NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 20

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Traffic through the Otira Tunnel showed an increase for the week ended on Saturday over the corresponding period last year (states the Lyttelton Times). This year 8200 toMot goods were hauled, as compared with 8191 tons last year. , . , Melancholy was a fitting word to describe a witness in the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court on Saturday (says tlie Chronicle). He was a painter and paperhanger by trade, and stated that he had travelled through the North Island looking for work, and had done only eiglii* weeks’ work in a whole year. For Special Tours of Great Southern Lakes and Mount Cook, ring 13-444, White Star Tourist Services... It will be about the end of Marcn before the whole of the equipment arrives for the electrification of the ChristchurchLyttelton railway line, said Mr G. VV. Wyles, assistant electrical engineer of the Railways Department, the other day. In the meantime, the work of erecting the poles is going on steadily. “He has no occupation except drinking?” was a question put to a witness by counsel at the Nelson Supreme Court the other day. It was ascertained that the person referred to was a remittance man and was boarding at the hotel kept at the time by witness (states the Evening Mail). The man, it was admitted, was a very lucrative boarder, and his liquor bill was very considerable. Witness assented with the question put by counsel. Exceptional value: Flannel Unders, the well-known Doctor Brand, in Shetland and navy, 6s 6d -ach; Ail-wool New Zealand Flannels—Shetland 6s lid, natural shade (unshrinkable) 8s lid, navy 9s fid. posted anywhere for cash. —Kilroy and Sutherland. Ltd. 192 Princes street, Dunedin.. . Bargain-hunting at auction sales is a pastime, apparently, that is not confined to those who carry away their purchases under their arms (says the Wanganui Chronicle). At a sale of “household furniture and effects,” as the auctioneers’ advertisements put it, on Saturday afternoon, the roadside in the vicinity of the dwelling concerned was lined with motor cars, 26 being counted at one stage. Owing to the fact that birds had started to build a nest on the propeller at the end of the fire alarm siren at Taumarunui, the siren refused to wbrk when it was switched on recently to call the brigade to an outbreak at the brickworks (says the New Zealand Herald'. This, however, did not interfere with the prompt turning out of the brigade, as to members were called by telephone. The obstruction in the siren was later removed. Tennis players requiring smartly cut, high-grade white tennis trousers should forward their size and 12s fid to the “ Ascpt,” corner of Princes and Rattray streets, Dunedin. The trousers will be forwarded by return mail... While the commercial travellers and warehousemen were making merry in New Plymouth one afternoon last week there occurred an incident, involving one of their numbers, which might easily have had serious results (says the Herald). A much bewhiskered salesman stopped his Jpatter for a moment to light his cigarette. In a flash his whiskers burst into flames. The wearer quickly dashed the mask off his face and luckily sustained no injury. A reply all the way from Cumberland, England, to an advertisement in the Auckland Weekly News has been received by a local firm (says an Auckland paper). The writer was inquiring for shepherd’s whistles, and sent sufficient money to pay for four of them. It may be therefore, that whistles from Auckland will soon be sounding over the of one of England’s most northerly shires. We solicit a trial of our famous sugarcured bams and bacon, after which you will reject all others. —Barton and Tren grove. Manse street, Dunedin... Though weather conditions were ideal on Saturday, those who sought recreation on the river found things not at all to their liking (says the Wanganui Chronicle). The water was badly discoloured and large quantities of driftwood made the going risky for the rowing skiffs and motor launches that dotted the river. Two outboard hydroplanes competing at the Motor. Boat Club's races, when taken out of the water bore visible evidence of contact with something hard, in the shape of broken and chipped boards. We simplify your Xmas shopping. Inspect our range of seasonable gifts. Special attention to country inquiries.— Conn’s Grand Pharmacy... According to Professor TV lessor of anatomy at London University, Britain is building a new type o man different from his ancestors, and women in Britain are growing tatier. lessor predicts that the British men of the future will be of an average height of sft Din, and the women of 6ft 6in or sft 7in. The increasing stature of men is most notable in the upper and middle classes, but as all classes come to share the benefits of eugenics the height of the whole community will increase. Bathers at Kairaka on Sunday suffered loss through the actions .of a thief, who went through their clothes in the dressing shed, and made quite a good haul (says the Lyttelton Times). Only money was taken, watches and other personal belongings being untouched. However, the thief overlooked a sovereign in one of the pockets, which proved a blessing to the man concerned, as coming home his petrol ran out, and he had the necessary money with which to buy more. Low prices and high quality are an unusual combination, but this describes our leather suit, and attache cases. Solid leather suit cases from 47s fid: «oHd leather attache cases from 20s fid.