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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 26, 30 December 1925, Page 8

A disastrous fire occurred at tho Wanganui Matipo Park Reserve yesterday morning, as the result of which about 10,000 one to two-year pine trees were destroyed. The fire swept several acres. At the motor cycle sports held at Opotiki on Boxing Day, Moller won. the. middle-weight championship of New Zealand, 10 miles, in Bmin. 46sec,which is claimed to be a world's record for a grass track, standing start. A total of two hundred and sixty schnapper were secured tho other day in one haul by a boat-owner off Matapihi Point, opposite the town of Tauranga. The ffsli were all of good average size and in splendid condition. A Christchurch telegram states that trams will be running on New Year’s Day, an overwhelming majority of employees having voted against a strike. It is stated that tho knowledge that the board has a waiting list of about 30 men desirous of joining the service had a steadying effect. Making his fourth appearance for drunkenness within the statutory six months, John Kinley, an elderly labourer, was fined £2, in default 14 days’ imprisonment, by Mr N. 11. Sinclair, J.P., at the Police Court this morning. Two other inebriates—both statutory first offenders—were convicted and fined 10s.

A man who, while under tho influence of liquor, entered a Dannevirko butcher’s shop on Boxing Night and allegedly took without authority a leg of mutton and a side of bacon-, of the total value of £3 3s 9d, and also damaged a side of bacon valued at 19s 6d, appeared at Court and was convicted and ordered to refund the value of the meat taken and damaged. It is what a man is—it is character, and character alone, that-counts most in a man’s life,” said Bishop TaylorSrnith, Chaplin-General to the British Forces, in tho course of a sermon at the Christchurch Cathedral. God save them from being miserable self-centred souls, whose thoughts, when they woke up in the morning, were “What can I put onf What can I put in, and what can I get?” And then spent the whole day in getting. Only the Christian man had tho true perspective of life. The spectacle of a bright green moon was the subject of much discussion in Auckland at about a-quarter past seven on Monday evening (says tho Herald). A prominent Auckland astronomer, who was one of -the observers, attributed the sight to the blending of the blue atmospheric light with the usual yellow hue of tho moon, to givo it a bright green appearance. It might also have been, an optical illusion. Ho stated ho knew of no precedent on record. Are thrushes carnivorous? A Havelock gardener says that he has proof that they do occasionally indulge in 'meat diet in seasons when fruit is not available (says the Hawke’s Bay Tribune) . Recently ho was surprised to see one rise from the ground carrying in its beak by the tail, a bgby mouse. The thrush settled under a lemon tree, and on tho gardener’s approach flew away, leaving its victim behind. The thrush had commenced its meal by scalping the mouse. A Wanganui telegram states that after spending Christmas Day and Boxing day in tho city, two men employed on Mr C. Connor’s farm at liairikia, 15 miles up the Wanganui river, were suffering from headaches. They looked around for medicine and found a powder in an old waistcoat pocket. This they agreed was what they wanted, but it turned out to bo poison. One man, William Davis, a widower with two children, succumbed within a minute, and tho other, Thomas McGuire, was admitted to hospital. His condition is not considered dangerous.