NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21365, 19 June 1931, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Napier Borough Council has notified the public that it is a breach of the borough by-laws to fly kites within the borough. A complaint from the Chatham Islands that wekas were so rapidly destroying ducks that it would not be long before the ducks were exterminated, was received at a meeting of the Council of. the North Canterbury'Acclimatisation Society. “ They want a few hedgehogs over there,” remarked a member.

The camp at Nelson Park, Napier, was officially closed last week. As there are still two families, however, who have not yet been found accommodation, . three tents bad to remain on the park. A lagoon situated midway between the turn off from the main road and Lake Okatina has hern frozen over to a depth of 4in to sin (reports the Taihape correspondent of the New Zealand Herald). Several young men made a slide and with heavy boots enjoyed themselves in this unusual manner. The lagoon is in a very shaded position, away from the sun.

Come and see our Show To-night. We are open till 9 o’clock Friday nights. — Scoullar and Chisholm, Limited... Commenting on an explanation given by trading firms that any reduction possible on certain small articles would be infinitesimal, the president of the Poverty Bay and East Const Sheepfarmers’ Union (Mr C. H. Williams), at a recent meeting, said he could not agree with this argument. Farmers must urge for reductions, however small, for in the aggregate all small savings would mean a great deal to the man on the land. An old Maori canoe, which was dug out of a mud-bank at Turiroa, and which is considered to be of unusual historical value, has been offered to the Wairoa Harbour Board. by the finder Mr W. Clark, The opinion was expressed by Mr J. Corkill, at a meeting' of the board (says the Napier Telegraph) that the offer should be accepted and the canoe repaired and put on view. *. “ Will you please open your mouth and speak up.” said Mr Justice Smith to a young man in the witness-box in the Supreme Court at Auckland. It ip amazing how badly young New Zealanders speak in a court of law. It may be a good thing to speak softly,” his Honor added. “ Perhaps it is an indication ot reverence. But you ought to be able to speak clearly. I have no doubt you can outside the court.” Annual Winter Sale in full swing. Bigger selections and bigger values than ever. See windows. Call and loose round; no one asked to buy.—The M° s ' giel Warehouse. A. F. Cheyne and Co.. Through carelessness in crossing \ ietoria avenue at a particularly busy moment two girls narrowly missed being run down by a motor car (says the Wanganui Chronicle). Without looking for any approaching traffic the pair stepped out from the footpath, disregarding the most elementary rules of the road- liacl it not been for the sudden applica/ion ot the brakes by the driver the girls would have been knocked down by the car, which stopped within inchee of them. ■ Responding to the toast of Our Guests,” at a welcome extended to him in Auckland, Mr E. H. Davis said that during his two years’ and a-half visit abroad he had raced in the big schooner Westwood against the Britannia and Shamrock IV and V. Westwood carried a crew of 40, and when it came to hauling in the mainsheet, it could only be brought in by inches at a time. He had sailed at Cowes, the Firth of Clyde, and in the Mediterranean Sea, but for all this he much preferred yachting in the Hauraki Gulf. He regretted to say that very few sailing yachts were now being built in England and Australia, owners mostly preferring the auxiliary boat to the sailer. An unexpected plunge into Victoria Lake,was taken by a cyclist who lost his way in the fog that hung over Christchurch. especially near tht river, lase Thursday evening (reports the Press). Although he had a strong electric headlight the fog was so thick in Hagley Park that it was practically useless, and before he could pull up he had gone off the path and into the water. Another cyclist’s first intimation that he had missed the gates at the Armagh street bridge was when he found himself travelling down a grassy bank leading to the river. Motorists in Park terrace were forced to travel at less than a walking pace, and several were seen to stop and ask pedestrians for guidance. All British! The coffees and chicory used in the ‘ Bourbou ” brand are all Empire products. Blended by A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists. 32 Octagon, Dunedin. “ Bourbon ” for breakfast...

