NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF.

A thing that greatly impresses the visitor to Sydney, according to New Zealanders who have just returned from Australia, is the number of men—-men who have obviously known better times—who are about the streets practically begging °A good New Year resolution! Coffee for breakfast every morning! And those who order the “ Bourbon brand from their grocer get pleasure and satistaction the whole year through... By collecting cocksfoot seed from areas of waste land near Auckland, 88 unemployed men have secured work during the past two or three weeks. ' A ready market has been found with exporting merchants, £IOO having been earned by selling the seed at the market price of fid a U). The men earned approximately 14s a day. Gray’s summer sale is now in niu swing. All summer has been heavily reduced in price. Milton buyers will take advantage of this money saving opportunity... „ . , . Two Wanganui anglers who fashed in the upper Mangawhero and other streams in the vicinity of Raetihi recently took 53 trout in four and a-half days. The fish were in good condition, and better than those being caught at Taupo this season. The anglers were enthusiastic about the sport to be found near Raetihi in comparison with that at the lake. Because their performance and reliability are taking motorists in all parts of the country by storm, do not neglect vour opportunity to investigate the claims of India Super Tyres. Look for the Red Ring, Agents: The Otago Farmers,. / Owing to the recent continuous rain and the backing up of the water against the dam in the Mangamahoe River, which has just been completed for the borough of Now Plymouth, the hydro-electric system has'been accomplished in very short time. The dam, which is more than 70 feet ' high, and stretches across a wide valley, has been under construction during the last 20 months. . We are selling Penfold’s port wine at 4s per bottle, house whisky 11s, pints 6s; cash with order. Prince of Wales Hotel. C. Hinchcliff, proprietor... An unusual sight is reported by two anglers who were fishing on the Wyndham River recently. They state that they saw a seagull flying down stream with a young eel about 12 inches long in its beak. As the victim was wriggling it is surmised that it had just been taken from the water. Grandism (1238): Love is like a bazaar, the admittance is free, but it costs something before you get out. —At the Grand, the best value for your money... , With so much talk .about the ravages of golden scale among exotic tree's, people who want to plant do not know what to do (remarks the Christchurch Times). The curator of the Botanical Gardens (Mr James Young), who is responsible for much of the present beauty of Christchurch, talking to a reporter on the subject said he would strongly advise people to plant Turkey oaks. Pointing to a very fine specimen near the potting sheds, not far from tiie palm house, he said the Turkey oak was immune. It was all very well, he said, talking about dealing with things that attacked trees, but it was common sense to plant trees that were immune, and the Turkey oak waa in that category.

A bystander on the pavement in Queen street Auckland, recently, at the height of a heavy rain shower, saw the top of \ the sewer near Fort street come off and, realising the possible danger to a vehicle passing over the hole, decided to telephone the police. From there he was politely referred to the City Council. The city officials in their turn could do nothing, but thought that the traffic department might be able to help. He made a third ring, and he was asked to make another, whereupon he gave the quest up in disgust, and returned to the scene just in time to see a motor car run one wheel into the gap. ' - .. - Among the unlucky people of the city of Christchurch Mr Koy Smith, hardware salesman, takes a prominent place. It is his habit to. carry his wares in a handbag on his bicycle, and, one afternoon last week, he left his bicycle outside a city shop for a few minutes. When he came out the handbag, containing .valuable tools, had been stolen. Two days later he left about £lO worth of tools on his bicycle outside a shop, and when he came, out bicycle and all bad vanished. Harlow Rothert, one of the American athletes who appeared in Masterton recently, is a star member of a football club in his own country. In converse-. tiou with an Age representative, Rothert said that he was very keen to learn more j about Rugby. “Over home,” he said, “we play a tough game, with every man endeavouring to put the other man out. The tackier endeavours to dump his man hard. In turn, the player with the ball endeavours to run hard and damage the tackier. -It’s sure a hard game.” Barton’s, butchers. Manse street, Rattray street, and Octagon, for the finest sugar-cured hams and bacon and smallgoods:.. . 4< Champagne is seldom seen on a dinner table in S3 r dney these days/* said Mr J. C. Hardley, of Auckland, who returned from Australia by the Maunganui. “Things are very hard over there, and the visitor ■is particularly struck with the slackness in the hotel trade. Places which in normal times have 150 guests are lucky now to have 25,” he said. Mr Hardley, who was accompanied by his wife, spent several weeks on holiday in Sydney. . . . Oarsmen at the Wanganui Rowing Association’s anniversary regatta recently were at times literally rowing among logs. All through, the day they were rowing among the driftwood that was brought down by the flooded Wanganui, and in the Junior Single Sculls the en* trants were turning in their seats to steer in and out of the wood. At the end of the day the wood cleared somewhat, but clinker boats were used in all races except the Senior Fours. . ' Then® are 365 days in the year, but it had to be like this on Anniversary Day. It is the worst luck we have had fc~ years, was how one oarsmen of long experience described the position, “School Outfits” Week at the Mosgiel Warehouse. See special window displays, all at sale prices. Free pencils or rulers with all school togs. Over 49 years’ service.—A. F., Cheyne and C 0... Two more spurious Bank of Australasia £1 notes were detected in Auckland last week. It is believed that a few of the forged notes circulated in the city on the afternoon of' December 24 are still about, but that all will in time reach the banks. One of the notes on Monday was discovered by a clerk at the Auckland Railway Station when he was checking the takings of the previous day. iho number of the note was 885114. in.® second note was detected by a clerk in the Bank qf New Zealand. Officials do not believe that there is, another tempt being made to pass the counterfeit notes by those responsible on Christmas Eve.

