LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22173, 29 July 1935, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Painting Clock Face Workmen were again busy on Saturday giving attention to the 9ft. faces of the Town Hall clock. In a brief time bv painting' and cleaning had effected a marked improvement in the appearance of the clock, every detail of which now stands out fresh and clear. \ Keen Anglers The followers of Izaak Walton are nothing if not enthusiastic. A proposal was advanced at the last meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society that a perch fishing,season be inaugurated during the months when the taking of trout is not permitted. Green Face Powders Proving that the modern girl with her cosmetics was not as modern as she sometimes thought, the Rev. J. F. Feron said at a lecture in Christchurch that green face powders had heen discovered in the graves of early Egyptians. Knives, tablets and other belongings were usually buried with the dead in shallow pits. Free Public Libraries The allegation that, in the provision of free public libraries, New Zealand was 100 years behind the times, was made by Mr. E. J. Bell, librarian of the Christchurch Public Library, when speaking at an educational course for young farmers. Mr. Bell stressed the importance of the free library at the present tinje. He said that nothing could be better for the relief worker than to be able to borrow books free of charge. Signs of Better Times "The banks can give facilities at lower ra'tes of interest than ever before in the Dominion," said Mr. R. W. Hawke, M.P., referring to signs of better times at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Co-operative Poultry Producers, Limited, in Christchurch. Mr. Hawke stated that the Post Office Savings Bank, another indicator of the country's prosperity, showed hopeful signs. In 1932 withdrawals exceeded deposits £3,000,000, but last year deposits exceeded withdrawals by over £3,000,000. Motorist's Good Deed At least one resident of Westland did his good deed the other day. He was motoring, south of Hokitika, with his wife, when they saw a 16-year-old boy trudging along the road. The car was stopped, and the lad gratefully accepted a lift. Conversation showed that he hailed from Christchurch, was 16 years of age, had been working in the Nelson district, had walked to the West Coast, and was in search of work. Later, while the lad enjoyed tea, provided by another good Samaritan, the telephone was used by the motorist, the upshot being that he found employment .for the lad, and took him to the employer that evening. * A Refreshment Problem Whether or not an itinerant pie merchant should be allowed to sell his wares among the patrons of the "Scotsmen's Grandstand" —the road behind the Addington trotting groundon race days; was gravely deliberated by the Waimairi County Council in Christchurch. Eventually it was decided by five votes to four that the man should not be allowed to dispense refreshments on the roadway. Mr. T. 0. Newnham said that he favoured the application, on the grounds that those who were not fortunate enough to be able to buy tickets for admission to the course should not have to go hungry. Use of Mail Bags Mail bags used by the New Zealand Post Office are turned inside out every time they are cleared. Postal officials follow a stric'', rule in this respect. They have no need to search for small articles which may possibly have got into a corner, because, as a matter of routine, the bag must be reversed. It has arrived with an address "South to North," but when turned insida out another address appears, "North to South," which enables it to be used for the return journey without further labelling. Mail bags once placed on a route travel backward and forward until their life is ended, the only variation being occasional washing and repair. Steamer's Rough Voyage Continuous stormy south-west weather and rough head seas were experienced during the last 14 days of the voyage of the steamer Benholm, which arrived from New York yesterday. During the storms the wind at periods blew with full gale force and delayed the vessel's progress, her speed sometimes being only six knots. She was considerably buffeted by the rough seas which frequently broke on board, but no damage was done. Owing to the boisterous conditions her arrival was delayed by nearly two days. Two American racehorses carried in loose boxes on the after-deck were not effected by the weather and they arrived in excellent condition. Motiel of Liner Queen Mary A wooden model of the new 73,000 tons Cunard-White Star liner Queen Mary has been completed by Mr. E. Markwell, boatswain on the steamer Benholm, which arrived at Auckland from New York yesterday. The model is about 3ft. 2in. in length and the hull is carved out of a block of pitch pine timber. All the deck fittings, including 32 lifeboats and davits, as well as wireless, windlass and anchors are carved out of wood from broken flour barrels. An electric light inside the model illuminates the vessel through hundreds of portholes in the hull. The making of the model occupied about ten months of Mr. Markwell's spare time. It is constructed out of discarded timber and metal and no monetary cost was involved. "Pursue the Ball" Speaking at a farewell function at the Hotel Auckland on Saturday evening in honour of M. Corner, the All Black halfback, Mr. A. St. C. Belcher, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, tendered some sound advice to Rugby players generally. At a recent match at Eden Park, he said, he hid heard a spectator calling out to players of the team for which he was barracking "pursue him." "It occurred to me at the time that a far better remark would have been 'pursue it,' " said Mr. Belcher. "There is too much pursuing the man in our game and not nearly enough pupsuiti of the ball. There is a big difference between hard and dirty football, and if forwards of magnificent physique Aliased the ball more and the man less 'their play would be vastly improved."