NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 14

NEWS IN BRIEF.

It is estimated that the aphis common to turnip does damage in Now Zealand to the extent of £ 1 per acre, This is euqivaient to £I,OOO,(XW Isays* the Wanganui Chronicle). Included in the estimate 13 the loss caused by the rot of swedes, which is undoubtedly spread by these insects. Regulations as tt> the compulsory registration of electors, and voting at elections by absent voters and others, rramed under the provisions of the Legislature Amendment Act, passed last session, are gazetted. The residential qualification has now been altered from one to three months. Great assortment of Bathing and Diving Caps at Waters’ Pharmacy, 20 Princes street.... Just after a thunderclap in Christchurch the other day a frightened horse with harness dangling on him galloped up to the Bunk of New Zealand corner and over a boy who was riding a bicycle. The boy picked himself up, collected his bicycle, and looked considerably surprised about the whole occurrence. The horse, meantime, had dashed down Colombo street.

During the recant spell of dry weather bush fires have caused considerable damage to the native bush on the South Riverton hills. Year after year indiscriminate burning of bush has taken place, with the result that if steps are not taken immediately there will be no native bush left in Soutn Riverton in the course of a few years. Little wonder the All Blacks discontinued their war-cry if the following criticism by the Rugby critic of the Sportsman is a fair sample of the general remarks thereupon : —“Nepia led the war cry to which the spectators were treated before the game was started—a long one it was, too. Since the novelty of these war-cries and dances has worn off, could they not be dispensed with ? To my mind it is a rather pathetic •sight to be 15 presumably intelligent individuals standing in a row and ing a series of Svengali-like movements, while emitting a volume of incoherent ana unintelligible words in a strange tongue." It depends, on how one looks at it I Two farmers in the Wairnea Plains district the other day were sowing turnips when a heavy tropical rain fell (relates the Mat aura Ensign). One farmer grumbled because it stopped his sowing. The other farmer rejoiced and said he would like to see another hour’s rain. He could sow the balance of his turnips when there was no rain, but his oats and grass wanted rain badly. Since the year 1915, a war regulation has been in force prohibiting an enemy alien from making application to the Supreme Court for probate of the will or administration of the estate of a deceased person. An, amendment to this has been gazetted which states that the prohibition shall not apply to the will or estate of an enemy alien who died after the signing of the peace treaty. The vigorous ringing of the firebell at 4.30 o’clock the other afternoon (says the Dannevirke News) attracted a big crowd to Millers street, but the brigadesmen and the curious public had their excitement for nothing, the alarm being a false one. A hot water service bubbled over on the roof of a residence and the occupiers, thinking there was a fire, raised the alarm.

Useful Presents. Plain and Fancy Siocks, 2s 6d to 7s lid. Novelty Pyjamas, 9s 6d to 4?s 6d. Shirts—cambric, tricoline, silk--6s 6d to 22s 6d. Ties, latest from London, Is lid to 7s 6d. —Kilroy and Sutherland (Limited), 192 Princes street.... Farmers who have had the services of boys who have come to New' Zealand under the junior immigration scheme speak highly of the manner in which they are carrying out their work (says the Poverty Bay Herald). Most of the boys came out without previous farming experience, but they have been quick to learn. Most of them have had their wages increased since they commenced, and other farmers are now r endeavouring to arrange for boys for their farms.

Films of all makes obtainable at Waters’ Pharmacy, 20 Princes street.. Although the farthing is not a circulating coin of the realm in this country, Its value entered into one of the tenders for a section of concrete roadway which was considered by the Pevonport Borough Council tho other night (reports an Auckland paper). The amount of the tender was over £BOOO, but the total price included the amount of three farthings. Exactly which part of the work entailed the expenditure of that amount was not stated. “1 went honk honk ! with my horn and, I ask you, do I look ’ike a man who would lose his head?” said a motorist to Jn Wyvorn Wilson, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch, ns he banged the brassrail of (he witness box with his (Ist. “I unfortunately picked the girl up on my collision bar.” “You charged her nothing for the ride?” asked the Magistrate. “No,’* was the quick reply, “I have no license to carry pasfengers,’*

