NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 20

NEWS IN BRIEF.

“ Some real effort should be made now, before it is too late, to conserve native, bush areas situated m the neighbourliooci of mam highways and tourist routes,” remarked Mr John Mason, M.P., at a recent meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. •• Auckland possesses a unique feature in its volcanic cones, which are a source of great interest to visitors,’’ said Mr G. M. Fowlds, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Tourist League last week (states the New Zealand Herald). A resolution was passed expressing the hope that every effort would bo made to preserve the hills in their natural state. We simplify your Xmas shopping. Inspect our range of seasonable gifts. Special attention to country inquiries.— Conn’s Grand Pharmacy... “ 1 feel that the Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Loan Act will be of great service to the Napier district* as it is going to enable the Harbour Board to carry out some of the recommendations of the Royal Commission. The provisions with regard to reclamation should prove of especial benefit to Napier,” said Mr J. Mason, M.P., at the last meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. It was decided at the last meeting or the Southland Motor Association to make no charge this year for the use of the motorists’ camp off Kelvin road (says the Times). Mr G. .Tapper reported that a new gate had been erected at the entrance to the area and stretches of the grass had been cut, gaving access to practically any part of the ground, "Water had been laid on and fir© places built in, while a ditch had been bridged. For Special Tours of Great Southern Lakes and Mount Cook, ring 13-444, \\ bite Star Tourist Services... The Wanganui Automobile Association for some months past has been making strenuous endeavours to h<a‘ve Pearaon signals installed at dangerous crossings in the city (states the Chronicle). “I would like to see at least one Pearson signal installed,” remarked Mr S. G. \\ hittall, when letters from the Wanganui City County and the Railways Department were 'received in connection with the matter at the last meeting. A woman combined the multifarious duties of captain, cook, mate and deckhand in the motor outboard race which was held by the Victoria Cruising Club the other afternoon off St. Mary’s Bay, the feminine invasion in this particular branch of acquatic sport ng regarded with keen interest (reports the Auckland Star) The particular type of light craft, which have a speed up to about 25 are operated by one person. The feminine skipper’s charge was more or less appropn ately named “The Darabox. The rougher the work, the more need for Waters “ Chap-Lotion," to keep .hands fit. 2s. —Waters’ Pharmacy... Always busy on Fridays, the retail shop ping centres of Auckland have presented an unusually animated appearance recently when Christmas buying, accelerating witn the approach of the holidays, has caused a stimulus to trade (states the Hera d) Business men are firm in the belief that the coming festival will reflect in the shopping it occasions the sounder values ruling this year for most primary produce. There was a crowded gallery at a recent meeting of the Christchurch City Council when the municipal market scheme was discussed, a large number of extra scats having to be provided (states the Lyttelton T ? imes). On several occasions the occupants of the gallery showed their approval of the sentiments expressed by councillors by applauding vigorousl^and the Mayor found it necessary . . any cxprcss.on of opinion bv the peoole in the gallery. y Tennis P players requiring smartly cut, white tennis trousers should forward their size and 12s od to the “ Ascot,” corner of Princes and Rattray streets, Dunedin. The trousers will be forwarded by return mail... these “There has been a number of thes »«.ar «. **V°E J & ©r i» toper inT fines of 2s 6d each and costs on a number of cyclists who caught r ing without lights ( f says " “prune by Traffic 5 Inspector 1 Scot? on Butene road on “v d offs“ S? ra 1 £ Gavs the Auckland Star’s corresupply fsay ttm Noyembcr a su m of spondent). HT o , ra t o 0 f Is per lb -EIOQ3B was paid at tne raio o amount mwinfactured wa. 1« ■ have been caught A T x w h ar f, near S; “roved d. r r.ll He plaved the fish for. a long while and it was finally brought to land getting down the steps and nettin D it. The fish was in splendid condition. -I Hull was fishing with rod and line. Christmas Gifts now obtainable in great variety at Laidlaw and Gray. Big Dolls and Toys for the girls, Meccano-and Wirefess Sets for the boys, Dainty Handbags and other beautiful articles for Shaving Outfits, etc., _ for dad. _ Rather Christmas has now arrived, bringing gifts for all boys and girls accompanied by father or mother. Come and see him at the big store. —Laidlaw and Gray, Rattray street * • The mentality of the bicycle thief Passes comprehension (remarks the Southland Times). Taking a stroll recently along a little-used path in Thomson’s Bush, an Invercargill resident caught a glint of metal in some thick undergrowth. Investigation revealed 'a bicycle, which had apparently been lying there for several weeks, so that although evidently near y new when left there, it was now badly rusted. On the find being reported to tho police the owner was speedily found, but the question is, what was the thief s object in leaving it there. Keep the flies outside, where they belong. Get a reliable Meat Safe from James Gray and Sons’ Big Store, Milton.. The sagacity of dogs and horses is often reported, but members o£_ the cat family ar Q seldom classed in this category (remarks the Poverty Bay Herald). An Otqrohanga resident, who has been recovering from a lengthy illness, has been in the habit of sitting in tho sunshine on hi? back verandah, and was annoyed to notice that flocks of blackbirds were destroying the results of his labours in the vegetable garden. Armed with a pea-rifle, the resident picked off the birds as fast as they settled on tho garden, and the spoils were retrieved by the family cat. _ Never did the cat fail to retrieve a bird, and on no occasion did it leave tho verandah until the rifle had been fired. Your Holiday? Motor Tour through Otira Gorge, Franz Joseph Glacier, Buller Gorge, Marble Mountains, Pelorous River, Hanmer Springs. Car leaves Dunedin 24th December. Ring 13-444, White Star Tourist Services... ' Unemployment relief work, by creating fresh areas of grass and garden plots, has added greatly to the cost of upkeep of gardens by the Christchurch City Council. “ With (he funds and the amount of labour available, it is impossible now to keep the gardens and parks in perfect order, 1 “ remarked the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, Mr J. Young, to a Sun reporter. “ Tho work has doubled in_ the past four or five years. Parks which in the past few years have come into_ being, and which require constant attention, are St. James, Barrington, Elmwood, and Opawa, and the Spreydon Domain.” Stay at tho Prince of Wales Hotel. Good accommodation; best brands of liquors. ’Phone 10-721.—-C. Hiuchcliff proprietor... St, James’s Church. Pcntonville, built in 1788 on a steep hill, is in such a condition, according to the vicar, the Rev. Robert Foulkes. 'that it is in danger of collapsing. “ Partieulary dangerous is the condition of tho north wall,” he says. This wall may come down at any moment.” Seven years ago, said Mr Foulkes, buttresses were erected to support the building. The columns. supporting the west gallery were found to be 2in out of the perpendicular, and the wall was pulling the gallery down. Services were continued in tho church for five years, but it was then closed in view of the risk to life. St. James's Church was founded by a number of families, one of which was that, of Mr Teuton. M.P. for Winchester, after whom Penlonville was named.

