TOWN AND COUNTRY JOTTINGS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 190, 10 May 1934, Page 4

TOWN AND COUNTRY JOTTINGS

Coin 261 Years Old A four-shilling coin. ‘-61 years old. is in the possession of Mr. H. G. Shouler, of Palmhrston North. The coin is in a good state of preservation, and the wording on ft is easily legible. The coin is dated 1673. On one side it bears the insignia of the Realm, including tbe fleur-de-lys of France, and on the other side it bears a representation of the bead of Charles 11. The coin is somewhat like the florin of to-day. but is larger and much heavier Earthquake Victim’s Grave. A request for permission to remove tbe remains of one of the. earthquake victims from the community grave at Parke Island has been received by the Napier City Council. At the last meeting, on the recommendation of the miscellaneous committee, it was decided to reply to the applicant that the council cannot view with favour any proposal which would permit interference with the bodies of earthquake victims, as such interference might cause severe mental anxiety and distress to the relatives ot others buried in the same grave. For this reason the request was refused.

Curator’s Difficulty. r - . u “The Manawatu River at Kaitoke has thrown a bar. of .shingle practically across its whole width, one side torminp a shallow backwater that I would term a natural trap where fish collected of a night,” said the curator of the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society, Mr. J. Anderson; in bis monthly report on the hatcheries, to tbe society. This compels me to attend to the place every morning for the purpose of netting up the fish and carrying them in buckets to deeper water higher up. At times they, are running fairly freely, and I had to put over as many as 10 to 18 fis- every morning. Had this not. been done the fish would have become easy prey to anyone who wished to take them, so to save tbe fish I took them out every morning. .

An Unkind Gull. This story is vouched for by a member of the Napier Police Force A day or two ago he was approached by the father of a very small boy who is well known to many Napier business people, and was informed that the boy was given to swearing. The father ..thought that if the boy received a good fright he would desist, and he wondered if the police offeer would oblige by administering a suitable warning. Therefore, on meeting the child in the street constable stopped him and asked. XV hat is your name?” The boy told him. and the constable continued: “You know. I have been told that you have been doing a lot of swearing.’’ “Dbo told you that.' demanded the indignant youngster. The man in blue was nonplussed for a moment, but then replied. “A little bird. Maa it a seagull?” the boy asked. ‘Yes. was the reply. “That lame one on the Parade?” “Yes. that very self-same one.' “Oh. so it was that • I have been feeding him for mouths, but that is the last, the —- —— will get from me! The policeman decided to leave it at that.