NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21361, 15 June 1931, Page 14

NEWS IN BRIEF

Seven cherry plum trees on St. John’s' Hill, Wanganui, believe (says the Chronicle) that spring has arrived, and are showing a fair amount of bloom. .The trees are not particularly sheltered, being even more exposed to the wind. Leaf is also following. When the matter was referred to a prominent . Wanganui nurseryman he told a reporter that it was on account of the long warm autumn, and then rain coming Men are wearing leather coats with al! round belts this winter. The “ Ascot" Outfitters, corner Princes-Rattray streets are showing the best value at £5 15s, and will post any size anywhere for cash... Several excellent flights were made by members of the New Zealand Model Aero and Gliding Club at Mangere, Auckland, recently. One member, Mr V. Pointoa, achieved a glide of more than 500 yards, and to avoid being carried into the Manukau Harbour, made a forced descent, i'he glider, the club’s Hawk machine, landed in a patch of mud bordering the shore; and had to be hauled to firm land. Mr •F. C. MacDonald also covered a distance of 500 yards in the Hawk machine. As an indication that there is a possibility that the depression is passing, the Christchurch Gas Company reports a record output of gas for Monday last, the amount sent out being- 1,760,000 cubic feet for the 24 hours. The output for the same day last year was 1,558,000 cubic feet. On a previous record in June, 1919, the delivery was 1,747,000 cubic feet. This was nearly beaten on August 12, 1929, when 1,745,000 cubic feet of gas was sent out.

Grandism (1355): When better wines or spirits can be bought, then the Grand Hotel will buy them. We do not sacrifice quality for price... For nearly 80 years the flagpole on Durie Hill, Wanganui, has signalled the arrival and departure of shipping to and from the port. For many years now the old signals have -not been needed, but they have been run up just the same. At a special meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board it was decided that the board could no longer pay for the upkeep. With reluctance the board let the old service go, several members remarking that as hoys they had timed their goings and comings by the signals on the old staff. Annual Winter Sale in full swing. Bigger selections and bigger values than ever. See windows. Call and look round; no ono asked to buy.—The Mosgiel Warehouse. A. F. Cheyne and Co.. “ A lot of business men have had to take cuts of much more than 10 per cent. — some of them 50 per cent, and more,” declared Mr K. W. Robinson at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board reports the Sun), when the Arbitration Court’s recent order was being discussed. Mr T. H. Butterfield; “A good many have not been affected at all. They have more to say than anyone else, and they have never been hurt.” Mr E. H. Andrews: “There are not many of them.”

The cargo handled inwards and outwards at the port of Wanganui during the first four months of this year totalled 54,992 tons (reports the Wanganui Chronicle), compared with 81,976 tone at New Plymouth, 51,804 tons at Nelson, 48,394 tons at Napier, 43,361 tons at Bluff, and 38,252 tons at Timaru. Even Albert Park, Auckland, waa frozen last. Monday. It was one of those occasions when places usually frost-free were frozen, and the southern suburbs were white to the house tops (says the Star). For miles and miles it was a winter panorama, and the still, clear, cold morning showed June in August mood. In the Waikato the roads were frozen hard, and the trees were to some extent reminiscent of an English scene on a December morning. Victoria Park, had a mantle of frost, which was noticeable from the trams well after sunrise. The other parks of Auckland were all under frost. !

All British! The coffees and chicory used in the * Bourbon ” brand are all Empire products. Blended by A. Uurie and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin. “Bourbon” for breakfast... At Karioi on a recent Sunday a number of followers of Ratana, who had gathered for service under the leadership of Mr L. A. Eastman, visited the congregation of Maoris meeting under the auspices of the Four Rules of Jehovah denomination (reports the Wanganui Chronicle). A cordial welcome was given the Ratana-iteg and Mr Eastman invited the others to return the visit, which will probably be done at an early date. The doctrine and laws of the congregation worshipping under the name of the Four Rules of Jehovah were explained at length in due Native fashion, and the 60 to 60 Maoris appeared to be very interested in the fraternal visit.

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... Of the 25 calls received by. the Christchurch Fire Brigade during May, two were ma'eious false, alarms, stated a report tabled by Superintendent C. C. Warner at last meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board. Nine calls were for actual fires in or on property ip the city, five were for rubbish fires, si£ for chimney fires, and three for fires outside the board’s district, in Riccarton, Papanui, and Aranui. The estimated fire loss during the period was £340, the insurance on buildings and contents amounted to £4155, and the estimated total value of properties affected was £5075. !

Now the dark mornings are here you will require an Alarm Clock. Just landed this season’s stock of Alarm Clocks, Luminous Clocks, Striking Clocks, etc. Prices from 8s 6d.—Peter Dick, jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray hlace, 'Dunedin...