There are now about 650,000 privately owned motor pars in England.

The Christchurch Returned Soldiers' As. sedation is not forgetting the many returned men who are inmates of such institutions as the Cashmere Sanatorium, Ranncrrlale Home, Manta] Hospital, and Queen Mary Hospital (Haunter) (report* the Sun). Visits ar e being made this week by the executive, which is distributing Christmas gifts. In addition, a Christmas cake is being given to each institution. The necessary funds were obtained from the proceeds of Sunday evening concerts, subsidised by the Benevolent Fund.

Exceptional value; Flannel Unders, the well-known Doctor Brand, in Shetland and navy, 6s 6d '"oh; All-wool New Zealand Flannels—Shetland 6s lid, natural shade (unshrinkable) 8s lid, navy 9s 6d. posted anywhere for cash. —Kiiroy and Sutherland. Ltd.. 192 Princes street, Dunedin.. .

“I was only once in a Police Court,” said Mr L. S. Amery, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to a Hastings audience on Friday (states the Hawke’s Bay Herald). “I was charged with clouting a man on the head for calling me a liar and putting it to the meeting. I was fined £2 and costs, and my grateful constituents took up a penny collection to pay the fine. It not’ only paid the fine, but provided me with a handsome gold watch.” “Was that at Wolverhampton?” asked a voice from the audience. “ Yes, at Wolverhampton,” answered Mr Amery, to the obvious satisfaction of the questioner. Low prices and high quality are an unusual combination, but this describes our leather suit and attache cases. Solid leather suit cases from 47s 6d; solid leather attache cases from 20s 6d.—Otago Farmers, Crawford street...

A tragedy was narrowly averted recently in the Rotorua Borough Council vard; happily it ended in sometning verv like comedy. A foraging expedition of three ducks struck the council’s bitumen pit and explored it, with the result that lik- the ladies and the bird lime in one of Harry Lauder’s songs, they stuck. Their owner located them at about 9 p.m., but found it impossible to release them without damage. They were made as comfortable as possible with ample food supplies. In the morning they were still there, together with three eggs, apparently little the worse for their experience. They had to bo cut out with an axe. The all too friendly mixture wa s removed with the aid of some methylated spirits and the loss of some feathers.

