NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19350, 10 December 1924, Page 12

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The loss from fire in the State forest plantations at Rotorua - , has been remarkably small, only three acres of the vast area under cultivation having been destroyed pence the plantations were first established. The • distribution of the dairy cheques during the past two or three weeks has made a wonderful difference in Southland. In one case alone a shopkeeper within a week received over £IOOO of moneys outstanding after a period of comparative quietness for several months. Waters’ “Vi-Oatta’.’ for sunburn —a holiday necessity. 2s 6d posted.—Waters’ Pharmacy, 20 Princes street.... Tho South Taranaki Automobile Association has launched a “safety first" campaign, in which motorists and pedestrians aluce are warned to adhere to tho rules of the road. Hawera borough authorities (says tbs Hawera Star) are assisting in this laudable object by the vigorous prosecution of offenders against tho traffic bylaws.

At the “Big Store,” Milton, ladies can buy lovely one-piece Cotton House Frocks for 12s fid. Great value!...

Many schools in the Auckland district are taking up (he proposal of the Forestry Department to establish nurseries for the raising of seedlings of shelter and timber trees. It is estimated that the 49 schools interested in this project will raise approximately 100,000 seedlings for distribution to their pupils.

Wellington’s electrical tramways, including power supply, have been constructed at a cost of £1,113,329. and there are now over 150 cars in service, the largest of which are the six double-decker central entrance cars, which carry 79 passengers, the next being the double-deckers which carry 55. The length of the track is 12 miles 29 chains double, and miles 47 chains single track.

Useful Presents. Plain and Fancy Socks. 2s 6d to 7s lid. Novelty Pyjamas, 9s 6d to 47s 6d. Shirts—cambric, tricoline, silk—--6s 6d to 32s 6d. Ties, latest from London, Is lid to 7s 6d. —Kilroy and Sutherland (Limited), 192 Princes street,.,.

“If early indications are borne out, New Zealand should be in a position to export more fruit this year than it has ever done before,” remarked a Wanganui orchardist recently. The prospects for the fruitgrower, he pointed out, wore bright, and conditions in the South Island were exceptionally good, especially in the Nelson district, at the present time. The largest private collection of cacti in England is owned by a lady.

“Have the Railway Commissioners been through the tunnel yeti” asked a member of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League, when the Ivy tt el ton tunnel was under consideration. “Yes,” replied Mr H. Holland, “tney went through on a Sunday morning before the Ordinary trains were running, and the locomotive was stoked with coke.”—(taughter.) A stoppage of work occurred on a new building in the main street of Hamilton the other day (says the Hamilton correspondent of the New Zealand Herald), when a large swarm of bees settled bn a part of the scaffolding. The workmen did not wait for orders, bat promptly “downed tools” and made for the ground. An apiarist was summoned, and on his arrival the swarm was dislodged into a box. Work was interrupted for about hall an hour. At the tariff no doubt it j,» the wat m Dunedin—Prince of Wales HoteL—Charles Hinchelitf, proprietor. Telephone 72L Beat bfObde of iiquoM.... A Manawtttu farmer raised an interesting question as to the relative effect of various kinds of forest trees upon the fertility of the soil in which they nave grown centuries (says the Manawatu Daily Times). In Australia, for instance, Hie bmegum is generally believed to exhaust the soil. Similarly in Norway coniferous forests affect it In Britain the mixed deciduous trees mulch and enrich the surface with nitrogen aered from the atmosphere. New Zeaforest lands, which practically have no falling leaves, are known to be wonderfully fertile' for a long period after the bush is fallen, but if similar forest trees lost their leaves each season the etrect would have been even more beneficial. Barton and Trcngrove specialise in orders by mail. Satisfaction guaranteed. Send money with order, goods forwarded by return. Equal to personal shopping.—Manse street, Dunedin,... The tourist traffic on the Wanganui River is developing slowly this season, although a few have already made the trip down (says the Wanganui Herald). The Australian shipping strikei is interfering with the arrangements of a number of visitors who intended to make the trip over. The booking is good for January, and for February a party of 50 American tourists is booked up. It it not expected that the big party of American tourists next year wUI conio to Wanganui. As far as can be ascertained, the boat will only touch at Auckland, and wall then proceed to Sydney. Christmas without a case of Corban’s pure N.Z.-grown wine is disloyal. Port 52s case, assorted wines 56s.—Corban’s, Dominion Chambers, Rattray street. 62s the case....

