LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 3240, 9 December 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Waitomo County Council meets on Friday next.

Each of the two containers at the Shell Oil Company’s new dump at Te Kuiti has a 24,000-gallon capacity, it was stated at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. During the past few days they have been filled with water, preparatory to being filled with petrol.

There is not a single square foot of land that is being allowed to go to waste in France or Italy,” remarked Cr. V. W. Lorigan, who has recently returned from a trip abroad, at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, when speaking in support of a suggestion for the relieving of unemployed by the development of lands, “I don’t see why a similar state of affairs should not exist in this country,” added the councillor.

Dealing with last year’s arrears of rates, it was mentioned at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that these were coming in at the rate of £3 per month. “I can’t help but make the comment that this is a small amount when there are certain methods of collection,” observed Cr. Low. A Councillor: What has the Borough solicitor been doing? (Laughter). Another Councillor: I move that we view with alarm . . . (Loud Laughter). The Councillor: The small amount of unpaid rates. (Renewed Laughter).

A country storekeeper, writing to a whole sale firm in Wellington, states that his gramophone business has fallen off very materially through customers saving coupons in the belief that they could get a gramophone for nothing. He states that the agents for another “free gift” scheme had recently visited his town. “I was at lunch when he called at my shop,” he writes, “or I would have given him the K.O. quick and lively. We trust that the matter is being given wide publicity, and that the Associated Chambers of Commerce will see to it that something is done to protect the legitimate trader. When our service is dependant upon certificates and coupons, I will close the door.”

There is a surprising lack of knowledge, even on the part of experienced users, regarding the position to be taken up when speaking by telephone. It is not generally realised that the efficiency of the transmission decreases rapidly, as the distance between the subscriber’s lips and the transmitter increases. If this fact were more widely appreciated and more care taken to use the instrument correctly, the average quality of transmission would undoubtedly be considerably improved, and many cases of extremely poor transmission eliminated. Exhaustive tests have proved that the best results are obtained when the transmitter is held in an upright position and the voice directed straight into the instrument, with he lips about one half-inch distant from the mouthpiece. Under these circumstances, and using a clear, moderate tone of voice, the maximum efficiency is secured.

When speaking at the Maranui Surf and Life-Saving Club’s dinner on Friday, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., recalled a general election when the late Dr. Newman was a candidate for the Wellington East seat. It was a particularly keenly-fought contest, and one minute the results would show Dr. Newman leading by a few votes and in the next he would have just missed. When the time came for congratulatory speeches Dr. Newman was still uncertain as to his fate, and in his few words he said that he did not know whether he was in or out. so that all he could do was to ask them to pray for him. After everyone had gone home the returning officer discovered a parcel of fifty uncounted votes for Dr. Newman, and this assured his election by a majority of thirty votes. A few days late** the doctor received a bill from one who claimed to be an ardent supporter, with the statement, “To forty-eight hours’ praying at Is an hour —£2 Bs.” (Laugher.)”

The following circular bearing the heading “Give Yourself a Pat on the Back,” has been distributed by an Auckland engineering firm which seems to want to help to dispel the gloom germ: “It’s great to get up in the morning feeling well and happy. The world looks bright and the day’s work is tackled with a willing heart, By giving yourself a ‘pat on the back’ for good work done, it is surprising what a ‘buck up’ it is. Get the optimistic feeling, play it to the full for a week, and you’ll be surprised what a return of good things will come along. There were two frogs, one an optimist and one a pessimist. These frogs found themselves inside a house, hopped on the table, saw two jugs of cream. Then each one hopped on the lip of a jug. Being investigators and seeing liquid, they jumped in. The pessimist said, ‘l’m sure to be drowned,’ and sank. The optimist said, ‘Some one will surely rescue me, I’m going to get out all right,’ and he became energetic, using his legs and flopping about. In the morning the housewife found the pessimist drowned and the optimist sitting on a pat of butter! Business is quite good with us and we would like your help to keep it up. Will you?”

There is already a suggestion of Christmas in the air. Local shops are featuring special goods, and judging by the attractive window displays, local shoppers will again be well catered for in their Yuletide wants.

Whether as the result of an argument as to the issue of the game, is not known, but three bulls in an adjoining paddock engaged in a fight during the progress of the Railway v. Otorohanga cricket match on Saturday last. Play was stopped to watch the other contest, which terminated after a battle royal.

