NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20782, 30 July 1929, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Small shoals of whitebait arc commencing to make their. Way up the Grey River (states an exchange). About a pint was "6™“, recently, hut it is not expected that the supply will be in any way equal to the demand until next’ month. Much depends upon the weather. • The Secretary of the Treasury acknowledges the receipt of the following amounts forwarded by persons unknown to the New Zealand Government as conscience money:—ss sent through the High Commissioner, London; £5 sent to the General Post Office; £4 ;and 2a sent to the Railways Department. "t -.' - Sample overcoat ' sale’ is attracting crowos of buyers at the “ Ascot " corner Princes and Rattray streets. Coats are reduced. Some are even : selling •at 355. Navy velours 4Se.od. You can sa Y, e from .£I-to £2-onyoUr overcoat.... Some ’ person’ with a grudge against motorist's sprinkled a large number of s “ a rp nails about an inch and a-half long at the two corners of Cranmer square leading from Armagh street one night last week (states the, Christchurch Press), but they were unlikely to result in a crop .-of punctures, as they were not dangerous to ihotor'.'tyres lying oh the flat macadam surface'. ; > T^ere. is an old.saying tliat “It’s an ill 1T ID ttt a * blows no one good ” (recounts the Wanganui Chronicle). Still, that would not be much Consolation to a grower ot violets on a suburban farmlet, for dur•mg the, recent heavy rain he had - the niistortline to have a,large area of violets ™ tun bloom so battered by the rainfall thot his crop of flowers was - ruined: Turnbull s Sample Rooms, Middlemarch, Tuesday, LVednesday, Friday, and Saturday, this week, A. F. Cheyne and Co.’s Big Winter. Sale, £IOOO worth of savings. Call early. Now Goods arriving daily:— The Mosgiel Warehouse, A. F. Cheyne and C 0... -V ! .

: According to the Northern ’ Advocate, an Australian company, has • purchased acres of gum country in the vicinity of . Alaropm railway station, 113 miles from Dargaville.' The. company intends planting pinus insignia at the rate of 1500 acres per annum, but this year it will confine its operations to : ,the propagation of seed in the nursery." v ■ • ■ , _ A lesson in brevity was given to; the Takapuna Borough Council recently (states aii exchange), ‘When a ratepayer; wrote asking for the formation-of a footway to her property in Northboro’ road. “ Will you put a pathway: to my gate? It is all bog-hole. I want it done at once,” stated the letter. It was ■ agreed-to spend £3 on- the work. : ; ; - .

. ■ ,Charmihg Cofrelettes, quick and easy to put on, .so light, in weight that they support the figure'with such ease that you arc of their presence;; plain and- floral .Contillc. '. Reduced prices, 4s lljl. aiid 8s 8d: also with supporting inner 0-11,11? 6d,—T. Ross,-130 Princes street.; . An Orepuki correspondent,' writing -to tlie Southland Times, states as" follows: “It "may interest you to know that a trapper found, on going round’ his traps oiie morning, in '-one of ‘ them. a small 1 animal 'resembling; a weasel, only it was pure 'ivhite-’ih colour, except for the , tip, of its tail, which was. black. The animal is too small’ for a polecat or wild! ferret, the fur of 1 which is generally yellow or.' white, with black tips. _ ;The .only thing I can liken it tb'is a white weafeeh’ I have the skin in ; my possession.” The. damage, caused by deer in. districts close to settled areas was commented on by. Mr C. H. : Clinkard ‘ (Rotorua) in the House of Representatives. ■ Mr Clinkard said: that. deer .itere pests when they encroached on. settled areas, and he hoped that while -tourist’ '-resorts would not be overlooked.the deer would' nbt,be "allowed to increase to, such an extent as to drive people off their holdings. ■ Pure. Linen Forfar Tea Towelling, the sort. that mother used to buy, is a Mail Order Special from Gray’s in Milton, oneshilling and fourpence per yard, post free -Equality and value...

■ “ Potatoes, for the ‘period ;of the year, have their - highest - market value since 1023, when abnormal prices were, due to heavy floods in’the South Island,” stated a Wanganui business man last week. ’ The present, ..increase iri .price is ; attributed to a combination of causes,, chief of which are a general shortage caused through heavy rains preventing the ’ farmers from marketing their-crops and the possibility of the Australian embargo being lifted, “ Don’t move my pillow, dear! ” she murmured drowsily. “Why! I’m not touching your pillow! ” said-he, without bothering to open his. eyes. ‘ When, they woke In the morning they discovered,their eiderdown had been removed from their bed, and then they began to wonder whether the thief had been interrupted in bis search for: watches beneath their pillows. A Taranaki News reporter was told recently that this was'a true account of an experience that befel two residents of Fitzroy recently, •, „ , ■ "Farmers, —We may hot be the cheapest in the market for Horse and Cow Covers, but we aiin to give you the best possible value for your money. Horse Covers from 325. Cow Covers from 16e pd.—The Otago Farmers.”.. Some time ago ‘ Mrs Walter Scott, of Karangarua, South Westland, rescued Miss Wilson from drowning by plunging into one of the treacherous South Westland rivers when it was in high flood. Her action was represented by Mr Michel, M.L.C., one of' the Royal Humane Society’s representatives on the West Coast, and the council has decided to award her, a certificate of merit for her'plucky action. Intimation has been received that the certificate has been forwarded to South Westland to be presented to Mrs Scott as soon as a favourable opportunity offers itself.

