LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22098, 2 May 1935, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Drinking Philosophy "Do you drink?" asked counsel of a Maori defendant in the New Plymouth Police Court. " Yes, a little," admitted the defendant. " Well, what do you call 'a little'P" continued the solicitor. " Oh," said the Maori very seriously, " if a man ask me to have a drink I go and have a drink."

Mako in Whangaroa Harbour Unusual visitors to the Whangaroa Harbour recently were a mako shark and a school of blackfish. One of the blackfish came right up to the mudflats, where it gave the impression of a horse floundering in the water. The shark spent some days in the harbour and was seen several times leaping in a spectacular manner. Dozing Defendant

During the hearing of a case in the Now Plymouth Police Court a,clatter was heard in the public section of the Court. A man appearing to defend another charge had dropped off to sleep and fallen from the seat. A few minutes later his head was nodding again, but when his case was called it was explained that he was a baker and had worked all night.

Appeal by Ambulance An appeal is made by the St. John Ambulance for supplies of clean linen for the use of the district nurses. Large quantities of linen are used by the nurses in providing bandages for many of the patients they visit. The ambulance is also anxious to obtain lemons for distribution among invalids, particularly children, who are unable to obtain the necessary fruit.

Rain in the City Rain commenced to fall in the city at about 11 o'clock last night and to tho southward there were vivid flashes of lightning. The near approach of a storm was indicated by the .barometer, which was falling steadily all day yesterday, the fall for the 24 hours being .4in. The reading at midnight was 29.55 in. In the early part of the night the weather was fine, but conditions were cloudy and threatening and the wind was freshening from the northwest. Pictures at School A novel method of teaching geography is being employed, at the Kowhai Intermediate School, where a moving-picture machine has been installed, according to a report presented by tha principal, Mr. J. F. Wells, at a meeting of parents last night. Films are shown depicting the industries and attractions of New Zealand and overseas countries, thus_giving ths scholars the nearest approach to first-hand knowledge of other countries as well as their own. Vanished Numbers A young woman residing in Wellington recently discovered to her dismay that Reserve Bank notes are not washable. She made the mistake of washing a garment that had a pound note and a ten shilling note in the pocket, and when they were discovered later the numbers on the pound note had completely -vanished. The ten shilling note, which was wrapped in the other, emerged undamaged. The note without the numbers was presented at a city bank, but, as the most important part was missing, it was not accepted. Unusual Headstone There were many interesting things about the island of Rarotonga, Mr. G. J. Reed, of Invercargill, stated on arrival at Wellington by the Maunganui this week. One of these was the strange custom of burying deceased persons under the verandahs of their homes. Mr. Reed was particularly struck by the headstone over one grave. A native, who was killed in a motor-car accident, was remembered by a neatly carved stone depicting a car falling over a cliff while an angel stood at the top.

" A National Industry " A request that the May term holidays at the school be postponed for a month or three weeks to enable tho teacher to take part in the Rugby trial matches to select the All Black team to tour Great Britain was received from a country school committee at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board yesterday. It was pointed out that no school time would be lost and that the children had just had a week's holiday. "As it's a national industry I think we might be justified in giving our approval," said a member. It was decided to grant the request.

Scrap Metal for Japan A v cargo of scrap metal will be despatched from Auckland to Japan by the Japanese steamer Mataram, which is due from Wellington on Saturday. She is a steamer of 3331 tons and was recently sold by Burns, Philp, Limited, after she had been engaged for a considerable period in tho Pacific Island trade. Over 30.000 tons of scrap metal have licen shipped from New Zealand to Japan during the last three years, but the Mataram is the first vessel to load a full cargo during the past 12 months. She loaded a quantity at Wellington and she will complete her cargo at Auckland. Cat That Stopped the Clock

Having painstakingly adjusted its grandfather clock to the new winter time, a New Plymouth family very early on Sunday morning retired to bed to have the benefit of an extra half-hour of rest. When they wakened later bright sunshine greeted them. The father got up and peered at the grandfather clock. It indicated 7 o'clock. Two hours later, when the family felt it must bo time for breakfast, the hands still stood at 7 o'clock. Before he rushed out, an hour late for golf, tho father glanced inside tho half-open door of tho clock. There, curled up contentedly with its head on one of tho pendulums, was his wife's favourite tom-cat.

Kindly Eye Wanted A plea on behalf of horticulturists for the Government's kindly eye was made by Mrs. Knox Gilmer at tho opening of the Wellington flower show. New Zealand, she said, was beginning to export bulbs, tho gladioli it sent out being among the host in the world. The export of grass seed had already reached large proportions, and even daphne bushes were being exported in such quantities as to leave the nurserymen with hardly any. "Horticulturists are people to be reckoned with," she added, "and, although 1 would not place them before the sheep and dairy farmers, 1 do think wo might be shown a little more consideration by the Government."