NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19242, 5 August 1924, Page 12

NEWS IN BRIEF.

At the present rate of progress the railway line to Opunake will bo opened in about 18 months’ time (states a Masterton paper). There were 987 land agents in New Zealand on April 30 last, according to official figures,” said Mr W. F. Harrop at a meeting of land agents and auctioneers at Auckland recently. “Of these, 235 were in the Auckland district.” ' Comfy” Hot-water Bottles for sale at Waters’ Pharmacy (under Savoy).... A pair of kangaroos were brought to Wellington recently by the Uliraaroa from Sydney for the Wellington Zoo. The ship also brought 17 pedigree rums from an Australian station for a New Zealand firm. At the tariff no doubt it is the best in Dunedin—Prince of Wales Hotel.—Charles Hinchcliff, proprietor. Telephone 721. Best brands of liquors.... Speaking on the work of the meteorological office at Wellington, Mr D. C. Bates said that hundreds of sheep- and thousands of lambs had been saved as a result of timely warnings given by the meteorological office. Whitebait have commenced their run in the Aparima River (says the Western Star), and the small gulls are busy feeding on thorn. Owing to the discoloured state of the river very few have been obtained by netters. Dor Influenza, take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.™ At one time on Wednesday morning (says the Standard) the rain water on parts of the Palmerston North showground was bin deep, and it was scooped up and carried grounds for the Association matches. Milton housewives! Lovely Hearth Rugs and Sofa Squares are selling at clearing prices. Gray’s “Big Sale” now 0n.... About this time of the year as the lambing season approaches fierce old boars are met with near the foothills of the Tararuas (remarks the Wairarapa Age). Last week-end a splendid specimen was secured by a local -sportsman after an exciting fight. The head of this boar is being mounted, and will be exhibited later in Masterton. . Chapped hands. Certain cure. Waters Chap-lotion, Is 6d (2s posted).—J. Waters, chemist, Dunedin. .. Through the invention of a New York man, the power of an automobile is used to open and close big water valves. All manual labour is dispensed with, and the time required has been reduced to a few minutes, where formerly from one to two hours’ time was necessary. The equipment consists of an arrangement that is placed over the manhole in the street. This arrangement is connected by suitable shaft ing to the rear wheel of an automobile. The automobile wheel is jacked up from the ground. The shaft connection is so constructed that it may be adjusted and clamped on any sized automobile wheel. Curious Person: So you’ve left the side-show. Major Runtlcigh.” Famous Dwarf; ‘‘Yes, all my family and I have a new line.” “What is it?” “Being photographed in small touring cars so as to make the cars look big in the advertisements. ”

