NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

‘Wellington, The World’

The policy of. the Government Tourist. and Publicity Department in advertising New Zealand’s scenic attractions as “a world in miniature” has borne fruit. A letter received from abroad yesterday by the Tourist Bureau, Wellington, on behalf of a tourist travelling in New Zealand was addressed to “Aliss ——, c/o the Government Tourist. Bureau. Wellington, The World.”

Makara County Half-Holiday. The Makara County Council, al a special meeting yesterday, fixed Thursday as the statutory half-holiday for shops in the Makara County for 193'3.

Aeroplane on Lorry. The Wairarapa Aero Club's Moth machine which made a forced landing at Makara on Thursday morning was taken back to Alastertou yesterday by motor-lorry. Air. D. Stewart, who was piloting the machine, made the landing after losing his way in a thick fog while flying from Blenheim io Masterton. One of the aeroplane’s wings was slightly damaged.

“Eagle Blood” in Waimate Fowls. “They must have some eagle blood in them.” was the rather disbelieving comment attached in the December issue of the -Illinois Auto-Trade Bulletin” to a reprinted paragraph about an unusual motor-car ride taken in July last year by four Waimate fowls. The article, which: was headed.“ Good Grips, Good Feathers of New Zealand Hens,” appeared in the American journal as follows: “A farmer at Hook, Waimate, New Zealand, drove his automobile from his farm to the Hook Public Hall to a party. Leaving his automobile he passed its rear and heard a clucking sound. Examination revealed four of his hens roosting for the night on the rear axle. They remained throughout the party and returned to the farm still roosting on the rear axle. (They must have some eagle blood in them.)”

Confidence with Explosives. The confidence with which men familiar with explosives handle them often surprises laymen. Some of the visitors who inspected the work in the Ngahauranga Gorge yesterday with the Minister of Public Works, Air. Semple, had probably seen no explosives since in childhood days they lit fireworks with exaggerated caution, and they commented on the nonchalance of one of the workmen. M’ith tamping rod in one hand and a handful of explosive in the other, he abstractedly dropped the plugs down a 10ft. hole, looking about and talking to the bystanders the while. Later, from a safe distance, the visitors saw the “shots” fired.

Two New Cargo Ships. Bringing cargoes of basic slag for Auckland, two coastal ships are at present en route to the port on their maiden voyages. The Anchor Tine motor-ship Puriri, which has been constructed for the Nelson coastal trade, is due at Auckland from Immingham, on January 25. The other vessel is the Union Company’s steamer Komata, which left Immingham on Tuesday afternoon for Auckland, where she is expected about February 25. The Komata, which was launched last October, is a single-screw steamer of 3550 tons gross, designed for a service speed of 12 knots. Dignity ajid Impudence.

Pride, it has often been said, comes before a fall, and a striking pictorial example of this old saying was to be seen on the Main North Road’ near Dunedin, on Thursday. Around a corner came a "intage model “baby” car, noisily efficient. Close behind, and making no effort to overtake and pass the smaller car, came £lOOO worth of American luxury, a magnificent limousine, driven by an immaculate chauffeur resplendent in blue and gold livery. To any observer the juxtaposition may have appeared unusual, but when the cars came closer it could be seen that “the mighty had fallen,” and that they had a common bond —a towrope I

A Question of Pronunciation. ' Much speculation has been aroused as to how the. new schoolmaster, engaged by the M’ellington branch of the New Zealand Chinese Association to take charge of the AA’ellington school for Chinese children, Air. Ng, pronounces his name. According to the official language of China the name is pronounced “wu,” though a different pronunciation obtains in Canton, the district from which Air. Ng comes. Unusual as this pronunciation may be when the spelling is taken into consideration, the pronunciation of many English words and proper names is equally strange' Tbe proper name Cholmoudeley, for , example, is pronounced “Chumley,” while Alajoribanks should be spelt “marshbanks” to conform with the way the word sounds in conversation. In England the town St. John is called “sinjun,” and another town, St. Neots, is referred to as “snouts.”