The proximity of a number of beaches has had its. effect at the Takapuna Grammar School (says the Auckland Star). Already the school has created a record for all-round swimming efficiency that is unequalled in New Zealand. In a roll of 422 boys and girls, 318 have obtained certificates 'under the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, for learners (50 yards), proficiency (22D yards), and merit (880 yards). Also, 20 boys have received medallions from ' the Royal Life Saving Society, and threp Lave gained instructors’ certificates. Some amusement was caused at the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Conference recently, when a remit to the effect that the Upper House should be reduced to 20 members, and that it should be elected by the people, was moved (says the Dominion). A delegate, quite ' serious in mien, rose to move as an amendment that the. matter be deferred until the Country Party came into power. There was' a good deal of laughter,-and the mover was left standing. He insisted on his amendment, but the chairman (Mr R. D. Duxfield) ended the incident by ruling that he would not take it. i

A very bright remark was. made in the House by Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) at the expense of the Minister of' Health (Mr A. J. Stalhvorthy), whose prohibition principles are well known. ' “ the Minister of Health,” he said, “for whom I have the greatest respect. He was in my" district, and we had a very enjoyable time together—l needn’t say anything more’ about that.” The significance with which Mr Samuel made the last remark sent the House into roars of laughter.

AMad received an unexpected ducking at •i’ort Ahuriri the other morning (states the Daily Telegraph), when, he overbalanced standing close to the edge of the Iron Pot, leaning on" his bicycle and complete with his vehicle and a parcel of meat,.the property of his employer; Mr. Arthur Martini took a header into the chilly waters. He was rescued from his predicament by Mr Keith Johnstone, a member of ‘the Napier Harbour Board pilot staff, who Stretched out over the water and offered him a leg, which was speedily taken advantage of. Others then helped Mr Johnstone and the lad on to the quay. The bicycle was'recovered later after' dragging operations. ■ Compare these values: Doctor flannels, navy or Shetland, men’s size only, 6s 6d; striped towels, guaranteed fast to,washing, 20 by 40, per pair 2s 6d, 24,by . 46' per pair 4a 6d: posted anywhere’for casn. —Kilroy and Sutherland, Ltd., 'lO2 Princes street, DUnedin...

The sea leopard which was found on the beach in Evans Bay recently, is making good progress in the Wellington Zoo, and already, a big improvement is noticeable in its condition (says (he Auckland Herald). '.-It has shown no sign of injury or sickness, and is taking a little \ food. - Just for the time being it is kept , in an enclosure on dry land, until it is feeding normally, for, as Mr J. J.;Lan;;ridge, curator of the zoo, explains, if in were put in with the sea lions at present the; other o cup ants of the pool would give it no chance at meal time.

Dark night, and a rising-gate! “ What’s the time? Mustn’t miss that last car." Then is.the time when you’re going to appreciate ; the possession of a good luminousdial ‘watch. They can be obtained from Lqidlaw and Gray’s, in ■ both white an,d black face, for the small sums of 6s 6d or Js 6d, respectively, postage free, with ■white metal case and metal chain.—At Laidiaw and Gray’s... Any attempt to balance the Dominion’s Budget by increasing taxation is not viewed favourably by Sir H. S. E. Tut- ; ner, vice r president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Addressing members of the Canterbury Advertising Club, ' he said he. preferred the obvious alterna-tive-cutting down overhead expenditure. This was the view taken by the chamber in its_ bulletin just issued on the subject, he said. _ It was simply the method any saile business house would adopt if it found itself in a position similar to the . Government’s. The Prime Minister; however, seemed to incline to the, other. method, ; and it. was a question which would have to be further considered by tlic Chamber' of Commerce. , First-class Accommodation at Prince of Wales Hotel, Dunedin. * Moderate tariff. .Best- liquors always in stock.—C; Hinchcliffe...

Mr _ Tupafcihi Potaka, of Mangaweka, who is at present-the guest of Mr H. Takarangi, ' Putiki, told a Wanganui Chronicle, reporter, recently that about . 11 months ago lie saw six hufas. in the' Mangaweka district. He is certain of t)ie identity of the birds. . Mr Potaka is an expert at imitating the Huia whistle, and. he says‘that in the .colder months .of the year he can bring the birds down very, close, thus being able to recognise them easily. -He has . not the slightest doubt about the existence of huias in-the district named."

