NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11366, 13 November 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Supreme Court case on Saturday produced no less than three people of similar name who were interested —two as witnesses and one as counsel for the defence. When one of the farmer was mounting the stand counsel queried: “You are no relation of the other witness?” “No, sir,” was the reply. “And,” added counsel to the amusement of the jury, “in case they think it to your discredit, you are no relation to mo.”

Book lovers will be interested to know that the valuable library of the late Mr F. G. Ewington, of Auckland, has been sold to Messrs Angus ana Robertson, Sydney, and some 12 to 14 eases have been dispatched. Mr Ewington was very well read in many subjects, and his library was particularly noted for its works on theology, sociology, and economics. The library was described as one of the best private libraries in the Dominion.

“There ate so many points about the regulations under the Animals!’ Protection Act that I would not have thb killing of opossums on my mind,” declared Mr H. 8. W. King (Mayor), at a meeting of the Devonpqrt Borough Council, sitting as Rangitotp (Island) Domain Board. Ho added that there were certain ways in which, the animals bad to bo trapped, certain methods of disposing of the skins, which had to have a perforated stamp affixed:, and other regulations to bo observed.

A farmer in Taranaki estimates that six rabbits will eat as much grass as a sheep. Air A. O. McDonald, Government rabbiter, of Te Kuiti, computes that there are 4,000,000 rabbits on the farms adjoining Trooper’s road, and that by February these will have increased to 16,000,000. Tliis means a loss of grazing to over million sheep, whioh would produce in wool and mutton an enormous sum. It surely behoves every farmer to plav his part to the full to keep the pest in check if not eradicate it altogether.

A lnyge eel was secured by a Arnold a day or two ago in one of the ponds near the old derricks, Aloturoa. The cel wo s taken by a largo hook lashed to a stick, and upon being “ jagged” straightened out the hook and escaped. I'he native, however, was not to he denied. After adjusting the hook lie returned to the fray and hooked the big “tuna,” which turned the scale at 221 b, and was between five and six feet in length. The Maori was highly delighted, and upon Icing questioned next day if the “tuna” was good eating remarked: “Py korry, tat ti koot kai, five men lie eat tat ferra and nofer leave any.” And the manner in which the native stroked his waistcoat left no doubt about his appreciation of the flavour of the “kai nui.”

Sharks have already made their appearance in tlie Alanukau harbour. Several have been seen in the vicinity of the Onehunga wharf. One, nine feet six inches long, was caught above , the Alangere bridge. “Twenty-pound notes are not so plentiful as blackberries just now,” observed Air Justice Stringer in the Auckland Supreme Court, referring to an incident in which the handling of such a rare document formed an item of identification of an accused person. “It is not my good fortune to see many of them, at any rate.” A lady in South Otago, the inventor of a patent attachment for milking machines, lias disposed of her patent rights in America for the sum of 35,000 dollar’s, equivalent to about £SOOO (says the “Timaru Post”). She has now offered the world rights to the same firm for 100,000 dollars, and is awaiting a reply. The attachment is being widely used in New Zealand. “Under our legislation there is not tlie same necessity as in olden times to minutely and captiously criticise penal legislation, but the duty is always cast on the court of seeing that a man is not made an offender by inference or by means of considerations as to the policy of the statute, butonly by finding plain words covering his case.” —Mr Justice Chapman in the Appeal Court on Saturday. The hotelkeepers of Auckland, it transpired in a Supreme Court case recently, have altered the system: of dispensing whisky from tile doling out of restricted nips to the old plan of'allowing the customer to help himself from th-e bottle. “Has that anything to do with the coming election?” asked Air Leary of the barman who was under examination. “I don’t know,” replied the witness, with a smile. In the maxims of Hafiz, as translated by Kipling, is the injunction:—“Air son, if I, Hafiz, thy father, take hold of thy knees in nw pain demanding thy name on stamped paper one day or one hour, refrain.” An evidence that Hafiz possessed some degree of wisdom in this regard, says the Auckland ‘Star,” was given at the Alagistrato’s Court, when a man was ordered to pay a sum of money he had guaranteed for his brother some years ago.

The case of the returned soldier who was threatened with a reconsideration of his pension unless he paid out of his own pocket for dental attention, which the authorities held was militating against hi® recovery, was mentioned at the meeting of the Auckland Patriotic Association. The man was suffering from tuberculosis, and tlie association paid the dentist’s fee of £5 for him and applied to the Alinister for Defence for a refund of the amount. Tlie Alinister, in reply, said that all members of the N.Z.E.F. were rendered dentally fit immediately prior vo their discharge from the force. If, through their own neglect, they failed to maintain their teeth in proper condition, it appeared to be quite reasonable that they should be expected to remedy the defects at their own expense. Tlie president, Mr J. H. Gunson, said that, on the face of it, the Alinister’s contention seemed to be reasonable. In commenting on tlio situation in Ireland, the Most Rev. Michael J. Curley, Archbishop of Baltimore, who has just returned from Europe, points out the cause of the troubles of the Irish people. The remedy for the present deplorable state of affairs, he says, is in the elimination of Eamon do Valera and the irregular troops, who are bent upon bringing about destruction and chaos, and who have no constructive programme. The Archbishop also has a warning for Americans who may feel it their duty to contribute to the support of the men who are “wrecking Ireland as far as they can.” He says: “The worst feature is that de Valera and his wreckers are receiving help from supposed friends of Ireland in America. No American, true to American principles, should for one moment countenance the present armed attack on the Irish people now being made by a disgruntled, disappointed set of men.” Tlie Grafton correspondent of a Sydney paper is responsible for the following:—“Bill Somber, old-time hero of many contests in the boxing ring, tackled a large. swordfish which was moving lazily in the water, scarcely deep enough to cover its great body, at Yam.ba. Scnter clutched its tail and tried to pull the 9ewt of fish shoreward®. Tlie deep-sea visitor at first showed no resentment, and Sontcr stepped closer and stooped to tighten his grip. Then the fish took a hand in the proceedings, and the water became violently agitated. Showers of spray shot skywards, and Sonter for a brief space, swung to and fro at the end of the monster’s tail. Tlie strain was too great, however, and Sonter’s grip loosened, then relaxed. The swordfish dTew his tail dear, and with terrifio force sent Sonter sprawling in knee-deep water. When, he had recovered Sonter lassooed the swordfish, and with help hauled it ashore. It measured 16ft tin from tip to tip, with a sword sft 3in long and as sharp as a razor. Its girthi measurement was Bft.