NEWS IF THE SAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11932, 12 September 1924, Page 6

NEWS IF THE SAY

The cow with the ‘lumps in her hag” came under review again at Patea Hospital Board meeting. A report was received from the stock inspector that there was nothing serious the matter with the oow, but he recommended that the milk be not’ used at the hospital. The board decided to sell the oow, so there should he keen competition] when she is put up mder the hammer at the next sale. A Remuera resident was accosted by a well-built young man whp asked: “Can you give me a job? I’m starving.” He told the man to oome‘ out to his place and he would give him a good feed and 7s for digging ronnd the fruit trees. The dinner was provided, and then the man was set to work. He was so fond of his job or else had eaten too big a dinner, that half an hour later he was found lying down fast asleep, having only turned over three spite of earth. The survey is being made for the deviation! and regrading of, the MorereTarewa section of the Wairoa-Gisborne road on which the Public Works Department intends to cariy out an extensive programme of improvements, which when completed by next autumn, should make the Wairoa-Gisborne road one of the finest stretches of road on the East Coast. The Wairoa County Council is also carrying out muchneeded improvements on the MorereNuhaka road. The two or three Soccer officials who endeavoured last week to conquer with a collection box the pocket-buttoning proclivities of the hundreds who clustered on Dunedin’s Heights of Abraham—the hill above Carisbrook Park—and from there obtained a cheap view 'of the Chinese matches had a dispiriting experience (sayß the Duuedinl “Star”). It was reported to the O.F.A. that at both Wednesday and Saturday of last week two or three officials, armed with boxes, endeavoured to conquer • the thrifty instinct of the big crowds on tile hill. The gross result of the manoeuvre is set down at £1 18s. There would seem to he some basis for the idea that Dunedin is the most thrifty town in New Zealand. “The permanent staff has been kept uip to its full authorised strength, but it is regretted that, more suitable iron cannot be obtained for the auxiliary staff. This is attributed to the fact that single young men, with the evordnir-rcssring picture theatre!,, jazz halls, and other places of amusement, do not care to ho tied down to night ; duty, or any form of discipline whatever. It has therefore been decided to increase the staff by three more permanent firemen.” These remarks were made by Superintendent C Warner in tlie course of his report for the year ended June 30th, 19241 presented at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board. A story of family funds pooled was told in the Supreme Court' at Palmerston North by a young man aged 27, the son of a plaintiff in a civil action , who stated that he was assisting hie father—the manager of a butchery business—and was receiving no wages for his efforts. All his father’s money wont into the bank and witness had charge of the cheque book, so that when his father wan-fed money, he had to ask for it. The opposing counsel asked: “What about your mother?” “Well,” grinned the young witness in Teturn, “mother is a bit —well, she looks after her own money.” The father of the witness rose in his seat and endeavoured vo prevent this revelation of his intimate financial affairs; but a wave of the hand by counsel silenced him and he sat down-

