Local and General

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 21 February 1935, Page 4

Local and General

“It is a most un-Romeo-like effusion,” was a comment passed by counsel in the Auckland Supreme Court recently, during the hearing of a civil case. He referred to a letter written by a courtier of 6G—a retired farmer—to his prospective bride, in which he proposed to her that, a.s she was more affluent than lie, she should pay half their living expenses after marriage. “You don’t expect Romeo to shine at that ago,” rejoined opposing counsel.

“Few realise just how much the moral tone of the people of Now Zealand has been lowered by the action of the Government in repudiating contracts,” said Mr. F. G. Opie, on Monday night, at a meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce. “Contracts, to-day are made only to be broken, and I believe that a great deal of recent crime in relation to money is due to this fact.” Concurring, Mr. A. J. Graham said we were indeed getting a long way from British tradition.

Giving as his reason for declining nomination for re-clection to the committee of the Marlborough Boxing Association, a member explained at the annual meeting that he had alreadj served five years on the executive. The very next candidate nominated was also a retiring committeeman, and he declined likewise. “I've also done five years,” he averred. ‘‘What for?” instantly demanded half a dozen voices, amid general laughter.

The Finnish high jumper V. Pornsalo- suoko ill liis own language at the dinner given to the visiting overseas athletes bv the Auckland Amateur Athletic Centre at Auckland on Saturday night. His remarks v. ere interpreted into English. Porasalo praised New Zealand. He said that on his way to Naples to join the British team he and his colleague, M. Sippala, had visited Switzerland. “New Zealand is the Switzerland of the Pacific.” lie said, “and little did we ever dream that we two Finnish boys would ever visit a country so far away.” The two Finns, and members of the British team, and their manager, were each presented with a Maori carved box. The Registrar of Pensions, Wanganui, will be in attendance at the Courthouse, Hawera, from 11.30 a.m. + o 12.30 p.m. to-morrow (Friday) to attend to any enquiries relating to pension matters.

Oranges for luck—and in a green basket to show breadth of mind—must be the motto of the Sunnyside (Christchurch) Rugby Football Club, as witness an extract from the report presented to the annual meeting on a recent evening. “Most teams have a mascot of some sort and we are no exception, ours being a green basket. Every Saturday during the season, it makes its appearance at half-time tilled with oranges. Those oranges have won many games for the team. “When you are in Wellington,” said the secretary to Dr. A. C. McKillop, who presided, <‘ we hope you will lix it up with Mr Forbes about the embargo. We don’t want to suck potatoes this season.”

Good fortune was experienced on Monday by a Newmarket firm when £34 in notes, which had been left in a telephone box the previous evening by a collector employed by the firm, was returned by the tinder. The employee left the money in a satchel in a telephone cabinet at the intersection of Dominion and Balmoral Roads, and did not notice his loss until he had travelled as far as Epsom. The satchel was missing when he returned. It "was reported to the police that the amounl exceeded £BO, but it was subsequently •learned that all but £34 had been placed in a safe during: the afternoon. The finder of the money was suitably rewarded.

“Is this a normal report, or is this just ‘soft soap’ to bluff the board?” asked a member of the Auckland Hospital Board at its meeting this week, when the report of the house committee was presented. The member referred to a letter written by the housekeeper of the residence at the hospital appreciating the good conduct of the young doctors during the past year. It was mentioned by the chairman, Mr W. Wallace, that in past years the housekeeper had complained of the behaviour of the young doctors. “They will become known as the doctors of the good year,” remarked a member. “Perhaps the appreciative letter of their conduct could be attached to their testimonials.” A recommendation to the Education Department that represoutati >ns be made to the Defence authorities that military camps bo held during school vacations was passed at a meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. Dr. W. 31. Thomson said that seven teachers in Trrauaki liad been granted leave of absence to autend the camp at Waipukurau. It seemed unnecessary interferon :e \> ith school work that the camps should be held at a time when they could dir.oigar.ise teaching. The camps should be held during the long school vacation. Replying to a questim by 3lr T. J. Griffin, several members Said that they did not object to the camps as camps. They did object to the manner in which school work was interfered with.

/The opinion that there was a great opportunity for [developing the export of fish to Australia was expressed to a reporter yesterday by a large New Plymouth retailer. There was no lack of high-grade marketable fish in New Zealand waters,- he said. This applied particularly off the Auckland and Napier coasts. Regarding fishing grounds off the Taranaki coast one fisherman expressed the opinion that although they required extensive investigation they could be worked profitably with first-class equipment. One big difficulty to be overcome by the operators of small fishing vessels was a coast without shelter. At present the amount of fish caught off New Plymouth was not sufficient to supply a very moderate local demand which was retarded still further by high prices as a result of importations from Auckland.

