NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 14

NEWS IN BRIEF

The rainfall in Napier during 1935 constitutes a record for many years. The total fall of 51.18 in is almost double the average annual rainfall for the 20 year* up to 1931, which is 29.28 in. Flies bring disease. Keep your windows and house clear of .these troublesome pests by using our (l.v baths. Quality meat safes stocked in all sizes.— Dickinson’s, Limited, Sheetmetal Workers, 245 Princes street...

The question of the proposed civic centre buildings for Blenheim was discussed in committee by the County Council the other morning, and the committee appointed to meet the Borough Council on the matter was empowered to submit an offer in respect to the amount of the county’s contribution. Sharks appear to be plentiful in the waters off the Opotiki beaches (states the Poverty Bay Herald), evidence of this being an experience of Mr and Mrs W. Walker while fishing from a launch about a mile from the Waiotahi Beach, when several species of sharks, including a mako, were seen. Mr Walker’s son put off in a dinghy and succeeded in harpooning one mako between sft and Oft long, which was hauled into the boat.

Grandism (2777): It costs so little —- it goes so far. Granvin —Golden Brandy Wine. Now two blendings. Medium dry—also sweet. 5s bottle...

The grain crops are ripening very quickly just now (says the Timaru Herald), and quite a number of binders were to be seen cutting oats last week. Wheat is rapidly changing colour t.nd in a few days harvesting will be general. Last week a field of Cross Seven wheat was cut at Rosewill. The crops on the whole are most■ promising, although in some dry localities the excessiVe hot weather at Christmas time is said to have done some damage. The long grass round the Dawson Falls hostel is scarcely suitable for the game of golf. However, this did not deter some youthful enthusiasts determined to improve their game at ail coats (says the Dawson Falls correspondent of the Tarangjn Herald). The result was some perfect drives, but the thrill was short-lived, as one by one the balls disappeared in the long grass. This was where an opossum could prove very useful, as one of the golfers found nest morning. After a night’s sleep disturbed several times by the scratching of an opossum, he found the lost golf ball lying on the gravel outside his bedroom. He is firmly convinced that the opossum found the ball in the grags and, after playing with it, left it where it was found next morning.

Spring Cleaning Specials from the Mosgiel Warehouse. White and Biscuit Curtain Neta, from Is 3d yard. Fancy ■: Coloured Nets, 2s fid yard. Silk Nets, from Is lid yard-. 27-inch Runner, 6s 6a•; and 8s fid yard. Hearthrugs, 5s lid up. Electrolux for hire, 5s fuff day.—A F. Cheyne and Co.. .- ~ Perhaps the most difficult task in con- . uection with stock sales is the penning , and trucking of pigs and the yardmen and stock clerks had their hands full at the Frankton sale the other day when over 2000 head of pigs were penned. Froin early morning till past noon in the dust, heat, and smell of'the yards,\ the inch t worked like 'Trojans trying to squeeze too many squealing, obstinate pigs into, small pens. It was a very trying day for . all concerned. The youngest exponent in Napier of . the King’s English (says ah exchange) • is Bill, an 18-month-old cobalt “ lovebird,” the property of Mr W. Mercer, proprietor of a hairdressing saloon. A reporter happened to be in the saloon. Noticing the cage, he went close up to examine the tenant. Bill gurgled for a short while with his head on one side and then remarked: “Nosey 1 Parker! 1 To say the least, the reporter received a surprise, for he was not used to birds insulting him. However, he merely replied: “Pretty Cocky!” Bill said: “ You’re. a bad, bad boy ” _ He followed this np with “ Give ns a kiss” Special Bargains at Gray’s Big Store, - Milton. Prints, Rayons, and Voiles la yard. Ladies’ Sports Shoes 5s pair... Progress on the sealing of the_ surface of the Foxton-Sanson portion of the main highway,has been rather slow, and (says the Wanganui Chronicle) it is understood that completion is not expected within 12 months. The opinion has been expressed by many travellers . that the authorities would have been well advised to let the uncompleted 13 miles of the highway in one contract, so that the contractor would be enabled to arrange for plant and materials °n a much ■ larger scale. Two mountains were climbed for the first time during the holidays by two members of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, Messrs G. D. T. Hall and N. Barker. The peaks were Mount Farrar (7982 feet) in the Adams Range, in Westland, and an unnamed peak (over 8000 feet) in the Cloudy at the head of the Rangitata River. The two climbers were probably the first to cross Disappointment Saddle, a high pass on the Cloudy Range. They also climbed Mount D’Archiac (9279 feet), the highest peak 'in the Godley region, and Mount Sibbald (9181 feet). “Bourbon” for breakfast! This favourite coffee makes strong appeal to those who know the worth of a genuine beverage.—Duries, Specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin. In Central Hawke’s Bay several farmers are ploughing fire breaks where their properties adjoin the railway and with the co-operation of the railway men, who have carefully burnt grass on the “long paddock,” it is hoped (says the Poverty ’ Bay Herald) to prevent any serious 'grass fires such as were raging at this time last year. The engines are now burning harder coal and consequently there are less sparks. Although there has not been a sustained dry period there is need for great vigilance as there is more grass about this year and any outbreak, if unchecked, would do even more damsge than previously. The number of broken bottles on the main highway between Rotorua and Cambridge during the holidays caused a pood deal of concern to motorists and not a little annoyance. It was evident (states an exchange) that the bottles had been thrown out of cars by irresponsible youths who had shown ho thought or consideration for other users of the road. A Te Kuiti motorist stated «hat during a trip from Te Kuiti to Rotorua he noticed scores of broken bottles, the majority of which were on the Cambridge-Rotorua section.

The flowing bowl should be conspicuously in evidence at the festive season. Lose no time in booking your order tor the usual hamper.—W. Crossan, “Waterloo,” Caversham...

Several seasons ago the appearance of men and women players in shorts caused a mild sensation in lawn tennis circles, but this attire is commonly used nowadays. A remarkable feature of the Taranaki championships at Waverley was the number of matches in the pairs events in which players clad in shorts were pitted against opponents wearing “ longs,” or, in the case of the women, skirts. At one stage of the tourney no fewer than four such games were in progress at the same time, two of the matches being championship finals on adjacent courts. Although the recent heavy rains • have made camping very uncomfortable, several campers (says th e Waikato Times) have expressed the opinion that the mosquitos have been a much greater nuisance. At the motorists’ camp, Hamilton, the campers have been attacked continually by mosquitos, while other campers from Te Akau, Waihi, Rotorua, and North Auckland, who have passed through 'Hamilton in the past few days report that mosquitos have been unpleasantly numerous at all places. That letters to the Transport Board had been continuously ignored was the complaint made by Mr D. M'Gregor at the last meeting of the Wanganui County Council. Mr M'Gregor explained that a Fordell carrier was desirous of obtaining a heavy transport licence which would enable him to operate _ a local service. It was the unanimous wish of fanners in the district that this service be allowed, but in spite of petitions signed by settlers being forwarded to the Transport Board the letters had been ignored. The Wanganui County decided to write to the new Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) and draw his attention to the matter.

Under the spreading tree, The village smithy stands; The smith a mighty man is he. For he eats Hitchon’s ham you see.