LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 November 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have been asked to state that the following prizewinners at the show were pupils of the Te Roti School:— Map of North Island, N.Z., Std. 4: Gwen Harcourt 1, Clare Jordan 2. Map of Australia: Std. 5, Gordon Todd 1; Std. 6, Fred Cockerton 1, Verna Grierson 2. Writing:. Std. 5, George Hooper I; Std. 6, Fred Cockerton 2. As showing the spirit that animates the Frontiersmen, it was stated at last night’s meeting of the Legion in Hawera that one visiting member, after mustering sheep all day, had ridden 30 miles into Waverley. and come up from there by car to help form the Hawera troop. It is assumed that he would reach home in time for breakfast this morning.

Hawera theatregoers will learn with pleasure that the popular Nellie Bramlev Company will pay a return visit on December 17 and 18, when two big successes will be staged, “It Pays to Advertise” and “Paid in Full.” The company had a most successful three weeks’ season in Auckland, and after a visit to Whangarei and Hamilton open in Gisborne on November 27. Interesting mention was made of a war-gift which has recently found a home in Serbia in a'letter received by the Lyttelton Times, from Mr. W. E. Walker, of Eliand. England. It appears that one of the cases dispatched from Christchurch by the Red Cross workers earlv in the war days arrived at a sanatorium for children in Serbia, bearing signs of endless journeyings. The cases had been at Salonika, and the direction marks had been obliterated. Someone had asked for sewing cotton for Serbia, and an official, anxious to oblige, took the case of unknown origin, marked “Sewing Cotton,” and forwarded it with other equipment to Serbia. When the case was opened up there was a shout of joy from the workers, for blankets were disclosed—beautiful, warm New Zealand blankets, arriving just at the very coldest time, and when they could not have been more welcome. A description is given of the sanatorium and the poor mites, who. starved and diseased, are treated with skill and kindness, quite a good prooortion being saved from death. The with which the blankets were received is vividlv told, and the stovy is a very touching one.

An Auckland gentleman is searching for the author of the following letter received recently from Wellington: “Just a line to congratulate you, as. a citizen of Auckland (and a very worthy one) on your city’s having made that wonderful invention, the collapsible wharf. I am told that while the collapsible boat, the collapsible scaffold, and the collansibe bottle have presented no difficulties to the inventive mind, the problem of inventing the uerfect collapsible wharf has baffled the finest engineering brains in the world for years and years, nay centuries and centuries, and now the honour falls (like the wharf) to your city. You will indeed be n proud man the day. Just think of the advantages! Now. when a stately ship has Unloaded and loaded her varied cargo, will, she have to go through the tedious and undignified process of letting go the hawsers, unhitching the stringers, unbuttoning the main braces, and all that paraphernalia of old? Certainly not! All she will need to do is to whistle up a light lorrv with half a ton of earth on it, and when it arrives, hev. presto! the wharf will disappear beside her. She will not have to leave the wha'-f; the wharf will simplv leave her.”

Particulars of train arrangements in connection with the Stratford A. and P. Show are advertised in this issue. Much has been said about the lost and the various phases of this subject, but on Sunday night at the Church of Christ. Wilson street, Mr Greenwood will give an account of “The man who found himself. ”

A bricklayer from Dunedin, while building a chimney at Oamaru, noticed some homing pigeons flying about. Thinking that' he recognised one of his 6wn birds, he threw’ rice on the ground, and, catching the pigeon, found by its number that it was one he had sent to Palmerston a few days previously. Evidently (says an exchange) the bird, which he set free again, was resting while on its Avay home. Mr J. W. Poynton unwittingly caused roars of laughter to disturb the dignity of the Auckland Police Court, during the hearing of a. defence case. A young solicitor, who was appearing for a diminutive defaulter —a stable boy—commenced his address to the bench (relates the Star), when Mr Poynton suddenly looked. up and inquired, “Are you the bo} r ’s father?” Above the disturbance which followed the blushing lawyer was heard to disclaim any parental responsibility for his small client, The other day (relates an exchange) a bushman visited a restaurant in one of 4he progressive King Countrj’ towns for the purpose of having a meal, and after perusing the menu ordered poached eggs. The waitress immediately asked if he would like them on toast: “Oh, all right,” said the bushman; “toast will do if you haven’t got a plate!” ■ A party of Waipukurau sportsmen who journeyed out to Tirengalie were well rewarded for their efforts in making the trip (says 'the Napier Telegraph). Casting a trawling net, in. one haul the astounding catch was made of 650 kahawai and about a score of flounders. The weight of the fish was estimated at a little under a ton.

The danger attending children, playing on wharves was illustrated when a boy of about seven fell into the water at’Nelson (states the Mail). He, with others, had been racing about the northern shed, which is very close to the edge of the wharf on the town side, and eventually fell over. He clung to a, pile and was rescued’by a member of the Ngaio’s crew, none the worse for his experience. ■ .

German thoroughness m not infallible (remarks the Dunedin Star). Monday’s mail brought to the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company a letter from a Leipzig publicity firm addressed to “Dundee, Dunedin, New Zealand,’’ and in the letter the writer states: “We have heard of the International Exhibition which shall take place in Dundee, and would be obliged for information.”

