LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2312, 3 December 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There have been no bankruptcies in Wairarnpa for over three months.

The mails which left Auckland on October 27, via Vancouver, arrived at London on November 29. A referendum of cinema theatreowners in Britain decided by 670 votes to 609 against the compulsory quota of British films in every programme. December

A novelty in a Masterton street the other morning was a cyclist mounted on one of the old-time high-wheeled bicycles which were popular forty years ago.

Night tennis, which is so popular in Australia, is now making headway in Auckland. There are at present 12 courts lighted or in the course of construction. Prom Tokomaru, a “facer” has been put to the secretary of the Palmerston North Lawn Tennis Club.

“Sn a ladder match, can any one player at any time during the game change th e tennis balls ?” In future the use of the cane will not be allowed in schools within the jurisdiction of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board. In the past both cane and strap have been used, but the latter is now almost universally used.

The manufacture of cider is steadily extending, especially in the Nelson district, where a largo quantity of low-grade apples is utilised. The quantity of cider made during last year is estimated at 45,000 gallons, valued at £11,250.

At the Wairoa Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, Mr A. C. Bennett, company manager, of Napier, was fined a total of £l2 7/- for driving to the danger of the public on a bend in the Wairoa-Napier road, and refusing to give his name and address to a constable in plain clothes.

Wood continues to be the predominating building material for homes in New Zealand, 4618 dwellings being 1 built of it last year, compared with 575 in other materials. Wooden houses were, compared with the previous year, fewer In number and less in cost, their average cost being £BO4.

When eight more people have joined it, the Canterbury Automobile Association will have a membership of 4000. New members admitted to the Association last evening numbered 156, making the number for the year 611, and the total 3992. As the re. suit of a visit of a representative of the Association, 75 now members in Groymouth, Westport and ReeiTon were secured, \xyn a Press Association message.

A most interesting freak, In the shape of a four-logged chicken, was shown to a "Southland Nows” reporter the other morning by Mr W. Paterson, of North Invercargill. The egg from which the chicken was extracted was not double yolked and quite ordinary. This unusual specimen had in addition to the legs throe separate sets of wings. The chickens did not live, and it was necessary to draw it from the egg.

Tramway passengers leave all manner of articles behind them when they alight, but, says the “New Zealand Herald”, it comes as a surprise to learn that the money found by the conductors amounts to almost £8 a week on the average. The tramways manager reported to the Auckland City Council last week that the unclaimed money found by conductors during the six months to June 30, totalled £2Ol.

Pahiatua possesses some “educated” eels. In a stream running through the property of Mr J. Ebbett, at, Pahiatua. are about thirty eels, and for some three years Mr Ebbett has been in the habit of feeding these. The process he adopts in calling them to meals is a novel one. The creek at the back of the house appears to bo devoid of fish of any kind until M Ebbett beats two stones together and then the eels swarm to the side of the creek to receive their meal. The eels are quite tame, and will allow anyone to handle them. The eels first gathered at tbo spot for food when hens owned by Mr Ebbett, in scratching, deposited some of the scraps in the creek. Mr Ebbett noticed this, and then began feeding them on pieces of meat, etc., and gradually trained them to “come to dinner” by striking two stones tog< er.

Buy footwear now whilst The C. M. Ross Co. Ltd’s, big removal sale is on. Men’s cookham boots or stout boxhide—double sewn soles—no toe cap. An ideal comfortable boon for everyday wear. Usually 28/6, moving-out sale price 24/G net cash.