NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22258, 10 May 1934, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

An outsize in pumpkins-has been by Mr T. A. White, of Tasman, Nelson. The hugh. speciraan Avcighed 771 b, an') measured over six feet in circumference. “Visitors who have seen the development of the pumice areas have been amazed at what, has taken place,” said ■ the Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) ' in his address at Dannervirke. “It is; better than anything I have seen in£ Taranaki or Manawatu,” be added. -

For the dark mornings you will require' an Alarm Clock. Inspect our stock of' Jaz, Wcstclox, and other makes, plain' and Iqminous dials. Prices from &s 6d. — - Peter Dick, jervellers and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin... Breed, feed, and Aveed for best results, and remember that strain is more im-. portant than breed,” was the advice given to pig-breeders by Mr E. E. Hale, chair-' man of the Waikato Pig Recording Cluby Avhen commenting on a film reviewing, ■the pig industry in Hamilton. “That this conference supports its'president, Sir Andrew Russell, in bis stand for peace, and offers to work in'; Avith the Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association and similar organisations in die-" continuing war talk,” was a remit carried; with enthusiasm by the Matamata branch; of the Ngav Zealand Returned Soldiers’; Association at its annual meeting., * For assorted supplies of best brands: you cannot do better than order fromWiri. Giossan, '“Waterloo,” Caversham." Orders attended to pronto... - * “There seems to be an unusually' small crop of mushrooms this season,”’ commented a Waikato farmer to a re-" porter the other morning. He illustrated' his contention by the fact that whereas in previous seasons members of his' family could fill a benzine tin of the ! delicacies without any difficulty, this’-' year it had been a task to fill even asmall billy. Mushrooms were recentlybeing retailed in Hamilton at from 6d to 8d per lb. . ? The 350th anniversary this year of; the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in place of the Julian draws attentionto the “ Ostersaeule,” literally “ Fasten. Pillar.” Which . stands- at . Saxony. This monument recalls that? Easter celebration took place on two different days in Germany at the lime* of the change, when 10 days Avefe dropped' out of the. reckoning on February 24, asalso in the folloAving October. RomanCatholics celebrated Easter according to' the new calendar, bu,t the Protestants refusing to acknowledge the authority of; the Pope, celebrated according to the; Julian calendar. , •

May Bargains for all. See special .win. dow displays. Buy your winter requirements at special prices. Call early while we have the selection. Goods cannot bo replaced at these, prices.—A. Ff Cheyne and C 0... ■ , . - , A man’s reason for wanting time to pay a fine raised a laugh in the AA’ellington: Magistrate’s Court the other day. The charge was of drunkenness, and the defendant asked for time to pay because he was married the previous day, “ Perhaps we should give him a chance, under the circumstances,” said the Sub-Inspector, knd the Magistrate allowed the man a week in which to pay the. fine. T,ho' next defendant for drunkenness was called; and fined. “ [ was the best man at the wedding,” he., said, and. he also was allowed a week in which to pay, ‘ .Grandism (2256) : : Don’t buy in the dark; with Grand House AVines and Spirits you have our printed money-back guarantee on every bottle... fa That the white I---'Mi-fly pest tas impressed itself on public imagination was illustrated at the children’s fancy- dress ball held in the Scots Hall (Auckland); the other evening, when one of the young competitors, possibly to emphasise tba extent of this insect pest r presented S pram covered with green paper leaves and paper flowers, showing signs of the voracity of the butterfly in its caterpillar stage. In the pram a doll holding forth a long-handled net gave point to the purpose of the exhibit, “The dresses of the ladies at these shows always harmonise with the flowers,” remarked Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, president of the Canterbury . HorticuU tural Society, , in opening the society’s annual chrysanthemum show., ;“ In the spring their dresses rival the gaiety-of the daffodils, and the summer finds then! with even more colourful apparel. Now* with the approach of winter we find that their dresses take on the mors sombre but rich shades of the autumn foliage which is such a charming feature of this show. "fa , ; i

Coffee for breakfast, fresh and fragrant! Ask your grocer for the “ Bourbon '* brand. Instructions in every tin. Prepared by “ Durie’s,” coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin..,. ; , Numbers -of seagulls were noticed swooping down upon the, turf of the playing field at the Auckland Grammar School after the cadets’ march-past the other- morning. A scientifically-inclined member of the staff explained the occurence quite simply. The. 1 vibration front the marching feet,- He said, disturbed many earthworms; which came but of their holes .in the damp soil, providing a good; meal for the ever-watchful gulls, who had often obtained one before iu the same way. ' fa.fafafa.i “The reputation of the police iu this Dominion is a high : one,” stated Mr Just ice • Fair during the course of tb e Supreme Court sessions at Palmerston North the other day. Members of the Force had to try to do their duty to the Crown and also perform their duty to an accused person by checking up on his statements and discovering evidence to support his case in the Court, ho explained, adding that at all times tba police worked in favour of both. ; Everything of the beet at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princes street, Dunedin-, —Chas. Hinchcliff, proprietor;.. ■). In* certain parts of Southland pukekoq (or as they are more familiarly called, swamp-turkeys) are so numerous as to constitute a menace. This w-as the opinion expressed to a Southland Times reporter by two farmers who complained, of the severe damage done to their stacks by the birds. “A long period of protection has caused pukekos- to increase greatly in numbers and to grow very bold. They may frequently be seen by motorists perched on stacks plucking at the top sheaves,” said,one of the farmers. “I am a lover of native birds, but it is beyond a joke when they begin to over-run out) farms and cause a lot of damage." It is time that an open season was declared, even if only for a limited time.” Meat Safes are a necessity this weather. Fine range at Dickiusous, Ltd.,- 243 Priuces street...

A proposal by tha advancement committee of tbe Rotorua Borough Council to give five guineas toward the expenses of sending W. Whareaitu. the Maori swimmer, to the Empire Games, caused considerable discussion at the meeting. Mr G. Steele objected to the principle Of giving the ratepayers’ money away for such purposes. In this he was sup- 1 ported by Mr F. Goodson, who contended that if the councillors wished to make a grant they should do so personally, and he offered £l. The majority of the council, however, held that the visit of the young Maori swimmer to the Games would be a spendid advertisement for Rotorua, and that the grant was thoroughly justified. Smart winter frocks and millinery are now getting well-deserved attention by the ladies who visit Grays Big Store at Milton... The opinion that Pirongia Mountain should be designated a national park was expressed by Mr E. Phillips-Turner at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Beautifying Society. Mr Turner pointed out that there was a fine growth of, native bush on the mountain, and he considered that in view of the fact that the land about a level of 1500 ft was unsuitable for settlement, steps should be taken to have the mountain bush set aside as a reserve. Pirongia Mountain was within easy reach of Hamilton, and the people should take an interest in the matter. A resolution from the speaker that representation should bo made to the Government to have the upper levels of the mountain declared a national park was considered, several members supporting the proposal as a stop in the right direction, but after the discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the committee for further consideration. New Zealand is a wonderful place. And tbe people quite a sturdy race; They all belong to the British nation. And dearly love their Hitchon’s bacon..