TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 13

TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS

Items of Interest From All Quarters

There are compensations in all things, and even smaller incomes and the unemployment levy are not entirely without benefit. This fact is shown in the income tax assessments uotices which have now begun to reach taxpayers. In many cases the assessments are lower than they were a year ago. the joint result of lower incomes and contribution to the Unemployment Fund. In the case of married men a wife has now become an asset of real worth, for the assessment has the novel entry: “Allowance for wife, £50.”

Last Sunday evening in the Anglican Church, Papakura, there was a novel change in the service. In place of the sermon a series of moving pictures was shown by Major G. Robinson, general secretary of the Melanesian Mission. The pictures were illustrative of the work of the mission in the Solomon Islands. The vicar, the Rev. W. C. Wood, said that this was to be in no sense an entertainment, but a distinct part of the service, an act of worship. In a sermon they, used the word-pic-tures to convey their message, but that evening the appeal would be made through the eye instead. The large congregation retained a reverent attitude all through the service.

“Owing to a ruling of the International Federation, which met at the last Olympic Games, beach patrols were declared to be professional swimmers, and therefore the association was prevented from making its usual appointments at North Beach and Sumner,” states the annual report of the Canterbury Surf Life Saving Association. “The association, in conjunction with the North Beach and Sumner clubs, did everything possible to ensure the safety of all bathers at these two beaches duping the week days, while dub members took over as usual during the week-ends. At New Brighton a professional patrolman was appointed and he carried out his duties in a most efficient manner.”

Members of the crew of the tanker Teakwood, which visited Lyttelton on Saturday, are looking forward to their Christmas dinner, which will include half a dozen geese purchased at Batum. These Russian geese have been cooped behind a temporary wire-netting fence on the after-part of the main deck, and although the-vessel was fifty-three days on the trip of 10,770 miles from the Russian port to Auckland, and experienced twenty-one days of continuous gales with the decks awash for the whole period, the birds appear to be thriving. On Saturday they did not look at their best, according of the sailors, for on the coast they had not received the same attention as. at sea, ; where they were hosed down daily. Their value was about 2/- each in Batum. The ship’s Japanese cook will have charge of their cooking.

An inspection of the Toad being built up Mount Ruapehu was carried out on Saturday by Mr.. R. E. Champtaloup, touring manager of the Auckland Automobile Association, who reports that good progress is being made. The road hijs now, been carried to the fringe of Lower Scoria Flat, but there is still a large amount of rock to be cleared. Mr. Champtaloup was able to drive his car to an altitude of 4400 ft., about- two miles above the Chateau. Until some of the softer fillings have consolidated, private cars will not be allowed beyond “Big Rock,” about a mile and a half, above the Chateau. More than a mile of the road has already been metalled. It is expected that the new route wilk be ready for use next winter. It will bring the skiing grounds at Salt Hut within easy walking distance, and the present strenuous four-mile walk will be obviated.

“School committees are like second fathers and mothers to you boys and girls,” said the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., at the opening of a school fete.. “The men on the Waltham School Committee have made the school what it is; they regard you almost as an extra family and strive continually to make you happy and healthy. When you understand what your school committee has done for you you will begin to understand the meaning of citizenship.” He asked the children present to remember the example that had- been set them and pointed out that the highest joy in life was derived from work done for others; true happiness could come only from unselfish striving for the happiness of others; and members of school committees had certainly done everything possible to achieve that happiness. The education system in New Zealand, Mr. Sullivan emphasised in conclusion, would not be worth anything if it were not for the work of school committees.

As' the Auckland ferry steamer Rangitoto was berthing after returning from Motuibi with a capacity load cf picnickers, Mr. J. M> McDougall, one of the Northern Steamship Company's watchmen, had an unusual experience As he was hauling up a rope, its weight apparently caused him to overbalance as he reached for the loop to place around a pile. In falling into the harbour he got mixed up on a small leading line, but be displayed, great presence of mind In giving it a twist or two round his left arm. “In case of accidents.” before be began to swim for safety. He also went a stroke or two for his cap, and eventually reached a concrete stringer. He was cheered on his way by the members of the Waitemata Swimming Club, who had been entertaining their Australian visitors at the island. The Raugitot.o was skilfully bandied to prevent Mr. McDougall—an elderly man—from being crushed, as it was some little time before be was able to pull himself ou to the stringer.

One of those rare incidents which occur probably not as frequently as once in a lifetime in athletics happened on Saturday afternoon (states the Christchurch-“ Press"). Interested spectators were watching the polevaulting at the inter-club athletic meeting on the Ensor’s Road ground. It was late in the afternoon, and one by one the competitors were being eliminated. With the bar about eight feet high several of the B grade competitors were failing to get over. One of them, about to make a leap, ran up, leapt, reached the bar, and instead of coming down on the right side or the wrong, remained sitting on the bar. For quite five seconds he was perched eight feet in the air, bis weight bearing mainly on the pole which he still held In his hands. There was an expression of bewilderment on his face which added more to the amusement of the spectators. He was uncertain about which side he would, or could, come down, until the heavy standards at cither end of the bar began to lunge together, then he sprang forward, leaving u decidedly uncomfortable position, which he could j probably never get Into again if • he . tried. ;

A primary schoolboy will have cause lo remember a particular ditty whenever he goes to any of Auckland s beaches. At Motuihl after several dps in the briny, he tripped his way lightheartedly to a dressing shed, and, being the possessor of quite a good voice, he was singing the refrain of “Have You Ever Been Lonely?” Preoccupied and happy, he had reached the centre of the dressing room before he realised that he was in the wrong department! The ladies laughed heartily at the little chap’s discomfiture as he beat a retereat'at top speed.