A mysterious man with a motor car and plenty of money has been touring Mississippi and. without explanation, pressing handfuls of money on povertystricken farmers. “ I have been an idl«r all my life,” he is reported to have said, “ and I feel like doing something worth while. Those who have money should help those who have not.” The philanthropist's motor car is laden with suit cases packed with paper currency. He has already driven through Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Louisiana, and he plans to distribute his supplies of money through five ether stricken farming States. The man was identified recently as Mr Enos F. Jones, of Jersey City, who inherited a large fortune from his father, a chemical manufacturer.

That fantastic method of naming greets which is common in the Orient, might well be applied to a certain Delhi thoroughfare where spices and peppers are pounded all day long. The street could approximately be called “ The Street of a Thousand Sneezes," for the pedestrian passing that way is perforce called on to sneeze whether he will or no! The atmosphere of this street is always laden with pepper, which seems to have no effect whatever on those who are engaged in working among it, although the passer-by finds himself not infrequently reduced to tears. The scene, however, especially in the evenings, when the Indian workers are returning to their homes, is one of considerable amusement, in which the pedestrian joins, in so far as his temporary distress enables him to do so!

Fire was principally responsible for the damage caused to the almost completed St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Napier, on February 3. The structure, built of brick, withstood the shock of the earthquake exceedingly well, and practically no damage was caused to. the tiled roof, which, but for a space about four feet square, was completed. There were over 35,000 tiles, costing nearly £7OO, on the roof of the building. No movement in the roofing was caused by the earthquake, but the fire, which burned away the supporting material, let the tiles fall to the ground below, where they were damaged so extensively that.they were beyond further use.

Among the wide variety of inquiries received at the offices of the commissioners for Napier there has been one (reports the Telegraph) by a citizen asking if he had any chance of being reimbursed for the loss of an artificial leg. burnt in the fire following the earthquake of February 3, and, if so, whether he should apply to the Napier Relief Committee or to the Rehabilitation Committee. The clerk gravely replied that he should forward his application to the latter committee, whose function was to restore earthquake sufferers to their preearthquake “ footing.” We are selling Penfold’s port wine at 4s per bottle, house' whisky 11s,' pints 6s; cash with order. Prince of Wales Hotel. C. Hincheliff, proprietor... ' “ The seventh man’s not shaking his bag properly,” called out.one of the spectators at the drawing, of the . Golden Key Art Union at Wellington on Saturday evening. He repeated a remark to the same effect shortly afterward, and was invited by the man who was holding the bag to come up and see if he could do better himself.’ This he did not do, but continued to grumble at the way the bag was being shaken. Finally Sergeant Bonisch, who was present for the Police Department, rose to his feet. "Just be quiet," he said threateningly. “I’ll come, niind . . At this the man relapsed into silence.

The pied stilt, a bird fairly common in inland districts, but one which does not frequently make its appearance in the city, has been seen lately at Judge’s Bay, near the Parnell Baths, according' to a report made to the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The stilt is a shy bird of the plover family, remarkable % r the extreme length of its legs. It ha , a long, straight beak. The wings and back are black, the head, neck and lower part of the body being white. It spends much of its time wading in water. T. Ross.—Stock of new season’s gloves, hosiery, corsets, ladies’ and children’s vests, cardigans, and umbrellas for next two weeks will be sold at 20. per cent, reduction on present IoW prices, or one-' fifth off ah purchases of 2s fid or over.— T. Ross, 130 Prince# street... The geyser Pohutu has been very active during the last few" days (reports the Rotorua correspondent ot the New Zealand Herald). Last Thursday the first display was particularly fine, -rising to about 100 feet. The geyser gave three beautiful, displays on this day. The Cauldron, which alwaj r s precedes Pohutu, also was very active, sending large volumes of water and steam to a- height of 20 feet and over.. There were two fine shots on Monday. The Waikorohihi, a smaller geyser, which lies in between the old Wairoa geyser and Pqhutu, has also been unusually active, playing for three, weeks past. It has not done- this for years. The whole of the Whakarewarewa geyser ar;a. is very, interesting at present.. Men are wearing. leather coats with ■ all round belts this winter. The “Ascot” Outfitters, corner grinces-Rattfay streets are showing the best Value at £5 las, And will post .any size anywhere for cash,.. A trick played upon the Maoris by the master of a ship trading to Akaroa in the early, days is held responsible, according to popular .legend, for the introduction into Canterbury of .the dock —one of the most common of garden' weeds. The story was related .by Mr O. W. B- Anderson, president of’the Canterbury Horticultural Society, when, addressing, the children of Elmwood School '(reports' the Press). To induce the Maoris to carry a load of flax to Akaroa for him, stated Mr Anderson, thjs captain promised to procure tobacco for them. Wpen the work was completed, and he had returned-to Sydney, he found that,, tobacco was very scarce and dear. He accordingly ; collected a bag or so of dock peed, and on his next visit to Akaroa gave it to the Maoris as tobacco. Once the seed was in the country it would not be long before some of if became scattered and began to germinate, with the result appearing in the present wide distribution of the weed. 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... .•’ The need for a, packing grbund at’ the summit of Arthur’s Pass whs referred to by Air W. F. Harley (representing the Canterbury Automobile Association). Air Harley stated .that it appeared that the parking ground had been forgotten,during the recent, inspectibn by the 'Natign'il Park Board. The need was very Teal. The summit of the pass was adjacent to the ski-ing grounds, and already West Coast motorists were in the habit of driving there. It was very, difficult to bo sure when a car’ was. bn the road owing to the snow. Mr F. W. Freeman admitted that the matter had been overlooked, but expressed the opinion that it would be too late to bring the matter before the notice of the board and have the site set aside.