At a meeting of s. county council in the Canterbury province a discussion veered round the capacity of one of the employees to carry his liquor and the engineer’s task in deciding when the man overstepped the limit (says the Christchurch Press). An anecdote wjs related of a father, who, explaining the matter to his son, said, “My boy, you may consider yourself ‘stunned’ when those two lights look like four, to which the boy replied, “But, father, there’s only one light there.” After the laughter that followed hopes were expressed that the engineer might not have the same difficulty in applying the test. Useful Presents for Xmas are in great demand. We ha w o everything suitable for men, women, and children. Ladies’ Fancy Handkerchiefs, from fid to 4s 6d each; Hand-embroidered d’Oyleys, from Is lid to 3» lid—very suitable for posting away.—A. F. Cheyne and Co., Mosgiel.... “New Zealand hSs very many keen sports,” remarked the Hon. R. F. Bollard in a speech during his trip to the far north, “and the country is the better for them. Take the All Blacks’ visit to the Old Country. Why, I have seen men waiting patiently by telephones, especially during the week-ends, with all the energy they possess showing in their expressions for the result of a match played on a Saturday. The victories the All Blacks gain seem to make the sports ready for the next week’s work, and there is no doubt that in them they get a big impetus.” 'The dismantling of the Christchurch Cathedral organ will be begun, shortly (states the Press); probably during the Christmas vacation of the choir. Certain parts are to to shipped to England to be atted into the new action. The cathedral chapter have on order a two-manual Holt organ. This make of reed organ has only recently been introduced into the dominion, but the testimonials to its worth are being found fully borne out by its performances. Tfie instrument will be retained as part of the cathedral musical equipment, and will be of great uSe whan the big organ is unsuited to . the smaller services. The reconstruction of /the pipe organ is expected to take about a year. The most prompt and reliable developing service in Dunedin.—Waters’ Pharmacy, 20 Princes street....

A young Marlborough man who some months ago was sentenced to a short term of imprisonment for theft Was discharged trom gaol at Wellington a few days ago, and returned post haste to his native heath (reports the Express). The Iqcal brass band was not out to meet him, per did the Mayor in all his robes extend a hand to the wanderer returned, but, nothing daunted, the prodigal engineered a welcome all on Ins own which will make his homecoming the talk of the place for some time to come. Ho went to a social evening which was being held, paid his admission money at the door, and, quietly making his way, almost unobserved, to the piano, which happend to be silent at the time, electrified the assembly by striking up “Should auld acquaintance be forgot!” Thick smoke issuing from the right-of-way at the. rear of the City Hotel, Christchurch, alarmed the passing crowd in Colombo street (states the Lyttelton Times). A number rush?'! into the lane, and above the felt hats- and bowlers was the white helmet of a hurrying policeman. A few seconds’ investigation showed the cause to be the chimney of a butcher’s shop, which had caught fire. Evidently the outbreak was not serious, as the smoke subsided without any attention. The crowd went away, but the policeman busied himself telling the crowd to move on. “Yea we have no fires to-day,” was the answer he gave to one startled inquirer. 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....

The rabbit pest -will be a -serious menace to Southland this summer; I have aeon more rabbits this season than ever before,” stated Mr T. Giller at a monthly meeting of the Invercargill branch of the Farmers' Union. Mr Giller added that the position was made more acute by those who held farms for speculation and took no steps to dear their properties of the pest. He knew of farmers who went to the trouble of endeavouring to clear their land, while the rabbits from adjoining speculators’ properties “crept down like a cloud passing _ over the sun.” During the winter or colder months the wood borer is a small, white worm. During the 'warmer months of spring it changes and becomes dormant. About December, if the weather is warm, it comes to life as a fly, like a ladybird, only very much smaller. As the month gets older the fly leaves his hole, and, flying about, mates on the wing, and then returns to a hole and lays from six to 10 eggs. Afterwards the fly disappears. The eggs mature in a few days,, becoming worms with two small saws in front to bore into the wood. Underneath and between their legs is a bag or pouch into which they push the dust which is discharged. To kill • the flybefore it leaves tba hole, the wood should bo washed over with a mixture of kerosene, methylated spirits, and creosote—twice as much of the first two as the last—twice a week during December and January. Obanism (1060): No order is too small for the Oban Hotel to give prompt attention to it. We send a single bottle just as smartly as a case.... Blackbirds, and other birds too, are very fond of a shower bath on a hot day (says the Lyttelton Times). A few days ago numerous sprinklers were at work on the city lawns, and they suggested tantalising visions of cool baths to the users of the hot and dusty roads. The birds, however, know no restrictions of dress or property, and they had bathing carnivals about tne enticing sprays. On a lawn at St. Andrew’s College 50 or 60 blackbirds, were,merry, and really had the time of their live®. They fluttered through Ihe cooling fountains, ran about in the water, and apparently found the most exquisite enjoyment in getting thoroughly soaked The bath was accompanied by the most riotous bird calls, and the scene resembled nothing so much as a crowd of youngsters enjoying a dip in the briny. Sick unto death Uncle Sam lay in bed. With » big bowl of sops placed near his

head. But. feeling much worse for what he. had

taken. They revived him again with Hitchon’s primo baooh... .