NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 18

NEWS IN BRIEF.

“I have always the impression that the man who has the Rugby hall-mark on him can pretty well be depended on in a tight corner,” said .the Prime Minister (Mr 6. W. Forbes) at the official opening of the commercial travellers' new building in Wellington the other day. , An indication of the number of men tramping the roads in the Ashburton County in search of work may bo gauged from the fact that' a county farmer on one day recently provided meals for nine swaggers. [ Gray's summer sale is now in full swing. All summer draperjr has been heavily reduced in price. Milton buyers will take advantage of this money saving opportunity... Soundings were taken in the Gisborne roadstead and entrance channel recently by the harbour master (Captain A. Carson) in order to ascertain whether the floor of the sea had risen as a result of the earthquake (states the Poverty Bay Herald). Investigations showed that no marine disturbance had occurredd locally, and the depth of water in the roadstead and channel had not been affected in any way. We are selling Penfold’s port wine at 4s per bottle, house whisky Us, pints 6s; cash with order. Prince of Wales Hotel. C. Hinchcliff, proprietor... A yield of 65 bushels of wheat to the acre in the Wakanui district, and one of 64 bushels per acre in the same district, were threshed last week (states the Ashburton Guardian), The sample, it is said, is an excellent one in each case, and the grain showed very little effect from the long dry spell. A considerable amount of prospecting for gold is going on in various parts or the Westland district (says a Greymouth correspondent of the Nelson Evening Mail). Many fancy places are being investigated in the hope of success, while old workings are being tested with more thorough methods than those used when the rich returns of the early days were obtained. No finds of any magnitude have so far been made.

Barton's, butchers, Manse street, Kattray street, and Octagon, for the finest sugar-cured hams and bacon and smallgoods... Several large schnapper and kawhai were caught by fishermen off the Pipitea wharf during the week-end (states the Wellington Dominion). The fact that there were large shoals of fish in the harbour could be gauged from the behaviour of several flocks of seagulls, which by their screaming and lightning-like darts into the water showed, that They were feasting to repletion. Tabasco! This is a liquid Red Pepper, a most piquant flavouring for food. A few drops in a glass of soda water make the perfect pick-me-up or dinner drink. A. Durie and Co.. 32 Octagon... Although good prices have been received up till recently for cattle entered for the Blenheim stock sales, for the past few sales none whatever has been penned (states the Express). At the sale last week, however, some 23 mixed-sex, good coloured calves, and seven guaranteed dairy cows were offered. Not a bid was received for any of the animals, and they were passed in. The walking stick which Charles I used on the way to the scaffold, and which he presented to Nathaniel Drake for his bravery at the sieges of Newark and Pontefract Castles, was sold for six guineas at Hornby Castle, England, recently on the last day of the sale of the property of the Duke of Leeds.

