TOWN AND COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 45, 17 November 1925, Page 3

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PROVINCES

His Honour, at the Palmerston North Supreme Court: “You say you recognised him by his wife?” Witness: “No, by his voice.” His Honour: “Oh,’' X beg your pardon!”—“Manawatu Times.”

Pukeko, or swamp hen, are so numerous in .some parts of the Oamaru district that thev have becmne a nuisance to farmers (says the “North Otago Tinies”). They are particularly destructive of potatoes.

An American visiting Wanganui told a “Herald” reporter that the glowworms at Waitomo were ,the prettiest sight one could ever wish to see in this world—“there is nothing more beautiful.”

One of the Governor-Generrd’s favourite stories is that of the HijrhJander who. when asked what he would be if -lie were not a Scotsman, renlied: “I ould be ashamed of myself.” His Excellencv told it to an appreciative •■udience (reports the “Otago Daily Times”) at I’ort-Chalmers, and added: “If I were asked that ouestion I might not go as fa.r as did the man in the ■ ory. but I would, reply that if I were not a, Scotsman I would be proud to . -c a New Zealander.”

A sailor aboard, the Colorado who visited Auckland wtih the American Fleet writes stating he is coming back to New Zealand to live and claim “the best girl in the world.” “I met her,” he adds, “on a visit to Whangarei, but cur first meeting was my showing her over the ship.” The writer (states an exchange) finds his vocabulary somewhat severely taxed in his effort to record hs glowing opinion of the Dominion.

“I saved up t'wenty-six shillings to buy him a suit,” said a wohian in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court when emphasising her thrift in rebuttal of her husband’s allegation that she took all 'is y/tges (reports the '“Herald”). The Magistrate, Mr. Hunt: ‘.’Good gracious, he would not get much of a suit for twenty-six ■ shillings. You cannot talce all a man’s earnings from him.”

The hr.npy experience of those" farmers who had stacks of lucerne to fall back upon in the time of feed shortage 'his rear has evidently made an impression upon the minds of others as to the value of this prolific and reliable fodder plant (savs the Oamaru “Mail”). \t any rate we learn that a demand has set in for lucerne seed, and that there 's a prospect of a considerable extension of the area under it being effected •'1 North Otago this year.

To be imprisoned nearly all morning in a sump full of waste water which was over her head in depth, was the experience of a 'married woman resident of East Ashburton (states an exchange). She had reason to walk across the wooden top of the well in her passage through the garden, where the structure, which was almost rotted, gave way and she fell through. During" the course of her struggle to keep above water she sank to the bottom twice. When returning home to lunch her husband was attracted by a sound coming from the sump, and lie was just in time to save his wife, who was rescued in an exhausted condition.

A revival on a modest scale of the one-time flourishing beach-combing industry has taken place on Orepuki beach during the past fortnight (states the “Advocate”). Both gold and platinum are to be found here, and more than one party is-finding the collection and treatment of the • black sand deposits outside the tide reaches a fully lucrative one. One miner is said to have secured three ounces of gold in one day. It may truly be said that the amount of gold lying at the bottom of Tewaewae Bay is incalculable, and, as one old-timer remarked the other day, “if the water could be pumped up froin the bay it would prove a better scheme than the Kawarau!”

Mr. Hr Hill writes to tbc “Hawke’s Bay Herald”: These wishing to see broom in full bloom on hundreds of acres of unoccupied country should co to Taupo at this time of the year. The plant running wild as a weed mav be a bit of a nuisance, but all leguminous plants flourish amazingly on pumice country, and will enrich the land during the time it remains unoccupied by farmers. At present the air is sweet witli the perfume of the flowers, the golden and primrose colours, of which give the landscape a feature of attractiveness only seen toward the end of spring.

“I cannot live with a husband I have no affection for,” said a woman in the Auckland Maintenance Court (reports the "Herald”). * “But vou have got an affection tor h-s money,” remarked the Magistrate, Mr. Hunt. The woman replied that she could not earn her own I'Z’ing on account of ill-health. Mr. Hunt: “In all my experience I have not seen two women in that wit-ness-box who admitted that they' enjoyed good health.”