Special offer of sports coats, usually sold an 35s 6d, reduced to 22s 6d; flannel trousers now 15s 6d; white tenins refunded if not suitable. —The Ascot,, corner Princes and Rattray streets... . It is. not often that more than_ six runs are scored from one delivery in a cricket match, but a schoolboy in- a match in a northern town recently made seven in one hit. He opened me shoulders to a ball and drove it past the bowler to the far end of the field. _ The ball was returned wide of _ the wicket as the batsmen sneaked a third run, and the bowler burled it at the stumps. He missed narrowly, and the ball went to the boundary for an additional'four runs. By virtue of the success accompanying the maiden flight to test the airworthiness of the glider constructed in Palmerston North by its members (says the Manawatu Times)., the Manawatu Glider Club recently earned the distinction .of being the first body of its kind in New Zealand to fly its own aeroplane successfully and make a satisfactory landing without damaging the frail fnachme. _ The craft rose 10 to 12 feet in the air after the rope was released. A short flight, probably about 25 feet, was achieved. Men’s working shirts.' sizes 14} to 17, striped “Tiger Twist’ or, plain grey “ Oliver Twist,”, 7s lid. Khaki Veldt, 1 8s 6d. Posted anywhere for cash.— Kilroy and Sutherland, Ltd., 192 Princes street,-Dunedin... . . ' Gardeners are familiar with the fact that- plants flourish only when certain bheteria are present in the soil, and that clovers, lupins, peas and related plants have a special faculty of increasing the supply of these bacteria.- Forestry experts have found that trees require the presence of fungi at their roots, and a special branch, the forest mycology section, has lately been established at the plant research station at Palmerston North to study this matter. The work to be undertaken has become necessary owing to the dying of well-grown pines; it is supposed that the .mortality can be prevented by inoculating the soil where the fungi are not present. A striking contrast in the manner la which unemployed men react to endeavours to assist them was mentioned to - a Marlborough Express reporter recently. In the first case a man was offered a day’s -work, and he arrived at 20 minutes past 8. On being told that he was 20 minutes late, he retorted: “ Well, it took me 20 minutes to walk here. I will knock off’ at 20 minutes to 5, too, so that 111 be home at 5.” “No, you wont,’ said his would-be employer; “you’ll go home now.” In the second case the worker put in an appearance at 10 minutes to 8, and before the whistle went had managed to put through a job-for an important client of the firm which was employing him. „ ~, T j- » Sale of Corsets and Corselettes. Ladies flesh-coloured contille sports corsets, elastic waist, back fastening, 4 suspenders, unbreakable spiral steels, 7s 6d and 8s 6d goods for 4s lid, all sizes;.floral contille corselettes, 4 suspenders, sizes 321 to 40, eale price 4s lid, were 7s 6d. T. Ross, 130 Princes street... Of small stature, a man charged at the Wanganui Police Station last week with theft, was found to be wearing trousers which were several sizes too big for him at the waist. The difficulty of adjust-, ing the length of the trousers to suit the length of leg had been met by the use of scissors. Included in the accused s “property” was a Highland costume which was obviously made for a person of considerably bigger build. Whether the accused intended to adopt the same method with the kilt as had been employed in “ fitting ”, the trousers was not ascertained, but necessity demanded that some means of shortening would have to be found in order to enable the man_ t(> wear the clothes without creating the impression that long skirts for men were being encouraged. _ During the past few weeks Wellington magistrates have had to deal with several boys, who have been committing mischief with firearms (states the Dominion). The cases which have mainly been the outcome of escapades with air rifles, will serve as a warning to parents who might feel inclined to buy “toys” of this type for their children. Children under 16 years of age cannot lawfully be sold or supplied with firearms, including air guns. Under the Police Offences Act, however, . shopkeepers cannot be held liable when parents buy air guns for their children.' Young boys, getting possession through their parents, are .sometimes tempted to fire at windows or at other boys, with the result that they suffer x the ignominy of having to appear at the Children’s Court. The magistrate in such a case has no alternative but to confiscate the weapon. If parents realised that no cnild under 16 years of age is allowed to' have even an aii;gHP which fires pellets, a great deal of trouble would be avoided. Now when you re feeling out of sorts, Just cheer up, dear old man, And take my tip for ever more. And live on Hitchon’s ham..,.