Weissman’s pile cones are guaranteed to relieve sore, itchy,, and irritating!piles; 2s 6d box, 2s ■9d posted.-—Only from Conn s • Grand Pharmacy, High Dunedin...';

In a letter to old boys of Nelson Col-, lege, acknowledging their- messages of sympathy with the college in connection with the earthquake damage, Mr.-C. i±. Broad, the -principal, sajß:— ‘ 1 know you will all be pleased to hear that the damage was nol£so great as .was at. first expected. So"-far no reports, by -experts are to hand, 1 ’ but I gather tko main damage is to the tower and the buildi-.i;' on either side' of the tower. The eastern and western wings, the assembly hall block, the dining room, and the kitchen are ap? patently .sound. What has increased our difficulties ■ enormously since the earthquake has been the weather.- ,We have had almost, incessant rain for three weeks. We have much, however, to be thankful for.” *

The reliability- of Barton’s sugar-cured hams and; bacon and pork smallgooda is universally N acknowledged.—Manse street and all branches.. . >

. _ The', unusual spectacle of herrings .by • the ton was witnessed at Devonport when the water was let out of the Calliope’ Dock after - the docking of the. ferry Steamer Torqa {’states the Auckland Star): Driven in, .evidently} by some larger fish, a shoal of herrings had, ou the rernoval of the water, been left stranded. Workmen at. the. dopk estimate that the catch weighed between four and-five tons. _They were there for the taking, a Quivering silvery mass of small fish, covering the floor of the dock for a distance of between 40ft and 50ft from the ’ Shovelled into baskets and ; hauled'to’the land Ivel by means of a smajl’ crane, many 'of the herrings . were distributed “ without money - and. withput? price,” after which the quantity 'remaining was placed in. a pit dug by trainees- from H.M.S. Philomel, there to decompose, and later to be used to fertilise the native trees and shrubs which have, been planted this.-year near the dock. -

The body, flavour; colour, and aroma found in the " Bourbon ” brand of coffee and chicory is the result of “quality” coffee plus expert blending and roastug. Insist on “ Bourbon ” (or bteakfast! An, epidemic of "chain-letters” has been raging in New Plymouth for some weeks. It is alleged they were started by ah' American officer, and that unless each recipient posts copies to four friends dire misfortunes will-follow.- Curiosity has led most people to throw the paper ■ iii the fire and await the coming of the genii. They are still waiting! It majt be that the ‘correct incantations did,not 'accompany the fluttering ash up the chim-. hey;' 1 or-that ;■ the fire-eating spirits of Arabian Nights fame are not obliging as they used to be. At any rate, the nearest approach, t 0 a calamity that has so far befallen an addressee was reported ■- the other day. He was a thrifty man, and he bad ,to pay dearlv for the pleasure of destroying his letter. The envelope bore a halfpenny stamp, and he was mulcted in a fine- of one -penny! i 'Country’ Storekeepers.—Handle the fammis, .acknowledged best,-smallgoods in tlie. South Island, and increase your, turnover; liberal ■ margin.—Barton’s, Manse, street.., . - -. Chinese, Maoris, and Europeans (states the. Daily Telegraph) formed,quite an mi--usual ■ assembly of interested and -curious spectators in the body of the Daunevifkn Courtroom during the hearing of « civil ' action wherein a Chinese market gartlenewas plaintiff and a Maori female and a , European male were the defendants, -’u was a Tare fixture of .the races. The proceedings were slow and tedious as the evidence of the plaintiff, who was in the box up _ till the luncheon’ adjournment, had to be given through the aid- of an interpreter. Celestials and Maoris appeared 10-take an intelligent Interest in the evidence judging by the smiles which : -. overcame their countenances at the answers of the plaintiff. 1 .Grandism (775): Whether you live in col ? n L ry > Z m are of prompt attention at the Grand Hotel home supply department... _“Do^ you consider that the children are being forced , through the primary schools under too big a strain? ” was a qiflestion put to the director of the division of school hygiene (Dr A. J. Paterson) by the chairman of the Southland Education ?r o fi ar - < i* I would not like to express a definite opinion as far as the . primary schools are concerned,” replied Dr Paterson, but I am, quite satisfied that secondap- school pupils are being subjected to far too much strain. Manv pupils do over three hours'- study each day. outside of the actual school hours, S&i TfV der that ., thl ? is-affecting the health of these pupils in ■no small meaOiriSaturdays when we’ve finished work lo the sports wounds we-repair: borne to Hitehon’e bacon,’ ■ 1 ■ its first-rate holiday fare...