—OtagO Farmers, Crawford street... . Wanganui residents are considerably annoyed by two factors in this city—noisy motor cycles and uneven tram tracks (-says the Chronicle). The former are dealt with effectively by city traffic inspectors, and are apparently decreasing in numbers, but the second evil still perplexes unwary cyclists and pedestrians. The broken surface around the tram tracks in Victoria avenue is at present in a bad condition, and in vew of the importance of the thoroughfare, requires prompt attention. “ Matriculation is declared by the senate to be the reasonable result of four years secondary work. Up till last year we always expected boys of fair ability who worked well to pass in three years, but if the same standard is required as last year it will have to be a four years’ course for all but the brightest and most diligent boys,” said the Rev. Dr V. Geaney, rector of St.- Bede’s College, at the annual prize-giving of the college held the other night in the Papanui Memorial Hall, Christchurch. “ Lynx ” Suits have captured the popu lar fancy. See the big showing at Gray’s, of Milton... One more of London’s famous mansions, Grosvenor House, off Park lane, with its three-feet-thick walls and elaborate ornamentation, has come under the navvy’s pick. It is to make way for smart ferroconcrete suites of offices and service flats, and forms part of the scheme of a syndicate which has bought the house and the adjoining property. The house was once the residence of the Duke of Gloucester, brother of George 111, and has seen many a brilliant function The huge mahogany doors, panelling, and all ornamentation that could be sold have already gone. Old corns disappear with a touch of " Kornbane.” Is 2d posted.—Waters’ Pharmacy. 20 Princes street... Some of the examples of schoolboy “ howlers ” that have already appeared in print reveal, one surmises, a mentality too experienced and subtle for the ingenuous and crowing boy. It is doubtful if any ’ ’’ ' r •” '"jtiativc could have written that “ Esau was a man who wrote , i.hi who sold bis_ copyright to a publisher for a bottle of potash.” Nor could he have put the Homeric problem in a nutshell as a schoolboy is supposed to have done, thus: “ Some people say that the Homeric poems were not written b' Homer, but by another man of the same name.” Nor, finally, could he hardly have conceived and transcribed from his own ’ '"ntcal nuin in answer to the question, What is Faith? that “it v ''.inch wo are enabled to believe that which wo know is untrue.” The fleetest girl in the world hails from Japan. Miss Furaiko Terao ex-changed her kimono for running shorts and earned her right to the title of “ swiftest girl alive ” when she won the 100 metres sprint in the All-Japanese Sports Carnival held recently near Tokio. Miss Terao’s time was 10 4-ssec. Charlie Paddock’s time for that distance is only two-fifths of a second faster, and Paddock is called “ the fastest human.” Fumiko has beaten all men run. ners of her own country, and all tTie best women runners in the world.

A visitor to Auckland from the TV aikato district was rec illy robbed of bank notes to the value ol about £lO (says the New Zealand Herald). The theft occurred in Albert street, when a man walked up to him and dexterously snatched the roll from the inside pocket of his jacket. It is believed the thief was present when his victim changed a banknote in the bar of an hotel, had seen the money returned to the pocket, and had followed him down the street. The robbed man gave chase immediately, but the road was deserted and the thief outdistanced him. Secure a wireless set for Christmas. They can be obtained at reasonable prices a_.d on easy terms. Also those interested should see the tine variety of sewing machines, from the small portable hand sewing machine at 65s up to the latest cabinet and electrical sewing machines. Nothing finer to be got, and the prices are particularly iow.—Agents: Laidlaw and Gray, Rattray street... ‘‘Did you do a great amount of illegal trading? * queried counsel of a witness at the Supreme Court, Nelson, the other day (says the Mail). The witness, who was an hotelkeeper at the time, asked fiis Honor Mr Justice Sim if he was bound to answer the question. “No, not if the answer, will tend to incriminate yau,” replied his Honor. Witness then said that ha did nothing omre than the average hotelkeeper did. Counsel remarked that the books showed that the takings on Sundays averaged between 2,4 and £5. Witness replied that he had a number of boarders staying during the week-ends, most of whom were drinkers. X'o Country Stores. —Barton and Trengrove allow liberal concessions for handling their famous smallgeods. -Largest output in South Islaud.—Barton and Trengrove. Manse street. Dunedin... It is hard to believe a parrot could be so tame and so knowing as to fly alongside its owner’s car from ms homo to quite a long distance away, alighting e ver and anon for a rest on the oar hood or bonnet (says the Hawera Star). Yet that is the case with a white parrot belonging to a settler at Oeo. The other day, however, when it came with him to the calf-judging at Auroa, it flew round and round overhead. When the party was ready to leave it mistook the owners’ car for another and flew away with the other for a distance of several miles. It seemed quite reconciled to the change and had to be sent back by a man who knew the bird. Stay at the Prince >1 Wales Hotel. Good accommodation; best brands of liquors. 'Phone 10-721.—C. Hinchcliff. ropnetor... “ While I was hosing a shrub the other day, just before the rain came on,” writes "Suburbanite,” “a little blight-bird flow right into the' bush. He evidently thought it was a shower of ram, and in spite of the deluge he shook his little wings and 1 thoroughly enjoyed the shower bath, although 1 was standing within a few feet of him. A rather ruder burst of water than usual shifted him, and he flew to a neighbouring loquat tree, where I again simulated rain, and the bird enjoyed a second bath, shaking his wings and rattling his feathers with engaging . enjoyment.” Christmas is coming, and there can be no more acceptable present to a lady than a pair of lovely Silk Stockings. New shades and prices to suit any purse, 3s lid, 4s lid, 5s lid, up to 16s fid.