TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 271, 21 August 1925, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

Twenty-five thousand trout fry have been liberated in the Tuki Tuki River, Waipukurau (states the Napier “Telegraph”). As only ten per centum of fry reaches fishing maturity, it is hoped that many more will be forwarded bv the society in the near future.

Th? lambing season in Hawke's Bav is keeping farmers busy at present (states the Napier “Telegraph”). On one Puketapu sheep run 1000 ewes, out of a total of 1200, bore lambs within ten days. There were several lots of triplets, and one enterprising matron was the proud mother of four.

"While in Fiji I was greatly impressed with the prospects of the dairy industry there,” said Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who returned to Auckland by the Aorangi (reports the “N.Z. Herald”). Sir Thomas Mackenzie said many people had gone in for cows and a dairy factory was turning out good butter. The dairy farmers considered the prospects for dairying were very good.

A legal curiosity has been “dug up” out of an old Government publication (states an exchange). It was contained in the memorandum of agreement between milk vendors and their employers dealing with the sale of milk, “or of any other liquid called or known by the name of milk.” Naturally, to the uninitiated it conveys a meaning entirely different to what a legal interpretation would convey.

The F.arl of Stradbroke, Governor of Victoria, arrived at Auckland from Rotorua on Monday. “This has been purely a holiday trip,” he said. “I wanted to see New Zealand before my term of office was up, and a good opportunity presented itself in the visit of the American Fleet to the Dominion. The tour has been too hurried to form any definite opinions about the country, but I might say that I was interested and well pleased .with all I saw.” The Earl, who owns about 10.000 acres in England, said he thought the sheeplands in Hawke’s Bay very fine and also referred to the rich dairying lands near Palmerston North. It was a strange sight to him to see so many small holdings. He was further surprised to observe many different breeds of cattle grazing together. He sailed of cattle grazing together.

In the course of an address at Christchurch Mr. Frank Thompson stated that buses were thought bv many people to be the means of transport in the future (relates the "Lyttelton Times”). If there were nothing else but buses it would require 140 of them to remove the people from Cathedral Square between 5 and 5.15 p.m. each day. A bus costs about as much as a tramcar, vet it could seat only half the number, and,’therefore, a bus seat costs twice as much as a tramcar seat.

An old tattooed .Maori, who was fossicking among the rocks of the Takaouna beach in Auckland, caused a good deal of amusement to a large number of visitors from the citv who were enjoying the sunshine (relates an exchange). The old man was told that before the white man came the Maori must have enjoyed living so near such a beautiful beach, but now the pakehas bad it all to themselves. "The white man no good,” replied the old man, “he hardly ever see the beach; he rush oif to town every morning and come home after the sun has set .nt night. Takapuna now only the same as a sleeping place or bedroom, all the most of the white people did was to sleep there.”

“Gee, that Rugby’s a great HP sport. Seems to be a kinda football game.” The American sailor, who thus solemnly summed up out national game, gave a good judgment on the Rugby he happened to see (says the Christchurch “Sun”). ft was a “kinda football game.” The game at Lancaster Park, specially arranged for members of the Fleet, was not -of a character calculated to promote enthusiasm, and the representatives of the United States Navy, who were there, and who, including a shore patrol, numbered less than 20, took it calmly. The only “Atta Bov” raised came from a derisive urchin.

To lose a purse while standing on Auckland railway station and to have it picked up SO miles awav with nil its contents intact ". as the remarkable experience of ap Auckland ladv last week (relates the “Star”). She had seen some friends awai by the Wellington express when she first realised her loss, and the platform was searched without avail. An advertisement was inserted in the Auckl'ind “Star,” and the aston’Tl, was received that while the home wheels were being tapped at Frankton, the purse was discovered on the step of the carriage. The incident is certainh a testimony to the value of advertising, personal honesty, and the lack of observation bv the travelling public, but as to whether the fact that it was not jolted off during the eightvmile run mav be regarded as evidence of <he smooth running of New Zealand expresses is a matter for expert travellers to decide.

The schemes for the development of the Egmont National Park as a tourist resort were explained to the Eltham Chamber of Commerce by Mr. T. B. Crump (chairman of the southern committee), states the "Taranaki News.” Mr. Crump said that in all their considerations they were endeavouring to get away from any parochial spirit or small aspect of the whole position, and to develop the mountain as a tourist resort and to generally popularise it. A united effort was necessary, and he hoped that each committee would work in the same spirit. The previous committees had suffered considerably by reason of a shortage of funds. The revenue, which was solely obtained by the tolls collected, was approximately £6OO from each house, and some of this money had to be applied to the payment of caretakers. It was now proposed to ask the Government to assist the development with a substantial subsidy, and as Taranaki had shown unity in the general proposals, he had every hope that a favourable consideration to the proposals would be given.

At a special meeting of the Waitemata County Council, it was reported that section 40 of the Counties Amendment Act, now before Parliament, proposed to repeal section 131, sub-section 3, of the Municipal Corporations Act, which provides that separate accounts of the county fund shall be kept of each riding of the county, showing the amount apportioned to it and the amount actually expended on the works in the riding in ench vear, and that all such accounts should be audited by the Government Audit Office, ft was reported to the council (states the "Auckland Star”), that this amendment had been sought by the Counties Association to get over the difficult.v which now existed, making the councillors subject to a surcharge when thev exceeded the expenditure allowed .in any particular riding. The Waifemata County Council reviewed the nosition with alarm, and decided to forward a protest to Wellington accordinglv through its representatives, and also to suggest that as an alternative the statute he amended to provide that where a riding exceeds its financial limit of expenditure, it should not be subject to the penalties imposed by the. Finance Act.

