LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2775, 17 October 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The State Forest Service has notified the A. and P. Association that it will not exhibit at the forthcoming Spring Show. Imprisonment for forty-eight hours without the option of a -fine was the sentence imposed on William Young, at Christchurch yesterday, to ensure prompter payment in future on maintenance order. The Palmerston North Technical School now ranks fourth in New Zealand with regard to special evening classes reported the acting Dljector of the School, Mr Newman, in his report last evening. He referred to the annual report of the Minister of Education.

The high hopes of the Auckland Zoo officials that a young vulture would be hatched have been literally exploded. The precious egg upon which the female vulture has been sitting for some time burst the other day with a loud report, and the hen has joined her mate on the open-air perch.

An old woman, who stayed a night at one of the Palmerston North private hotels,, found the sight of spotless linen too much for her tasteful eye and when she left in the morning she allegedly took with her a number of towels and other articles. She will appear at the Police Court this morning to answer a charge of theft. "I have been very pleased with certain singers I have heard in Palmerston North," said Mr J, Mallinson examiner to the Trinity College of Music yesterday. "They showed the signsj oi excellent training. Then- production was good, and many sang with a surety and aplomb which many grofesisonals could envy."

"I have to record the donation of a cup by Mr A. Hannay, for the amos champion and of a cup yMr C. Loulsson for the leading club in the inter-club sports competition "stated Mr Murray, Rector of the Boys High SchoS in his report to the Board of Governors last night. It was decided to write a letter of thanks to Messrs. Hannay and Louisson.

There are some giant trees ro be found in the inu* »^j; n JJ r f n nakl says the " News." i *3*£sg&g tho Ui-uli district, a couple of settle™ decided to cut up a totora tree that had been torn out by its roots in a ride maW years ago. The totara had adiameter of ten feet at its widest part. By using a nine-foot crosscut saw, maul and wedges, axes and powder, the big trunk was reducedto tmbor that was sold for £2OO. In addition to posts, there were many loads of slabs and stabs, which found a ready market for culvert and cutt.ns work on roads. The timber through out the tree was absolutely sound, and it Is expected will still give at least 60 years of utility.

A typical instance of'the daring which is displayed by bicycle and motor-car thieves was evidenced in one of the busiest portions of the business centre of Christchurch at 11 a.m. one day recently (says the "Press"). A youth was seen riding his bicycle along the street. He dismounted, entered an adjacent right-of-way and proceeded to a motor-car, which was parked there. Producing , a spanner from his pocket, he began to unscrew the bolts which secured one of the headlights of the car, and had nearly completed his task when he was apprehended and questioned, s Had the boy not been interrupted he i would undoubtedly havemade a good "getaway" with the fitting. A remarkable escape from death or 1 serious injury was recorded last ' month in the case of Vito Cicio, a ! small boy, who, while attempting to 1 flv a box-kite several times larger ' than himself from the roof of a threestorey apartment house in 'New York was carried screaming and struggling into mid-air. A strong wind which suddenly sprung up give the kite sufficient pull to topple Clclo over the roofs coping. The boy retained his presence of mind to keep a grasp on the string and sailed down slowly to the-street below, the kite acting as a parachute. Within 20. feet of the pavement the descent was more rapid, and Clclo was knocked unconscious when he landed. With the exception of a few bruises he escaped uninsured. Sheep-farming in the backblocks of Taranaki has many' disadvantages. The difficulties of getting the wool out to market are well known. Then there are the bush vines and bid-a-tua that' cling to and pull out the wool. The worst menace at the present season is the wild pig, says the "New Plymouth News." These ferocious brutes know that young lambs ar e a toothsome dainty and easy to capture and the result is that heavy losses ■ have occurred during the past few weeks. One station with over 4000

I sheep mustered only 40 per cent. 01 I lambs last season, and this year the percentage is likely to be much less lowing to the ravages of the wild pigs. In one small lot of 40 ewes the pigs destroyed all but two of th e lambs. Without doubt, pigs are increasing, and settlers fear that it is only a matter of time when the flocks of grown sheep will be attacked. The wild pig is a very speedy animal, and will sometimes outdistance dogsv and liorses for a. distance up to half a mile This being so, it is easy to see that the hogs could readily run down a sheep. 'The menace is a very real one, and will have to receive much more serl- : ous attention by. the Government than |the offering of 1/- per snout royalty. The position will have to b e met with thorough organised effort, and tho sooner the effort is made the better, l as each season sees the pigs increase by thousands. : ! A special line of boys' sports suits in a great variety are now to" be seen at The C. M. Ross Co. Ltd. These are of serviceable tweeds with two pairs of shorts to each coat —a boon to the economical mother, who knows how a good coat has often to be dis- ! carded when the trousers are worn out, Boys' and mens navy blazers, with £he popular corded bindings in ; various colours are 18/6 each net ! cash.* i Don't watch us grow—grow with ' ua. 'The "Times.".