During the past month a plague of caterpillars has gradually been working north. First noticed in the Hokianga and Bay of Islands Counties, the caterpillars moved on and have been causing damage in the Whangaroa County, and others have passed through the Mangamuka Valley, causing damage to the crops and grass there. They have now appeared in the Kaitaia and Victoria Valley districts. The caterpillars have first appeared in the paddocks that have been cut for hay, the fresh grass evidently proving most palatable. One farmer, in an endeavour to rid his farm of the caterpillars, rsn harrows over the paddocks affected, with successful results. Not only do they devour the green feed, but in affected areas dairy cows become very restless and will not feed, thus greatly reducing the milk supplies. “It is quite Inexplicable—as mysterious as the fabled rope trick,” said an Auckland scientist, discussing the “fire-walking” ceremony as performed in Fiji for the entertainment of the Royal party. One explanation which had been offered was that the stones were of a certain kind, which broke open when trodden on, thus exposing a cool surface to the feet. Chis, however, was untenable, as was another theory that the feet were treated with some chemical preparation which rendered them temporarily immune from heat. A similar performance was to be seen in India, where it was just as baffling to the white man. There might be dispute as to whether the rope trick was ever actually performed, but there was certainly no doubt about the performance of fire walking, which remained unique as a scientific puzzle.

“While I have been travelling about I Tiavo found the whole of New Zealand brown and dry, with the exception of subtropical North Auckland, where there is paspalum grass,” commented his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, when speaking to members of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association last week. His Excellency added that the only green patches to be found in large areas of brown land were where lucerne, maize and other deep-rooted crops were growing. This experience had been positively enlightening, and everything possible should be done to encourage the growing of such crops.

“What is the difference between a small kiss and a big one?” asked 3lr Justice Herdman at the Auckland Supreme Court on Tuesday of a witness who, in divorce proceedings, declared that a kiss he had had on the top of 31ount Eden was “just a small one.” “I leave that to Your Honour,” the witness 'responded, adding a little later, “I could show you what I mean.” The suggestion of counsel that witness should demonstrate on the examining counsel was not pursued further.

Tlic accountants of New Zealand were at work in the hall of the Auckland University College on Tuesday, and the impression one gained from looking round the room was that the great majority were very busy or very hot. Most of them had their coats off. Idie example had been set by their chairman, Mr J. L. Griffin. “Gentlemen,’ ’he said, as soon as he had ascended the dais, “I am sure no one will mind if you take off your coats.” He suited action to his words, and in a minute those in the body of the hall below him had followed'his example.

The question was asked at the Wanganui Education Board meeting this i week by Mr J. K. Hornblow as to whether the board should look into the matter of lowering the school entrance ago to five years, as it had been in the past. He said that the board had been unanimous in supporting the Minister in his move for economy when the entrance age had been raised to six years. He wondered, however, whether the time was not ripe for a review of the position. The Nelson Board had moved in the matter. “We can very well leave the position as it is until the country is in a more prosperous state,” replied the chairman (Mr E. F. Hemingway). “I have discussed the matter with the senior inspector and he doubts whether we would have sufficient trained teachers available to increase the schools staffs if the age was brought back to five years.” The board approved of that view and the matter has been deferred.

No fewer than 30 entries have been received for the first New Zealand motor rally, which is to be held in conjunction with the Wanganui Carnival and will take place on Saturday. The largest number of entries comes from Wanganui, 14 owners having entered ears. The second largest entry comes from Wellington, which will have eight representatives. Three cars will leave Napier, two will set out from Hamilton, two from Auckland and one from Rotorua. Nine women will participate. Much interest has been aroused in the rally, a type of competition among motorists which has proved most popular in England and is expected to ‘have a large following in the Dominion once Wanganui’s lead is followed.

As a souvenir of a visit to the West Coast the Town Clerk of Christchurch (Mr J. S. Neville) has a fine piece of dark greenstone which he recently had polished by a Christchurch monumental mason. A high polish has revealed the smooth beauty of this interesting stone. This piece was dredged up in llie buckets of the Rirnu gold dredge near Hokitika. There are said to be fairly extensive deposits of greenstone —the pounamu for which the Maoris fought —in the mountains behind Hokitika, and the Maoris at the pa at Arahura have an intriguing legend about a sacred mountain of greenstone up the Arahura river.