Business is quiet at Gtevinonth, according to 'statements made by’ re-, tailers, who say there are several contributing factors (reports a local paper). In the first place, recent stoppages at the coal mines exercised an inevitable effect upon the trade locally, and the flood which damaged the railway bridge stopped the output of coal from the Blackball mine for a fortnight. Such losses told heavily’ upon the miners, and curtailed their . spending power for a considerable time. Apart from that the town is. now experieficing the usual pre-Christnias lull in trade.

“They certainly have very dignified bankruptcies in Hawke’s Bay,” said His Honour Mr. Justice Alpers at the Napier Supreme Court, during the hearing of a civil action in which it was stated that the defendant had filed for £69.000. Later on in the case (says the “Telegraph”), certain evidence was given as to an arrangement that had been made with the dcferjdant’s creditors at the time of his bankruptcy. '“Hawke’s Bav is famous for its climate,” interjected His Honour, “and it should also be famous for its reasonable creditors.”

The following letter from an irate ratepaver, a resident of Brydone, caused a ripple of laughter at a recent meeting *of the Southland County Council (reports the “Times”) : —“Just received vour drain rate. You will get no rate from us until you make a drain suitable to carrv the water off my property. You have failed in' your duty, and now you expect to be paid for doing nothing—you dirty lot of robbers, that is all you arc. You charge us for roads that are never repaired and you put £l3 extra on this year. What for? We have no roads fit to travel on, and this drain is absolutely no use to us. You I did not clear Mr. ’s part of the | drain and the water backs on to our , propertv. All your cotinsill is good for I is for wasting the people’s money en- I joying vourselves at the farmers’ ex- ■ pe’nse putting the farmer off his farm. I You will get no more money from us ' till you refund to a returned soldier what you are robbing him off, paying I monev for nothing—no roads and the drain worse than ever it was before ■ vou touched it.” Beyond , raising a . laugh the letter failed in its purpose to ! attract attention, and was merely "re- I ceivcd.” j

That all the Dunedin enipfoycTs of labour should provide each member of their staffs with a Christmas box in the shape of a season ticket for the Exhibition is" a suggestion that conies from a Dunedin man who is himself an employer of labour in a large way (says an exchange). The idea is undoubtedly a generous and practical one, and its execution would mean that lu^ n - v a working man who could not aiford to spend more than a few shillings on the Exhibition, let alone buy a season ticket for himself, would be provided with the means of spending many a liappy and recuperative afternoon.

The supjily of fish in Auckland is remarkably good, all varieties, including selinapper, teraikilii, trevalli, and John Dorv. coming to hand in full quantitv As is common at this season of the year, the "school fish” are coming into the gulf, thus adding to the already prolific supply (states the “Herald”). Most of the trawlers have been operating in the gulf, and the favourable weather which lias prevailed of late has assisted materially in the landing of good catches. Mr. 11. Deighton, manager of Sanford, Ltd., states that the new plant at Freeman’s, Bay. for the production of fertilisers and other fish bv-pro'ducts, w.ls proving a wonderful success Much of what was previously considered useless and fit only fot ■‘dumping,” was, bv means of the new and up-to-date methods installed, being utilised. Altogether there was a bright future ahead for the fishing industry in Auckland.

If attention to detail commands success. then sonic State Departments can’t help being prosperous (says the "Matnura Ensign”). Recently a local solicitor wound up a sihall estate, the assessment under the Death Duties Act. etc., ’ totalling £ll odd. This was duly paid last September. A further letter has now been received adding Bs. 9d. to the original assessment, and, in accordance with the usual practice, asking for paanient of this, together with the customary 6 per cent, interest on the amount. The 6 per cent, interest totals seven-eighths of a penny. In a covering letter the solicitor in question states that as it is difficult to forward the seven-eighths of a penny he has generously handed over a full copper with the hope that it will help to swell the Treasury surplus for the current year.