A feature of the commercial activities in Auckland has been the phenomenal registration of companies throughout the year, and it is anticipated that by the end of December there will have been 300 new companies registered (says the Star). Approximately 100 applications have been received by the Hawke’s Bay Education Beard for appointment as pupil teachers and probationer* next year (says the Hawke’s Bay Herald). The vacancies to be filled number 31

A glass of Corban’s makes you feel good. Order with cash. Port o:r clorkt 58s case, red or sherry 58», assorted 56s.—Corban’s Agency, Dominion Chambers, Dunedirr. .. Shag shooting under the 2s bounty given by the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society and the additional 2s given by the Waipukurau Angling Club must be a profitable game (states the Waipukurau Press) a local resident killing 11 shags in one-morn-ing netting £2 4*. Milton Men! You’ll want a new Felt Hat for the summer holidays. See the latest styles at Gray’s Big Stow.... A Martlnborongh motorist had an unenviable experience on the Hi mu taka Hill when returning from Wellington the other day. First he met a motor lorry with an overhanging load, which prevented passing, and he had to follow behind slowly. When he got past, end was proceeding to Featherston, a slip came down about Bo yards in front of him, blocking the road. This necessitated walking back a considerable distance. Aid was then secured and the slip cleared sufficiently to let him through on his journey. Bain fell heaviry during the whole trip. At the tariff no doubt it is the beet In Dunedio—Prince of Wales Hotel. —Charles Hincbciiff, proprietor. Telephone 721. Beat brands of liquors..,. Something In the nature of a whirlwind was experienced recently at the State nursery, Hanmer Springs. Hearing a loud roaring noise some men working In u. near-by shed rushed out to see four pieces of scrim, each a chain in length, used to cover seed bed frames, bong Whirled violently into the air. Two pieces, assuming the shape of parachutes. Heated away and gradually drifted back part of the way. The remaining two pieces went up lengthwise, and rising to a height of apparently Severe! hundred feet, were plainly visible from the township .. mile away, being ultimately picked up half a mile from the scene of the occurrence.

Barton and Trengrove specialise in orders by mail. Satisfaction guaranteed. Send money with order, goods forwarded by return. Equal to personal shopping.—Manao street, Dunedin.... The danger of playing with fireworks was evidenced at Wanganui, a boy named Albert Woodhouse, aged seven, having had to have q.n eye removed- It appears that lie came across r bunch of mixed fireworks left over from the pelebration of Guy Fawke’s Day, and put them In a tin, which he placed into a hole in the ground, bottom upwards. Ha then made a lire, with the object of seeing the tin driven up into the air by the explosion. Unfortunately, he stood too close, and received a blow on the face. He was conveyed to the hospital, where it was found necessary to remove an eye.

Useful Presents for Xmas are in great demand. We have everything suitable for men, women, and children. Ladies’ Fancy Handkerchiefs, from 9d to 4s 6d each; Hand-embroidered d’Oyleys. from Is lid to 3s lid —very suitable for posting away.—A. F. Cheyne and Co., Mosgiel.... The mayoral regime which prohibits smoking at Christchurch City Council meetings at late 'sittings or at any other time led to a curious situation at a meeting of the council (says the Lyttelton Times). A lengthy, dry, apd dreary debate was in progress. More then half the councillors found it at times too much for them, and they accordingly left the council chamber fop the lobby, and sat and smoked, and listened to the drone and the dirge through the large open doors leading to the chamber. The unlucky one? were those whose duty chained them to their stations in the council’s hull, and who perforce were the victims of the interdiction. Just landed direct from the manufacturers, a full range of linoleums- The patterns* have been carefully selected, and the prices are right. Call and inspect.— The Otago Farmers* Coop, (Limited), Crawford street ’“We are greatly impressed with the character of your newspapers and their attitude towards - agriculture,” said Professor Russell, Dean of the College of Agriculture of the University of Winconsin, to a Hawera, Star representative. “It is remarkable,” he continued, “and far ahead of the press in the United States.” Th* New Zealand newspapers were un to a very high standard, not only in the cities, but in the country places, and he and Professor Macklin had gained much valuable informaton from the files. The climate and ground at Ealiotu, near Opunake, is well suited to the growing of lemons. An Eltham solicitor returned with several excellent specimens two dgyg SKPOne was 4gin long, 2jin in diameter, and 9in in circumference. Ho stated that the flavour of the lemons which have thin rinds, was excellent, and that the grower has a full crop this year. The Argus stateo that' the lemons are ripe already. It is pleasing to note that the Government are tackling the reading problem, apd quite a lot of valuable work has already bean done in this direction. The roads around Westport ar© now receiving attention, and to facilitate operations the Public Works Department has purchased one of the latest Two-ton Vulcan Tipping Lorries for this important work....

