NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 20

NEWS IN BRIEF

The building activity in the larger towns and suburban districts for the month of October is indicated by the values of the permits issued for new buildings. The figures were: Auckland £233,785, \Vellington £136,985, Christchurch £72,250, Dunedin £87,750’. Of the four chief centres, Dunedin continues to hold pride of position in respect to the number of persons adjudged bankrupt. The bankruptcies recorded in the four cities for the 10 months ended on October 31 ere: —Dunedin 45, Christchurch 98, Wellington 198, Auckland 249. Waters' Vi-oatta keeps the skin smooth and youthful. 2s Cd, Waters’ Pharmacy. 20 Princes, street... Complaints against the local authority digging up the Wellington streets are noi a new fashion (remarks the Evening Post). On April 29, 1843, the following was published in one of the Wellington papers: - “Complaint is made on the subject of parties digging largo holes in the public thoroughfare and leaving them open to the manifest danger of some of the inhabitants breaking their necks.” The paragraph goes on to draw special attention to holes in Cuba street and Willis street. The annual Dominion Conference of the W.E.A is to be held in Christchurch in February next. Another shipment of rubber aprons, with bib, lovely fresh goods, new patterns and colours, plain, jazz, or floral; prices 3s lid, 4s 6d, 4s lid. —At T Ross. ISO Princes street... During the hearing of a compensation case in the Wanganui Court it was stated by a Public Works Department official that it cost £BOO a mile to erect a transmission line for electric power. Added to this it cost £ls to £2O for the initial work. Angle coles are expensive affairs, and cost from £6O to £7O more than ordinary poles. Angle poles were expensive to maintain, and were not considered as safe as the straight line transmission. Christmas jewellery. Gifts that last! Peter Dick, Moray place, Dunedin, has a specially-selected stock of high-class diamond engagement rings and reliable watches suitable for gifts, and has been satisfying the public during the last 40 years in'these lines... On a recent evening a smartly-dressed young man, escorting .two smartly-dressed ladies, dropped a coin in the collection plate at the gate at Cook’s Gardens, Wanganui. A silver coin dropped immediately on top of it disclosed a silver-papered halfpenny (remarks the Chronicle). The youth was called back, but he apparently did not hear, and later he was sc? fortably seated listening-to the concert, enjoying his ha’penny worth? You can procure your new Furniture from us at special prices during this month, so brighten up for Christmas. —A. F. Cheyne and C 0... The Government has definitely decided that it cannot accept responsibilitv for property damaged in the recent Buller flood (states the Greymouth Star), but will arrange for seed for re-grassing the property, and make advances at 5 per cent, to persons requiring assistance. The Question of repairing the damage to county roads and borough streets was referred to the Minister of Public Works. The fact that the teaching profession in the Dominion would not be able to absorb all the students leaving the training college for some time, but that the Education Department was making endeavours to remedy this defect in the system, was mentioned at the ceremony that marked the breaking up of the Wellington Training College. Stay at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Good accommodation; best brands of liquors. ’Phone 721. —C. Hinchclitf, proprietor.. . “The police report is very satisfactory,” said the Chairman. (Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M.), at the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committee this week. “The whole of the hotels have been well, or fairlv well, conducted. In fact, this is the most satisfactory report that has been received for some considerable time, and we desire to congratulate the licensees on the way they have managed their houses during the last three months.” Why be without an overcoat? Another shipment of good-enough-to-loose-or-lend gents’ fawn waterproof coats, doublebreasted, with belt; sizes 36 to 44m chest; 25s each.—Kilroy and Sutherland (Ltd.), 192 Princes street. Dunedin... “With regard to ages, the figures of tho latest influenza epidemic show that a considerable number of vonng rV.-'H-o- ■- e fatally afflicted with the disease,” states the Government Statistician. “Thi is m -i contrast to the usual epidemic experience although in the later ages much of the same characteristics are observed, in so far as the. fatality-rate increases with increasing years, attaining its maximum in old age. The death percentages, according to ages, were:—Under 15. 9.1; 15 and under 25. 5.2; 25 and under 45 *0.8; 45 and under 65. 22.4; 65 and over. 42.5:” Mon! Have vou rmrehased vour Now Hat vet? All shapes and colours in best English makes See window display. 355, reduced 27s fid: 255, reduced 19s 6d At Watkins and Neilson (Ltd.), npnosite City Hotel... Two young pi"-s appeared on the field of play during a football match at Bridlington between Harrogate and Bridlington Town. The pigs chased the ball, and fo,- in m’notes while players took part in a chase which resulted , in 'the capture of the intruders.

