LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

BY MEEC'DTIO

"Before the panic commenced, the Prince of Wales was introduced to each player." This item of news about the football match played by the All Blacks against. England has just reached New Zealand. Could honour to football and footballers go further? There was a day when the utmost that one could expect vra s to be introduced to Royalty; now Royalty submits to be introduced. But. these, were footballers, not common folk, mark you. it is "some game." Of course, ,he Prince knew each member of each team by sight, but. not- to speak to, before the introduction. Jle would, of course, have a group photograph of the \il Blacks— having sent away sundry cigarette-tin lids for it -and the English representatives he had seen in action at the. movies. His introduction to the great- men would complete his happiness. The. All Blacks, doubtless, would not have known anything ol hun but lor the introduction. The Mount Albert. Borough Council was asked the other night to say what it thought about, the proposed amalgamation with Greater Auckland. The deputation which put the question was only doing the courteous thing; moreover it was also doing as Sir James Gunson told it, which ought to be justification for almost any civic action. In spite of this, it- was rather hard to ask a local body what it thought about a scheme by which it would be put. out of existence, quietly but not necessarily painlessly. For, after all, men do value their places on these local bodies, and regret losing them. It wouJd be a bad day for civic administration if they did not. To return to thetheme, the Mayor said: "1 assure you that the council will give tho matter proper consideration, and acquaint you of its attitude. If they think it is their duty they will advocate it, and it they do not they will oppose it." A masterly and judicial summing up, as when a judge says to the jury: "If you think the prisoner did it, you v."ill convict him, it you think he did not do it, yon will find him not guilty." As if the jurymen didn't know that. Finally, and in conelusion, one criticism of what the Mayor -said is called for. One must doubt very seriously whether it- expressed what he and the council really thought about the proposal. New Zealand has never made much of enjoying, with Ireland, the distinction of being a countrv without snakes. There is no evidence that St. Patrick ever visited these shores, so some other explanation of the immunity must bo found. However, from the protests that have been made lately it is evident that there are people who appreciate the blessing of being able to go to bed without turning down the sheets first to discover whether an unauthorised bedfellow has got in early. J. o introduce snakes, even in captivity, is a risky proceeding. Why endanger a privilege which even the Garden of Eden did not enjoy? It is to be doubted whether pcopJo realise fully what it is for children to run barefoot without risk, and for j everybody to bo able to tramp fearlessly through fern and brush and rank grass, secure that there will be no sudden prick by an envenomed fang. No, let US do out best to live happily without snakes, venomous or otherwise. We have enough troubles as it is. Members of an American tourist party have been commenting, discreetly and tactfully, upon the accommodation found in New Zealand by overseas visitors. Their opinions have been, voiced with a nicencss which leaves no more than a vague appreciation of the fact that they were not entirely delighted by their experiences. Meantime another visitor, who recently left tho shores of this Dominion, has uttered an unqualified enlogium upon the quarters ho occupied while in it. He lived in an establishment to which visitors arc. not usually introduced without some degree of provocation. However, the contrast in views indicates the need for a variation of policy in the effort to attract tourists. More publicity, faster trains, better hotels, smarter service, bigger fish, higher mountains; arc these needed.' Not a bit of it. More gaols and easier conditions of entry; aok Mr. De Garis.

Every day, in every way, they grow bigger and bigger. This is not an application of Coueism to the bank account., or anything oi that kind; merely an observation forced by reading the stories about the swordfish caught at Russell and Tauranga during the last few days. There is no outspoken statement of rivalry between the two principal ports which are seeking to catch the fisherman. Not to catch him m any invidious sense of course. Perhaps to attract his patronage would be a better way of stating the case. Anyway, if they have not declared a policy of rivalry, they have the suspicious appearance of carrying one out.' One hears of a fish too large for the scales to take, _ from one place, then the story of the biggest ever from the other. This sort of tiling cannot go on indefinitely. One of these days a sportsman at. one place will get fast to a fish in the orthodox way, at the head, jast as a rival at the other place foul-hooks it- by tiie tail. Then will come the real tug-of-war to prove which is the Letter fishing port.

The old question of the first white child to be born in flic Now Zealand has been revived. It is of great interest, no doubt; hut the, chief reason for attention to it is the fact that, so many of the claimants have been ladies. No diffidence about acknowledging their tale of years worried these folk of old. There is, of course, a point even in a woman's life when every additional birthday, instead of being reluctantly acknowledged, is prized and boasted. But in what year does that happen ? Will not some lady enlighten «s.

Up Morrinsville WAV a use has been found for the California!) thistle. It makes good ensilage. Perhaps it does, hut that will not reconcile many farmers to its presence. Any Frenchman will tell >'on that sorrel makes good salad, but farmers are liable to continue spending hard cash on lime when red patches appear on their pastures. Blackberries make good jam; or to be more precise some housewives make good jam from blackberries, but, that does not exculpate the hashes for the harm they do. Uabbits make nice pets and excellent fur coats, r eal seal, but with all that, they do not pay for their keep iri the aggregate or in the paddock. Finally, another variety of thistle makes a national emblem that millions will extol, but it is not encouraged en the farm, all the same. This little mt of praise given the California!! thistle is only making the, best of a bad job after

An innocent announcement was made the ?>ther day about, n street collection for hospital patients. Well, if traffic grows ranch more congested and complicated. , v oi) wi)| >Oll l«c able to collect plenty ho.piiiil paticntf> in the street.