NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20330, 11 February 1928, Page 24

NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Wanganui City Council has decided that in future no building permits will be issued until the drainage (and gas if required) have been laid (states the Chronicle), and that wherever practicable all the services shall be laid in one cut, thereby reducing to a minimum the disturbance of street surfaces. The first tandem cyclte seen in Blenheim for many years (says the Express) was ridden through town the other morning by two young men who have apparently adopted this machine as a novel mode of transport on holiday tours. Barton and Trengrove want Pigs to supply the enormous demand for their famous sugar-cured Bacon. Highest price for cash.—Manse street, Dunedin... Southland’s recuperative powers are remarkable (says the News). While the man on the land was deploring the lateness of spring and early summer chiefly on the score that it would mean a late harvest, the reaper and binder is already busy in various districts. At Fairlight, Eyre Creek, and Five Rivers a quantity of ’grain is already in stock, and some of the crops are heavy. Hotel bookings in Timaru for the remainder of toe summer months are fairly heavy (states the Herald). Spoken to this week, several hotel proprietors stated that the bookings were well up to those of previous years. It is apparent that the attractions of Timaru as a holiday resort are now widely known, and are being taken advantage of by ever-increas-ing numbers of people. Hats for Men, usually sold at 25s 6d and 29s 6d, have been all reduced to 17s 6d for this week only. See our window and pick your hat. All Shapes, Shades, and Sizes. At the “ Ascot.” corner Princes and Rattray streets... That there is splendid grazing in the high country around Lake Wakatipu was evidenced by a fine lot of lambs that crowded the upper deck of the Earnslaw on her run from Queenstown to Kingston on Tuesday (says an exchange). One resenting removal 'from its native hills jumped into the lake, but after a brief swim was captured and safely hauled on deck. “ She is a very clever little girl: I wish to goodness we bad adults who could give their evidence as concisely as this,” remarked the coroner (Mr E. S. Lewey, S.M.), during the evidence of a girl aged nine years, at an inquest in Gisborne recently. A novel idea as to how much money could be saved in hardware and furnishings was devised by a young Dunedin couple. They selected two well-known home-furnishing establishments, and decided that, comparing quality with price, they would buy where the saving was biggest. The shillings thus saved were recorded, and it is significant to note that they not only saved nearly £l9. bu bought mostly from the one shop—LaidJaw and Gray’s, Ltd... “ I would like to see an effort made to have the insurance rates in Gore reduced”, remarked the Mayor (Mr D. M'Dougall), at the annual reunion of the fire brigade (relates the Southland Times). “I am sure.” he added, “that the efficiency of our brigade warrants it.” The statement was received with applause. The havoc caused amongst trout by the deadly shag is evidenced on the banks of the Tuki Tuki River, Waipukurau, where the remains of both rainbow and brown trout may be seen on the shingle, (says the Napier Telegraph). The lowness of the water just now greatly assists the feathered marauder in his work. The best mowers are the Johnston—one or two-horse. Any trial. Stocks on hand. Mosgiel Motor and Engineering Company, agents for T. and S. Morrin and Fenwick... “It is the country children’s parents and not the children themselves who deserve these certificates,” said Mr A. W. Jones in the course of a discussion on attendance certificates at the annual meeting of the Southland School Committees’ Association this week (reports the News). “The way they send their children to school so regularly is very fine indeed,” he added. “ and the children should indeed be proud of the awards their parents have helped them so hard to gain.” _ A recent arrival from Auckland offered a novel explanation to Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the 'Wellington Magistrates’ Court the other afternoon when he was charged with leaving his car unlighted in the city (states the Post). “If you leave a car in a parking place in Auckland without lights, you are immune from the by-laws,” he said. Mr Salmon: “ That is so, but it different in Wellington. You will be fined 10s, and costs.” Your skin won’t age if you use Waters’ Vi-Oatta; 2s 6d posted.—Waters’ Pharmacy.. . The tendency of school children‘to sacrifice legibility for speed in handwriting was roundly condemned by a member of the Southland School Committees’ Association at toe annual meeting this week (states the News). “ The writing of some of toe children now is shocking,’’ he remarked. “ I never saw anything like it in my life. Some specimens I saw simply can’t be read.” One young lady he knew, wrote what she called a “ fluent hand ” and it was absolutely undecipherable. ‘‘ She is a High School girl, too,” he added. In welcoming the delegates to the conference of representatives of the public libraries of New Zealand, the Mayor of Christchurch (the Rev. J. K. Archer) said that Christchurch had been originally intended as a wholly English city, but he somehow thought that the Scots had got there first. “It must have been a Scotsman,” said Mr Archer, “ who selected for the city motto the words ‘ Britons, hold your own ’! ” H was suggested, however (says the Sun), that if the motto had come from a Scotsman it would have been instead, “ Britons, get hold of somebody else’s own ” ! Conn’s Effervescing Health Salts for adults and children. A blood purifier and liver stimulant. Obtainable only from Conn’s Grand Pharmacy, price Is 6d, posted Is 9d... On a recent evening nine motor cars were gathered on either side of ■ the railway line that crosses the main InvercargillRiverton road (says the Southland Times). Yet there was not an accident. The slow train was merely doing a bit of shunting and the engine had thoughtfully left a long line of trucks completely barring the road) The wig-wag signal performed its duty for the seven minutes that the motorists were held up, as if to add insult to injury. There is, however, an end to all things, and at, last the engine whistled and the train lumbered on. You’ll have no corns if you use “ Kornbane”; Is 2d posted.