Local and General

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9797, 6 May 1924, Page 4

Local and General

The Minister of Justice has advised Mr Nash, M.P.. that .Cabinet has agreed to- grant £2850 for additions to the Palmerston North Boys*’ High School. —P.A.

“Is this defendant an experienced driver?” was a question put to a constable by Mr C. it. On-Walker, S.M., at the Wellington Police Court. “Weil I should say he is,”' was tho reply. “He has been before the court on two previous occasions.”

A second offender for drunkenness, Olaf Henry Olsen, who appeared before Messrs O. Blackburn and G. Harper, J.’sP., in the Police Court yesterday, was convicted and discharged. He had been in custody since Saturday night.

It is not often that one hears a genuine “Spoonerism,” (remarks the Oainaru “Mail.”) Mr H. E. Holland perpetrated a beauty in his address in Takaro Park in Oainaru when he stated that the Government had let a measure fall “with a dull, thickening sud,” in mistake for “a dull, sickening thud.” It passed almost unnoticed.

Tho Coast roads dried up sufficiently, with the spell of fine weather last week, to enable cars to make the through trip to Ruatorea. As a result of the further rains, however, the coach service between Tolaga and Whangara had to be restored. A feature of the winter service this year is the one day trip to Tokomaru Bay. In the past, the winter service has only been as far as Tolaga Bay the first day, but this year the Gisborne Motor Service intend taking passengers as far as Tokomaru Bay the firstday', and then right on to Te Araroa the second day r . The traffic lias also increased to such an extent that they’ have decided to makefile coach service a daily one instead of thrice weekly. A white limousine collided with one of the Post and Telegraph Department’s big lorries loaded with heavy poles, in Gladstone ltoad yesterday. Tho accident occurred about 9 a.m. in front of the Masonic Hotel. A lorry heavily laden was proceeding up Gladstone Road when the limousine swung out from the taxi stand on the opposite side, to proceed in the same direction. As the car turned in behind the lorry, the wind shield caught the end of the poles arid was ripped clean oul and the running board was also damaged. The driver was uninjured.

The ball which the Rugby Union proposed to bold was reported upon by the secretary (Mr J. H. Reidv) to the Management Committee last evening. He stated that the proposal had been discussed and the clubs generally seemed enthusiastic over the idea and were willing to assist.—Mr A. S. Parker suggested that it should be held as soon as possible in view of other fixtures.——On bis recommendation the committee was instructed to submit a probable date for the ball to be within the next or fi,ve weeks, to the meeting of the Union.

The Rev. Knowles Smith, Methodist minister of Greytown, who was a. chaplain during the war. is a straight hitter for return soldiers, states the “Wairarana Age.” During a service he deprecated the action of a number of employers, who promised to leave jobs open for men enlisting, turning the soldiers down on returning because cheaper labour had been obtained. “That.” ho said, “was ptuting personal greed against sacrifice and service.” He also referred to men who had earned the greatest distinction on the field of battle being allowed to sell toys and other things in the streets to earn a liveliliocd. “It was.” he said, - -I!ie most damnable slur on tlic British Empire and its people that such obtained.”

A Chinese, carrying on Business in Te Aroha, under the firm title of Garland and Joe, was proceeded against by the Te Aroha Borough Council at the Magistrate’s Court for tampering with the electric meter, with intent to defraud. The borough electrical engineer stated that he happened to call at defendant’s shop and found the seal and some of the screws removed. He asked the Chinaman what lie had been doing ,and received the reply: “Oh, you pardon me this time; I only wanted to see inside him.” Upon inspection witness could find nothing wrong with the mechanism. After hearing all the evidence, tho Magistrate said lie regarded the action of the Chinese as that of an ignorant man, but it must be understood that it was a serious offence to tamper with an electric meter. •He imposed a fine of £1 and costs.