It is usually the most proficient scholars ' who secure the prizes at the end of the vear at the various schools, but the Timaru Main School Old Boys’ Association has written to the committee advisinc that they wore prepared to present a special prize for the boy gaining l the least marks in the proficiency examinations (states the Herald). The headmaster explained that it would bo difficult to award such a prize, as the individual marks were not revealed. One member suggested that the prize should be awarded to the lad who the headmaster thought would not have a “ghost’ of a chance but who, like a racehorse, “came ‘ home” and paid a big “divvy.” “All prizes and no blanks” is the motto of the Wanganui City Council where ratepayers are concerned who have not attempted to pay their rates. The first ballot of the season has taken place, and 20 ratepayers drew marbles which will entitle them to inspect the interior cf the court prior to closing down for Christmas holidays. The inspection will not be altogether free for the lucky drawers of marbles will be expected to contribute 7s 6d Towards the cost of issuing blue invitation forms. ' Persons requiring a light portable hand sewing machine should see the Midget Home Machine at Laidlaw* and , Gray’s. These are splendid sewing machines. suitable for small homes and for persons travelling or for . allege and other girls away from home. The price is only 55s each, and many ladies have one for light work; they are so convenient and easy to work that even delicate persons can use them. Suitable also to take f® the beach or holiday—Agents. Laidlaw and Gray... At this week’s meeting of the Geraldine County Council, Mr F. R. Flatman stated that it had been noticed that in some parts ,ol a road where a heavy grader had been working, a corrugated surface was generally the result. In the Ashburton County they had been using a smaller grader, known as a drag, and the result of this was a considerable improvement in the surface of the road. The county engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner) said they possessed a drag, and he would experiment with it on a suitable stretch of road. Presents for everyone at prices to suit all purses.—A. F. Cheyne and C 0... In the Supreme Court at New Plymouth last week counsel engaged in a legal argument was about to cite a judgment of favour to his side of the argument, and observed that the report of the judgment occupied 62 pages of the volume from which he was quoting, and that there was plenty for consideration. His Honor the Chief Justice, -with judicial philosophy, said: Very woil, Mr ——. You hflv© &U tho afternoon before you. Counsel quickly corrected the impression that he was about to read the whole judgment, and said he ' was thinking more of the “after considertion.” The ideal breakfast beverage is the Bourbon ” brand of coffee and chicory Obtainable from the manufacturers, A. Durie and Co.. 32 Octagon. Dunedin, and ail gropers.. • The salving of the old Waiapu bridge, at the Tikitiki crossing, Waiapu County, which was washed away in the big flood which occurred some years ago, has been attended with excellent results (says tho New Zealand Herald). Approximately £SOOO worth of hardwood timber has been recovered, in addition to a considerable quantity of iron work, and the material is now being used for the bridging of smaller streams in the Waiapu County. The salvage operations entailed a good deal of heavy work, as some of the spans had been carried down to the mouth of the river. We are famous for saveloys.—Barton and T.engrove... The new combined rail and motor service to Blenheim and Nelson, via Parnassus, was organi-r 1 on Monday (reports the Lyttelton Times). The express left Christchurch with about 30 passengers, six _of whom had booked through to Blenheim. Railway officials stated that it was almost certain some of the passengers would have i made the trip- by motor car hut for the new service, and it is anticipated that as it is developed the proprietors of the motor seri vice cars will be affected. Country Shopkeepers. -We supply Hie ■ finest Smallgoods obtainable, at special rates Inquiries solicited. -Barton and IVonirrM-s donsf -street Dunedin ; The necessity of keeping a check on transactions in view of the prevalent thieving of > bicycles was stressed by the police in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court the other morning when Joseph Boucher, a , cycle dealer, being licensed under