A well-known Invercargill business maul has just broken a complete fast, lasting 18 days, during the whole of which time (says the Times), h© attended business regularly, and except for taking no food, did not in any way alter his ordinary daily routine. As a consequence of this rather remarkable performance it is asserted that he now enjoys absolute freedom from rheumatism of a long-standing nature, as well as a great improvement in general health. Moegiel.—W atones, clocks, jewellery (all descriptions), spectacles, gramophone springs, tor ches and refills repaired ana supplied at S. B. Harvey’s, jewellers, Exchange Buildings- . Near iiaurimu on a recent night, while tlio down Main Trunk train was passing, a stone dislodged irom the cutting craaned through tne window of a. carnage and struct a lady passenger on the chesu I*ortunatoly (states a northern paper) the lady was not seriously injured, but her wristlet watch ami broocn were smashed. Infants and Children's Goods in our showroom are ail being cleared to make room lor new shipments. You will be surprised to see the assortment —Bibs, Bootees, dinglets, Brocks, Coats, and ivnilted Dresses — ail at sale prices.—A. B’. Cheyuo and Co., iVtosgicL... Air B. J. Chrisp has left Gisborne en route tor {Sydney, where ho is to investigate the claims or some Gisborne residents, uescendants ot an old Gisborne family, to participate in some very valuable byuney city properties. The claim is a long dormant one, but it is understood there is nevertheless a chance that it may be substantiated (slates a Hawke's Bay exchange). The must palatable breakfast bauoa obtainable is tne lamous sugar-cured at Barton and Trengrove’s, Manse street (and all branches), Dunedin.... A lino of il2o‘ was imposed upon a. Hamilton milk vendor named John Al'Cabe, lor selling milk adulterated with water and deficient in solids (states the New Zealand Herald’s correspondent). An analyst s report was produced by Mr A. B. Bennett, fiealth inspector, showing a sample ot defendant's milk to contain 40 per, cent, ot added water, and to be deficient m solids other than tat. Defendant said he milked his own cows and cpuld not account tor tne condition of the milk. No waiter had been Men’s Working Shirts, navy d r lU> with white stripes, last colours, worth 10s hd; sale price, bs lid, or two for Us fid- Another lino of English, Italian and Colonial Bolt Hats, hign-class goods, from 25s to 59s 6d; now ifia Od to 205 6d. Bee them. A. F. Cheyne and Go., Mosgiel.... “A very nice handful,” was on apt descriptive phrase used by a witness during a Supreme Court trial at Auckland the otner day, when referring to a roll ot banknotes. The owner of the bundle was inclined to bo boastful of his possession, for he had asked witness if he had over seen a £SO note. Witness regretfully replied that he “hadn’t seen too many,” whereon tire other man produced one from his bundle. “It was a lovely roll of notes,” concluded the witness. Australia is proving a fruitful field for Vulcan motor lorries, and the distributing agents have broken all previous records for the sale of any one make of commercial vehicle. The rapid strides vwhioh Vulcana are making have made it necessary for a representative of the company to make A special tour of Australia and New Zealand.... “How much will it cost to have the lorry repaired?” asked counsel of a judgment debtor at the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court (reports the Times). Witness replied about £35. “ What is the lorry worth as it is?” “About _ £5,” answered tiro other. “It is rather an extraordinary lorry at that price?” remarked the magistrate. “I should say it was a bad bargain,” murmured counsel. Horse Covers.—Best long flax, rick lined: Hacks, 345; draughts, 355. Best long dax, felt lined: Hacks, 37s fid; draughts, 38s fid. “Fanners, send in your orders!” to Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Assn. (Ltd.), Crawford street.... “There is nothing in modern life so ugly, joy-dispelling, and utterly dismal, as one of our modern burial grounds, which should be places of peace and beauty and rest,” said Mr E. 0. Gross, in an address at jhe Auckland Art Society’s Gallery. “In no other branch of art have wq fallen so fur behind. The root of the trouble goes deeper than the mason’s yards. It is tho lack of interest on the part of the public, and societies such as ours cannot escape sharing the blame and responsibility.” Thomson and Co., opposite First Church, have a largo selection of granite and marble monuments to choose from at price* which 'cannot' be compared.... That the location of “police traps” is kept a strict secret was evidenced in the Auckland Police Court recently, when an inquiry was made by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., as to the exact position of the measured quartermile in Renxuera road, by meant of which “speeding” motorists are detected. “Whereabouts is this police trap?” asked Mr Hunt. “The constable has not imparted that information, even to me, your Worship.” replied Senior-sergeant Roy.’le. “It would be interesting to know,” was the rejoinder of tho magistrate, who is a keen motorist. The finest coffee grown on earth is Blue Mountain Jamaica. This great coffee is obtainable in New Zealand only from A. Durio and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin.... Th© unusbal spectacle of a Supreme Court judge, a jury of 12, and a, whole battery of lawyers being compelled to wait for nearly a quarter of an hour while the man upon whom they were assembled to sit in judgment slaked his thirst in a neighbouring hotel, was witnessed in the Wellington Supreme Court the other day. When the name of the man, who was out on bail, was called, he failed to respond, and after an awkward pause two detectives were despatched to find him, which they eventually did in tho act of absorbing Dutch courage for the ordeal in front of him. It takes 9,228,600 gallons of water to float the “Hood.” So an inquiring mind has discovered. But if he inquired further he would learn that James Buchanan and Co. (Ltd.), tho proprietors of Black and White whisky have to-day in bond in Scotland 29,000,000 gallons of Scotch whiskv— enough to float three “H00d5.”... ... Arrangements are well in hand for the commencement of operations at White Island, where an English company is preparing to work the immense sulphur deposits (states tho Now Zealand Herald). Major Kont-Johnston, consulting engineer and general manager of the company, left recently for Opoiiki en route to White Island. He expects to bo away from Auckland fer about three weeks, and while at tho island hopes to get the work started. Major Kent-Johnston let a contract for the erection of a wharf, and work is proceeding with the erection of the houses intended for the accommodation of the workers. It is tho intention of the company to do all the work of getting out Hie sulphur by contract. . , , Don’t worry about tho furnishing of .the new home. If you want to set up a “but and a ben” of your own and haven t quite enough to start with, see us. We 11 help you. It’s wonderful what a small amount of cash will do in our warehouse. You’ll bo surprised. Come and see ujs, &nd you 11 find the wedding bells can be rung almost the week after.— Riach and M'Lennan, DunCountry Storekeepers.—We supply all small goods of the finest quality obtainable in the dominion. Freshly made daily; liberal concessions. —Barton and Trengrove, Manse street. Dunedin...■ . good joke was told against me (he other' day,” said the Waitomo Power Board’s engineer to a King Country Chronicle reporter. “I’ve been going round the streets, you know, examining the eleotno transmission roles, sometimes digging my knife into them or cutting a little slip olt them to seo whether they were totara or ironbark, and how much sap wood there was. Well, someone saw me at it, and went lo tho town clerk and said: Tve just.seen a chap going round the streets and cutting bits off the poles. Do you think he s all lh Obanism (955).—’Tis pleasant when we’ve absent friends, sometimes to hob and nob. and then with memory’s class, at such a pass, to drink their health at the Oban Hotel „ Under the heading “Freaks oi Nature, an American Feature Syndicate has supplied the following to papers in the United States; “Could a moa be captured to-day it would bo sold to a circus or museum, and exhibited as one of the queerest birds ever known to man. Because ot its destructive habits it was wiped out of existence in Now Zealand. Beinir 12ft in height, a verity able airplane, it was easily the master of any ether feathered creature. Tire moa could easily carry away live stock_ in its talons. People shuddered at the _ sight of tho riant bird, knowing that it might hear away an infant, or even a grown Person. Finally the inhabitants of New Zealand banded together and destroyed every mo» in the land. The Duke o’ York hae raarnt A bonnie Scottish lass. And what hae they for breakfast. Why! Hitchon’s ham you s. Hitchon’s bacon is best....