NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22833, 18 March 1936, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

An Interesting gift to mark the appreciation of the business men of Thames at the visit of the Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb) was made at a,dinner in his honour at Thames. Mr C. S. Donovan, president of the Thames School of Mines, presented Mr Webb with a rich piece of quartz which came out of the famous Waiotahi patch of 1904. Last 10 days of sale. Oddments at gift prices. See windows displays. Hats, frocks, coats, and summer underwear all greatly reduced. New winter goods opening.—The Mosgiel Drapery Warehouse. A. F. Cheyne and C 0... The opinion that a fire does not pay under any circumstances was expressed by Mr A. Girling Butcher, Government inspector of fire brigades, at the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades’ Association at Hastings, when delegates were considering the question of the association taking over the organisation of the fire prevention campaign. Last Tuesday saw the greatest invasion of white butterflies into Napier that has been seen for several years. They paid special attention to the flowei'e in the grounds of the Intermediate and Nelson Park Schools, thus tempting the pupils to a hot pursuit with the object of making a big collection for exhibition in the competition class of the Hawke’s Bay Autumn Show.

Prepare for the forty-hour week. It’» coming! It is not generally known that this event will be celebrated at Crossan’fl Waterloo... A move to have the Pahiatua list included in the Palmerston North telephone directory is being made by the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce as,a result of a suggestion at a meeting by Mr J; H. Stevens. He said, and others agreed, that it would be very convenient from a business point of view, .to have the Pahiatua list appended, especially now that Palmerston North was a centre of distribution for air mails.

A suggestion made by the Massey College that degree students from the Canterbury Agricultural College and from the Massey College should interchange for a year is to be investigated by Dr Hilgendorf, director of Canterbury College, and by the professorial boards of both colleges. Grandism (2831): Strictly direct marketing from exporter to the Grand accounts for our quality wines and spirits being so reasonable in price... A tribute to the press of ’New Zealand was paid by a Wanganui resident who recently visited the United States of America in an interview recently. “The newspapers of America, are simply (full of items of news of a sensational nature,” he said. “Real hews is given no prominence and takes second place to sensation. After visiting the United Statea it is refreshing to_ read the New Zealand papers in which news is givqn its value.” .

Mr J. W. Spiers, of “Hiwinut,” Martinborough, suffered severe damage and loss to his property and lime works the other night through heavy rain. Sheds were destroyed and fencing _ recently .repaired was all levelled again. During the rain (says the Wairarapa Times) all the .lime in the works was wasSed away, going down Dry River and filling up the intake at the reservoir. The flood water scoured the intake of the water supply, causing a subsidence of the pipes which will necessitate considerable expense in repairing. The damage on Mr Spiers’s property is estimated at £4OO. Two men who conduct a crayfisximg business ftt Turihaua. Gisborne, had a narrow escape from drowning while out in their boat attending to their pots. They were well offshore when a heavy sea capsized their craft, to which they clung lor a time until another wave threw them against a half-submerged rock, they elected to make for shore, and by swimming from rock to rock thev eventually gained the main reef and stumbled ashore, completely exhausted. They had spent an hour partly submerged in water at low temperature. , At a well-known city bowser in Palmerston North ipuch interest is shown in the mbvements of a totally blind white Tat. He confines his movements to a winding track, and anything placed in his ivay causes a collision and much confusion, tie drinks from one spot in a wooden water trough, and puts his white foot in the water as a bait for small fish and tadpoles. When touched, he “gaffs the victim for breakfast. The Maoris are greatly interested in this kiore. New goods suitable for the present season are now being opened up at Gray s Big Store, Milton. Inspection is invited to all needing the latest for comfort and fashion... ■ .

“I believe that on previous occasions I have said it would be a 'good idea that in the event of war members of I’ariiaj ment should he our first line of defence* Mr E. Meaehen, M.P., said jokingly when speaking at the annual reunion of , the Blenheim branch of the. Post and 1 diegraph Employees’ Association the other evening. “Now. of course. I say such an idea is ridiculous. I think I hate said. too. that in the recess members of Parliament should have a month at pick and shovel work. That. also, is ndiculous 99 The Milk Committee reported to the Wellington City Council the other evening that milk sales for February averaged 5500 gallons daily, six gallons less than the sales for the corresponding month of last year. Retail sales for last mouth showed an increase of 7.5 per cent, over the corresponding month of last year, ana bulk sales" other than to nearby farmers, also showed a substantial increase. B the same comparison, cream sales shovea an increase of 10.5 per cent. The sales of milk to nearby farmers averaged 184 gallons daily, whereas for the corresponding month of last year, because of the drought, these sales averaged 585 gallons. “Bourbon" Coffee. Users of this favourite brand of breakfast coffee will be pleased to hear the price is reduced 2d per lb; all grocers.—Dune’s, specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin... Music hath charms, it is said, known to soothe ruffled feelings in man and animal, but whether this was the purpose of a South Taranaki dairyman who has a radio receiving set in his cow shed is unexplained (reports a Hawera correspondent). At all events, he has a radio set in his shed, and during the milking sweet music and otherwise is broadcast to both milkers and the herd. Industrial psychologists say that work is made easier and more pleasant if performed to music, while some people are of opinion-that cows milk better to the strains of a lively air If these suppositions be correct, the milking work on this farm should be an enjoyable task. “One of the difficulties we have ip contend with every year is the persistence with which travelling showmen seek to obtain stands at our sports meeting, stated Mr J. J. Lissette, chairman of the ran- * kino Sports Committee, to a Wanganui Chronicle reporter the other day. They write and ask for stands, and,, although we advise them that the meeting is an entirely local affair and open only to the committee itself so far as the collection of gate charges and entry fees are concerned, they persist in coming to Parikino in the hope that we will soften our hearts and let them in. We have repeatedly announced that showmen will not be allowed to operate under any pretext.” Flies bring disease. Keep your windows and house clear of these troublesome pests by using our fly baths. Quality meat safes stocked in all sixes.— Dickinson’s, Limited. Sheetmetal Workers, 245 Princes street... The word “ hay-box ” suggests something to be found in a stable, perhaps. But (says the Poverty Bay Herald).to a true Dane it is something of great economic and domestic value. A Danish housewife who has lived in New Zealand for about 15 years told a Herald reporter all about “ hay-boxes.” They might aptly be called Nature’s gas stoves. .They are ordinary wooden boxes, lined thickly with hay. Porridge, soup, stews, etc., are brought to the boil on .a fire or in an oven, and then the pot is placed in the “ hay-box ” overnight. During the night the natural heat generated in the hay keeps the pot a-simmering, so that by morning Nature has cooked a nice hot meal without any charge for electricity or gas, The Government’s working early and late. For tnem there’s no vacation; Hitchon’s staff is busy, too. Curing Hitchon’s famous bacon...