Tho Poverty Bay. Hockey Assn, wrote complaining to tho management committee of the Rugby Union last evening that a number of footballers had been playing at night on the* l ground allocated to them at tne Childers road reserve. The committee felt that the Union should take steps to prevent footballers damaging their playing grounds. The chairman (Mr. A. E.' Bileliff) pointed out that a light in the locality offered facilities for players to have a “kick round” at night. They had been warned off the hockey grounds. On his suggestion a motion was passed instructing delegates to inform their clubs that players encroaching on the hockey playing area would he dealt with by’ the Union. Mr. Mouat ? .Players using the Hockey Association’s grounds render themselves liable to an action for damages as tho Association is leasing them. A Chinese, carrying on business in Te Aroha, under the firm title of Garland and Joe, was proceeded against by tho To Aroha Borough Council at the Magistrate’s Court firm tampering with the iel\c!)rid metea* with intent to defraud. The borough electrical engineer stated that lie happened to call at dcjfendant’s shop and found the seal and some of the screws-- removed. He asked the Chinese what he had been doing and received the reply: “Oh, you pardon me this time; I only wanted to see inside him.” Upon inspection witness could find nothing wrong with the mechanism. After hearing all the evidence tho Magistrate said liel regarded the action of the Chinese as that of an ignorant mail, but it must bo it was serious offence to tamper with an electric meter. He imposed a fin'e- of j £1 and costs.

Sti appeared to be more or loss of an accident that our blood was rod, said Professor Bancroft, lecturing at the Royal Institution. We could not at present tell why it should not have green. Indeed, among the higher animals he had seen occassional specimens which were shaping in that direction. Once, for instance he saw a rat with brown blood. The cuttle) fish had blue blood, or more correctly, blood "which was sometimes blue. Jusf 'as human blood changed its colour each time it traversed the lung, so did that of the cuttle fish each time the fluid was driven through that creature respiratory organ. Our blood entered our luim purple and left it red; that of the cuttle fish entered its gill colourless and left it blue. There was a star fish in whose blood, according to Dr. Ged-des. might be seen'corpuscles of the most diverse colours—brown : purple, green, lemon yellow; and mdigo blue.

Owing to the Otoko hill being impassable, passengers for Auckland went north by train yesterday afternoon, and will stay the night at Motu.

During the week-end states an Auckland P.A. wire, the shop of B. Knott, hairdresser and tobacconist, was broken into and £l7 worth of tobacco arid cigarettes stolen. The door was forced with a jemmy.

Last evening the Borough Council mot the municipal employees and a full discussion took place on the proposed superannuation scheme. At the conclusion it was decided that the matter should be fully considered by the employees at a meeting in the Council Chamber on Monday evening next

A farmer in the Wanganui river district reports that since the deer stalking season commenced one of his stud rams was found shot through the head with a .303 bullet. The result is that deer-stalking has now been prohibited on that property.

Another month or six weeks should see the completion of the building construction work at the Wanganui woollen mills. Good headway is being made with the erection of the machinery,, and several of the machines have been completed. A start was made this week with the spinning of wool. [List, yo landsmen 1 Sailors from tho Fleet like to sleep in the Boot Inn, Weymouth, because the bedrooms have a list to port, and they think they are on board ship. This argument was successfully used at the licensing sessions when renewal of the license was applied for.

The management committee of tlie Poverty Bay Rugby Union received a letter from Mr H. B. Williams enclosing a donation of £3 3s to the Union. The chairman reported that he had acknowledged the donation also the £IOO he contributed in connection with the fencing of the ground.

“It is a slur on our national char-

acter,” said tlie Rev. Knowles Smith at tlie Greytown memorial service recently (says the “Wairarapa Age.”) “that after what we had promised them an embarking for service for the Empire our soldiers were being robbed and turned off their holdings penniless because of inflated land

values created by individual greed.” London’t derelict mansions, whose emptiness in face of the housing problem lias long been, an economic absurdity, may soon be o;i offer at a siiiiling each. There is a scheme to turn them into “bosnital ballots,” the winner becoming their owners at the modest cost of their tickets. One such house, with a fashionable address, is a; readv in tlie market on these terms, it has sixteen rooms, and is said to be worth about £I4OO. Someone will have it for a shilling. After receiving for 52 years a pen-

sion from the British Home and Hospital for Incurables. Streatliam. S.W’., Miss Rebecca Winter, of Canton

street, Poplar E.. lias died of tuberculosis at the age of 95. The disease

was arrested, and remained for many years stationary. While it is exceptional for the institution to have a pensioner on its books for 52 years, it is not a record. Neither is Miss

Winter’s age a record, for there is a pensioner living at Brixton who is aged 9S years.