—rWaters’ Pharmacy... Many people are under the mistaken impression that the Navy League affords assistance to those in distress. The secretary of the Wellington branch (Mr R. Darroch) mentioned the subject at the monthly meeting of the league the other afternoon (states the Post), and stated that many appeals are received from people in distress. In a number of cases the league had been able to assist, but it could not be continually helping unfortunate people. “ We have no funds to give them,” added Mr Darroch, “ and this is certainly not a labour bureau.” Now that the embargo is on watering gardens and lawns by using a hose, a Wanganui ratepayer states that he has discovered a better idea of watering than by filling up a tank and then attaching a hose to it (says the Herald). He has a motor car, and he has also discovered that the car requires hosing down daily, so he just runs it on to a different part of toe lawn each day and lets the hose go. He states that he tuvris off the water each time he hears the firebell ring, and so he prides himself that he keeps within the regulations. Quality, Quality. Quality, Quality, Quality, Quality—all the time.—Barton and Trengrove. Manse street... Efforts are being revived to woo out the stain of illiteracy in Spain. The dictatorial Government of General Pnmo de Rivera has taken hold of the task and is preparing with help of experts and a national welfare society great reforms in this direction, while authorities and private societies are doing their utmost to follow in his steps. During the month of October six village schools were completed with the society’s assistance in the way of advances to the municipalities, making a total of altogether 114 elementary schools placed at the disposal of the nation with the society’s aid and affording accommodation for 17,750 children. The total amount advanced by the society is 7,500,000 pesetas—approximately £300,000. Other aid in the same direction is given by returning Spaniards, who, having emigrated to various countries, have returned wealthy to spend their declining years and amassed wealth in the old country. The phrase “ gone to pot ” is of Oriental origin. A tailor in Samarkand, ivho lived near a burial ground, kept count of the deaths by dropping a stone into a pot for every funeral that passed. When he died someone remarked that he had gone into the pot himself.

In the past six months 156 motor garages have been erected in Christchurch, according to the Christchurch City Council’s figures. A fairly high percentage of loss of gas is inevitable, according to Mr J. H. Upton, chairman of directors of the Auckland Gas Company, Limited (says the New Zealand Herald). Asked at the annual meeting as to the percentage of gas lost, he said the rate was too high, but it was impossible to lower it. In England the rate ran to 7 per cent, or 8 per cent., but in New Zealand the Amount of un-accounted-for gas was sometimes as high as 15 per cent. This was partly due to the climate. Every care was taken to obviate the loss, but the difficulty could not be completely overcome. 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 few years ago an enthusiastic resident of St. _ Andrew’s road, Epsom, promoted a petition which induced the Auckland City Council to plant the street with two rows of the red-flowering gum. Owing to various causes—changes in the road level, wind, disease, and the carelessness of drivers—many of the trees died, but many remain, end this year several are in flower (states the Star). They make & show that gives some idea of what the street will be like if the dream of the originator is ever realised, and there are unbroken rows of trees in brilliant flower right along its length. Save your eyes. Consult Peter 6. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0. (Loudon). optometrist. Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians, 490 Morav place (opp. City Hotel)... The difficulties attaching to the export of stone fruit from the Poverty Bay district were evidenced by the experience of a local grower this week (says the Herald). Thinking to take advantage of the sailing of the Kahika direct for Wellington, ho picked a ton of particularly fine nectarines. On communicating with the shipping com* pany, however, he found that he could not get his fruit to the lighter in time, it being necessary that cargo for shipment should be on the wharf practically 24 hourg before the sailing of toe vessel. As a /esult the fruit is now being sold in Gisborne at a price that is a great deal lower that what would have been obtained in Wellington, the local public receiving the benefit of the grower’s oversight. A nest of five British enamel saucepans, one pint to six-pint sizes, for 8s lid, at Gray’s Colossal Sale, Milton... For sheer brazen effrontery some motorists are hard to beat (remarks toe Thames Star). On Monday, on a narrow portion of toe Coast road, a car pulled up suddenly, compelling another behind it to do likewise. After some delay the owner of the first car found that his benzine tank wa« empty, and asked toe other car owner for enough to see him to the next pump. The obliging Thamesite let him have two large measures drawn from his tank by means of a rubber tube and making approximately half a gallon. Instead of expressing thanks or offering to pay for, the spirit, the motorist pressed sixpence into toe band of his benefactor, saying; “ Go and have a drink,” and drove off. Exceptional value: Flannel Unders, toe well-known Doctor Brand, in Shetland and navy, 6s 6d each; All-wool New Zealand Flannels —Shetland 6s lid, natural shade (unshrinkable) 8s lid, navy 9s 6d, posted anywhere for cash.—Kilroy and Sutherland, Ltd., 192 Princes street, Dunedin...