I During the course of an address on tramway matters to members of the Workers’ Educational Association at Christchurch, Mr. Frank Thompson caused amusement amongst his audience by stating that the lost luggage department had a particularly busy time of it last year, as no fewer than 5439 articles of various description were left in the trams during the twelve months. Amongst the articles were 223 brief bags, 37 brooches, 401 pairs of gloves, 222 single gloves, 39 musical instruments, 687 purses and peggy-bags, 544 umbrellas, and 32 push-earts. Hearty laughter ensued when Mr. Thompson mentioned the number of push-carts. “How a woman with a baby can go away and leave 'her push-cart behind is beyond mv comprehension,” he declared. —“Lyttelton Times.”

"While tn the United States I was particularly impressed with the splendid co-operation between public-spirited workers and the medical profession in the interests of public health," said Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, who returned to Auckland by the Aorangi (reports the “Herald”). In practically every city, he added, there were societies made up of doctors, and lay which set themselves out to give the public advice about various diseases' ana afflictions. There were societies which specialised in cancer, tuberculosis, and heart disease. Lectures were arranged and pamphlets which had the object of guiaing the public were freely distributed. The societies also fostered Press campaigns and were doing a great work. The various Rotary Clubs and Kiwanis, similar organisations to Rotary, made a special feature of the care of the cripples in all cities throughout the United Stales. Special meetings of the Rotary International Convention were' devoted to the question of the cripple.

It has been resolved by the Hawke’s Bay County Council to adopt methods similar to those of last year to keep down the number of rooks in the district (reports an exchange). Mr. T. Mason Chambers, chairman, stated at a meeting of the council that last year the council arranged for shooting parties to visit the rookeries, and those efforts gave satisfaction to the farmers. Mr. T. E. Crosse expressed opinion that efforts should not be made to exterminate the rooks. “I am of the opinion,” he said, " that these rooks and other birds are the best friends we have in this district. The rook is the onlv bird that deals properly with the wire worm, and farmers know what damage that worm can do. The maize crop is about all that the rooks do damage to, but the good they do to grazing land by attacking the wire worm outweighs the damage to the maize crops by thousands.” Mr. Chambers remarked that the Farmers’ Union opinion was that the rooks should be kept down to certain numbers, but not exterminated.

Gales of cyclonic force were experienced by the Woodfield Steamship Company’s steamer Hartfield, which arrived in New Plymouth from Auckland during the week-end (states the “News”). Weather conditions were favourable until the North Cape ivas reached, but then strong winds were encountered, which later developed into a gale. Heavy seas swept the vessel fore and aft, and the force of the wind ripped the boats’ covets to ribbons. The dangerous nature ■ ofthe seas finally necessitated thr vessel being hove to until the weather moderated. On Thursday the vessel continued on her way, and was able to make up some of the lost time, but the wind still continued until New Plymouth was sighted.

"New Zealand is ahead of Australia in top-dressing pastures,” said Mr. P. J. Carroll, Commonwealth supervisor of dairy exports, in an interview with an 'ucklmid “Herald” representative. “Top-dressing is not universal in Australia, but the use ol artificial manures is growing rapidly.’.’ Another feature in the Dominion was the demonstration areas. Mr. Carroll was not sure that it was wise to expect, as apparently New Zealanders did, these areas to pay their way. That vas not always practicable or advisable where experiments were being cairied out. but if these areas could remain efficient teachers and be self supporting as well, there was great cause for congratulation. .

The measures taken by the Health Department to combat outbreak of tvphoid fever among the Maoris of the Opotiki district have apparently been completely successful, as no fresh cases have been reported for practically a fortnight (states an exchange). The Department is, however, continuing with the inoculation of the Maoris, as this forms part of its ordinary routine for overcoming the disease l among the Natives.

Auckland’s most chivalrous motorist has been discovered by a local resident and held up to public admira. tion and the emulation of the motoring fraternity (states an exchange). Writing to the Auckland Automobile tssociation the resident said: “Last Sunday afternoon 1 was coining down the hill at Reniuera in my care with three women passengers. A 1.-ir seven-seater car was coming up the hill, and it was clear the driver had the full glare of the sun in his eyes. It was evident that he was quite tin able to see my car and a collision oc curred. Immediately after the impact the driver made the fullest in quiries whether any of us had been injured, and as to extent of the damage. At once he admitted full res ponsibilitv for the mishap and expressed his sincere regret for what had happened. lie insisted on being told which garage would see my car, and on Monday morning I found that he had already telephoned to the garage and had given an undertaking tn be responsible for cost of all repairs due to the impact.” The writer concluded: “We hear so much nowadays of the road hog, the callous motorist who is prone to drive away if possible aft'er ihflicting damage, but; what a contrast was here. The driver of the other car at the time of the mishap and later acted in the truest spirit of road chivalry, as a road gentleman in the best sense of the term, and I am only too .pleased to be able to let vou know of the little event.”