NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21529, 29 December 1931, Page 12

NEWS IN BRIEF

Large consignments of timber .have been railed north and south from the Taumarunui railway station during the past few weeks. The exact amount of timber despatched recently is not available, but it would appear that the timber industry m the Central King Country is showing sign* of improvement. . ... “A good soaking rain would be woith £SOO to me now,” said an Ashburton farmer last week, as be eagerly scanned the heavily-clouded sky. Up to the present he added, his crops had done very well. I They were as good as ever he had nan, ' but'rain was wanted now to keep them . going till they were ready to be cut. (ihe rain came that night.) . , A fragrant Xmas gift! ,kend y? ur friend a tin of Blue Mountain Jamaica, the world’s finest coffee. Only obtainable from A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon. Dunedin... „ , The New Zealand Co-operative Herotesting Association in November tested 94,100 cows, which yielded an average ot 8241 b of milk and 34.551 b of butter-fat. The average test was 4.19. hor the coriespouding month last year the association tested 83,559 cows, which yielded an average of 8521 b milk and 3a.941b butteifat. the average test being l 4.21. The catching of a kahawai of unusual size is reported by Mr Ernest C. of Taurhuga (says an Auckland exchange . A member of a launch party which iecentlv fished off Mayor Island caught a kahawai 2ft 6Un lon- and weighing lllb. “This seems to be a fish of extramdinaiy size,” Mr Preston writes. Oat of the hundreds I- have caught around Mayor Island and Tauranga my largest kahawai " a Mr ,lb j. R. Brown, of the Hygienic Bakery, Caversham, writes; “ I am more than satisfied with the performance of India Tyres. Several of my t - v '', es completed over 30,000. miles.-India Super Tyre Distributors.. The Otago Farmers.’..- P ■ ■ There was consternation in a New rijmouth office last week when the typist opened a filing cabinet (says a Taranaki paper). Out sprang a big rat. Uie.c - were loud screams, a rush of, members ot - the staff and the public to the room, and -r then a rat hunt. But the rodent was too resourceful. There was a small apertuie in the floor,- and down this he dived to the regret of his hunters. When the cabinet was examined ’it was found tiiac the rat had been subsisting on the learner binding of-books and. records and making , a general mess of. important files a-ni documents. Xmas' haras; finest quality ; sugar-cured, lowest,price for cash. We are now b-ok- ! ing orders, and would, appreciate ea y . inquiries.—Barton’s, Manse street, U e<^ A remarkable fungus resembling a toadstool and weighing over 45-ilb was discovered in a paddock in Ihumatao, near Mangere. the other day (says the New . Zealand Herald). The fungus which wav unusually hard and measured 43m in cucumference, grew with great rapidity. and possessed no stalk, springing, up almost directly out of the ground. An authority on plants to whom the growth, was shonn stated that he had never previously seen a fungus resembling it. . A valuable addition to the fine trophies annually competed for by, ■ S** land yachtsmen has been received by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron from Rear-admiral Geoffrey Blake, officer com-, mandimr the New Zealand Dmron of the Royal Navy. The trophy, which is a sil/er model of a Viking ship, will be competed for annually by keel yachts on the register .of the squadron m " cruising race to Kawau. The first for this handsome prize will be held on February 6. ~ We are now opening up all our No\c.ties. Call early while the good. All marked at new prices. Gifts for all at the Mosgi.el Warehouse.—A. i>. Cheyne and C 0... . .- ■ At one time no Christmas in New Zealand towns was considered to be appropriately celebrated-unless shop fronts and verandas were profusely decora tednmi greenery and native bush plants. About 20 years ago the, custom commenced .to fall into disuse, and recently there has been no. attempt to use this type^ of decoration which is now prohibited by by-lav. Something of a, revival has. however, been attempted in Temiika, and old of South Canterbury who passed, through there during Christmas had pleasant memories of earlier festive seasons revived. , j “The Domain, Milton, is a, pleasant place to open the picnic, baskets, and Gray’s Store a good place for. supplies. One motor car . was- turned completely over and another struck with terrific force against a shop door when they came into collision at the corner-of St. Martins niM Wilson’s roads. Christchurch, at about 5.30 on . Thursday evening. Both tne vehicles were driven by women. From the overturned car the three women occupants were rescued with difficulty through one of the side windows. A small girl was the only passenger in the other motor car. Although both cars were considerably damaged, none of the-occupants "-ere senously hurt, and did not require the attention of a St. John Ambulance officer who was early, on the scene Canterbury Locknit Silk Underwear, best on the .market to-day. Vests 4s 11 j, Nightdresses 15s 6d. outsize 16s 6d, Bloomers 7s lid, Underskirts I2s 6d. Sets of Silk Underwear, green P l ™-, Underskirts and Bloomers to match, 6d Best Juji Silk Bloomers. 2s lid —i. Ross, 130 Princes street.. While the farmers of Southland probably rejoiced over the rain which fell on Christmas Eve and during Friday, those who wished to spend Christmas Day m the open could not do so without consnte - able discomfort, (says the Southland Times). The weather was very broken throughout the province, the heavy ram wliicli fell ini the early morning being followed by scattered showers during the dav. Owing to the uncertain nature ot the weather the seaside w-as not favoured hv many holiday-makers, but a fair number attended country sports meetings and the lawn tennis tourney. Why pay over £5 for vour smtsU Sea our speqial all-wool worsteds. for 5Je 6d. Thornproofs. all shades and sizes, at 70s 6d; extra heavy all-wool navy blue suits, now 97s 6d. usually £6 6s. No suit over £5 Patterns sent so you can compare our quality and prices.—“Asect. Princes street, Dunedin.. • Christmas is in a special manner the festival of youth, and in Timaru (sajj the Herald) there were many hundreds ot youngsters who shared not the worries that many adults, have had during-tne last 12 months, but testified by their happiness that, despite the finaociail depression. the spirit ot Christmas Will never die. Father Christmas had an exceptionally busy night, as from all accounts the sale of toys in Timaru. was quite as - large as last year. A pleasing feature of yesterday’s celebrations amongst the young Was that the children in orphanages and the hospital were not overlooked, ine manv friends who have made it their yearly task to brighten the lives of these less-fortunate young were as .enthusiastic as ever, while the usual band of .willing workers made their presence Pelt to an appreciable degree at the Old People s Home. Grandism (1523); VVe import direct through Southard and Co., Ltd.,. London (estd. 1814). Shop at the Grand and save the middleman’s profit.. . The Railways Department had a fairly busy time during last, week, a large miniher of travellers arriving in Invercargill while a fair number of local residents went north for the holidays (says the Southland Times). In spite of the heavy bookings on some trains the running of tne expresses did not vary very much from schedule. The following approximate figures cover the traffic on Tuesday, Wednesday, and until mid-day on Thursday. On Tuesday 190 passengers came to Invercargill and 185 left by northbound trains and 60 went. to. Queenstown. On Wednesday 325 arrived from the north and 220 left Invercargill, while 120 went to Queenstown. On Thursday -raormng 290 arrived and 150 . went north. Ine local lines were all fairly.welf patronised and travellers were plentiful on Thursday afternoon and evening. On Friday the number travelling was not so great, DUo the afternoon train for Dunedin was a long one. two engines and 18 cars being used. . If vou go a’picnicking; If you stay at home, Hitchon’s ham will grace the feast, Cut it to the bone.. . v