NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 18

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Southland beech panelling in the new Automobile Association building was the subject of admiring comment by the delegates to the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union on Friday (reports the South: land Times). "Who would want Australian walnut when we have an industry like this at our back door?" asked Mr H. G. Harley (Christchurch). "Not at the back door," corrected the secretary of the association (Mr M. C. Fairbrother), " the front door." . Y . Grandism (3365): For Christmas—a delightful answer. Tagona Port Us, Aragon 4s, Corena Sherry 4s, Granvin ss, Oragin (Orange Gin) 65... When the recommendations for the improvement of the game of Rugby football in New Zealand were being considered by the members of the Management Committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, the chairman (Mr G. H. Sceats) said that it had been suggested by one of the medical officers of the union that no players should participate in the benefits of the insurance fund unless they had been in training and had been passed as physically fit. •' . _ "The High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, has been the one outspoken man at Geneva, and has placed New Zealand on the map in his advocacy of peace." declared Mr James Roberts, president of the New Zealand Labour Party, when speaking at Wanganui last week. l Make your work lighter—Have those blunt tools sharpened by our experts. Satisfaction assured. Dickinson's Ltd.. 441 Princes street, Dunedin...

" Who is the willing purchaser?" asked Dr N. A. Foden, who appeared for the Crown, of a witness at the hearing of evidence given before the Road Transport Purchase Tribunal sitting in Wanganui last week. "The, railways," the witness replied. "But the railways are nearly always looked, upon as a friend to everybody," Dr Foden replied. Mr H. F. O'Leary, K.C., who was appearing for two road transport firms:. "Oh, no, they're not. Not by a long chalk." " On the whole the fruit crops promise to reach the normal standard in this district," said Mr J. W. Whelan, orchard instructor to the Department of Agriculture, in conversation with a Manawatu Evening Standard reporter. Owing to numerous severe frosts, he added, the yield of stone fruit would be lighter than usual, but,;although the natural dropping was not yet com-; pieted, apple and pear crops were'very satisfactory. The yields from gooseberry and strawberry crops had been affected by an absence of moisture, and for these in particular rain would be very welcome. An Auckland correspondent writes Wm. Crossan:—" Please repeat my order of last year, but make it two hampers this time. Usual assortment, please. Cheque enclosed.".. One of the housewives in Christchurch must have surely thought that her evil destiny was dogging her one day last week. It happened that nothing would go right. Everything she touched either broke or got burnt or spilt. Not content with running out of petrol three miles from home and a mile from a garage, she finished up the day by sewing the sleeves of her small daughter's frock inside out and back to front. Not for a long time has the atmosphere in Auckland been so clear as last Wednesday. As it was such a perfect day, many sightseers went to the museum, from the front steps of which one of the finest views in Auckland can be seen of the harbour. The Great Barrier, which on some sunny days seems to be a cloud lost on the horizon, was so close that it seemed almost possible to stretch out and pick it up. This was also true of the Coromandel Range. It was hardly credible that there are 50 miles between Rangitoto and the Barrier.

Coffee Mills! We nave imported a few small coffee grinders suitable for household use.—A. Dude and Co., coffee specialists. .32 Octagon. Dunedin.. . . .■■'.. '.-.

Some of the new Dominion coins have been attracting attention by reason of the pleasing portrait of King George VI on the " heads " side. The King is depicted facing to the left, the same way as King George V, which, by the convention that each, monarch faces in the opposite direction to his immediate predecessor, acknowledges the reign of King Edward VUI, for whom no portrait coins were struck For the first time the uncrowned heai is shown on New Zealand coins. Hitherto this style has been reserved for the coinage of Great Britain alone. The lettering is uniform with that of previous issues, but is more widel/ spaced. The minute letters "N.P." under the head are those of the designer, probably N. Paget. So far only numismatists and a privileged few have had the opportunity of viewins advance specimens of these coins, but when they come into circulation shortly they are expected to arouse general approbation. The home.at Xmas time is so much cosier and brighter if that finishing touch is put on it with carpets, rugs, or curtains. Gray's supply the needs of the Milton householder for these goods... It is not often in these modern days, when the tendency is to reduce working hours in order that there might be more time for recreation, that the employee expresses dissatisfaction with these conditions to the extent of making it an excuse for giving notice to the employer. Such a case is reported to have occurred in Rotorua recently when a female shop assistant when asked by her employer why she desired to leave her employment complained that under the award' she was permitted to work only five days a week, and that during the two days enforced .absence from work each week she was unable to find a satisfactory way of occupying her leisure time. The only advice which the employer could give the girl was that she should seek a domestic position on a farm. A variety of excuses for breaches of the traffic regulations was offered by defendants at a recent sitting of the Christchurch Magistrate's Court. One, a dental surgeon, in an explanation to a traffic inspector who gave evidence, said that he had been " delayed in the cause of suffering humanity," attending to a patient. He was ordered to pay costs on the charge of parking his car over the time limit. Another man said that he had been suffering greatly from toothache, and, as the dentist had had trouble with his X-ray machine, he was delayed. A third defehdant excused himself by saying that there had been a misunderstanding between himself and his wife. "We will say it was only about the car," said the magistrate, imposing the penalty. Special showing of new spring goods in all departments. Buy now while the selection is big and the price small. See windows and interior display. Your inspection invited at Mosgiel's draper.—A. F. Cheyne and Co»vj; • When Hori appeared in a King Country Court in response to a summons for debt he admitted the claim, and in reply to counsel said he had 25 milking cows and calves running on his property. "Well, you must get a good big milk cheque from the factory," said his Worship; Hori replied in the negative, and when asked what became of the money he received from the factory for the milk he replied: "Py korry, you see the calf, he milk the cow." The magistrate thought for a moment and then suggested that they should have a "round up" and sell some of the cattle to liquidate the debt. The suggestion did not meet with Hori's approval, and when asked his reason for objecting said: "Py korry, he's not mine. All the stock got the pill of sale on him and belong to te—, the stock agents." "No order," said the magistrate, and Hon left the court smiling. Have you tried Hitchon's Pork Saveloys, Pork Sausages, or Oxford Sausage (cooked)? If your grocer can't supply, ring our Dunedin branch. 12-344. Milton phone 22...