NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24569, 13 May 1935, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

A kangaroo leaped on to the radiator of the truck conveying a Federal Ministerial party through Central Australia. The truck was disabled. The Minister for the Interior (Mr Paterson) and others were forced to camp for the night. Duck shooting is cold sport unless there is a supply of Wullie Crossan’s best. Ihe proprietor of the “ Waterloo,” Caversham, despatches promptly... ' “Do you drink?” asked counsel ot a Maori defendant in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court, “Yes, a little,’ admitted the defendant. “Well, what do you call ‘a little’?” continued the sobcir tor. “ Oh,” said the Maori very seriously, “if a man ask me to have a drink 1 go and have a drink.” Lectures on the navy to take the place of election speeches which, it was stated, people had now become used to going out to bear, were suggested at a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the iSavy League (says the Press). A member said that quite apart from jingoism there was a very real need for such lectures, and she thought that no more opportuna time than the present could be round. Grandism (2567): Before you give a party buy the right refreshment. Go to the Grand Home Supply Store or dial 11-542. Smart service... - "Quite a nice harvest, remarked Mr A. Seed, at - a meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, when a number of letters were received from people who had been caught shooting without licenses on the opening day of the season. Members expressed the view that prosecutions would do much good m certain districts. No action was taken with regard to the letters. . ... In commemoration of the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign a Hawera resident, Mrs J- Hicks, has .in her possession a collection of coins issued _ from the Royal Mint in 1887. The coma include a half-sovereign, a sixpence, a .shilling, and a two-shiflingpiece. Mrs Hicks iett Scotland for New Zealand in 1888, and has treasured the coins for the past 48 years. “Up to now the fine imposed for this offence. has only been equivalent to the cost of a good lamp,” remarked Mr D. U. Levien, S.M., in the Otahuhu Magistrate s Court recently, when dealing with cyclists charged with riding without lights. Mr Levien said that in future the amount of the fine would be increased. He added that fines were really imposed j in protection of persons who were endangered through the practice of cyclists riding at night without lights. Ex Xainui, we have just landed one ton of the favourite Kenya coffee (Kmenguy Estate). Only obtainable from A. Dune and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin... . ... Opposition to a suggestion from tne Egmont* National Park Board that .a water rate be levied on local bodies in the province in order' to provide funds for the conservation of the forest on Mount Egmont was forthcoming from,the Inglewood and Taranaki County Councils. The Inglewood county made a donation of £2O, but the Taranaki county took no action beyond opposing the levy. “It is a pity that war terminology has been applied to international trade in such phrases as ‘ capturing the market,’ ” said Mr G. Lawn, in one of the series of lectures on international problems arranged by the Christchurch Workers’ Educational Association. Peoples minds become accustomed to the idea ot armaments,” said Mr Lawn, . by_ the common assumption that trade is antagonistic instead of co-operative. Speeches were usually made three times, said Mr W. McLay. president of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association, speaking at a complimentary luncheon to the retired Comptroller of i Customs (Dr C. Craig). The first speech, he said, was made before the function; that was fairly good. The second was made at the function; that was terrible. The third was made after the speaker had returned home; that was a magnificent ° r Overcoats cut in the latest fashion made in tweed and rainproof material are now ready for sale at Gray s Big Store, Milton... , , , An offer of a handsome hand-em-broidered banner bearing the royal coat-of-arms for exhibition in the art needlework section at the forthcoming show in Hamilton has been received and_ accepted by the Waikato Winter Show Association from an Auckland firm, ina banner is said to be one of .the finest examples of hand embroidery in the Dominion. . . The growing complexity of the Customs tariff covering goods inported into New Zealand was the subject of comment by Mr C. 0. Trownson, Collector ■of Customs at Christchurch, in an address to the Public Service Administration Society, Thirty years ago, he said, the tariff _was contained in a email pocket ■ book ot oy or 70 pages. Now it was a volume of more than 700. pages* an big a s a dictionary, and weighing 121 b. . Mr Hore Takarangi, of Putiki, one of the recipients of the silver jubilee medal was very grateful to receive it, together with the accompanying proclamation. He has wired the Native Minister in these words: “On behalf ot the Maoris of Wanganui and myself I wish to acknowledge with many thanks the King’s silver jubilee medal. —Te More Takarangi.” See the Easter Specials in the-Show-room. Woollen Goods, Dresses, Hats and Coats, all at Special Prices. Buy now.— A. F. Cheyne and C 0... “ I should like to dispel an idea that is frequently held even by persons who are otherwise well informed that once money is paid in the Customs .Department it is practically impossible to recover any paid in error, said Mr G. O. Trownson, Collector of Customs .at Christchurch, in an address, to the Public Service Administration Society. Examination would show that the amount of refunds granted is greater than that of the examining officer’s extra recoveries, and tHat tbe dates of payment/ are more prompt,” he said. When an expert motor witness was asked by Mr A. D. M‘Rae in the Supreme Court, Timaru, what was ms daily occupation during the last 14 months, he replied that he was managing director of the firm of . . Have you actually done a mechanical job A™; in R the last five years? asked Mr MRae. “No,” was the reply, some amusement being caused by a remark: “ He lets other people do that now.” “ Yes ” said witness. “I had my share earlier. Mr A. 1. Donnelly: “Mr - has the distinction of having been charged with speeding in 1902.” “And I got off, too,” replied witness amidst laughter. , You cannot do good work with blunt tools. We employ experts who sharpen and set saws of any size. Satisfaction guaranteed.—Dickinson’s Limited, .245 Princes street... A Maori charged with being on licensed premises after hours caused a laugh in the Marlborough Magistrates Court when questioned about what was said when the police arrived at the hotel. “Do you remember the party laughing when you said: ‘lf I Thought there would be any police in it I would have booked in’?” asked Sergeant J. Smyth. “No, I don’t,” was the uncompromising answer. “ There was no laughing there. They were too scared to laugh.” . It is not often that one profits, from one’s mistakes (says the Waikato Times), but a fortunate investor at Cambridge' had good cause to congratulate himself, on mistaking the number of the horse he wished to invest on. Intending to nut £5 on the favourite (who was backed down to a short price to win), he asked for No. 12, which was that horse’s number on the first-day card. However, on the second day No. 12 in the racecard was Red Frontier, who won and returned the biggest price of the meeting. Instead, therefore, of loosing £5 he col* “ Is that all that is required to adjust brakes? ” inquired his Honor Mr Justice Johnston, in the Timaru Supreme Court, when a witness had demonstrated the simplicity of brake adjustment of a popular make of motor truck. “It seems a far more elaborate job when I get mine adjusted,” added his Honor, with a smile. The witness explained that there was a big difference between adjusting the brakes of the truck in question and some other cars of later model. Another witness, in referring to the truck, said that it was possible to get parts for it at any grocer’s shop. “It is a case of' this niake of car improving with age then,” retorted Mr A. D. M’Rae amid?' laughter. lected over £IOO off the machine. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, To home their food were takin’. Said Tweedledum to Tweedledee: Let’s get some Hitchon’s bacon...