A curious anticipation of broadcasting will be found in an unlikely place —the opening paragraph of George MacDonald’s “Seaboard Parish.” This book, a sequel to “Annals,of a Quiet Neighbourhood,” purports to be written by a country vicar, who thus announces his intention of continuing his story (states the Manchester Guardian). “I am seated,” he says,_ “once again at my writing-table,to. .write for you—with a strange feeling, however, that I am in the heart of some curious, rather awful acoustic contrivance, by means of which the words which I have a habit of whispering over to myself as I write them are heard aloud by multitudes of people whom I cannot see or hear.” The death of Sister Mary Dominica Crombie, of St. Joseph’s Convent, occurred at Blenheim on Saturday (states a Christchurch exchange). Joining the Sisters of Mercy at Wellington 35 years ago, she laboured at various branch houses in that district, and was later stationed at Blenheim for a number of years. Sister Marv Dominica had been ailing more or less for six months. She was a daughter of the late Mr. Charles Melville Crombie. a former Commissioner of Taxes. . One of her sisters, of whom there are six, is a Sister of Compassion at Wellington, and another is Mrs. S. J. Sampson, of Christchurch. Two of her five brothers, Messsr Melville and Norman Crombie, are residents of Wellington. “It is pleasing to note the great advance that is being made throughout the Dominion in holding both primary and secondary school athletic meetings (states the annual report of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association). Physical fitness js thus obtained; the competitive spirit is engendered and, moreover, many lessons are unconsciously learned on the field of sport which help to buildi up character, and incidentally tend in the direction of the uplifting of the nation.”

“Have you noticed,” Mr George Robey remarked recently, “the many 'peculiar ways Americans have of acknowledging an introduction? One gentleman from New Orleans, in shaking hands with me for the first time, told me ‘l’m amused to know you!’ A New Yorker, when introduced, said, ‘l’m glad to have you know me,’ while the remark, of a third man from the land of the Stars and Stripes was, Tm obliged to know you! ’ to which I couldn’t help retorting, ‘Not necessarily!’ ”

In Philadelphia and some other populous centres in the United States, where the supply of playing spaces is not adequate to the number of children who have a right to be provided with them, a system has been adopted of roping off one or more blocks of suitable thoroughfares at certain hours of the day, thus debarring vehicular traffic and giving over the whole area to the uses of the children of the surrounding neighbourhood. Different streets are selected for different days, so as to avoid undue inconvenience to residents or traffic, and the scheme has worked so well that it is being copied in other cities.

The last sitting for the Year in Taranaki of the Native Land Court has been held during the last two weeks, and the Court will adjourn to-day and resume in Wanganui next week, judge i Browne kas been presiding. Included in the work dealt with has been the incorporation of owners in connection with leases that have recently reverted to the natives. These leases, we understand, have been formerly administered by the Public Trustee, and the feeling of the natives is that, as the number of owners is in many cases considerable, incorporating them under a committee will naturally simplify dealing with the lands. The Judge expressed himself as sympathetic with the desires of the natives. However, ler'ore giving his decisions he enquired tully into the suggested schemes to ensure that the best interests of the owners should he conserved. The Judcre is assisted in the work of the Land Court hv Mr P. Jones, of Wanganui. The annual general meeting of the Hawera Operatic Society will he held in the Borough Council’ Chambers on Tuesday next, 25th inst., at 8 p.m. All members are requested to be in attendance.

Have you got your share yet of the following bargains at tho Melbourne’s Great Sale? If not don’t delay, as the sale •will soon be drawing to a close. Men’s strong working shirts, 4/11; men’s striped neglige shirts, 5/11; men’s Palmer Nap trousers, 8/6; men’s linen collars, all shapes, 1/-; men’s allwool socks, 1/3; men’s all-wool trousers, 14/6; men’s pure fur felt hats, 19/6; men’s cream cotton gabardine tennis and cricket trousers, 15/6. — Advt.

During the height of the storm on Wednesday afternoon a motorist returning from Uruti had rather a startling experience while, passing , under some cliffs bordering the Mimi river. Dislodged apparently by the high wind., a piece of timber several inches in thickness and about 15 feet long, crashed on to the road immediately in front of the car, which was only travelling at a moderate speed. So close was it that the driver had passed over the log before he could come to a standstill, but fortunately for all concerned it had fallen lengthwise on the road, and beyond kicking up and striking underneath the car caused no trouble. Had it fallen across the road or a fraction of a second later it might have put the car over the bank into the river. Animated by the spirit of adventurous enterprise and undaunted by the prospect of arduous toil under adverse conditions (says .the Dunedin Star), the crew of the whaling steamer Sir James Clark Ross cast off the vessel’s moorings on Tuesday morning at Port Chalmers, and waved a carefree an revoir to the sightseers on the wharf. Captain Larsen, the veteran whaler, was on the bridge. His crew seem to have the confidence in him that his Norwegian compatriots expressed when they subscribed 3.(XX),000 marks to finance the expedition. The Sir Janies Clark Ross has been readily supplied with coal and water at Port Chalmers, where all kinds of shipping facilities are available, ancl Captain, Larsen seemed a satisfied man, as he told' a Star reporter that everything was in good order, and he anticipated a successful cruise in quest of whales. He added with a smile, that he had received a message from Hobart Flaring that the authorities there would- not now charge lighthouse dues if lie felt inclined to revert to his Tasmanian outfitting base. From Port Cbn mtrs the,whaler proceeds to Stewart Js.'and to pick up the five whale-chasers, which have wintered there. These #mailer craft will be coaled from the store ship, and in two or three days Captain Larsen expects the whole fleet will leave lor the south. Last year the expedition left Hobart at the beginning of December for the whaling grounds, and the earlier start made this season figures on the amended programme resulting from the experiences of the initial cruise.