"When you reach the age of 50 you hard grown at least 27 yards *of fingernails. This statement is based on the measurements made by a Swiss scientist, who founded his calculation on careful observation of the growth of the nails over a definite period of time. In the course of his experiments the scientist discovered that the nails of children grow faster than those of adults. The thumbnail also grows faster than tlie nail of tlie little finger.

The deaiih of referees at the Oval last Saturday for the competition matches was partieulai ly evident and was commented upon by Mr. A. E. Billclifr, chairman cf the Rugby Union at the Management Committee meeting last evening. He .suggested that a letter should be forwarded to the Referees’ Association directing their attention to the shortage and this was agreed upon.— Mr A. S. Parker: And might I add that referees see that matches are started more punctually than has previously been the case.

The Poverty Bay representatives, Matthews, Langlands and Reeves, selected to play in __ combined team at Auckland, leave Gisborne for Motu to-day, where they will be met by Mr N. Parata, who will assume managership duties, together with the Bav of Plenty players. The party will go on to Rotorua, where the 'combined team will assemble. It is understood that the Hawke’s Bay players will reach there by the Main Trunk train, A day or so will be spent there and a practice will be held beiore the team proceeds to Auckland. The inspector for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Timaru recently- showed a “Herald” reporter the top portion of the head of a cow whic-li had been destroyed. Both horns had grown in to such an extent that they had penetrated the skin, and one had grown about an inch into the skull. This must have caused tlie animal considerable pain, which could easily- have been avoided if the owner had sawn off the tips of the horns. The inspector remarked that if owners of cattle with ingrown horns wished to avoid trouble they should saw off the tips of such horns.

A collision occurred a little after 5 o’clock last evening at the- intersection of Gladstone Rd. and Grey St. wherein a cart had the shaft broken. A carrier’s vehicle was proceeding towards Te Hapara, and a motor-car coming from the beach. Apparently cacli driver thought he had the right of way, for neither stopped and the shaft of the cart struck the car just behind the rear door. Tho shaft broke with a snap but not a dent was noticeable on the side Gf the car. The two drivers engaged in a lively argument, and the motorist then went on his way leavink the earn in a side street.

Thei story of Richard Strauss’s new comic opera, “Intermezzo,” is from real life —in fact, from the life of Richard Strauss. It was dramatically announced by telegram to the composer one day, as he was playing cards, that his wife intended to'sue for divorce. In his absence, tlie lady had opened a letter addressed to her husband, and that letter indicated that the sender was on interms with the great musician. Strauss protested that ho knew nothing of las correspondent, but on 'being visited .by the composer’s lawyers, that attractive vouiio* lady declared that she actually had aii appointment with him in a cafe that afternoon. Tho lawyers took oarc to be at the cafe at the stated hour. The young lady was there. Shortly she was joined by a man. There was a delicate interview, in the course of which the man admitted that lie had been impersonating- tlie great composer to the innocent fair' It was a trying business for Strauss and Ins wife. But surely he was compensated by betting such a neat plot ready made.

Ihers is no known remedy which is so successful as Nazol in counteracting the influence of the germs which produce sore throats— hoarseness—sneezing and running at T* ntwa. **

“The clubs are very lax in taking up the insurance scheme,” commented Mr A. E. Billcliff at the Itughy Union Management Committee meeting last evening. _ “"What are they going to do about it; going to let it slide?” Mr Ingram said that in Hawke’s Bay players were compelled to insure and he considered they should also make that stipulation. The chairman explained that 50 per cent, of a club's registered players had been insured before they accepted for accidents. Players who did not contribute would not receive any benefit. Several members stated they were willing for the insurance scheme to be made compulsory. Delegates were given until next Monday to get clubs to insure, otherwise the Union /j will consider compulsion measures at the’ next meeting.