NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22721, 6 November 1935, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

A strange foster-mother has been found for five kittens in a Wanganui Last household. A cat died, leaving her "quintuplets " to the mercy of providence, which in this case was a hen, the eggs wh i£ h she was hatching being removed. .The kittens were placed with her, and this rearrangement has ao far been found agreeable. . . - ' .. Spring Cleaning Specials from the Mossiel Warehouse. White and Biscuit Curtain Nets, from Is 3d yard. Fancy - Coloured Nets, 2s 6d yard. Silk Nets, from Is lid yard, ,27-inch Runner, bs od and 8s 6d yard. Hearthrugs, 5s lid up. Electrolux for hire, '6s full day.—A VCheyne and C 0.... - _ t,„, • Several days ago a resident of mmerston North reported having seen a strange bird twice the size of a thrusn, with a brown breast, a thin white collar clearly marked, a thin white band around the head, and a pretty tuft.on its' head. It had a loud, entertaining song, lne bird has been identified by Dr W. K. UOliver, the director of the Dominion Museum, as an American quail, which, he says, hardly has.a song, although its note is not a harsh one. .: v " ' " Constant criticism of the Government helps to undermine the confidence of thepeople in. the Government and ammunition for Labour," said Mr.i: p. Hobbs, of Christehurch, at the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce last week. He added that in such activities ths conference had outgrown its usefulness. No action was taken. \ Summer sunshine and an excellent selection of drapery 'for both men and women make Gray's Big Store a popular buying centre just now for Milton people... : , , ... "New Zealand possesses natural iaciuties to attract tourists, from every point of the world," said Mr H. D. Cafo, Democrat candidate for Hamilton, at Gordonton the other evening (reports the Waikato Times). " The glorious mountains, deep sea fishing, .and thermal wonders could be made a valuable, asset to our overseas trade and publicity if it were handled by private enterprise. It should also prove a source of revenue to the country." to . * • • The beauty of the Waitakere Ranges is further enhanced at present by the display of native flowers (states the £>ew Zealand Herald). Clematis is in full bloom and large clusters of flowers, are to be seen in many places by the roadside on the way to the coast beaches. At Karekare hundreds of kowhai trees dotted on the hillsides are covered in golden blooms. Some particularly fine specimens are on the high bluff overlooking the - boarding house at Karekare, while tin the track up to the summit rewarewa tree* are in full flower. Cabbage trees are also showing added beauty wibu large clusters of creamy flowers. ." . ,: . Grandism (2719): You and your friends will appreciate your good judgment. Shop at the Grand Home Supply Store, Princes ,

" There are some members of our Gene-

ral Committee we never 6ee at any time," declared" Mr F. A. Snell at the annual meeting of the Waikato_Winter Show Association (reports the Waikato Times). "While-I do not wish to push anyone out I think we should retain on the committee only men prepared to work and show some interest in the association. Some of these' not even attend our annual meeting." "In Wellington just now we have tne peculiar spectacle of nine or' 10 city councillors seeking election to Parliament—some of them members of the Harbour Board as well—as if the City Council and the Harbour Board were.* sort of political kindergarten," .said Mr O. C. Mazengarb, National Government candidate for Wellington East the other night (reports the Evening Post). Without deprecating, the value, of experienceon local" bodies, :Mr Mazengarb. said, he would respectfully suggest to the electors that some good might result and much: friction be avoided by /having even just one representative whose outlook was not limited by local body administration and who would not be embarrassed by his interest in municipal ■-•-•]- Why borrow your "neighbour's lawnmower? Yours is a better machine if Dickinson's sharpen it. Dickinson's, Limited, 245 Princes street, Dunedin... In the centre of a new rose garden in the Botanic Gardens, Christchurch, has been constructed what will be perhaps the most striking feature—apart from natural beauties—in the -whole the gardens. This is the«" mirror pool," a circular pool, 28 feet in diameter, built up with cement coloured, a deep marine blue. Filled with water, the blue appears richer and deeper than on the bare cement. When the roses are in bloom it is intended to sink in the pool tubs of Japanese irises, giving an effect even more beautiful than that of the simple pool set among the rosebuds. The inquisitiveness of a little boy sitting alone in a foiir-ton lorry which wai parked on the King street hill, New Plymouth, the other morning nearly led to disaster. Apparently fascinated by tha 'mysteries of the mechanism of the lorry, the boy unwittingly released the brake, with the result that the lorry started to move slowly down the hill. Before it had time to gain much impetus the lorry ran-into the rear of a five-seater car owned by Mr B. A. Woods. Beyond a dented rear mudguard.no further damage was done to the lighter car, while the lorry escaped unscathed. After a severe talking- to by the lorry driver, the boy lost all further interest in the workings of motor cars. The coming election will be a mixed one. But note: It is notified that all parties are welcome to discuss matters at the Waterloo, Caversham... Considerable interest has been, shown in Wanganui in the invention of Mr W. Wilson, a motor engineer, who has perfected an appliance which will enable an automobile engine to run on oil spray instead of petrol (reports the Wanganui Chronicle). The experimental stages are now over, and demonstrations will be given shortly. It is interesting to note that Mr Wilson has adapted this device for three different makes of cars. In each case the tests have proved satisfactory. No petrol is required and the engine will run on oil alone. Mr Wilson hopes to leave Wanganui shortly on a tour of the North Island, when the. invention will undergo an official test. Kenya coffee, a good medium; Mysore a better body and richer flavour; and Blue Mountain Jamaica, the world's bess. all obtainable from " Dune's," coffee specialists. 32 Octagon, Dunedin... It appears not to be generally known that ferrets and weasles are protected in Marlborough, having been declared the natural enemy of the rabbit, and it is therefore illegal for anyone to destroy them without the consent of the Minister of Agriculture (states the Marlborough Express). Sections 95 and 96 of.'the Rabbit Nuisance Act provide for substantial penalties for infringement of the protection; the fine, in fact, is not leSs than £5 or more than- £4O. Persons are guilty of an offence who capture such animals or are found with the animals or their skins, in their possession. Transactions in skins are illegal, and the penalty is drastic. The object of the Act is not to prevent the keeping of ferrrets for rabbiting purposes, but to protect them and weasels from destruction in their wild state where they would be of assistance in keeping down the rabbit pest. .

Part of a performance at Knox Church Hall, Fitzroy, at the social tendered to Miss Elsie Andrews recently, on the occasion of her retirement from the teaching profession (says the Taranaki Herald), literally "brought the house down." A group of High School girls were giving a representation of old Cornish mumming plays. Jhe boisterous element in these very amateur theatricals was realistically presented as the girls danced and capered, not only on tlie platform but down the aisles of the hall. The stage, however, was not intended for that sort of thing and was a little unsteady, and an ornamental screen that stood as a " back cloth" rocked dangerously and then began to topple over. One of the young actors, however, with fine presence of mind, stood and allowed the screen to lodge against her instead of falling on to the floor of the stage. The chairman quickly appreciated the position, and he and some others came to the rescue. My family's been very peckish of late, Their meals they've not been taking. Now there's not a scrap left on thei* plate Since I used Hitchon s ham and bacon..