Hedgehogs are becoming popular around Auckland (says the Star) .because of their protective influence over tender plants which are liable to the raids of slugs and snails, and for this reason the hc(i(r?hqg is sometimes referred to as the friend. From another viewpoint, however, the hedgehog is one of the worst nuisances. Mr L. 0. H. Tripp, president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Society,, said at Timaru that hedge- ' hogs ate eggs, young birds, and chickens. He did not think effective measures could be taken to exterminate the pest until it was possible to ‘trap them, as was done in England. ». No more indefatigable collector of specimens ever lived, in the Dominion than the late. Sir Julius -yon Haast, who was responsible for the creation of the Canterbury Museum (says, the Christchurch* Sun). He roamed our island from the east to the West Coast.. On these journeys, bearded and roughly clad, he superficially gave, little indication of the scientist. Once on a trip to Cook he called at a farm house. The* woman who answered his knock eyed. Mm up and - down, and disliking his appearance made to shut the door. Then noticing his geologist’s hammer at his belt, -and expecting the .visit of. a carpenter, she grudgingly invited him to enter; That carpenter man has come,’* she tolffi her employer. - V . • T. Ross.—Stock of new season’s hosiery, corsets, ladies’ and children's vests, cardigans, and umbrellas for, next two weeks will be sold at 20 per cent, deduction on present low prices, or onefifth off all purchases of 2s 6d or over.— T. Ross, 130 Princes street... For_ what was thought to be the first time in New Zealand, several new varieties of barberry plants from Tibet in full bearing were shown by Mr V. C. Davies, in the course of a lecture to the Victoria League at New Plymouth. > They are not yet named (says the Taranaki Herald), but bear numbers. The branches, covered with a profusion of pink, waxy berries, made a beautiful display, and were greatly admired. Because of their prickly nature the shrubs and berries are practically bird proof and “ boy proof.” In conversation with a Southland News representative the Invercargill tourist officer (Mr J. A. Malcolm), remarked that the / department was. makiqg more direct attempts to capture a greater percentage of the world’s tourist traffic for Ne\y Zealand. Last year, pamphlets were distributed throughout Australia advertising trips to New Zealand, tours of. any length and visiting various resorts, which were sold at a flat rate. This "proved a successful scheme, and was now being extended to include Great Britain, Canada and the United States of America. Forty odd tours were being advertised, varying in length from a few days to several weeks, and it was thought' that this would matters very considerably for anyone wishing to visit the Dominion. All prices at Gray’s Big Store have been brought into line with to-day’s reduced values. An inspection will repay you when you visit Milton... Unclimbed mountains, and many a nameless stream, await young adventurers in the far south of the West Coast. From Martin’s Bay, “ the Ultima Thule of inhabited South Westland,” a settler recently made a lone hand trip down to the northern side of Milford Sound. He took a fortnight, and (writes “ Tangiwai ” in the New Zealand Railways Magazine) is the first man to make the, journey. This modern explorer, Mr Eric James, found neW rivers, new lakes, new gorges, and canyons and peaks. He saw a strange bird, which he has not been able to identify, from his observations and inquiries, with any known birds of these parts. One river he forded had a bed of pure marble.

Shop at Barton’s. —Cooked ham, sliced, Is 8d; whole cooked hams. Is 6d; halfhums, cooked, Is 7d; smoked hams, Is Id; bacon, large rolls, BJd per lb; bacon, light rolls, 9Jd; bacon, half-rolls, lOd; rashers, 9d to 15... An analysis of the causes of fatalities on Mount Egmont with a view to showing how they could possibly have been avoided, and how abcidents could' in future be prevented, was given by Mr Rod Syme, at a meeting of the Mount Egmont Alpine Club members at Hawera recently (states the Taranaki Daily News). Mr Syme first gave a resume of serious accidents involving fatalities on the mountain during the past 40 years. “Mountaineering is extremely dangerous in the case of incapable, imprudent, or thoughtless. men,” said Mr Syme, “ but there is hardly one which need have happened, or that could not have been easily prevented by proper caution. Mountaineering is not dangerous provided. that the climber knows hie business and takes the necessary precautions—all within his own control—to make danger impossible.” Men’s .working shirts, sizes 14J to 17, striped “Tiger Twist” or plain grey “Oliver Twist,” 7s lid; Khaki Veldt, 8s 6d. Posted anywhere for cash.— Kilroy and Sutherland, Ltd., 192 Princes street, Dunedin... “ I have learned with surprise that there are married men playing in the third grade competition, and I think we should put some limit on the age of players in this grade,” commented Mr P. Edmondson at a recent meeting of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union’s Management Committee. He pointed out that it was not fair to put young lads, of 15 and 16 years up against men of 20 years and over, and that while there was not much that could be done this season, perhaps, the union might keep the matter in mind for the future. The suggestion was generally welcomed, not only as a means of keeping the age and height of players within limits appropriate to the respective grades, but also as a means of assuring the promotion of a certain number 1 of players every year to the higher grades, with consequent benefit to the junior and senior competitionsWhen in business one grows wise And learns to advertise. It lets folk know what’s really good, And that Hitchon’s fare is ideal f00d...