the Second hand Dealers Act. was charged with keeping no registration book. Sergeant . I Power gave evidence, to the effect that a f \ resident of the town had missed his bicycle, which was traced to the shop of defendant. Defendant had said that he was in the ■ habit of taking old macines on account of new ones, and done so in case. Howf fever, as therewas no registration book in 3 connection with the business, the person > who had disposed of the bicycle could not be traced. Remarking that the Act must - be complied with, the Magistrate imposed > a fine of £5, with costs. . Obanisin. —Try one bottle of our special i port at 4s 6d. The quality will bring repeat orders. —Oban Hotel... Acts of wanton destruction and damage at the cookhouses and buildings erected for the convenience of picnickers in various parts of the county have caused the Ashburton County Council to offer a substantial reward for the conviction of offenders (says the Guardian). _ These acts of vandalism have been particularly frequent at the Ashton and Wakanui beaches and at the mouth of the Rakaia River, and as ' a result the council is _ faced with a large expenditure for repairs. As these buildings ard erected solelfy for the convenience of the public, it is hoped visitors will do all in their power to see that the privileges they enjoy are not abused. Touching on the scholastic success of the Come ami see our Shew io-mght. We are open till 8.30 o’clock Friday nights.— and Chisholm (Limited)... Native pupils at Te Aute College .at the annual prize-giving, the head master, Mr F. G. Loten, said: “1 am pleased to be able to report that the school has maintained the reputation established in past years as far as examination results are concerned. William Corbett, one of our second year boys, was the winner of the Makarini Scholarship. He averaged 70 per cent, in all subjects, a very creditable performance. Like the Makarini, the Duller Scholarship is also a competitive scholarship, and is open to all Maori boys in New Zealand. Peter Awatere. one of the Te Aute pupils, was successful in winning this scholarship. His average percentage was 76. This is the best result ever obtained by any candidate in the history of this scholarship. Photo developing service unequalled in New Zealand, at Waters’ Pharmacy, 20 Princes street.. . ~ The common report throughout this wide district (says the Wyndhara Farmer) is that the season is backward—that vegetation is unusually slow in Growth, retarded by over-much rain and the want of warmth. The famed Mataura Island, for example, has had a disappointinp grazing season. And that applies tc Southland generally. But the conditions extend much more, widely. It happens in the past week that letters have been received in _ Wyndham from erstwhile Southland residents now located in different parts of the North Island, fill telling the same stoiy. In Auckland, Hawke’s Baw, Taranaki, and Wellington the experience is the same. The only difference is in degree • and in the north the conditions are not alone relatively but actually worse Auckland has not had such a wet November for many years. A choice selection of fancy crockery m artistic colourings and shapes arfl on view at James Gray and Sons, Milton... According to the Marlborough Express, a frost experienced last week varied in intensity from seven degrees in some parts of Blenheim to 10 degrees in others. It played havoc with the gardens, tomatoes, beans, pumpkins, and potatoes being blackened in all directions, while even the voung walnuts were affected. Potato . grower suffered particularly, for the crop: this year looked exceptionally well, anc it is stated that some fairly extensive crops have been virtually ruined. The frost wa* so severe that in some localities, although prudent husbandmen had taken _ the precaution to cover delicate crops with atraw, they were affected just the same. In 1 Islington, water troughs, etc., were covered with a thick sheet of ice. The farmers ’ on the plains suffered severely, particu--1 larly those growing early peas. it is reported that from 600 to 700 acres under peas for Messrs Yates and Go.» of Auck- | land, were virtually ruined, and it is feared that whereas crops of 60 bushels might i have been expected the growers will now jbe fortunate tc secure 15 bushels. Other ’ growers, of course, suffered correspondingly. ‘ The Duke of York is coming, ■\mV the Duchess, too. | Their meals will be of nitehon*s ham I -Instead of Irish stew...