The principal source of the fresh which has been in evidence in the Wairau River during the past few days is toe Branch River, and it is evident that fairly heavy rain has fallen in the back country in which it rises, though drought conditions prevail on the Wairau Plain and in Blenheim (says the Express). Travellers along the new West Coast road this week report that the Branch, though not in high flood, was very much discoloured, though toe Wairau River above toe junction of the two streams remained clear. Thera was also a certain amount of discoloration about the waters of the Waihopai, another of the Wairau’s tributaries.

Stay at the Prince ot Wales Hirtel. Good accommodation; best brands of liquors. Thone 10-721.—C. Hinchcliff, proprietor... Whilst the majority of the townspeople are in favour of toe daylight saving movement, the country people and fanners maintain that it has not benefited them in any way (says toe Waikato Times). They have to get up earlier and gain nothing in the evening, as they have to wait until its cools down a bit in the afternoon before disturbing the cows to get them in to milk, and consequently get no more time to themselves in the evening. Farmers’ wives find it difficult in many cases to get their children away to school in time in the morning and to bed at night early enough to make up for toe loss of sleep in the morning. Most of them say “itis no good to us,” and many of them use much stronger language in condemning it. Just landed, another shipment of Cane Veranda Screens, Bft x Bft, complete with fittings. Free on rail. Send 7s 6d with order. —The Mosgiel Warehouse, A. F. Cheyne and C 0... An Invercargill resident who has returned from a tour of Central Otago has come back more than ever impressed not only with the fertility of Southland, but with the real beauty ox its landscape (states the News). In contrast to the seemingly endless succession of utterly barren mountains of rock round which train and motorist followed a devious path, the green, fields of Southland’s great plains, with the undulating, hilly country m the immediate background and the eternally Blue Mountains in the distance, appeal as balm in Gilead Its level and splendidly kept roads constitute it the motorists’ paradise and its seaside and inland attractions are unsurpassed. . , A cup of good coffee stimulates and vitalises the system. The “ Bourbon ” brand of Coffee and Chicory gives this result. Manufactured by A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin... . . “ A tunnel road to Lyttelton will take from the railway the freight we pay for* Lorries are taking most of the stuff north, south, east, and west, and we have to pay for the railway deficiency,” said a member of the General Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association the other afternoon (reports the Lyttelton Times). The remarks concerned a circmar letter from the Port and City Committee asking among other questions, whether a tunnel road was considered to be of general advantage to trade and commerce. The association decided to reply in the affirmative to this question, and to refer the list of minor queries to the Finance Committee. _ Pure Rubber Bathing Caps, gorgeous colourings, green, tangerine, blue, orange, red, mauve, at lid, Is 3d, Is lid, 2s 6d, 2s lid; Strong Rubber Diving Caps, 2s 6d; Children’s Rubber Paddlers, 2s lid; were 4s lid.—T. Ross, 130 Princes street.. The drought is not without its humorous aspects (remarks the Westport At Blackball, clothes lines were ngged up under the bridge on the Moonlight road which spans the Blackball Creek, the scene resembling - a laundry establishment on an extensive scale. Women were to be seen engaged at their washtubs on the oanks of the creek, while theif husbands and families carried supplies ot kindling wood to the copper fires and as. sisted in hanging out the week’s washing,the creek being also thronged with women and girls who were enjoying a dip in the cool water after their work was done. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Grey River noar the Blackball railway bridge, where laundry operations were also in full swing. Grandism (322)—The most wonderful city in the world is a boy’s eating capa. city. The Grand has been the leading Hotel in this city for over 40 years... The ant'es of a sparrow in pursuit of a crust of bread piovided some entertainment for passengers on one of the Devon, port ferry boats one recent morning (relates the Auckland Star) The bird had evidently found its treasure on the wharf, but new on to the boat to enjov the feed. When the neper deck began to fill with passen* vers, it hopped as far out of reach a« possible, but finally decided that it would be better to fly ashore. The position waa complicated by the fact that the crust was almost as big as the bird, and also that a stron- wind was Mow-ne. Thn-c •’d the soarrow attempt to get away with the mire, mu ea:M t.me the c t !°il on the deck Finally, when the boat vas well under wav, the bird decided that rha cru s t was not worth struggling for, and, after two or three hasty necks, he deserted it and flew back to land. He once was skinny as a railing, He couldn’t sleep at night. Now he eats Kitchen’s—nothing’s ailing. He’s always rosy and bright...