An invitation is extended to all members of the Civic League to be present at the opening of the Hospital annex at Hamilton on Thursday next, December 10, at 2 p.m. The opening ceremony will be performed by the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy.

At a meeting of the executive of the Civic League, the usual Is levy was authorised for the usual Christmas comforts for the local hospital. Those desiring to help in this connection may leave donations with Mrs. Powdrill, head of this branch, Mrs. Cochrane, or Mrs. Evans, secretary of the League.

Members of the Te Kuiti Boy Scout troop journeyed to Hamilton during the week-end for the purpose of meeting Commissioner Veart and to receive instruction in connection with the scout rally to be held in Auckland on the occasion next year of Lord Baden Powell’s visit to New Zealand. The boys spent a very enjoyable afternoon. The cricket match which was to have been played between teams representing the Te Kuiti and Hamilton troops had to be abandoned, however.

In his report submitted at., last night’s meeting J of the Borough Council, the engineer stated that the removal of and the alterations to the existing shed at the cemetery have been completed with satisfactory results. - A turning point for cars has also been constructed with the result that cars to the cemetery cap now continue past the entrance gate to connect ultimately a few chains further on with the main road.

In a copy of a recent Devonshire paper the following paragraph appeared :—“Devonshire farm butter was offered at Is. a pound retail at the market to-day, the lowest price since pre-war days. Large quantities remained unsold. The price last October was 2s. 3d. A splendid crop of grass, decrease of visitors, and low purchasing power of the unemployed are responsible for the fall in price.” New Zealand butter was about the same price at that time.

The lot of the traffic inspector is not always the most pleasant or the easiest in the world (says the Napier Telegraph), and a sense of humour is a very helpful asset. An example of this was given on Saturday when a youth, with grave countenance, requested a driving license from the traffic inspector at the Napier City Council. Accordingly arrangements were made for a trial run with the inspector, whereupon the youth, with, if anything a more serious face, requested a license for a grave plot. Doubtless the inspector would -have been relieved of some possible anxiety had the latter application been held over pending the issue of the trial run.

“The question of finance for topdressing is receiving a good deal of consideration from the small farmers of Hawke’s Bay just now” (states a writer in the Napier Telegraph)., “I was on a property of 30 acres, all in grassland, situated not 50 miles from Napier, only the other day, where the owner is very fully aware of the fact that his paddocks are badly in need of stimulation, but with the price - of butterfat down so low is just making a bare living out of the farm, with certainly no money to put aside for the purchase of superphosphate. There must be dozens of others of his type in Hawke’s Bay in a very similar position.”

The severe weather last week resulted in the loss of a number of newly-shorn sheep in the Gisborne district (says the Poverty Bay Herald). With the modern machine shearing, the sheep are turned out of the sheds bereft of wool right to the skin. Their newly-shorn state is likened unto a person being turned out into the open in a nude state after being divested of a whole outfit of winter clothing. Therefore, last week’s wintry weather, with snow on the high points in the back country, could be hardly expected not to leave at least a small trail of mortality, and this has been the case. The losses have not been severe, but among the most recently shorn sheep numbers have been reported dead.

Proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court at Geraldine on Monday were somewhat electrical for a few minutes during the cross-examination of a witness who (says the Timaru Herald) was implicated in a poaching charge laid by the ranger to the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society (Mr. F. W. Pellett). The witness denied that he had handled a fish thrown out of a pool by another man, but alleged that the ranger had rushed on the scene and taken the snare and fish before he could get to it, The statement did not meet with the approval of the ranger, who was severely rebuked by the magistrate for his reply to the witness. “Pdid not

handle the fish,” said witness. Mr. Pellett:“ You mean .to say that you didn’t. Look at those fish, look at the way they are marked. It would be impossible for them to get out of a snare on their own. If you didn’t take the fish out of the snare, who did?” Witness: “You took it out, Mr. Pellett.” The ranger: “You’re a liar.” The magistrate (Mr. C. Orr-Walker, S.M.): “What! Mr. Pellett, I’m astounded at a man with your experience of court saying that to a witness. If that conduct happens again I shall decline to allow you to appear in court.” Mr. Pellett: “I am sorry I made that remark, your Worship. I am very sorry, I will withdraw it.” The magistrate: “It is quite obvious that the ranger does lose his temper.”