LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ship's Automatic Whistle An automatic whistle is included in the modern equipment on the Blue Star Line's new motor-ship New Zealnnd Star. The apparatus may he set to give a blast of a certain duration at any given interval, and therefore proves of great value in foggy weather, when every ship is required by regulation to sound her siren for a period of not less than six seconds every two minutes.

" Big Game " in New Zealand The Indian hockey players, have requested that they should get some big game hunting in New Zealand. Some of the players are experienced and keen big game hunters. The Canterbury Hockey 'Association when discussing this matter was in rather a quandary. One member suggested that rabbits and hares would bo a change from lions and tigers; so a hare drive is being arranged. Declaration o! War

In the course of reviewing a motor collision case in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth counsel for the defendant was relating to the jury the process by which the plaintiff commenced proceedings. Referring to a letter from the plaintiff's solicitors ho said: "That was the first shot fired." This called from Mr. Justice Callan the remark: "That is, not the first shot; it is only a declaration of war." Sparrows In Wheat Country

There, has been a considerable demand recently for poisoned grain to cope with the small fcird pest, which has made itself evident in the Ashburton .County during the last month or so. In many cases where grain has been stacked the tops of the stacks havß been cfamaged by sparrows. Many farmers have said that the destruction of birds would increase the danger of insect pests, but the stage has now been reached when the sparrows must be held in checik.

Japanese Sailors' Souvenirs Although tourists invariably collect a wide assortment of souvenirs when in , a strange town, the visiting Japanese | sailors are perhaps the keenest collec- ; tors who have been in Auckland for : some time. Most of the men will carry j away some memento of their visit, and I those who arrived from Rotorua yesterI day were laden with Maori curios. The guests at the At Home which was held in the flagship Asama yesterday were presented with articles ranging from chop-sticks to exquisitely designed silk.

Distemper in Dogs 4 postponement of the Malvern Collie Dog Club's annual trials has been caused by the prevalence of distemper in dogs in the back country of Canterbury. As this year is the silver jubilee of the club's foundation it has been proposed not to cancel the trials completely, but if possible to hold them near the end of the season. It is said to be many years since distemper has caused so many deaths among dogs, and some shepherds and station owners in tho district have lost most of their i teams.

Footballers go Astray The Auckland footballers who left on Wednesday evening to play the match against North Auckland at Whangarei yesterday, lost their way on the journey, and did not reach Whangarei until after 2 o'clock yesterday morning. The error was made at the detour on the main road near Maungaturoto. and it was not until Paparoa was left behind and the Ruawai Flats were reached that it was found they were on the wrong road. The cars were turned round and the correct route was found. When approaching Waipu one of the cars ran out of fuel and was pushed for about 400 yards to the nearest source of supply.

Cancelling Jubilee Stamps One apparent drawback to the issue of stamps commemorating the King's Silver Jubilee is the difficulty of cancellation when more than one stamp is placed on a small envelope. An Auckland business <man recently received a letter on wHich the postage was Three halfpenny jubilee stamps had been affixed to the envelope and they stretched almost completely across the top. The two right-hand stamps bore ordinary post office cancellation marks, but the one on the left had been cancelled by being marked with an indelible pencil. The recipient of the letter is wondering whether, he possesses a philatelic oddity. A Lengthy Process

i The length of time taken for a permanent wave was given as an excuse by counsel for the defendant in the Magistrate's Court at Gisborne, when Alice Ryan, as manageress of a hairdressing establishment, was charged with having failed to close at 1 o'clock on a Thursday afternoon. The inspector of factories,- Mr. J. R. Hanlon, explained that at 2.45 p.m. on the statutory halfholiday the defendant's premises were still open, and the defendant was dressing a client's hair. Mr. S. V. Beaufoy for Miss Ryan, explained that he was informed that permanent waving took about three hours to complete, and it was difficult for this class of business to close at the prescribed hour. A fine of 5s and costs was imposed. Solving Unemployment On the eastern shore of Lake Wakatipu, from Queenstown to near Glcn*>rchy, little camps may be seen here and there. Most of them are the temporary homes of men who, with tho aid of the relief scheme, are fossicking the banks in search of gold. So far as can be leariled the results are not such as to satisfy high hopes, but there is reason to supposo that some of the men are managing to make a living in a modest style, and prefer to go on thus, hoping for tho best, and meanwhile gratified with the thought that they are not running into debt. The cost of living under such conditions is reduced to a minimum, for there are no rents or rates to pay, clothing may be worn after it is out of fashion, and the growing of vegetables lessens the outlay on food. A Different Matter There was an amusing incident in the Dunedin Assessment Court when the matter of draining flood water ou the Taieri Plain was under consideration. The witness, formerly a farmer on the Taieri, but now resident at Goodwood, was giving his opinion of tho measures that have been taken for the relief of flooded land. " 1 would like to see a ' ding-dong ] flood on tho Taieri," ho went on, with the object of giving an illustration of the manner in which he considered that flood would affect the land, but before lni could continue he was interrupted by Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., who remarked: " That is all very well, but you are away at Goodwood now." When the laughter had died away; counsel suggested to the witness that his desire for a flood was " purely for experimental purposes, of course."