Shop at Barton’s.—Cooked ham, sliced, Is 8d; whole cooked hams. Is 6d; halfhams, cooked. Is Yd; smoked hams, Is Id; bacon, large rolls, SJd per lb: bacon, light rolls, 9|d; bacon, half-rolls, lOd; rashers, 9d to 15.., A Government inspector who was visiting petrol service stations in Auckland had occasion to question the proprietor of one about a quantity of petrol left standing in the glass bowl over a pun.#!, the regulations requiring that these containers must be kept empty after each tilling. The proprietor disclaimed knowledge of the full bowl until light was thrown upon the matter by another person. It transpired that a client, well known at the petrol station, was in the habit of helping himself when the attendants were busy. After putting the hose into his tank he remembered he wanted oil, and accordingly procured it. Then, forgetting that he had not filled his petrol tank, he bung up the hose without taking any petrol, ani. drove away after having paid for the ml he had received and |he petrol still left in the pump. Men’s working shirts, sizes- 14-i 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... . “We always refer people to Colonel Bell about that,” said a careful and noncommittal witness at the recent Compensation Court in Kaitaia, when his Honor questioned him regarding the existence of “ The Winterless North.” He really might have gone further and referred his Honor to our Governors-General for [says the North Auckland Times, Dargaville), “ during the past 10, years three Gqver-nors-General, accompanied by their wives, have paid official visits to the district, and during each one perfect weather hfi§ prevailed. Lord Jellicoe’s visit took place in the spring. Sir Charles Fergusson s m the late summer, and the recent visit by Lord and Lady Bledisloe was being made in what in most parts of the Dominion is accepted as the first month of winter.^ Grandism (1359); The butler was dismissed, having been caught in the act of drinking his master’s Aragon port. Ho made the most of things - by finishing the bottle... .... ~ Judging by complaints, * s 80 1 11 ® obstruction in the falls on the Tonganro River about 14 to 17 miles from where it flow's into Lake Taupo, the Rangipo prison camp. Messrs H. J. Duigan and R L. Begg, of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society, have arranged with Mr T. Banks, officer in charge of the Hautu prison camp, to traverse the river between Ihe prison camp and the 19-mile peg on the Tokaanu-Waiouru road shortly, and locate the obstruction. It is stated that the fish cannot get above the fails, and that the upper reaches of the Tongariro, whilst providing good fishing water, are practically devoid of fish. It may be possible (says the Wanganui Chronicle) to construct a fish ladder, similar to those used in Scotland and Norway to enable fish to - negotiate the high falls, or to deviate the stream and provide -a vagrant channel through which the fish could pass to the higher reaches. The wife was feeling very blue. Her heart was sorely achin’; The grocer, who on the round was new, Had forgotten her, Hitchon’s Bacon...