NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22220, 24 March 1934, Page 22

NEWS IN BRIEF

Fears that in the event of a big earthquake in Wellington wild animals at the Newtown Zoo might be set free to roam at large, thus adding to the terrors of the situation, have been expressed by correspondents to the Dominion. Their apprehensions were mentioned to the curator of the zoo, Mr J. Langridge, who ridiculed the idea as being absurd. There was not the slightest reason for alarm, he said. If you are looking tor a wedding present, inspect our choice selection of clocks, e.p. ware, barometers, crystal vases, etc.—Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin... A scheme for practical training in agriculture for a number of students has been inaugurated by the Christchurch Technical College, and 12 third-' year students commenced a course of practical farm work this week. The students will visit farms around Christchurch during the summer m6nths and will work for a fortnight on each farm under tuition of the farmers. Another was added to the considerable list of instances of athletic precocity in school sports, when a Native lad, Joe Tawhai, of Te Weranga School, carried off the honours in six of the leading events at the Hokianga district primary schools' sports at Kohukohu. He won the 100yds, 220yds, 440yds, flat and 120yds hurdle races, as well as the high jump and long jump, to say nothing of running second in the mile race

Special autumn aud winter showing of New Goods—Turnbull's Sample Room, Middlemarch, Sat., 24th; Mon., 26th; Tues., 27th; Wed., 28th. Your inspection invited. —A. F. C'heyne and C 0... Slight, but unmistakable, the first signs of autumn are now beginning to record themselves in the changing hues of the foliage of English trees (says the New Zealand Herald). The first leaves are beginnning to fall in the streets bordered by oaks and elms and i plane trees. Travellers through the' Waikato note that the first touches of brown and yellow are showing on the tips of the willows along the banks of the Waikato Eiver. At the monthly meeting of the South Canterbury branch of the Crown Tenants' Association, advice was received from the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) in regard to the condition attaching to the percentage reduction in rents-, viz., that it was contingent upon the balance due being met promptly, that it had been decided to agree to accept payment of arrears and current rents, less any special percentage remission previously authorised, and appropriate to the period for which the rent was or would become payable. Grandism (2218): It is not eeouomy to buy cheap whisky when you can buy Grand House, the best all Scotch whisky, at Pis the bottle... The walnut harvest at Akaroa has now begun (says the Christchurch Times) and the sound of the threshing of the trees may be heard in all parts of the district. The crop this year is a very good one, with clean nuts anda small percentage of bad ones. The disease prevalent some years ago his almost disappeared. It is estimated that the yield will equal those of former years, when upwards of 1000 sacks were shipped away, . A Taupo motorist whose car is in daily use was puzzled recently on stopping after a run of about a mile, by fumes which indicated that the engine was over-heated. The radiator was found to be full of water'and the fan to be working satisfactorily. Further examination showed the cause of the trouble, a rat's nest of dried grass and pieces of string on the exhaust manifold. The scorching of this had caused the smell of "over-heating." What about the yachtsmen's troubles? Wouldn't a wee drappie, Wul'ie Crossau'a best, act as oil on troubled waters? . The segregation of the sexes in deer herds was commented on recently by Captain G. F. Yerex, who is in charge of the Government's deer destruction work. It was not generally known, he said, that except in the mating season any one piece of country would be found to be inhabited either by stags or by hinds, but not by both together. So there was stag country and hind country, each mother hind being accompanied by her yearling calf as well as by-this years calf. . "This will serve as a warning to others who neglect their duties," said Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at i Timaru, when sentencing Ronald James Rackley (31) to seven days imprisonment for failing to maintain his wife in Dunedin. The defendant stated (says the Herald) that he had suffered considerable illness and, owing to an accident, was at present unable to work. Recently he had had £8 but he had not paid his wife anything. In passing the sentence, the ( magistrate said he would ' take into consideration the fact that defendant was ill, and would remove the liability for hard labour. „ , , Bread and cakes are practically the only food which cannot be washed, therefore special sanitary containers are necessary. See our latest lines with cutting boards attached—Dickinson's, Ltd., 245 Princes There is a fair-sized community m Great Britain where taxes are still comparatively light. A visitor to New Zealand from the Isle of Man told a Christchurch reporter this week that in the little island kingdom income tax levied at the rate of from lOd to a limit of 3s 6d in the f. There were no death duties and no stamp duties. revenue from income tax was used in the expenses of adminstration of the Government, which was able to boast of a surplus from taxation. The island, furthermore, had no national debt. In the opinion of Mr R. J. Pye, an Australian wool buyer and sheep farmer, who arrived from Sydney recently by the Wanganella, the price obtained for wool is the only factor that has given an improved tone to general conditions in Australia. Although there had been an advance in wool prices, he said, the surprising thing was that woolen goods had not increased greatly in price in the Sydney shops. That was, contrary to everybody's expectations, including even the retail traders. It appeared that the wholesale dealers had refused to advance the prices. ' ...... Coffee connoiseurs should know that the world's best coffee—Blue Mountain Jamaica—is obtainable from A. Dune and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin... ' . ... The sale of health stamps in aid ot chidren's health camps commenced on November 9 last and ceased on February 28. During that period the post offices throughout the Dominion disposed of 236,120 stamps, representing nearly £984. This sum is practically the same as that realised by their sale a year ago. With a total of 65,624 disposed of, Wellington sold more of these stamps than any other place in the Dominion. Auckland 'had the second highest total with 52,469. Next came Christchurch with 21.992, and then Dunedin with 16,296. Timaru sold the fifth largest number of stamps with a total of 11,199. This town is by no means the fifth largest centre of population in the Dominion, but the fine response from Timaru is believed to be due to the formation there of a* health camp association. . A choice selection of autumn goods is now showing at Gray's Big Store, Milton. Make your Ea6ter purchases at this shop... . Auckland was given its first taste of " mechanical hare" racing at the Western Springs Stadium last Saturday afternoon during the course of the St. Patrick's Day sports. Considerable amusement was caused by the antics of some of the dogs in their chase of what, to the spectators, was obviously a fur model being pulled round the course at a rapid speed bv a long wire. At the end of the course the "hare" would be pulled under a screen. of sacking, round which the dogs would gather in a puzzled manner. They were even more bewildered in one of the races when the leader proved to be too fast for the quarry, and siezed it, stopping it dead. The excited and suspicious actions of the dogs as they cautiously examined the strange object created great amusement among the crowd, but, contrary to generally voiced opinions, the same dogs had no hesitation in giving chase when the race was started again. He liveth long who liveth well, So the proverbs state. He liveth well who dineth well. Try Hitchon's Bacon on your plate...