“You would be surprised at the diffi-. eulty we are experiencing in getting boys on farms,” remarked a Wanganui district farmer. The farmer indicated that In spite of a substantial increase in wages offered, amounting in most instances to an advance of 10V per cent, on the rate ruling twelve months ago, it was found almost, impossible to get suitable boys. ‘ A friend of mine,” continued the farmer, reckoned he employed three boys on his dairy farm, and when asked to whv lie had so many boys, stated tnar he generally had one due to arrive, one working, and one just leaving. That 6 the position in a nutshell.”

A killer whale, about 16ft. to 20ft. long, was seen between Motuihl and Waiheke Islands on Saturday afternoon. The whale made a spectacular Ltght, repeatedly raising the rear half of its body completely out of the water, and then bringing its tail down with a resounding crash. Two or three of these whales attack larger species of whales. In harbour waters they attack principally stingrays. Although a blow from the tail woujd be sufficient to smash a dinghy, they are not so agerressive in these latitudes as in the Antarctic, where they bump ice floes from beneath in an endeavour to shake any animal on them into the sea.

There is a serious shortage of farm labour in the Opotiki districts (says the “New Zealand Herald”), and farmers are finding it very difficult to carry on necessary work besides milkinc. Several milkers are urgently needed, but they are not available. An Opotiki labour agent had five applications for labour in one day,, but could not fill the positions. A few men have been passing through the district lately seeking work, but they refuse to do milking, although farmers fire offering up to 25/- and 30/- a week and found. Many farmers are strongly of opinion that camps for single men should be done away with and the men compelled to take farm work when it is offered. The position will become more serious when harvesting starts unless the necessary labour is made available.

From the days of Sir Francis Drake, the game of bowls has had a reputation of being absorbingly interesting. Bowlers are men, it is said, who forget everything else. On Saturday afternoon at Wanganui East history was, to a certain extent, repeated. A bowler was so engrossed in his game that he took no heed of the shrieking siren of an approaching lire engine. It was not until a friend drew his attention to the fact that it was his own house from which dark, black clouds were billowing that he allowed his interest to be taken from the game. He made posthaste to the house, where he found the firemen already in possession and going about their duties. Realising that he knew less about, the matter of firefighting than they, he returned to his game of bowls and played it out before returning to his house again. Such is bowls!

The wearing of “shorts” by tennis players in public courts has arrived in Auckland. On Saturday several of the men taking part in inter-club matches on the Stanley Street and Windmill Road courts, and elsewhere, appeared in knickers. Last season this fashion for men appeared first on American courts, was imported to Britain and Europe, by the visiting English player, H. W. Austin, and became the subject of much controversy when adopted, with appropriate variations, by Mrs. Fearnley-Whittingstall, a leading English player and dress designer, as suitable wear on the courts for women players. America at once “cottoned on” to the new summer fashion for women players, and Australia this season. after much discussion, decided not to censor the fashion, with the result that some Australian women wear “shorts” for tennis. £>o far the Auckland women have not followed tue fashion.

• '■There seems to be an increase in the number of hedgehogs in the Auckland district (remarks the “Star.”) A few years ago it was an unusual thing to find a hedgehog in one's garden. Now they are everywhere. Mangled corpses are often to be seen on the roads, witness of tragedy in some hedgehog family. An Epsom resident has cause to be'annoyed at this unwarranted increase in their numbers. He found his prize Persian kitten with a deep wound in her throat: the other day. The windpipe had been bitten through, and be was obliged to destroy the little animal. At first he suspected a dog, but. on making an investigation one evening he heard queer puffing and grunting noises coming from beneath sonic thick bushes. With the aid of a torch he located the creature—a hedgehog. which ho found guilty and executed without trial. Other residents are having trouble with hedgehogs, especially those who have _ poultry. Eggs disappear, and an occasional chicken or pullet is found dead in the morning. Auckland is in the throes of a hedgehog menace.

While hundreds of children awaited the arrival of "Santa Claus” in the neighbourhood of the Trafalgar rotunda, Gisborne, on Saturday morning Father Christmas was having trouble with his modern system of transport, and in a valiant effort to keep his appointment at one of the leading stores, suffered the mishap of falling into ♦he Waimata River. It had been intended that “Santa Claus” should be met at a bend in tjie Waimata River by a motor-launch carrying a brass band and suitably decorated. “Santa Claus” was there, the baud was there, and the decorations were there. The launch was boarded by “Santa Claus” in good order, but for the lirs;t time in its long and useful life the engine of the boat refused to function. Eventually it was decided to disembark “Santa’ Claus’ and convey him to the reception place by motor-car. Tn the process of disembarkation “Santa .Claus” tripped and splashed into Tho water. He was rescued promptly and “wrung out” to the best of his attendants’ ability. Proceeding overland. “Santa Claus” kept bis appointment, and, iu spite of the I disarrangement of his equipment, carried off the occasion with, character-, istic joviality.