately he stepped down from the witness-box with the exclamation, “You talk too much I” Ho was persuaded bv flic Bench again to face the cross-examina-tion. but convulsed the Court by protesting volubly at every fresh question asked.