To Country Stores.—Barton and Trengrove allow libera) concessions for handling their famous smallgoods. Largest output in South Island.—Barton and Trengrove, Manse street, Dunedin. According to the New Zealand Smallholder a group of New Zealand enthusiast? has formed a syndicate to make a joint purchase of rare and grotesque cact.ua species from New Mexico. The precious plants are to bo landed at Auckland soma time in January. It is stated that cactus culture fs becoming popular in the North Island, the interest being stimulated by the fine collection in the gardens of the Bllerslies racecourse. They are appropriate occupants of rock gardens, jardinieres and tubs, and are likened to the camels of the desert, storing up water, which enables them to endure long droughts. Ladies —“ Vi-Oatta " is the best of all skin tonics. 2s (posted 2s 6d). —Waters’ Pharmacy, Dunedin... “ New Zealand is now getting old enough to grow out of the idea that the political State has a ' divine right ’ to dominate the whole arena of education,” said Canon H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King’s College, at the prize-giving ceremony recently, when stressing the need for freedom in education (says the New Zealand Herald).

“ State socialistic methods may be a temporary ‘ nursing mother ’ to a young country, but sooner or later the element of freedom and individuality must become expressed. Too much centralisation will only end first in standardising and then in killing -real culture.” 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, 4e lid, 5s lid, up to 16s 6d. —T. Ross, 130 Princes street...

The work of the South Canterbury Electric Power Board is proceeding satisfactorily. Owing to the increased demand in the Geralidine district, it has been found recessary to “ change over ” the mam feeder from 6000 to 11,000 volts, much sooner than anticipated (states the Press). This work is now practically finished. Pola erection on the Fairlie line is well advanced, and wire-stringing will comment* after the holidays. In Waimate County, the Craigmore line gang is at Holme Station, and on completion of this line, work in that county will be practically finished, leaving Mackenzie County the only place with work of any magnitude to be completed. Car leaving Dunedin for Te An.au and Manapouri, returning via Queenstown, departs Dunedin, January 3, has'vacancy two or three passengers. —Ring 13-444. Telegrams: “ Whitestar.”.. During a tour of Wanamakers’ building in Philadelphia, U.S.A., Mr and Mrs Tcneyclifft, of Gisborne, spent four hours in contemplation of the magnificent departments of the famous stores (says the Poverty Bay Herald). Under the guidance of the deputy-manager of the store, they were shown every detail of the _ activities proceeding within the groat building. They were especially impressed with the wonderful decorations, a feature of which comprised two great canvases by Michael Muakaosy the subjects being “ Christ before Pilate,” and •‘Christ on Calvary.’ The canvases were bought at heavy expense by the late founder of Wanamakers’, and now adorn the interior o( the great department store which bears his name. Just landed, ex Somerset,' a lull supply of new season’s Blue Mountain Jamaica. The finest Coffee grown on earth.—A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon. Dunedin... There is one body that appreciates the benefits to be derived from daylight saving, and the members of the Selwyn Plantation Board, which met this week, altered their arrangements in order to take advantage of summer time (says the Lyttelton Times). Members were discussing the date for the annual inspection of the board's plantations. . It had been proposed that the usual dates, March 7 and 8, be set down for this year. A Member: “We will be unable to derive any benefit daylight saving if these dates are fixed.” The Chairman (Mr W. Stewart): “We should certainly take advantage of daylight saving, as we should be able to have an extra hour for the inspection.” It was pointed out that daylight saving terminated on Sunday, March 6. It wa s eventually decided to hold the inspection February 25 and 24. . . , Among the many tempting delicacies tor Xmas James Gray and Sons, of Milton, have a nice, assortment of Peak Freens Biscuits... . One man in Christchurch is minus three good pennies at present, but he does not begrudge them very greatly, because they were taken from him in a very shrewd way (says the Sun). He had 4d in his overcoat pocket. He hung the overcoat behind a door, and thought that he would check the presence of his money if, necessary by hearing the jingle of the coins as the door swung open or shut. Everything worked well, and the money 'seemed safe. The time came for work to cease, and the tired business man put on his coat, and went forth into the night. He wished to buy a paper. He put his hand into the pocket to draw out two coppers. He drew out one copper and three nails I We are not responsible for the weather, but we are for the 2b 6d in the £ reduction on all Showroom Goods for this month. A big saving, and on our usual low prices. Buy now. The Mosgiel Warehouse, A. F. Cheyne and C 0... Senior Sergeant Mac Lean has a clever way of dealing with children in the court, and his ability to put the _ most nervous witness at his ease was particularly noticeable in a case heard in the Gisborne Police Court the other afternoon, evidence was given by a small boy who entered the box with a frightened look on his face (says the Herald). “ You have never been in the court before? ” asked- the Senior Sergeant. The boy replied that he had not. “Well,” continued the Senior Sergeant, “that gentleman is the magistrate, whom you must respect; that is his clerk, who will take down what you say; I anj vour burly policeman, and these gentlemen over here are the reporters, but your name won't appear in the paper. Now you will promise that everything you say will be nothing but the truth?” The tncrhtone.l look loft the boy's face immediately, and hn -ave his evidence clearly and concisely, without any further trac e of nervousness. Some like goose for Christmas, Some like hot roast lamb, Others like stuffed turkey— But I like Hitchon’s ham.. .