The past week has been good for farm operations in the Oamaru , district, and a large area has been prepared for turnips, rape and mangels (says the “North Otago Times”). The latter are in.tljp greatest request. The surface of the. ground is parched.and dry in many parts of the district, and a good downpour of rain would be welcomed. 'Hie cereal crops are not suffering from the lack of moisture, as the subsoil was well saturated bv the rains of last month. The harvesting of lucerne has commenced, and haymaking will be general in the course of a week or two. In dairying localities the milk supply is reported to be nearing the flush, and dairy cows are in splendid condition. . Shearing operations are about to commence on pastoral country, and the clip' promises to be fairly heavy. Fat lambs will shortly be ready tor the butcher and the freezing works.

When a motor bus proprietor was prosecuted for overcrowding his bus he complained to the Auckland City Council that it was overcrowding its own tramcars (says the “Star”). A report from the traffic inspector- to the council drew attention to the fact that there was a defect in the by-law dealing with tramcars. Apparently-it was optional with tlie conductor whether or u®t lie asked the passengers not td stand on thj platform. When tlie matter went to the Tramways Committee it recommended that passengers should be allowed to stand on tlie platforms. The Legal Committee, however, recommended au amendment of the by-laws in the direction of making it illegal for people to stand on tlie platforms, and in the usual complete way’ in which these things have to be done in order to prevent the proverbial “coach and four” from being driven through the law, the new by-law is to. go on and prohibit passengers from travelling “on the steps, buffers, or motorman’s enclosure, at either end of any traincar, or stand on the roof, or sit on the outside rail on the roof or platform ot any carriage.”

Every summer Auckland suffers agonies from the mosquitoes, and apparently the task is too big, although America cleared the deadly Panama Peninsula of the scourge, and made it safe for w?i ; te men (says the.“ Star”). In a letter to the Auckland City Council the medical officer of health, Dr. T. I. Hughes, jailed attention to the Necessity "for exterminating, the pest end eradicating their, breeding places, ill commenting on this, the chief- sanitary’ inspector said power to deal with the conditions giving rise to the breeding .of mosquitoes was provided in the by-laws, and their enforcement formed part of the routine work of tbc Sanitary inspectors, but a special investigation of all premises in the cityj could not'-be made for this particular purpose. The mosquito pest was at present a matter affecting public comfort, and not the public health, but at anv time it might become an absolute danger,! and the council might reasonably consider whether it was not now of sufficient importance to adopt, repressive measures. If any appreciable results were to be obtained the work must be done thoroughly, and would involve considerable labour . and expense. In addition to the anti-mosquit'j measures required to be carried out by the public, it would necessitate the council dealing with the various ponds, streams, catchpits, and other breeding places under its control.

Fifty-seven years ago preparations were being made 'in Wanganui for the defence of the town against rebel natives under Titokowaru, who were at Kai Iwi. Thef “Herald” of November 13, 1808, reported that “Wanganui is swarming with spies, who report every’ movement at once to the enemy,” and in its leading article, headed lo Anns!” said: ‘-‘The time has coine for every man that can shoulder a rifle to arm himself at once, which lie can do bv applying at the Militia Office.” The "Herald” also reported that Hau-haus had been seen at Kaiwhaiki, and that heavy firing had been heard at Maxwelltown, and suggested that the Govxernment steamer "Woodpecker be made bullet-proof and patrol the river, with an Armsttong gun and sharp-shooters on board,” to prevent the Kaiwhaiki Natives from joining the enemy, in speaking at a public meeting called on the following Monday (^° vc . n ” e J 1.6, 1868), Mr. John Ballance, stated that when on patrol on Friday night he < : istinctlv heard Maori veils at St John s Bush.' Settlers at Tiirakina had ab.ui- | dotted their homesteads and flocked mt I town for mutual protection,, and the houses of the settlers at Kat Iwt . ■ Maxwell were burnt down bv the natives, while an advance guard,.of tl e Wanganui Militia. inoMlv lads in tlici teens, were lioldinix the eraroa , doubt on the top of the Waitotara Hd ■. I But few of Wanganui's early defenders are left to recount their experiences of I those stirring times. ♦