NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 19

NEWS IN BRIEF

An elderly man walked along Gloucester street, Christcfaurchi': the other evening with-a bathing; costume, and a : towel under one airm, while in the other hand he carefully carried a sip neatly placed on hangers. He was headed in the direction of the tepid baths, and apparently intended to cqmplete his toilet after his swim. It was a wise move on a hot morning when a double change of clothing within'• a short period can become a strenuous occupation.' ■ .y : < v\ Graridism (3436): After many philanderings you are sure to come back to Grand House Whisky: sold. in. four sizes of bottles...

A humorous sidelight occurred at the Dominion conference of the Municipal Association at New Plymouth during a discussion on the Local Government Officers Bill. It was: suggested that the standard of English required by town clerks should be higher than matriculation standard. ' If it is too high, councillors might not be able to understand them," was an interjection. /;, '

Workmen engaged in demolishing ah old house in the Sumner road at Lyttelton recently found an old coin, a lid silver piece, dated 1845, with the head of Queen Victoria on one side. The house, which was formerly owned by the Provincial' Government, was built about 80 years ago, and is situated at the rear of the house built for John Robert Godley. v Visitors lu Dunedin will find accommodation at Hotel Central 100 Princes street to their liking.'.. The friendly mariner in which the law is administered in Papua was described by Mr Hobart Spilller. formerly of Napier and now a coconut plantation owner in Papua, in the course of an address to the Napier Rotary Club recently. "The magistrate addresses the natives employed on the plantation in front of the owner," he said, "and asks how they have been treated. Later, he lunches with the owner in his bungalow and then holds a court in the sitting room. If the owner has broken any regulation he may then be fined £1 Or £5."

Coffee Mills! We nave imported « few small coffee grinders suitable for household use.—A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists 32 Octagon Dunedin.. . v

"It seems »to me that to talk of collective security and peace without trying to understand the Italian point of view and that of Germany too, is not of value," said the Rev. Dr A. Ryan, professor of scholastic philosophy at Queen's University, Belfast, in an address at the Auckland Town Hall recently/ "It seems hardly likely vto succeed," he added. .

Praise for the women players on the Harewood (Christchurch) Golf Club's course during the week-ends last season was made by a vice-president (Mr A. R. / Blank) at the annual, meeting of the club the other evening. " Members of other clubs find it hard to - be-" lieve that we have no trouble with j our week-end women players," he said. " They are never in the way when the men are getting away t amusing themselves with knitting and telling stories." —(Laughter.) "I think they move * even faster than the men—on the course ( " —(More laughter.) Three shillings in the pound discount on all Ladies' Shoes in black or.tan glace, navy, tan or black suede, is one of the special attractions at Gray's Big Store Sale, Milton... The inmates of a house in the country were recently troubled by a swarm of bees which appeared to nave made a home at the corner of a verandah (says the Auckland Star). The son of the house came home for a day or two and was stung. Previously the bees had been washed out with water, but they returned, and burning sulphur was also found to be ineffective. The young man commandeered his mother's vacuum cleaner and set; it foing where the bees seemed thickest, le worked under difficulties,' and several times was stung by angry bees, but he stuck to his job and soon the dust bag was well filled. Once more the machine was set-going, and it was apparent that a whole swarm must have been secreted in the" deep crevice in the brick. Again the youth went to undo the bag and fumbled, and ■ a small swarm fell in a heap on the lawn. However, their captor was riot to be denied, and he dashed in among them and laid the majority low with a well-directed bucket of water.

We make and repair meta 1 articles of every description, also set and sharpen lawn mowers, shears, saws, scissors, etc.—Dickinson's, Ltd.. 441 Prince? street, Dunedin... An unusual method of presenting evidence was seen in the Christchurch Magistrate's Court the other day, during the hearing of a case involving the application by a wife for a separation order against her husband. Counsel for the defendant produced a mirror and sheet of blotting paper, in an endeavour to prove that certain letters, which had been blotted with this particular sheet, had been written by the wife to "the other man." With the blotter close to the mirror, so that the reversed writing on the paper could be read, the husband's counsel deciphered the messages. Moments that might have been embarrassing had it not been that the victim possesses a sense of humour were experienced by an Aucklander last week (relates " Mercutio " in the New Zealand Herald). He is not under any illusions concerning the great distance between his writing and. copybook style, and, in his odd moments, when he remembers that his manuscript is to be read by others, he takes what he considers to be reasonable care. Apparently this care is not sufficient. He had to lodge a message at the telegraph counter the other day. The address seemingly was familiar to the clerk, as also was the name of the signatory, but not his identity. Without looking at the signature, the clerk remarked, "Oh, this is from , the man who writes with his feet! I wish I could meet him. I wduld tell him about it." • .

Summer Sale in full swing. See special window and interior displays. Everything reduced for a speedy clearance all this montii. Extra specials every few uays. Call early.—Mosgiel's Orapers A F Cheyne and Co..

With the object of establishing regular exchanges of exhibits of various kinds between the Wanganui Museum and the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, in the United States, Mr Francis S. Marden, representing the American institution, has been visiting Wanganui. As a gesture of goodwill, the authorities of Harvard have forwarded to the Wanganui Museum the skeleton of a great aukv an extinct species of arctic diving bird. From the word "great" some'confusion as to the size of the bird is liable to be caused, for in reality it is only some 18 inches, in height. \The desire of the American institution is to obtain the bones of the skeleton of a moa, which they would assemble. Mr Marden stated that it was desirable that regular exchanges between the , museums be arranged, for there are many species of Americans birds yet to be added to, or renewed, in the; Wanganui Museum, while Harvard would welcome a collection of New Zealand birds. Here's tae ye, McNab, and lang may yer lum reek wi' other folks' coal. Thank you, Mac. and lang may yer bottle be fu' o' Crossan's famous whisky. To record their impressions of Pompallier Camp, near Green Bay (Auckland), the 400 Catholic Boy Scouts who will be encamped there during the centenary celebrations can, for one • penny, send to their family a humorous nostcard. It resembles the old army field postcards, providing alternative lines, which were crossed out or left in, acording to the opinion of the sender. This one runs as follows: —"Dear mum, dad, sis.,—Here I am among 40 other chaps. . . . The camp is not bad, mouldy, corker. .... The ground is hard, nobbly, slushy. ... The weather is wet, very wet, scorching. . . . I am suffering from consumption, over-: consumption, inefficient storage space. . . I have 50, 500, 5000 mosquito bites. . . . But I am still smiling." Judging from the contented boyhood on show the other day, when visitors were received, the word " mouldy," describing the camp, will be firmly erased. Just across from Milton station, Hitchon's make their famous bacon, ■' And their smallgoods they compare With the best sold anywhere...