Some excitement was caused at the opening of the Bluff Swimming Club’s season by the sight of an obviously panic-stricken young man racing along the wharf toward the group of swimmers who were engaged in the events. ‘‘Quick 1 Its fallen overboard!” he panted on arrival. With visions of an heroic rescue under the eyes of the applauding crowd, several worthies in bathing suits sprinted to the scene of the disaster. ‘‘Just under the wharf,” gasped the young man, “and 6s for you if you get it.” In they plunged and for a time disappeared from view, in the rough water under the wharf. After a few minutes one swimmer appeared, and, with swift strokes, made for the nearest steps, while in one hand he tightly grasped a small wallet containing fishhooks. , Doubtless, however, his wrath was appeased by the presentation of two half-crowns from the grateful angler. Thomson and Co., opposite First cauron. have a large selection of granite and marble monuments to choose from at prices which cannot be compared....

A good story is going the rounds of a well-known Gisborne sportsman, whose wife had a horse running at the Auckland races the other day (says the Times). While up the Coast with a number of friends ho anxiously telephoned home concerning the result and was told her , horse had won. The overjoyed sportsman thereupon turned on “fizz” for the crowd, and a merry party set off home. Reaching Tolaga the sportsman again telephoned, and inquired what the “divvy was." “Oh,” came the reply, o—nly ran third”; and the husband collapsed in amazement. Unfortunately when he rang first the one who answered omitted to say ‘the third prize.” ‘‘lt wasn’t the ‘fizz’ that I turned on, but the fact that I was duped” snluttered the exasperated sportsman to his cronies later. Barton and Trengrovo now booking orders for their famous sugar-cured hams and bacon for Christmas. Early inquiries solicited to minimise rush.—Manse street and all branches

Mr D. Sutherland, of "Ngaipu,” Hmale urn, who has just returned from a tour abroad, states that he was very pleased with the New Zealand exhibit at Wembley. While the bay was not so lavishly displayed as Canada and Argentine, it was fax more effective. The whole of the export products of the dominion were exhibited to advantage. The other bays had pictoral displays, and the exports were rather a secondary score of attraction. "The New Zealand bay,” concluded Mr Sutherland, “is a distinct credit to New Zealand, and is as far as produce goes, easily the best in the Exhibition.”

O'banism (XOSSJ: It’s time to be thinking about your Christmas, order. We are now' packing for later delivery.—Oban H0te1.... Before the New Zealand Refrigerating Company would agiee to open tho freezing works at Picton prior to Christmas, it required an assurance that 2010 head of stock would be available, The Marlborough Executive of the Farmers’ Union at its meeting decided that it would be quite safe to give this assurance. _ The secretary said that a-s an outcome of inquiries it was considered that between 2500 and 3000 fat sheep and lambs would bei available before Christmas. The smaTTneas of the number was due to various factors chief amongst which ■was the drv spell. Wires had been passing between Picton' and Christchurch, and Mr Hoaly, tho manager, had just received advice that the works would be opened on December 15 of 3000 bead of stock could bo secured. Mery had some little hens. But all their eggs were taken. The man next door had lifted them To fry with Hitchon’s bacon. ..