NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 24

NEWS IN BRIEF

A rarity in bird life in the form of a white starling has been seen in a North Auckland town during the past three weeks. Extensive inquiries throughout New Zealand have been made by a New Ply-, mouth resident to procure asses’ milk for \ medicinal purposes. So far the only chance of getting the food has been from a Wellington vendor, who has offered to send one pint daily at a cost of £2 10s per week. Grandism (2503): Choice Reserve Madeira—Southards very best from Funchal Madeira, a glorious wine, 9s bottle'. Does any other Hotel stock genuine Madeira?.. An arboreal curiosity shown in Auck land recently was a cone which had fallen frdm an Araucaria Bidwilli tree in the Auckland Domain. Bright green in colour, with spikes, it weighed 9A I D and’ measured BJin by Sin. The tree is a native of Queensland, where it grows to a height of 150 ft, and the cone there is used as a food.

“ Taken collectively over any one month this must be a record for the three institutions," remarked Mr G. Dash at a recent meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board, when commenting on the fact that during January five babies had been born at Fairlie Hospital, nine at Geraldine Maternity Hospital, and 10 at Temuka Maternity Hospital. Just landed, latest designs in English Striking Clocks; prices from £3. Timepieces from 26s 6d —Peter Dick, jewellers nd opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin..; Two long-tailed cuckoos, rare birds in the north, were seen in a Whangarei garden, recently. The birds, which are about the size of a thrush, with much longer tail feathers, have very pretty plumage and are sweet songsters. “I suppose we should withdraw half our vote of thanks,” declared Mr M. E. ; Lyons, president of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association, at a recent meeting of the centre when a letter was read from the Christchurch-United Club. The letter stated that the club had contributed £1 Is towards the cost of . sending a water polo team to the national championships at Auckland, and as no team had been: sent the club felt that half the donation should be returned. The club’s request was granted. Millinery, Frocks, Blouses, Corsetry should have the early attention of the . ladies at Gray’s Big Store, Milton. They certainly are good value... The lack of self-confidence . and demonstrative ability of the European was in strong contrast to that of the Maori at the tree-planting ceremony at the Orakei village on a recent afternoon. At the conclusion of the function the National Anthem was sung, and, although the Natives gave a good lead, most of the Europeans present stood mute; .appearing ■ too shy to join in the singing. At the Whangarei Library the other night a student was immersed in his volume, a man filling in an evening was . perusing his magazine, and a. sleeper slumbered soundly, when the rule “Silence” was rudely shattered by a great clatter. Everyone sprang into life again. It was not an earthquake, but just the old Venetian blind letting itself down. , ,

Back to School Week. All School Clothes at Special Prices., See Window Displays.—A. F. Cheyne and Co. .. A strange liking of a cat for two baby rats is reported from Upper Waitotbra. The cat gave birth to a number of kittens, and some two hours afterward it was noticed that she had added to her fold two newly-born rats. These, rodents, seemed quite happy with their, fostermother. It is believed that the female rat had been killed by the cat and the two young ones were introduced to the home of the kittens, probably to provide a meal. Instead, for the time being at least, they became members of the family. It is rumoured that Wm. Cross anis still presiding at the Waterloo, Caversham. Give him a calk New friends welcomed...-

Although a few mushrooms-'have appeared on the Christchurch market : during the last fortnight (says the Press), fruiterers state that supplies are extremely short, and are likely to remain short. At this stage of the season there is, usually a steady supply available, but because of the dry season most of the mushrooms picked this year have been very stunted in growth, one fruiterer describing them as “like buttons.” The price has risen correspondingly high to their scarcity, and it is now not uncommon to pay as much as Is 6d and 2s per lb for the luxury, instead of fourpence to ninepence. Mushrooms are usually most plentiful about March, , but until heavy rain comes, there is little prospect of many mushrooms appearing. - Have you preserved eggs this year! Do not delay, as eggs will advance in price very soon. Galvanised containers which last for years can be obtained from 3s Od each at ’ Ltd., 245 Princes street, Dunedin... The action of certain motorists in not stopping after they _ had run over and injured dogs was criticised by members of the Titnarii executive of the Society * for the Prevention of-Cruelty to_Animals at a, meeting recently. The /society's inspector reported, that he had attended three cases in which dogs had. been run over and the motorists had driven away without giving any attention to , the injured dogs. It was decided to write to the South Canterbury Automobile Association asking them to impress on members the possible suffering involved in such a practice. A suggestion that the Government might be asked to make a film demonstrating the dangers of fire and methods of prevention was advanced by a delegate to the annual conference of . the New-. Zealand branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers at Christchurch recently. Copies or this film, he thought, might be distributed to the theatres as part of .the propaganda for Fire Prevention Week. Several other suggestions were made for the improvement of the work done by the brigades in teaching methods of preventing fire. Fire Prevention Week will be held this year in the middle of March. Everything of the best at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princes street, Dunedin.- — Chas. Hinchcliff. proprietor... A relic of the past, and one that proved a “ white elephant ” to the Thames County. Council, a steam lorry that cost about £2OOO, but after being. in use, foe ■ about three months was laid up, . was recalled to the memory of councillors last week (reports the Thames Star). An offer of £lO was made for the machine The council decided that before any action was taken a committee should inspect the truck with a view to disposing of it at the best possible price. Oranges for luck—and in a green basket to show breadth of mind—must be the motto of the Sunnyside Rugby Football Club (says the Christchurch Times), as witness an extract from the report presented to the annual meeting; " Most ; teams have a mascot of some sort, and we are no exception, ours being a green basket. Every Saturday during the season it makes its appearance at halftime filled with oranges. Those oranges have won many games for the team/ “ When you are in Wellington, said the secretary to Dr A. C. M'Killop, who presided, “we hope you will fix it up with Mr Forbes about the embargb. We don’t want to suck potatoes this season. Ex Tainui, we have just landed one ton of the favourite Kenya coffee (Kinenguy , Estate). Only obtainable from A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists, 32* Octagon, /Dunedin... A Wanganui resident who spent his boyhood days in Ohau, near Levin, was motoring home prior to the recent rains with his wife from a holiday spent in the Wairarapa and Wellington districts. The day was hot, and the blazing sun on the sealed highway made motoring a doubtful pleasure (remarks the Taranaki Herald). The man remembered his young days and a glorious pool he had used in the Ohau River. He decided to break the journey to have a bathe. Stopping the car in a convenient place, he went in search of the cool, refreshing waters. He was sadly disappointed, however, for ho found neither river nor pool. .There were chains upon chains of dry stones, with a tiny trickle of water to remind him that a river had once flowed there. He tramped for some miles, and finally found a small pool dammed up with stones and populated by a collection of Maoris. 'Tis nice to tack and cruise about When watch or wheel you’re takin’, And hear once more the bo’sun shout Lay off for Hitchon’e Bacon...