—T. Ross, 130 Princes street... The joys of teaching are not without a mixture of alloy (remarks the Timaru Post). The (Jlandeboye School sent 10 pupils for the proficiency examination. Tn e results are:—Light proucieucy, one competency, and one failure. The boy who failed, stands third in marks in the whole school; last year he was "second, and the year before he was third, so that from the consistency of his work better things were expected. Two of the boys who gained tneir proficiency were considered doubtful by the master. Their general inconcern entailed upon the master constant concern. Remarking upon the unexpected happenings, Mr Cartwright said ” Probably their general unconcern was conducive to their success in the examination room, wnue the strange surroundings were perhaps the other hoy s undoing.” ‘ Car leaving Dunedin for Te Anau and Manapouri, returning via Queenstown, departs Dunedin, d auuary 3, has vacancy two or three passengers.—Ring 13-444. Telegrams; “ Wnitestar.”.. 'The petty thiet possesses peculiarities that are puzzling (says th e Auckland Star). A Ponsonoy resident, wuo nas suffered from the attention of one of the genus, is at a loss to understand why this person confines himself to one article when others are avaiJaoie. The sufferer keeps a "special oox with boot-cleamng materials on his back porch. Four times within tfte past month a tin of black c-oot polish has been appropriated from this box, though brown polish, brushes, and pads remain untouched, .the supplier of free boot-cleaning material nopes that during the summer at least the chief will take to wearing white shoes, op, failing that, will give the brown boot polish consideration when he purchases hia next footwear. Just lauded, ex Somerset, a lull supply ol new season's Blue Mountain Jamaica. The finest Coffee grown on earth. —A. Dune and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin... “It is time Sir Edwin Lutyens at his age had acquired enough experience not to make suen rash statements,’ said a well-known Auckland architect recently, commenting on the skyscraper cable from London. “ The American ouiJdmgs he is talking about are those in which a structural steel frame is used, such as one can see going up now in Auckland. The steel frame is encased in concrete and should la ?t for a very long time. There is a wide difference between these buildings and those of reinforced concrete. In tfce latter only a small amount of steel is used, and it is completely covered with concrete. The life of the reinforced building is absolutely indefinite, but, despite Sir Edwin Lutyens’s alarming statement, no building constructed of steel and properly built has failed. VVaters’ “ Chap-Lotion * keeps the hands looking “ well groomed.” 2s posted. VV aters 1 Pharmacy... It seems inappropriate for the English to describe an afternoon theatre performance as a matinee, as the word comes from the French “matin,” meaning morning. Morning, however, is a purely comparative word. The church service of " Matins,” now generally held at 11 a.m., was originally sung at midnight, being literally the prayer of the very 'earliest morning. From the French the “ matinee ” or morning performance of the -iioatre was that held before “ dinner time,” and the term was borrowed by the fashionable world to mean an afternoon show at an English theatre. Your Holiday Motor Tour through Otira Gorge, Franz Joseph Glacier, Buffer Gorge, Marble Mountains, I’elorous River, Hanmer Springs. Car leaves Dunedin about 24th December. Ring 13-444, White Star Tourist Services-.. It take but a minute or two to dam a huge stream of motor traffic during rush hours in Auckland (says the Star). The other morning about 9.50 a big petrol tank wagon halted unaccountably at the intersection of Queen and Customs streets. “ Run out of juice? ” naively inquired a bystander, as a string of cars rapidly bailed behind, and stretched well round the curve of the road towards the city markets. The driver of the tank failed to respond to frantic signals of. the traffic officer, who eventually left his post to investigate. At last the obstructing vehicle got under way amid cheers, and a sinuous quarter of a mile of vehicles followed—the accumulation of a three minutes’ holdup We are not responsible for the weather, but we are for the 2s fid in the £ reduction on all Showroom Goods for trus month. A big saving, and on our usual low prices. Buy now. The Mosgiel Warehouse, A. F. Cheyne and C 0... Some suburban residents mourn the fact that the flow of water from the business end of the garden hose these summer mornings and evenings is not at all spectacular, and often little more than a trickle (says the Auckland Star). One Mount Eden householder arose early on a recent morning. The pressure of water that was on occasioned him much pleasure, and the work of hosing the garden thoroughly was done expeditiously. It was later ho learned that the special pressure available was due to a big fire some distance away. Being of a charitable disposition, he does not hope that big fires will occur frequently, but he does wish for a more liberal water supplv to save arms that ache when supporting watering cans to be filled, or holding a hose for an inordinate length of time. They grew in beauty side by side. Two pigs of high degree; But now they’re hams and bacon dried In Hitchon’s factory...