Travellers alongside Lake Ellesmere have wondered at the great number of black swans to be seen (states the Christchurch Times). For a large bird they are very prolific. A pair that has been for some time in Akaroa Harbour has this season a brood of six cygnets, and tno eight birds sailing along in single file and maintaining a regular distance apart alford a pretty sight. Two of the white swans had a brod of th»ee, but unfortunately the male bird killed them. It was reported at a recent meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society that prospects for the pheasant shooting season, which will open in July, are excellent, particularly in. Rodney County (which was closed* last year). In -many districts nearer Auckland the young birds are plentiful and strong on the wing, and prospects are bright around Henderson (says the Star). An allocation of 1350 young birds has been made for the coming season. These are three months old, and were bred at Pokeno and Franklin. Nearly 300 have already been liberated. Grandism (1258): Throughout New Zealand Grand House Whisky is praised for its excellence and its unrivalled suitability for healthy men, or for the invalid... An extremely interesting and rare exhibit at present on view in Messrs A. and W. Hamilton’s window in Esk street, Invercargill, is the snout of a sawfish i; captured off the coast of South America (states the Southland Times). The sawfish are related to the sharks, but the upper jaw ie produced to form a long, flattened beak, having a row of sharp teeth set in sockets at either edge. The saw of the exhibit in question looks a most formidable weapon of offence and one can readily visualise the sawfish using it to tear pieces of flesh off the body of its victim. ' The recent earthquake was responsible for the restoration of a good supply of fresh water in a _ creek which runs through the properties of Messrs J. D Grant and J. E. Haisman at Hexton (states the Poverty Bay Herald). Before the disturbance occurred the stream was practically dry, but after the earthquake it was discovered that the creek held a quantity of clear, running water, which was a foot deep in places. It is believed that the disturbance opened up small springs in the bed of the stream, and the underground source has since provided a good supply of water for stock and irrigation purposes. Ladies’ Intimate Lingerie, cheapest in the city: Rubber Knickers, net tops, 2s lid; trimmed silk lace, 4s lid; Southall s Towels, Is lid and 2s lid; Compressed ditto, 3s Hd; Menex Soluble Towels, 2s 3d, 2s 9d; Elastic Sanitary Belts, 2s lid. Securely parcelled and posted to any, address—T. Ross, 130 Princes street... When fire swept over 100 acres of scrub and bush at Te Aroha recently and invaded the reserve above Wilson street, fears of its spreading toward the Domain and the Morgantown end of the township caused the Mayor to order all borough employees and men from relief works to the scene. Helped by other volunteers, they checked the flames by r cutting a break alongside the bed of a stream. The lower slopes were saved, but the flames swept up the mountain. Late in the afternoon the wind changed, and the velocity of the fire was reduced, and although flames could he seen in the evening leaping from the heavy bush near the peaks, the danger was soon over. As was only to be expected when the peaceful atmosphere of the early morning was shattered at 'Mataura by the discordant note of the fire hell recently, tousled heads were thrust from windows and. questions were flung to passers-by who were hurrying to the scene of the outbreak (says the Mataura Ensign). Following the first alarm peal there were not a few who were privileged to witness a. man dash across the town bridge clad m a brightly hued dressing gown and trousers. Not until he had satisfied himself that a certain house of business in Bridge street was not the scene of -the fire did he saunter homewards, heeding not the mirth of his acquaintances. ■ * Lukewarmness in religion, and tepid Christianity, such as is seen in the world to-day, is nauseating in the sight of God,” said the Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop Averill). when preaching at St. Mary’s Church, Merivale, last Sunday morning. “It is ridiculous to look upon Christ merely as a religious enthusiast. He laid down great principles of me, not details, or rules of organisation. Another thing that is wrong with the Church is lack of proportion.” • Men’s working shirts, sizes 14J to 17, striped "Tiger Twist ” or plain grey “Oliver Twist,” 7e lid. Khaki Veldt, 8s 6d. Posted anywhere for cash.— Kilroy and Sutherland, Ltd., 192 Princes street, Dunedin... ■ Tlidre was a lighter rede to the gloom in the Hawke’s Bay earthquake zone Wring the first stage of the disaster. For example (observes the New Zealand! Herald), the day after the earthquake the general manager of railways (Mr H. H. Sterling) arrived at Hastings to sea about restoring rail. communication wxta the south. He was engaged iq a consultation wth the staton master when a railway ganger broke into the conversation and abruptly told him he had “ no time to listen to his arguments. _ standing round gaped in astonishment, but Mr Sterling was not in the least taken aback. He fully appreciated tM . fact that the ganger, too, aud a vital job to “ d Sehool 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... _ When the census is taken in Great Britain this year one of its most interesting phases will be the analysis of ttfa population of London. Already a£ visional analysis Las been made by Sir. Hubert Smith and his collaborators who are making a new survey of London life* They find that country folk no longer imitate Dick Whittington to the same exj tent as in former years, because whereas the country-born population of Londoni4o years ago was 1,300,000, to-day it is less than a million. There are 35,000 Russians, 31,000 Poles, 14,000 French, and 11.000 Italians in London as permanent residents. Apparently even Americans find! London congenial, for there _ar« nearly 10,000 of them among the city’s population. Special offer of sports coats, usually sold at 35s 6d. reduced to 22s Cd; flannel trousers, now 15s Cd; white tennis trousers) 12s 6d. Post anywhere. Money refunded if not suitable. —The Ascot, corner Princes and Rattray streets... Vast port developments at Southampton show that the' authorities are active in their efforts to make it the deep-sea passenger platform of Europe. The world’s largest floating dock, capable of lifting ships with a displacement of 60.000 tons, is to have an equal in the world’s largest graving dock, which will hold the new Cunard monster. Large areas are being reclaimed and the newdock extensions will provide over 15,000 feet of berthing space. Altogether the expenditure on dock and reclamation work will amount to £13,000,000. The enormous scale of the present operations may be gauged from the fact that 187 acres of muddy foreshore are being reclaimed, necessitating 3,500,000 tons .of material for filling, the whole area to be available for fao-. tones and other buildings within two years. Because their performance and reliability are taking motorists in all parts of the country by storm, do not neglect your opportunity to investigate the claims of India Super Tyres, Look for the Red Ring. Agents: The Otago Farmers.’.. “ Much complication in the work of the Church of England in the Pacific has arisen through the introduction of other people,” said the Bishop of Polynesia (the Right Rev. L. S. Kempthorne) the other evening, when addressing the congregation of St. Saviour’s Church, Sydenham (states the Christchurch Times), Missionary work was primariy carried out among the natives who formed the vast majority of the inhabitants of the different islands. To-day. however, the position- was different. In Fiji there were 70.000 Indians, as against 90,000 Fijians, while in Tahiti there were large numbers of Chinese. The former had come into the area in increasing numbers to supply labour for the plantations and .industries. The Chinese formed a large part of the population, and schools, solely for the instruction of Chinese children, had been built. The bulk of the Chinese and Indians were not Christians, and adhered to their old traditions, customs, and religion. The ploughman plods his weary way, Home again—he must not stay. For he’s expecting for his tea Some Hitchon’s bacon, good to see...