Th© value of herd testing was desnonitrated at a clearing sale of grade Frieaians held in the Carterton district, when a herd averaged £8 as a result of tlio auctioneer being able to announce last season’s butter-fat record of each cow offered. In a list of decisions by the Minister, published in the “Gazette” last night, materials for the manufacture or repair of dolls, and rlcils wigs’ for manufacture or repair of dolls are to be admitted duty free. This revises a previous decision on this subject. In response to an inquiry by the Dominion Farmers’ Union, the Minister for Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) states that the need for providing fetter facilities than those which exist for ihe collection of rates on native lands is now a matter of consideration by the Native Department. A number of New Zealand bittern, so seldom seen nowadays, have been seen in a district a few miles out of Welling ten. They are thought to l>e malting preparations for nesting. The district is not stated, as there are collectors who would take fairly big risks to secure specimens of any rare birds. The Waikato County Council, like many other areas in this part of the Dominion, requires revaluing to bring its administration np to the needs of the time (says the “Times”). At its meeting the council resolved’ to approach the Valuation Department with a view to having the revaluation carried out at thie earliest period possible. “There is a lot of talk about gastric influenza,” remarked an Auckland medical man to a representative of the Auckland “Star.” He added: “As a matter of fact there is very little of that illness about, but anyone with a pain in the abdomen seems to jump to the conclusion that gastric influenza nas got him, whereas it is in most cases simply the result of errors ini diet” A Maori hoy of 14 appeared before the juvenile court at Hamilton, charged with stealing a calf skin, valued at 6s 6d. The probation officer stated that a number of Maori children at Te Rapa were seen chasing some calves belonging to a neighbouring farmer. One ralr was Killed and skinned, hut by .vhom was not known. The accused, however, sold the skin to a dealer. “Five grocers’ shops seem a email number for a town the size of Taumarunui,” remarked Mr Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court, at Auckland. “There used to be only two,” replied Mir Mortensen, who was appearing for the workers. “TaumaiunuiTias grown a lot of late,” concluded His Honour, “thdre are more than five boarding-houses there now.” A butcher witness in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North was endeavouring to explain to the opposing counsel that in the trade the small beast was considered more profitable than the large one, On account of the big animal’s oarrymg a lot of bone. “Do you not sell the bone with the meat in tho ’butchery business?” queried) counsel. “Oh yes, we do,” replied the witness, “and! put in some that is not there, too.” Counsel sat down satisfied. A hearty roar of laughter relieved the solemnity of the proceedings at tho Auckland Presbytery. A minister was just opening his remarks in a low modulated voice, when another said: “Will our brother speak up!” This evoked the louder reply: “If it is sound you want, yon will get it,” but the interrupter said: “I want sound, but I also want sense,” and th3t. was too much for the gravity of the members, who all with one accord laughed heartily. Recent movements of the maintenance gangs employed upon the section of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway still under the jurisdiction of i the Public Works Department, indi-1 cate that special efforts are being made i to have the line between Portland aud. Taupiroa ready to bo handed over to | the Railways Department by the end of next month. Two gangs have been transferred from Taipuha to Tauraroa, and Taipuha has now a deserted appearance. Owing to the cold winds and occasional frosts the grass along the coast between Wanganui andi Patea is not coming away so fast as farmers deaixe. .Under the circumstances the supply of milk is keeping up well, and large quantities of cream are being handled by the Railway Department (says an exchange). Some of the sheep farmers are rather apprehensive regarding the late spring, as they fear that they will not be able to get the early lambs oS to the works as soon as they anticipated. "In view of the high prices at whioh most dairy farmers purchased their land, they must make every post a winning post, and the export of pigs will plaoe them on a sounder basis,” declared Mr T. Bloor at a meeting of the South Island branch of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association. Mr Bloor emphasised the necessity of men with cows on dear land paying attention to the raising of pigs. Two firms in England had stated they were preSared to take 30,000 pigs annually from ;ew Zealand,, and if the price were 5d or 6d a lb it would mean about £IOO,OOO a year to the Dominion. Districts from Mitiamo to Kerang (Victoria) are suffering from a mysterious visitation of myriads of caterpillars, travelling in a north-easterly'direction. Green paddocks of growing crops are eaten bare in a few hours. In some districts farmers ploughed furrows round the crops for protection. The furrows are filled with dead caterpillars. Millions of the pests are travelling over the Koondrook and Myall districts. They crossed the roads m defined tracks. Flocks of ibis and other birds attacked them, but could not stem the moving mass. The dry season is supposed to be the cause. The last coach owned by Oobb and Co., now being used between Ysulba and Surat, in Queensland, is being replaced, by a motor-car. Mr W Brooks, M.L.C., president of the Australian Federal Capital League. has suggested to Senator Pearce, Minister for Home and Territories, that because of the association of Cobb and C'o.’s coaches with the early days of Australia, the coach might be finally honsed at Canberra, when the National Museum is erected. Meanwhile it is suggested that the Queensland Government might preserve the coach in the State Museum in Brisbane. An interesting comment is made in a letter received by the organiser of the Canterbury Progress League from a member of tho Dominion staff of the British Empire Exhibition. Writing under date July d'Jth, this correspondent says that the mail has brought him Christchurch newspapers contain- i ing some “very exaggerated and an- j fair criticisms” of the New Zealand | Pavilion, “written evidently by same of those delightful persons whose mission in life is to do move harm than j good.” He adds that the criticisms are easily answered, but that this, if . it is to be done officially, will ihe at-1 I tended to by the commissioner. J

By order in the “Gazette” last night issuo of rnoncy-ordev and transmission of postal correspondence for C. Land and Go., Copenhagen, is prohibited. By order in last night’s “Gazette” septicaemia consequent upon abortion or miscarriage is to he a notifiable infectious disease under the Health Act. A Chinaman’s description of his horse (in the Police Court yesterday): “It was a bay mare, yellow like a cow, and looked just like a racehorse. It was 18 years old, and worth about £5 ss. It did not have hairy legs.” Sometimes visitors are told what officers of tho department think they ought to know instead of telling them what they want to know, said Mr A. P. Harper, speaking at t.he luncheon of the To Aro Advancement Association yesterday in regard to publicity work. “He’s only had ten weeks’ employment in six months. When he gets a billetT’ll make an order. No order at present,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M , in the Magistrate’s Court, Auckland, when an application for a judgment summons against a draper who was out of work was made. A sub-committee of +ho general committee of the Tararau Tramping Club has been deputed to match developments in tho Tor.gariro National Park. Tho club has this area very much at heart and is very anxious that tho best possible use of it shall be made in the inteiests of the public generally and not in the interests of any particular section. Charged with stealing a horse from a Chinaman named ‘William Soo, a Hindu bottle-gatherer, Hira Vallahn, appeared at the Police Court yesterday, and pleaded not guilty. The evidence was that both men owned horses, that the horses were grazing in adjoining paddocks, and that the Chinaman’s animal was taken away and sold to tho Zoo for 15s. Mr R. R. Scott said accused had never had anything to do with horses, and he had taken Soo’s animal by mistake. Mr E. Page, S.M., said it was obviously a case of mistaken identity, and he dismissed the charge.