NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Poplars Still Falling.

Poplars are still falling in Christchurch in accordance with the • City Qouncil reserves department's safety policy, states the "Star-Sun." Since a young -man was killed when a poplar fell by the Barbadoes Street bridge, potentially-dangerous trees along the Avon have come down in numbers, and any that appear menacing will continue to come out. Trees are first tested with an augur now, and any i that appear to be hollow are doomed. Felling operations have left stumps here and there along the- river banks, but all of these will be removed by the reserves department workmen. "Can Easily Fix the Clock!" Enterprise and ingenuity to a surprising degree were shown by athletic officials running a meeting in Centred Otago recently, states tjie "Otago Daily Times." Prior to the first event a large clock was mounted conspicuously in view of the public, giving an indication of the approach of the start of each event as recorded in the programme. . A representative of the Otago Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. was dubious. "What happens if the meeting gefs behind time?" he asked. "Oh, we can easily fix the clock!" was the laughing reply. Sand Nuisance. Complaint about the sand nuisance between Paremata bridge and Plimmerton was made at a meeting of the Hutt County Council yesterday. It was stated that land owners dug up sections, and the sand, which had previously been covered by grass, was blown away by high winds. On one occasion recently furniture in a house had been smothered in sand. The council decided to inquire into the matter. 111-starred Bowling Rink. One rink at the' Dominion bowling tourney at Auckland had a bad run of luck. The players from Putaruru were four at the start. But soon misfortune came their way. Their lead went down to appendicitis, and he is in hospital. The skip then took ill, andj a, doctor sent him post haste off the green to .another hospital. Still this was not the end of misfortune, for the, No, 2 became indisposed, and he had to retire for a round. Fellow bowlers came to their aid, and.the rink played on, with addition of W, Maingay* of Te Aroha, and T. Hill, of Rocky Nook. They did not win, but they enjoyed themselves, and their mates in hospital are on the way to convalescence. .Interesting Casket. In recognition of his munificence, the late Mr. Robert Hymers was in 1891 granted the freedom of the city of Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire. Among his philanthropic works was the gift of a sum of money to found Hymers College, an institution which has since become famous throughout the world. The casket containing the parchment deed conferring upon him the freedom of the city is at present in the possession of Mrs. Stanley Jackson, of Wellington, and a photograph of it is reproduced in today's "Post." Lord Strabolgi, former member of Parliament for Hull, was much interested when in Wellington a few days ago tojiear of the casket being here,, and spoke in very laudatory terms of the work being done by Hymers College.

Expert Fly Catcher. Rescued from the teeth and claws of a tomcat, a lizard showed its gratitude by doing a bit of useful flycatching in the kitchen of a Papanui home, Christchurch, on Thursday, states the "Star-Sun." When the cat brought its unhappy captive on to the back porch to play with it, the woman of the house effected a rescue, and took the reptile, dazed but apparently not seriously injured, inside. On the kitchen window sill, in the full blaze of the afternoon sun, it quickly recovered; it had probably been dozing in a sun bath when the cat caught it, for its kind are usually pretty spry. Intending to liberate it as soon as it had recovered, the rescuer changed her mind when she saw the avidity with which it snapped up every fly that came near, darting its head with unerring aim, so swiftly that it was to the human eye iusi a blur. The lizard spent the afternoon at the kitchen window, enjoying a banquet to which it was very welcome.