NEWS OF THE BAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11874, 7 July 1924, Page 6

NEWS OF THE BAY

There are some Bheep in the Dominion Which ought to he put out of the way* I admit that, but every good sheep in the Dominion promotes tlie welfare of the community and every individual in it.—The Prime Minister on Saturday night.

The “luck of a Chinaman” is nothing compared with that of a Palmerston North Irish terrier, which is indeed Smiled oh by the gods (remarks the “Standard”). While crossing the fails at the railway Station tins particular canine Was Struck by the incoming Auckland express. Caught by the coW-catdhei*,, the dog was tossed along the line, caught, and tossed again, finally being thrown clear of the fails. A compassionate train-examiner Obtained a hammer with a view to ending the animal’s suffering, but the terrier evidently had had enough excitement for one day, and left the Scene rapidly, apparently none the Worse for the experience.

Art Invercargill resident who has also Jived in the North Isalnd said that a statement appearing in a North- Island paper to the effect that tohelTias were form'd only on the West Coast of North Auckland, Was incorrect (says the “Southland Times”). He said that in hie opinion there were more toheroas per chain dn the Oreti beach, near Invercargill, than in arty other part of NOW Zea. land, and -during the summer months, lie and his household had enjoyed soup made from this nourishing shell fish dn numerous occasions. Not many people in Southland appeared to be aware of the existence of tolieroae op the local beaches, but there were enough here to make an' industry of it. He recalled that when the Prince of Wales Was here, hia favourite dish was toheroa soup, and His Royal Highness expressed his regret when he was leaving the Dominion that he could not take the delicioUß shell fish with him.

“Are you prepared to stake your professional reputation on it?” asked counsel of a witness in the Supremo Court at Napier. “Mr interjected His Honour, “I don’t like questions like that; it’s a form of betting not recognised.” ‘‘Very well, sir,” replied counsel, and the question was not pressed.

'lllis incident took place only 100 years ago, and was recorded ini the “Times,” April 27th, 1824.—Bury.—

On Wednesday last Benjamin Howlett, aged 24; John Cheney, aged 23; and Thomas Wright and Robert Bradnum, aged 26, all for burglary, were executed here, in the presence of upwards of 14,000 persons, more than one-third of whom were supposed to be females.

Half the human race —the' female liaJf—will be interested in this:—Mrs Sebastian® MarToquin, of San Francisco, aged 44, has ]Ust given birth to her twenty-fourth child. Like Napoleon’s mother, also an Italian, she married at fourteen. There is a wonderful power in the Italian race, as great to-day as it was 3000 years ago. Caruso Was his mother's nineteenth child.

“Be is a footballer and it is difficult for him to get here dn Saturdays, but as he has put his knee out three or four times this season We should have him with us permanently soon,” said Mr O. J*. Lynch, chairman of the Wellington provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Saturday’s meeting of that , body, when alluding to the absence of Mr \Y. G. Smith, of ParaipararirmU.

“Did you ever know -me, Mr Thompson, to ask you for anything which I did not honestly and conscientiously -believe to be- reasonable?” asked Mr E Enow, union secretary, at the hearing of tlie tramwaymen’s dispute before tihe Conciliation Council at Christchurch. “Yes, over and over again” replied the general manager. (Laughter.) ‘‘Don’t ask any More questions like that,” the Commissioner advised Mr bnow.

When a bicycle has been lost for a little over five and a half years, one would naturally consider that It cotild well he written off as a loss. Such, however, need not he the case as is proved by the experience of a Gisborne man. On December loth, 1918. his bicycle was Stolen. After advertising for it, atid getting rio reply, he gave it up as lost, and promptly forgot all about it. A few days ago the bicycle was discovered and once again it is hi possession of its rightful owner.

Mr Massey spoke Of the autumn rains which had followed the drought, and so enabled the dairy industry to keep going until close On the start of the new season. The previous year was a bad one on account of the floods, and lie remembered seeing 30,000 acreo of land at Taieri under water, while there was snow oh the hills. It was a pitiful sight. He did not expect, at the beginning Of the present sedaon, that tlie dairy industry would do So well, but the autumn rains had saved them.

“Since the erection Of the flew bridge in the street in front of my gate there is a pool of mUd ortUsed by the darting. I have lost a wife, kiddie and pram in it, and will he coming On the borough for damages if I don’t find them' sOOtt. What about a few loads of metal ori top to keep them down?” So wrote a resident to the Now Plymouth Borough Council. Upon the letter the borough engineer noted: ‘‘l regret Air has had so much loss, hut, pending final atartgements re bridge, cannot ih this weather do much good by metalling.”

“He has more faith- in Your Worship than in the legal profession,” remarked Mr Mackersey at the Te KUiti Magistrate’s Court, When an elderly Maori ' intimated, through an interpreter, that he Would sooner have Mi F. W. Platts, S.M,, to act for, him' than a solicitor. A 6inile went round the court, and His. Worship, also smiling, said, “Tell him that though 1 should like to help him aB much as I could,, I cannot do more than be a magistrate.” “He says he will go and look £or a solicitor,” replied the interpreter.

During the discussion on the maintenance and construction of the main highways at the Timaru group meeting, Mr H. B. -S. Johnstone said that While he did not like raising the question of North V. South, the-faot remained that the North Island bodies Were receiving £1 for £1 grants in order to bring their roads up to the South Island standard. The South Island counties in the past had spent a lot of money on their roads, and because maintenance Work only Was now required, a subsidy of* £1 for £2 would be all that was available. Seeing that they had carried the baby' all these years, he could not help thinkiug .that the system was hardly fair.

The Hastings Borough Council has decided to purchase 83 acres of land at Ldndland for afforestation purposes. The Mayor explained that the land was particularly suitable for forestry, -especially for the planting of gums and pines. The proposition Was a Very important one for the council to invest in, and. part of the reserve fund of the electrical department Would be taken to defray the cost, Which could not be invested ih a better scheme. Figures Were quoted to show that it would he a very profitable venture for the council. Hie price was a reasonable one, and the estimated Cost was altogether about £2OOO. In thirty years' time the crop Of timber would be worth from £750 to £lsoo per acre. Between 1800 and 2000 trees would be planted per acre.